Keychron K3 - ALL SWITCHES. Pick the Right Switches for Your K3! Typing Sounds All Optical Switches.

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi everyone. Just wanted to let you know that there. is an updated video featuring the Mint and Banana switches as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6KZqJiMlql8is0

[@jadengoodwin4240]

You deserve 100k views for just putting together a 'all switches' video!!! nice work man!!!

[@MartinAaberge]

Thank you. Your view makes me one closer to 100k ;) thanks for joining in!

[@DonDealio]

Yes - I can't believe that Keychron didn't even do that themselves. The switches stuff can be a bit of a jungle, especially for people like me who is first timer on mech keyboard.

[@MartinAaberge]

This video now has 111K views! Thanks a ton for the support :)

[@thisizmonster]

I like the idea of clicking mouse button before each test. It gives such good example of your room noise, microphone distance, general video volume etc.

[@MartinAaberge]

Thanks. That is the whole point of the mouse click :) glad it works as intended :)

[@JechtNH]

Awesome idea to compare it with the mouse clicking, love it! I'm just learning about mechanical keyboards so its nice to have a familiar sound to compare with

[@MartinAaberge]

Glad you like it. Yeah, that is the point of the mouse click. This way you can fine-tune your headphones and get the sound to mimic exactly how it would sound at your desk :D

[@doublesushi5990]

@@MartinAaberge high iq play.

[@christianpedersen3237]

Keep in mind that the Keychron warehouse is in Hong Kong. It ships from there, and if you don't like the product, you're responsible for returning it to there. Which means, effectively, there are no returns. Keychron doesn't offer a return label, so you can pony out more money than you spent on the actual keyboard, trying to return it.

[@MartinAaberge]

That could make it a bit harder on the returns. I haven't had to return anything yet, but when I had to change my initial order it was done swiftly. Dealing with returns in general is a hassle.

[@NuanDaa]

Except from amazon 😁

[@axllebeer]

This was fabulous. I just picked up this keyboard with the optical browns. I have tried red, currently own the k2with browns and the k4 with blue. The blue switches I have at work and the browns I have at home. I think I made the right choice.

[@MartinAaberge]

How were you able to use blue at work without getting strangled? :D

[@axllebeer]

@@MartinAaberge good question. I'm actually typing from the afterlife right now.... In all reality I just close the door on my office lol.

[@MartinAaberge]

😂

[@axllebeer]

I also now have the k3 now and although I ordered it with the browns, I didn't care for them in this keyboard. Went with the orange and I absolutely love these. So glad I chose the hot swappable version of the k3. I think that this is my favorite one yet.

[@andieluke1366]

This is INCREDIBLY helpful. Appreciated the commentary, short and sweet. Subbed!

[@MartinAaberge]

Awesome, thank you! Glad you found it useful. Enjoy the switches, no matter which ones you choose.

[@andieluke1366]

@@MartinAaberge I keep flip-flopping between the K2v2 and K3 hahaha..... do you find the K3 keys wobbly?

[@MartinAaberge]

@@andieluke1366 the original keys I didn't find too wobbly. The Matcha keys I have now are a bit wobble, but they are taller. I think my next will either be a 60% FJELL or a 75% GMMK Pro :D

[@andieluke1366]

@@MartinAaberge Wait, you can put XDAs on the K3?! I thought the stabs were proprietary, making any stab keys incompatible with common cherry stem keycaps? Is yours the V1 or V2? Interesting that the matchas wobble more, though I suppose it being taller makes sense haha... do you find the original keycaps decent? I've read some who find them thin and cheap feeling. Also, I just found out Keychron is releasing optical low profile bananas and mint! Really excited about that. Hoping either the mint or banana will replicate the type feel of a Logitech MX Keys (if only Logitech comes up with a 65-75% layout!). Let me know if you plan on reviewing the new switches as well! Ps: GMMK Pro is my endgame. Hella expensive where I'm at though 🤣 www.keychron.com/blogs/news/enjoy-a-similar-panda-switch-experience-on-an-ultra-slim-mechanical-keyboard

[@andieluke1366]

@@MartinAaberge Disregard my question re: the stab keys compatibility with the matchas. I just went through your videos and found the answer hahaha... (New comment instead of another edit so you can get that sweet, sweet YT algorithm 😁)

[@WilliamFaucher]

Man dat b-roll is fab!

