Keychron C3 Professional QMK/VIA customized gaming keyboard assessment

The Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard is hands-down considered one of my favourite entry-level mechanical keyboards . For lower than $70, it gives a number of gaming features , together with full QMK/VIA help, RGB lighting, sturdy PBT keycaps, and several customization options.

Think about it probably the greatest entry-level keyboards for exploring completely different switches and layouts with out spending a whole lot of {dollars}.

Advisable

Keychron C3 Professional

$25 $37 Save $12

The Keychron C3 Professional mechanical keyboard is a standout selection for players and typists alike

Execs

• Compact Design
• Customizable keys
• Sturdy construct

Cons

• No wi-fi possibility
• Loud
• Lacks media management keys

Value, availability, and specs

The Keychron C3 Professional is priced at $36.99 at a number of on-line e-commerce retailers, together with Amazon. It really works with each Home windows and macOS and options USB-C connectivity for blazing-fast efficiency. The keyboard additionally consists of hot-swappable switches, full RGB backlighting, PBT keycaps, and quite a few customization choices.

What I favored in regards to the Keychron C3 Professional

Extremely customizable with QMK/VIA help

The Keychron C3 Professional stands out resulting from its QMK and VIA firmware help, which enormously enhances its customization capabilities. QMK firmware is open-source, permitting customers to program a wide selection of mixtures. This flexibility is especially interesting to those that get pleasure from tailoring their keyboard to their particular wants.

For example, QMK allows even essentially the most devoted gamer to remap any key and create completely new keyboard layouts. VIA gives a extra user-friendly strategy to customization, making it simpler to regulate settings with no need to reconfigure firmware. This makes VIA a superb selection for players searching for a customized workflow with out diving deep into technical changes.

With QMK and VIA, customers can create customized shortcuts, assign a number of features to a single key, develop macros, and retailer numerous keymaps for various working methods (e.g., Home windows, macOS, Linux). Moreover, you’ll be able to personalize RGB lighting with dynamic results and enhancements, akin to assigning particular colours to key mixtures or particular person keys. Sizzling-swappable switches for enhanced customization

One other key characteristic that elevates the Keychron C3 Professional is its hot-swappable PCB, which permits customers to swap switches effortlessly with out soldering. Whether or not you like a tactile or easy press really feel, this keyboard allows you to combine and match switches in line with your duties. Changing worn-out switches is simple, requiring no soldering and making certain your keyboard stays in tact. This characteristic is very helpful for rookies exploring completely different change varieties and for fast fixes that don’t require specialised instruments.

And talking of keys, not like the ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) keycaps generally discovered on on a regular basis gaming keyboards, the Keychron C3 Professional options PBT keycaps, identified for his or her sturdiness and resistance to put on and tear. They’ve a matte end and tough texture that provides a premium really feel that minimizes fingerprints. These keycaps additionally produce a satisfying sound, with a deeper, extra resonant tone in comparison with the higher-pitched sound of ABS keycaps.

An extra spotlight of the Keychron C3 Professional is its 65% format. This compact design is smaller than full-size keyboards, omitting a number of pointless keys such because the quantity pad. This format not solely saves desk house but additionally permits customers to place their mouse nearer, which may improve consolation throughout prolonged work or gaming classes. The keyboard’s small profile additionally suits simply right into a backpack, making it an acceptable possibility for cellular workstations. Whether or not you are working at a spacious dwelling workplace desk or a extra cramped workspace, the Keychron C3 Professional adapts seamlessly.

What I did not like in regards to the Keychron C3 Professional

No wi-fi possibility and media keys are lacking

One notable draw back of the Keychron C3 Professional is that it should all the time be related through a wired USB-C connection. It lacks Bluetooth and a couple of.4GHz wi-fi connectivity, which may restrict placement choices and motion freedom. This restriction means you’ll be able to’t use the keyboard too far out of your pc or laptop computer.

Though the Keychron C3 Professional boasts vivid RGB backlighting, its customization choices are considerably restricted. You’ll discover predefined choices with a restricted variety of static colours, respiratory modes, and primary colour results. For extra superior RGB customization, akin to intricate lighting results and sport synchronization, you would possibly need to discover higher-end fashions.

Whilst you can remap media controls utilizing QMK/VIA, customers ought to know that the Keychron C3 Professional lacks devoted media keys. This implies you may want to make use of perform key mixtures to manage media playback, which could possibly be cumbersome in case you’re a frequent multitasker.

Moreover, the keyboard’s stabilizers could possibly be improved. Bigger keys, such because the Shift and Enter keys, might wobble and rattle sometimes. This will have an effect on the typing expertise, though it won’t be noticeable to rookies. Making use of some lubricant periodically will help reduce rattling and enhance stability.

Must you purchase the Keychron C3 Professional?

The Keychron C3 Professional is a well-rounded selection for anybody in the hunt for an inexpensive mechanical keyboard with intensive customization choices. With options akin to QMK/VIA help, hot-swappable switches, premium PBT keycaps, and a compact design, it caters to each novice customers and devoted players. For those who can handle with out wi-fi connectivity and do not thoughts the absence of devoted media keys, the Keychron C3 Professional is a stable selection for on a regular basis use.

Advisable

Keychron C3 Professional

$25 $37 Save $12

The Keychron C3 Professional mechanical keyboard is a standout selection for players and typists alike