KeyChron Q6 MAX Flagship 100% Mechanical Keyboard – The Supremacy Of The Q6M-P1S
KeyChron Q6 MAX is a $219 USD mechanical keyboard, in the Summit-Fit range for keyboards, and basically one of the best, if not currently the best 100% Keyboard you can purchase. As Mechanical keyboards are more popular in the smaller than 100% formats, basically smaller, today we will study what a 100% keyboard looks and sounds like, and if it will be more popular than the smaller options. We will take a deep dive in the world offered by Q6 Max and also compare it with other high-quality keyboards including Akko MU01 Mountain Seclusion (119 USD), KiiBoom MoonShadow 81 (199 USD), and KiiBoom Phantom 81 V2 (159 USD). A friend has borrowed his black version of the same keyboard for me to play with.
Introduction
Audiophile-Heaven is an audiophile reviews website, but a big part of my job as a reviewer is writing the reviews you see here, so I always have to improve the setup used for reviewing, including the camera equipment, PC I am using as well as the keyboard. As I hear the clacking of my keyboard over 6 hours per day every day, it becomes important to have a keyboard that is comfortable to use for my hands, which makes a pleasing sound, and which simply works, to allow me to express my feelings and emotions as directly as possible, without having to spend time debugging. KeyChron is considered a flagship company in the keyboard world, being the end-game for most keyboard enthusiasts, especially as they offer comprehensive options with top of the line switches and excellent functionality right from the factory. KeyChron products are now available from the Official KeyChron website, but also from countless vendors, including generalist electronics shops, at least here in Romania. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to KeyChron for providing us with the sample for this review.
PROs – Superb support from the company, excellent build quality, and deep-level customisation with excellent third-party switch support, keycap support, stabilizers, and a long battery life, plus an excellent electronic board. Each component can be purchased individually and serviced, and the whole keyboard is simply stunning to work with and it delivers everything I could ever want from it.
Cons – For me to get exactly what I wanted, I replaced the original keycaps, Switches and stabilizers, some tinkering is needed if you want silent or a specific experience.
Product Link
Official Link – https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q6-max-qmk-via-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard?
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4e8loMC
Build Quality/Aesthetics
KeyChron Q6 MAX is a full-metal QMK Wireless Customized mechanical keyboard with 2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth 5.1 and Type-C wired connectivity. When purchasing the Q6 MAX, you can grab it as barebones, which you’d feel tempted to do if you plan on buying other switches and keycaps, but I heavily recommend purchasing it with KeyChron OSA Side-Printed Shine-Through Keycaps, which feel really nice to use and look stunning, and I generally recommend a RED type of switch for anyone who has not tested it yet. I spent years using brown switches believing that REDs would feel too seamless, only to figure out after writing 350 reviews and multiple games that I actually would much rather use RED switches instead.
For those who identify as competitive gamers, you can use KeyChron Q6 MAX via a wireless connection, with a 2.4 GHz protocol, having a polling rate of 1000Hz. This means that the keyboard will know what key you’re pressing before your monitor registers and displays the action. To use the same keyboard with multiple devices, you can quickly switch between wired, Bluetooth or G Wireless connection. The entire body of the Q6 MAX is made of 6063 aluminum, and it is processed through CNC machining, polished, sandblasted and undergoes more than 24 manufacturing stages in total to give us Q6 MAX. I actually can confirm that this keyboard is extremely resistant to scratches, and as you will see from our review, it has been in situations where anything less would have scratched heavily.
The Acoustic foam inside of the Q6 MAX has been significantly enhanced compared to the previous iteration, and now it features a combination of premium acoustic foams, including IXPE, PET and Lates in multiple layers. It is incredibly easy to assemble and disassemble the keyboard, and KeyChron even includes the tools for this in the package, being a truly power user friendly company here. At the core of the Q6 MAX, we have a powerful ARM Cortex-M4 Chip, with 256K Flash memory, allowing you to further customize things in the Q6 Max.
The Double Gasket design is what initially drew me to KeyChron, as it is one of the very few companies that include this in their keyboards, and this is a true lifesaver for typists. But they went even further, so there is a gasket between the PCB and contact points between the top PCB and the bottom PCB. But there is a silicone gasket between the top case and the bottom case, which will cancel the metallic case noise and clunking, providing the feeling that Q6 MAX is the most dense and well made keyboard ever created. The Plate is made of Flexible PC or Polycarbonate to further allow for a bit of flexibility, allowing the keyboard to move with your fingers and provide the most comfortable typing experience possible.
If you’re even the slightest bit geeky, you will love to hear that KeyChron uses the Open-Source QMK Firmware, offering endless possibilities for Macro, Hotkeys, Shortcuts and morte. You can even configure everything from the KeyChron Launcher Web App, which does not require any kind of bloatware to be installed. You can hot-swap every switch on the Q6 MAX, and you can use any MX Style mechanical switches, including Cherry, Gateron Kalih, Panda, and any 3 Pin or 5 Pin switch. The RGB light is south facing for a better look, and there are 22 types of RGB backlight settings in the Q6 MAX.