[@MartinAaberge]

Thanks Will. I had to shoot it twice cause my planning sucked too much. Better get that storyboard down properly next time ;)

[@JordanNeenan]

I originally got the reds, but I really disliked them...far too light for me so I was constantly mis-typing. I bought the blues and I love them, made the K3 my perfect keyboard.

[@MartinAaberge]

I’m glad you found your favorite. If you like lineabut the reds are too light, you can try the blacks. If you like blue, but want a less loud switch go for the brown. Keychron also released banana and mint recently;)

[@RussianOrthodox63]

White sounds like less noisy one. My choice! Reminded me of mx cherry Black switches (my favorite as well). Always searching for the quietest options - laptop, mouse, keyboard...

[@MartinAaberge]

White is indeed both quiet and light. A good choice if you want something like you say. Although, I feel the actuation force is too light. The reds were best for me.

[@jillting1852]

@@MartinAaberge but why it sounded the same on my phone i put the volume to max the entire video

[@leonardbackstein9694]

0:25 That opening was insane !!! I Never saw such a good idea of opening boxes. Just with easy edeiting... Wow !

[@MartinAaberge]

Hehe. Thanks dude. It is all in the edit (and PLANNING) :) thanks for stopping by

[@nicolaswilliem460]

I entered mechanical keyboards world without knowing there's optical and non optical switches. Then i ordered the K3 with optical brown. Loving it, but sometimes it just feels too low for me. Ended up buying another keyboard with normal Gateron Brown. So far brown switches are my fav (have tried blue and red before from friends)

[@MartinAaberge]

I also like Brown. I think it is the perfect middle ground. I did enjoy both linear and clicks as well.. haha, Guess I like em all.

[@marcelowcr]

Hey Nicolas! I'm in the same situation you were a while ago, hehe. So did you buy the low-profile Gateron Brown switches? I'm considering this because i got the optical red, and it is quite hard to adjust. What is your update on that? Thanks!

[@HjohnGP]

I recently got a k3v2 with brown switches. It's very quiet but has a tactile feel to it but I miss the clickyness because my previous keyboard had blue switches that's why I bought the blue optical switch. Still waiting for it to be delivered though. I hope it'll feel as good as my previous keyboard. I enjoyed typing on them.

[@elwhizard]

I agree that the brown is a great switch when typing. But there's an issue with that being too sensitive. It triggers before hitting the bump. There's a guide on their website on how to fix but it's still very sensitive. I'm not sure if that's still the case with later production as I was one of those who pre-ordered early last year. Glad that I've also bought the orange switch and that's what I'm using coz I can't stand the issue of the brown switch.

[@MartinAaberge]

I haven’t really noticed that issue. I’m on blue right now, but I’ll swap with brown again to see if I notice the error.

[@enricodemarchi1412]

I just got my k3v2 with brown switches and to be honest this issue is bugging me. I thought it was just me, but I'll try to buy the blue or Orange switches now.

[@MartinAaberge]

I thought they fixed it on the new model?

[@enricodemarchi1412]

@@MartinAabergewell I hope not, cause if this is fixed, k3v1 owners are in serious trouble. I will try latter this week to remove that spring and see if it helps.

[@MartinAaberge]

Let me know how it goes :)

[@automattic6829]

I'm using optical blues on my k3. I have a set of browns too, but I'm surprised how much I DON'T like them (I seem to be the only one haha). Sometimes the blues feel a little light to me, so I may have to give the oranges a shot.

[@MartinAaberge]

Hehe. Everyone has their personal preference :) If you like blue, but find them a bit light, the orange will be perfect for you!

[@nrasmussendk]

@@MartinAaberge Thank you for that advice. I guess I'll have to order a set of orange.

[@DonDealio]

I ordered one with browns now. I am concerned the reds are too light. I want them as quiet as possible, with good functionality still, of course. After I tried the browns, I might experiment with the blacks (linear but heavier) and with the banana "early bump" switches.

