Top positive review
3 people found this helpful
Perfect for programming, amazing quality for the price
By wackyratt on Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2023
I've never had a mechanical keyboard before, but wanted to invest in a nicer keyboard because I spend about 1/3 of every day typing. While I considered other keyboards, I ended up picking this one because of its flexibility/modifiability while still being 100% beginner-friendly. I got a good bargain by purchasing used, so I paid only $51--at that price it really can't be beat. It was hard to find an "entry-level" mechanical keyboard that was high-quality without ridiculous rainbow glowy lights all over it. (Sure, RGB features on those blinged-out gaming keyboards can be disabled, but then it feels like I'm paying a premium for a feature I didn't even want.) This keyboard ticks all the boxes for me and has been a delight to use so far. Pros: - The stock keycaps feel high quality. Of course they're replaceable too, if they ever wear out or I want a change. - Pleasantly subtle color scheme. No rainbow glowy lights. They even include extra ESC keycaps if you don't like the orange one it comes with. - Switches and stabilizers feel buttery smooth to me, but I am a mechanical keyboard newbie, so I'm comparing it to the cheap scissor-mechanism keyboards I'm used to. - Wired USB-C with a replaceable cable. I hate Bluetooth keyboards and mice, and far prefer a trusty plug-n-play peripheral like this that never needs a battery or disconnects itself at inconvenient times. It Just... Works. Info: - Can switch between Mac and Windows/Linux layout on the fly. Extra keycaps for alt/option/command/WIN are included too so you can set it up for your preferred layout. - I won't be using the keyboard backlight much, since even when I program in the dark I'm still touch-typing. But occasionally I gotta hunt-and-peck some special function key, so I guess it's nice to have. It has several silly/aesthetic lighting patterns that I will never use, haha. - I chose Brown switches and am happy with them, though they are slightly louder than I was expecting. (Mechanical keyboard nerds aren't lying when they wax enthusiastic about the satisfying clackety noises.) The hot-swappable feature means a noob like me can try different switches without having to solder, if I were so inclined. Cons: - Keycaps are ABS plastic, which tends to be less durable than PBT and will attract finger oils over time. (Though since they are removable, can easily clean or replace them.) - Maybe the loudness of the switches is a con if you are in an open plan office; though with some practice I think I can learn to type more quietly on these Brown switches, since they require less forceful presses and are more precise than basic cheapo keyboards I've used until now. I never expected to feel so positively about a basic computer peripheral! Guess I'm a mech keyboard enthusiast now?
Top critical review
2 people found this helpful
High latency makes Keychrons unsuitable for many games
By Lanky on Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2022
I got the C1 to mod and hopefully replace my daily driver for gaming. The games include Stepmania, osu!, and Maplestory (Blaster), so keyboard performance is the top priority. The PCB that comes with the C1 has a fairly high latency which causes keys to register out-of-order when pressed too close together in time. This could be from insufficient scan rate (independent of the polling rate, I measured 250hz scan), or processing delay in the keyboard's MCU. In either case, this issue makes certain classes in Maplestory virtually unplayable and can cause unnecessary misses in rhythm games. I compared performance between the Keychron C1, Keychron K6, GMMK Pro, Corsair K65, Epomaker Niz 2021, and Tecware Phantom L. The C1, K6, and Phantom L all exhibited this issue and were unsuitable for high-APM gaming. The K65, Niz, and GMMK Pro all had optimal performance with maximal settings after turning off RGB, which can noticeably lag a keyboard's MCU. So it's a limitation of the cheaper PCBs that come with these low-cost Keychrons. If you're building an office custom keyboard, the Keychron C1 is probably a decent option, but if you intend to use it for any intense purpose then you're better off with PCBs at a higher price point. Also... Keychron regularly sells this keyboard significantly cheaper through their own website, but their non-Amazon return policy has some issues so purchase at your own risk.
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