With Original PCB stabilizers which are screw-in, and PCB mounted, all keys are incredibly stable and non-wobbly out of the factory, there is no metallic clink out of the factory with the newest version that KeyChron Makes. When replacing the original keycaps, I recommend replacing the stabilizers as the original ones were heavily optimized for the original keycaps. The original stabilizers are now very well lubed, and they feel better than any of the aftermarket stabs I have tested, including my favorite options, and simply put, KeyChron has an excellent game with their Q6 MAX, it is made to be perfect out of the factory.
Subjective Usage / Sound Quality
Although this “started as” and “is” a standard review, KeyChron Q6 MAX has been for me a total revelation, a 100% keyboard that actually has the quality, design and looks is really rare, and although I have changed so much on the one I have, so much still depends on the keyboard manufacturer. The battery life, for example, is up to 180 hours of actual usage, if you’re not using the backlight, while if you use the backlight, you can get up to 100 hours with the lowest brightness setting. I usually leave the RGB off while using the Q6 MAX Wireless, and turn it on if I use it wired.
To reiterate, because I kept mentioning this through countless reviews but never made it an official statement, I am a big fan of silent switches nowadays, so for my subjective usage, I have replaced the original Gateron Jupiter Red switches with TTC Frozen Switch V2, and the Stabilizers with Paiugu PCB Stabilizer, which also works well for the XVX Keycaps that I am using. The total increase in price compared to the base version is 32 USD for the Keycaps, 21 USD for the new Stabilizers and 55 USD for the switches.
It is absolutely unnecessary to replace so much to enjoy the KeyChron Q6 MAX, and the setup I did is mostly done because I am a heavy typist and I need soft buttons, even if silent switches are ever so slightly mushy. This being said, I will explore both the default experience and the new one, since the construction of the Q6 MAX defines a big part of the full experience of you using the keyboard and typing on it. The keyboard has an angle of 5.2 degrees, but I have increased this using a series of rubber erases glued to the back of the keyboard, as I do with all the keyboards I use and review. The weight of the Q6 MAX is ultra heavy, at 2184 grams, so you can expect it to be really stable.
Starting with the default experience, the Gateron RED Jupiter switches are a Pre-Lubed Linear switch with a 4mm total travel distance, 2 mm of pre-travel and an operating force of around 45 gf, all pretty standard stuff. The sound level is quiet, mid pitched with a very clear click at the end of each key press, it is acute, not muted and very sharp. You really know when you reached the end of each key press, and it feels fairly satisfying. Excellent for both office and gaming workloads, Red Jupiter is basically the ideal switch for anyone who is just starting, and will satisfy 99% of users.
I experienced one of the most reliable Wireless connections, and you have to use the included USB dongle for it, but I have a full signal even if the receiver is plugged at the back of the computer, or even if I am typing from the couch, a few meters away, with multiple interferences in between. The battery life is excellent, and with the backlight turned off I can forget to charge the keyboard for weeks at a time, even 3 weeks went by, with me typing reviews and programming daily, and I still did not need to charge it. One of the few times a company over-delivers so much, but the reliability is also excellent. While I was swapping the keycaps and the switches, I bent two of the pins on the PCB connector, and the keyboard is still working. I noticed it would do some odd things at times, so I took it apart, bent the pins to be somewhat straight using a sewing needle, and it is like new. I also took it apart multiple times to install different switches and keycaps, no scratches and everything is still working perfectly.
With all the changes I have made, I increased the price by about 100 USD, but using silent switches, each key press is a bit padded. This makes typing for articles and programming a much better experience, but the padded typing is a bit slower for fast games than the default experience, so Gateron Jupiter Red are better gaming switches. I prefer the MOA profile for keycaps as it has rounded edges, it allows me better comfort than the default ones, but I really have to admit that the default side printed keycaps are much more beautiful. I really wish someone made Shine-Through and Side Printed Moa profile keycaps, but so far I could not find any available anywhere. For most people, the default keycaps will be excellent and you are unlikely to need replacement, although if you’re a heavy typist, you will appreciate the little improvements I made in the name of science here.
When purchasing a high-end mechanical keyboard, the best part is the customizability, so KeyChron Q6 MAX is excellent even if you’re not sure what your purpose is with your purchase, KeyChron Q6 Max is an excellent starting point which can be transformed for both high-end gaming, typing, or anything in between. While I do a lot of unorthodox modding to keyboards, I have to admit that the beauty of Q6 Max is how much it can be changed, how much it can adapt to everyone’s needs and how solid the base frame is.
