Keychron Q15 Max evaluate: High-quality and colorful mechanical console

Keychron Q15 Max review
The Keychron Q15 Max keyboard is a premium option for those who want to try ortholinear layouts or are already on board. The keys of an ortholinear keyboard are arranged in a grid. In exchange for removing a large number of keys, they allow you to customize your typing. Some users swear by them while others may struggle to give up the tab or tilde keys. Personally, I think it’s a great way to squeeze as much functionality as possible into a minimal keyboard. Keychron, founded in 2017, has a variety of keyboard designs. The Q15 Max was its first ortholinear model. The Q15 Max’s ortholinear layout gives it 66 keys, including the two knobs at the sides. The default key positions are listed in the user manual. The Q15 Max, like other Keychron keyboards of higher end, has both wired and Bluetooth connectivity options. It also supports multi-OS switching if you use the keyboard for both Windows Mac. Keychron Q15 Max review – Switches on the back for OS and connectivity.Similarly with other Q-series keyboards, the Q15 Max has a customizable RGB backlight, software for key and macro settings, can pair to up to three devices via Bluetooth, and has hot-swappable switches. The keyboard plate is angled up naturally for ease of use. The chassis is CNC machined from aluminum. The keycaps are XDA profile which is flatter and more even compared to other keycaps. This was a good design choice because almost all keys are the exact same size. The Q15 has 15 layers, starting with the bottom case, then the pads and plates, and finally the switches and keycaps. This construction is primarily to ensure that typing sounds and feels great, which I think is a huge benefit. The default switches include Gateron Jupiter Red or Brown. Keychron Q15 Max review – The backlights and Gateron Jupiter Banana switches. Keychron Q15 Max review – The backlights and Gateron Jupiter Banana switches.Keychron Q15 Max – Specs
Product DetailSpecBody MaterialAluminiumPlate MaterialPolycarbonateNumber of Keys66KeycapXDA Dye-Sub PBT keycaps, not shine-through (Fully Assembled version)SwitchGateron Jupiter (Fully Assembled version)StabilizerScrew-in PCB stabilizerBacklightSouth-facing RGB LEDHot-swappableYesPolling Rate1000 Hz wired / 90 Hz BluetoothBattery4000 mAhWireless Working Time (RGB)Up to 100 hours (lowest brightness)Weight1232 g / 2.71 lbsKeychron Q15 Max – Use
This is my first ortholinear keyboard, and I would say the learning curve is a bit steep. The new Keychron Launcher is a great tool for mapping keys. It requires Chrome, Opera, or Edge as your browser. I would then map the second spacebar on the right as my tab key. I would also set the left knob as the media keys to pausing and skipping. I could also set it to act as a scrollwheel when I press the Fn1 key. Keychron Q15 max review – My setup on Launcher. There are two fn buttons on the Q15 to switch keyboard layers. I can imagine Vim and programmers love ortholinear because of this. The keyboard is smooth and quiet, with a soft glow. I also like the Q15’s small footprint on my desk, which still delivers most of the same features as a larger keyboard. Keychron Q15 Max Review – Side Profile, notice the evenness in the XDA keys. If you are sure you want to experiment with a non-staggered layout, the Q15 would be a good choice. Don’t bother if you already have a keypad at work and don’t wish to spend more money on a separate keyboard. If you want to try it out, a $200 keyboard may be a bit pricey. However, there are many ways to find out if ortholinear layout is right for you. Keychron’s design and user experience are perfect for a niche layout. Keychron Q15 Pros Customization right down to the switches
Enjoyable typing experience
Premium quality and design
Keychron Q15 max cons launcher has limited browser options for now
Not everyone prefers the ortholinear format
Rating: 4 out 5 Where to purchase the Keychron Max? The Keychron Max is available at Keychron, for $219.00 ($Fully assembled knob) and $189 ($Barebone Knob).