[@nrasmussendk]

@@dtv4251x Yes, I did. I'm very happy with them. This is now without doubt the best keyboard I've ever had.

[@nrasmussendk]

@@dtv4251x I don't think there's really that much difference between them, except for the slightly increased force, which was what I was looking for with the orange ones. I just felt that the blue ones were just a tad too light.

[@adamrodriguez7598]

These helped me feel much better about my browns!

[@MartinAaberge]

Fantastic! You should give the bananas a go as well :D

[@gingus418]

Thank you for the vid! Quite a well-rounded and nicely presented overview. Which ones are you using as your daily drivers now? I have the blues but am thinking about trying some browns. I'm vaguely curious about the reds too but not a huge fan of not knowing when the actuation is happening. I had some gateron yellows in my K4. They were buttery smooth which I loved but not knowing the actuation point led to a lot of mistypes which kind of killed them for me. How about the banana and mint switches, will you be making a review of those too?

[@MartinAaberge]

I completely missed this comment. So sorry! My daily driver is indeed the brown. I just ordered a K7 with mint and banana switches so I look forward to trying out those. So yes, banana and mints will be tested and I will make a review of those as well

[@gingus418]

@@MartinAaberge awesomeness! in the interim, I picked up a K12 with Browns because I wanted a deeper sound with a bit more travel. Liking the form factor, not in love with the gat browns though. They're fairly eh. Like a barely tactile, a stiff linear. Currently diving into the rabbit hole on other switch options!

[@NiC707]

@@MartinAaberge Hey Martin, I was looking to compare the sound signature of Keychron switches and I've stumbled across your video, you did a fanstastic job! I've got a question since I read that you're using the Browns, how's your experience with them after 5 months? I'm reading a lot of issues with those particular ones regarding their sensitivity. Lots of folks are reporting that the Browns are extremely sensitive, like, triggering a keystroke with a bump or a nudge kinda sensitive. Have you noticed something similar? I've read a lot reddit threads mentioning that to the point that people are calling Keychron to recall them. There's also a diy fix someone posted in YT which Keychron seems to have been suggesting to people but I'm not so sure if they fixed the issue or not. Many thanks!

[@MartinAaberge]

@@NiC707 Hi NiC. I have also done this fix myself. Go check it out on my channel. That worked well for me. I also heard rumors Keychron has fixed this issue themselves on the new batches. I don't find the Browns to get off too early after I did the fix. In a few weeks, I will review the banana and mint switches as well. look forward to that. I will be using a K7 for those, but the K7 is basically a K3 without the F-keys.

[@NiC707]

@@MartinAaberge Thanks for your reply Martin, much appreciate it! Gotcha, I found the video, will check it. Looking forward to check your K7 review with mint and banana switches, although the K3 layout meets my preferences better (I do need the function keys row). I’m guessing I could use those switches on the K3 since they’re optical as well? Fairly new to the whole custom keyboard thing, so apologies for the newb questions 😅

[@patrickphippspa584]

Picked up the K1, RGB (which I don't care about), blue switch keyboard which is low profile. I LOVE the low profile as I had a K2 and man it was such a reach up and long strokes down to type. Anyway, the K1 is all aluminium frame and relatively speaking it's pretty heavy, which I like because it really suggests quality. When the right K3 is finally available I'll hit that one with hot swappable in brown and actually, I'm going to take the dive again on a K2 but has to be all aluminium, hot swappable and brown switches. Shame Keychron just doesn't produce much as I would have probably had a slew of new keyboards but they keep my money in my pocket by always being out of everything. Thanks to you Martin for the new found addiction, meant in a very good way. I love having a passion and love to learn and explore. Your videos have me looking at all kinds of things like monitor elevators, stands, light bulbs like yours which I've never seen before. I do appreciate you buddy! Thanks again.