Comparisons
KeyChron Q6 MAX vs KiiBoom Phantom 81 V2 (219 USD vs 159 USD) – Phantom 81 V2 is a transparent keyboard that looks like it came from the future, it is very solid, but the keycaps are a bit jelly-like, and the default switches are a bit soft on my hands, while the layout is not intuitive to write and work on for long periods of time. Q6 Max works really well for long periods of typing, and you can configure it much more, as both the black and the white base are neutral and can work with any keycaps and any switches, but for Phantom 81 V2, you will kill its entire charm if you swap the keycaps and switches for anything else but KiiBoom Crystal. The battery life of both keyboards is good, both have a good receiver, but Phantom 81 V2 has a much more visible RGB light effect, which can be distracting, and it is more prone to fingerprints which is not a problem with q6 max. With Q6 Max, I am having an easier time adjusting to new keycaps, and I can customize it to be silent, eventually getting the perfect experience for me, while Phantom 81 V2 is a boutique idea that works really well if it is what you wanted, but can be a bit of a one-trick-pony. Although Q6 Max is pricier, and will only get pricier with mods, it gives me a typing accuracy of over 99%, while I cannot really get more than 75% accuracy, which is very low for a keyboard, so I would purchase it for the novelty, but for heavy duty typist work, Q6 Max is a much better purchase.
KeyChron Q6 MAX vs Akko MU01 Mountain Seclusion (219 USD vs 119 USD) – Mountain Seclusion is absolutely beautiful, and I wish at times that I could purchase a wooden frame / case for the Q6 Max, but this comes with the rather loud and specific sound that MU01 makes. I still love that sound, but I could not bring myself to replace the switches or the keycaps on the Mountain seclusion, and it is basically made to be used with the Akko Mountain Seclusion KeyCaps, and Akko rosewood switches, you can’t really squeeze more performance out of it, although it is basically perfect like this. Akko has a tighter keyboard, with more matching between the elements and I would call Mountain Seclusion perfect for its size, but Q6 Max feels much better for me, thanks to its 100% layout, I can type much better and in the end I cannot get adjusted to the smaller layout of the Mu01 Mountain Seclusion, so I can recommend q6 max if you need 100%. Mountain Seclusion is much cheaper and you can’t really put more money to make it better, so it is a really good way to start the keyboard hobby, while Q6 max is basically perfection.
KeyChron Q6 MAX vs KiiBoom MoonShadow 81 (219 USD vs 199 USD) – Moonshadow 81 is one of the very few keyboards that could have the courage or ego to cost about as much as a Q6 Max without being 100%, but Moonshadow has a lot going on for it, including the solid metallic frame, excellent build quality, and easily customizable design, which allows you to basically swap the key caps and switches with ease. The downfall is the smaller 81% format, which doesn’t have the numpad, as I find it essential for programming and I really appreciate Q6 Max for having it. KiiBoom also has a very effective sound damping foam and quality construction but with most linear switches, MoonShadow 81 sounds clacky, having a mid profile that has a bit of a metallic resonance, while Q6 Max can have a mid pitched sound, but also a really quiet dampened sound if you’re using silent switches. I feel like Q6 Max is a much better value, the 100% layout together with better base construction and better damping makes it a better package.
Value and Conclusion
Although the price of keyboards relative to the price of audiophile products is much lower, Q6 Max is considered expensive in the keyboard world, and it is one of the priciest options available on the market, but it also offers one of the best price / performance ratios, and you can live knowing it is the keyboards that offers you all the words you read here, so for me the price is not just totally worth it, but I wouldn’t purchase any other keyboard to write long-lenth, at least from what I experienced so far. I categorically need a 100% layout, and KeyChron is one of the very few high-end vendors that still offers this layout in a high-end keyboard, but it is also a piece I intimately know inside-out, and can vouch for.
Award – Before the end of the review, KeyChron Q6 MAX will take a place in the Audiophile-Heaven Hall Of Fame for its exceptional performance, outstanding reliability, and for the fact it is one of the few if not the only high-end keyboard available in the 100% format, which for both writers, reviewers but also programmers, is and will be the most used layout and format.
And at the end of the day, KeyChron Q6 MAX is the reason I’m able to bring you all my reviews so fast, and in such quality, I understand that TKL, 60% and other mini formats can be appealing, but try the variants from KeyChron if you need the most solid, most reliable and best out-of-factory experience you can get, but also a keyboard you can customize deeply, with any kind of switch, keycap, but still rely on for heavy duty programming, typing, excellent macro support, and all of this without installing any kind of third party software. If you want keyboard perfection right now, KeyChron will surely offer it wit their Q6 MAX series.
Product Link
Official Link – https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q6-max-qmk-via-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard?
Amazon – https://amzn.to/4e8loMC
Bonus Photos
I have not done this in a long while, but given the design of the Q6 Max and how many differetn configurations I have explored with it, here are extra shots from the review, to better highlight just how customisable it is and how much you can do with it. Altough they look very different, all of those photos are of the same KeyChron Q6 Max Keyboard.
Here are the links to the custom KeyCap sets that you can see in the review.
XVX PBT White KeyCaps – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeiOVjf
Womier Cow Themed White KeyCaps – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DlyGIrT
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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