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi Patrick. The K1 seems like a good choice. I’m leaning towards a 65% layout for my next keyboard. If you don’t need the function keys that much, I would also consider a K7. If you want to dive into the deeper realms of mechanical and still stay on the Keychron brand, you can check out the Q1. It’s like an affordable version of the GMMK Pro. Make sure you stick around for more of the tech. If you watch my latest short, you get a preview of what’s coming for the new office ;)

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi again Patrick. I just ordered the K7. I'll post a review when the keyboard gets here :)

[@patrickphippspa584]

@@MartinAaberge ALWAYS SO NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU MARTIN! I refer to you often as I run about watching KB reviews. Well by now, I've sampled quite a number of KBs, mostly from Keychron and I LOVE their quality. I have numerous K1s (blue and brown), a handful of K2s (actually taking delivery of the K2 aluminium, hot swap in brown today), a pair of K3s hot swap browns and a K4 104 layout that I ordered from Amazon and it's still in the shipping box. I'm not even going to open that one as I have no idea why I even ordered that. No real need for a 104. I really like the look of the NuPhy air 75 and preordered that one but my God, what a disaster that company is. They just can't seem to get their act together with months of shipping delays and lots of angry people waiting for their orders on FBook. I finally got so turned off with NuPhy I cancelled my order and just hope they are going to actually refund my money. Doubful I'm ever going to do that again. Locally on "Offer Up" a classified app, I've purchased a hand full of Keychrons that guys didn't like for one reason or the other and I give them to friends. They are mostly brand new and I've been buying them for about 1/3 of their new cost. That's kind of fun. I did buy a Redragon KB yesterday and I extremely impressed with their quality at their price. Wow! About the only thing this particular one doesn't check off on all the boxes is that it's a plug in which is not a bad thing as the Keychrons turn off as you know, which doesn't really bother me that much. I just looked at the K14 and WOW. That one made me think of you. However, it's not low profile but it's got your name on it. I was exclusively low profile at the start, but now I'm really enjoying the non-lowprofiles as well. Take care Martin. I love hearing from you. My best to you always!

[@TheRyanator36910]

doing a great start to ur channel, u know what ur doing

[@MartinAaberge]

Thank you :) I have a lot of material in the pipeline.

[@tobario]

I just love the browns. I am very excited for my k3 with optical browns

[@MartinAaberge]

That’s great!

[@ayam7971]

Great video mate, thanks for the effort switching those key and make the comparison. When i watch this, K3 already release V2 which has adjustable stand on the back. I confirm will go with the brown one, since this is my first mechanical keyboard i don't have a clue which key i will choose and i can't go to local store since my country currently hit hard by covid-19 and under lockdown. All non essential business must close and we all work from home. Anyway thank you for the content, you definitely deserved more subscriber. Good luck and stay safe!!!f

[@MartinAaberge]

Thank you Sugandi :) I don’t think you can go wrong with the brown.

[@recarsion]

I got mine originally with the browns but recently ordered oranges and blacks to try them. I tried the oranges first for a couple weeks and loved them, definitely much better than the brown, so satisfying to type on, I love the feel and sound. I was worried that they'd be too heavy but they aren't, they feel just right. Now trying the blacks and I really don't know what to think. First of all I didn't expect how heavy they feel, it's only 50g compared with the 55g oranges and 57g browns, both of which feel lighter to me than this. Maybe it's because I'm bottoming out on these ones but honestly I don't even think I'm doing it that much. As far as the actual typing experience, I'm really undecided, it feels smooth and creamy but at the same time kinda numb and almost squishy like a membrane keyboard. It's definitely quiet enough that I'd even be comfortable bringing it to an office though. I definitely like the orange better, but I can see myself using this from time to time when I'm feeling like mixing things up a bit. The browns to me feel surprisingly light for their 57g actuation force and I barely feel the tactile bump at all, I actually mistype on it much more than I do both the oranges and the blacks, I don't really know why. Overall I'd say orange > black > brown.

[@dheeraju5955]

Red sounded better and brown sounded way best in all those options I prefer brown.

[@MartinAaberge]

Brown is my favorite. I am currently on blue and seem to do fewer misclicks. Blue isn’t that office friendly so I might end up with brown in the end :)

[@MrAtlantis95]

@@MartinAaberge So for typing, what are the differences (experience) for typing when using the red, brown and blue switches??

[@NoName-mg2yj]

The only thing stopping me from buying this keyboard, is there's no UK layout option. The size of the enter key would annoy me. Had no idea the "\|" key was so important to have quick access to! Will stick with my Logitech Ergo 860k. A very comfy keyboard, but sometimes I like to switch things up a little (no pun intended).

[@NoName-mg2yj]

And there's also no £ symbol, but I believe there's a way of remapping the $ button in windows settings, so not a deal breaker. Just hope they begin releasing international keyboards soon.

[@MartinAaberge]

I am Norwegian, but I prefer the US layout because of programming. I like that the return key is set up like on the US layout because the reach is shorter. Personal preferences I guess :)

[@NoName-mg2yj]

@@MartinAaberge yeah, I keep reaching too high and hitting the "\|". Guess it could be fixed with time.

[@radenhendrik]

Somebody is hungry 😂 Thanks for the review!

[@MartinAaberge]

Priority is content for you guys ;)

[@msd5808]

The orange sounded more energetic. hard to tell the differences with low profile though. more subtle

[@MartinAaberge]

They are because they are heavier :)

[@jzxe10]

Switched from apple chiclet keyboard (the slim one, that came before the magic keyboard 2). Got my k3v2 with optical browns. Lubed them switches, made an additional noise and vibration dampening on the bottom, also added noise foam between the board and the plate. The quietness is awesome, but the switches became very mushy (maybe overlubed). The tactile bump is no longer a thing with lubing, and from the beginning even without lubing was kinda shit, ngl, compared to crisp and clear tactile bump of the apple keyboard. Love the look of k3 but miss the feel of apple's kb. Maybe i'm too used to apple kb since i used it for 10+ years.

[@MartinAaberge]

I think Apple.makes great keyboards (let’s pretend 2025-2019 on the macbooks never happened) The Apple Magic keyboard is one of my favorites and I use that as well as the k3. Sorry to hear the experience wasn’t that great after your modding.

[@Riktamorty]

Respectfully, it’s because you went overboard on maintenance. Sometimes, being smart (as you appear) was your own worst enemy in that case ! 🤓

[@gimoon0125]

Does red and white very different?

[@MartinAaberge]

Not really. Red requires a bit more force to push down. Thw whites are very light.

[@braaitongs]

I ordered, the black,brown and blue optical switches. I am still awaiting my K3. It will be my first mechanical keyboard. I wanted to know if you can do a video on aftermarket low profil keycaps that will fit on the K3

[@MartinAaberge]

If you're lucky, they'll send you the Version 2 of the K3. They have started shipping V2 now. I think you'll enjoy this keyboard if it's your first. I have some keys coming in this week. They are not low profile so it will be interesting to see if they fit at all. If not, I guess I have to buy a keyborad where they will.

[@braaitongs]

@@MartinAaberge Jeez, I hope i get the V2, but what are the difference between the V1 and V2? When I ordered it, it did not mention versions

[@MartinAaberge]

I think the V2 was released to the public yesterday. It is brand spanking new. The main differences is in regards to build. The body is stronger and you have adjustable feet for more writing positions. Is your order number higher than #198499? If so, you will get the V2.

[@braaitongs]

@@MartinAaberge Excellent! mine is just above that!

[@MartinAaberge]

That's great! Enjoy the V2 when it arrives :D

[@aaw7410]

They offer banana and mint switches too! I got the banana ones and like them, however i think that I should have went with mint for a little more actuation force required because these keys actuate if you breathe hard on them.

[@MartinAaberge]

Bananas are great. They are my daily driver. I have more videos where I use both the bananas and mints. Check em out :D

[@Nothing-nf8ve]

Whats the best switch for typing?

[@MartinAaberge]

I’d say blue/orange if sound doesn’t bother you, bananas as a more general switch :)

[@derickmoncado]

Hey man, great video, I'm eyeballing blue optical for the K3, does this blue optical have a tactile bump at all?

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi Derick. Yes, the bump differs from the tactile switches(brown,banana,mint) but the click is more noticeable and louder

[@ogotuwaobuto5366]

Great review. Thank you. I would be interested in which switch you use regularly. I’m drawn towards the brown as it is described as the middle ground.

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi Ogotuwa! Sorry I missed tour comment. Within the next couple of days I will release an update to this video where I add banana and mint into the mix. Daily driver for me is brown, but I experiment a lot with the others :) if you’re subscribed, you’ll get notified when the next video drops :)

[@ogotuwaobuto5366]

@@MartinAaberge thank you. 😀

[@MartinAaberge]

@@ogotuwaobuto5366 kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6KZqJiMlql8is0

[@MartinAaberge]

Update here. Banana switches have now been my daily driver for a while :)

[@SebastianStll]

that pen looks incredible, whats the brand? x)

[@fishingwithlee9519]

At first giid job bro thank for sharing. And now my question is the brown one louder that the red one? And which one do you prefer for gaming?

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi, and thanks for your comment. Brown is louder than red, but for gaming I would pick one of the linear ones: white, red, or black :)

[@fishingwithlee9519]

@@MartinAaberge thank you a lot and do you know maybe a keyboard it is similar to this one between 60% and 75% flat with kabel which is more silent? I love flat keyboard and flat keys with low Action

[@andrefeliperodriguescosta3298]

Hey, Martin. I really liked your video. I'm new in this world of mechanical keyboards, I just bought my first mechanical keyboard yesterday (a Keychron K3 V2). I have a question: Is it possible to replace the low profile switches with normal switches on this keyboard, since it is hotswap?

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi Andre. Glad you got into mechanical keyboards. Your wallet will hate you, but that’s a problem for the future. I’m pretty sure you can not do that. If you google some switches and look at how they are constructed, you can see that the pins are different from the smaller pads you find on the low profile optical switches at least.

[@azatecas]

i bought a gateron brown version, love the tactility, however the keys were inconsitant, some felt grindy, so i returned the keyboard for the optical version with brown switches, they are not the same at all optical brows are quite and have less resistant. im hoping to get the optical blue to reproduce the feel of the gateron browns.

[@MartinAaberge]

That’s an interesting observation. Thanks for sharing. Let us know what you feel about the blues as well :)

[@marcelowcr]

Hi there! I'm trying to find what's best for me. So do you prefer the optical for the Gateron switch? I got the red optical switches, but am considering changing to the Gateron ones.

[@MartinAaberge]

@@marcelowcr i actually haven’t tried the gateron switches. But the difference between reds and browns in general is HUGE

[@kociur5467]

Hi! I've got qucik question. Which one would you prefer to use in school (notes taking)? I have no idea which one should I buy. I will be using keyboard with an iPad, and I'm also thinking about common Apple Keyboard. What do you think?

[@kociur5467]

To be precised, the question is basically which one are the queitest?

[@MartinAaberge]

For the K3 and the K7 you will find linears to be most quiet. To me, white is too light, red also misclicks sometimes so if you can only pick one of the linear ones, I’d go black. If this is for school, lots of other students will also be clickety-clacking their keyboards so browns might not be too offensive.

[@kociur5467]

​@@MartinAaberge I'm really thankful for your answer. Other students will be probably using MacBooks so I hope my sound will not be so differentiating. BTW I'm now using Outemu Brown and they seem a lil bit too loud

[@MartinAaberge]

I think the Apple Magic keyboard will be more quiet actually. Maybe just grt that :)

[@itayadler8565]

I bought the k3 v2 with red switches. Still waiting. I bought also the switch tester. Without suitable keycaps It was hard to decide + I destroyed the brown 😂😂 I love almost every switch, Especially the white and the blue (Probably brown too, I think it was similar to the gateron) Hopefully I will stay only with the red

[@MartinAaberge]

I really like all the switches you mention. I almost change daily and I find myself switching between the red, blue and brown. Right now I am typing on the orange, and I do feel more stress on my fingers than with the blue.

[@itayadler8565]

@@MartinAaberge that's the reason I replacing my hyperx alloy elite with blue switches hope that k3 will do the work, otherwise I'm tired of keyboards. How the feeling after a normal mechanical keyboard?

[@anthony-pinkston]

thanks great video. You saved me from buying the wrong one.

[@MartinAaberge]

That’s awesome. Check out my latest video if you want to check out banana and mints as well :)

[@tmillvideo]

hi, which palm rest are you using in the video?

[@MartinAaberge]

It’s keychron’s own K3/K7 palm rest :)

[@Turtlemilk]

I'm looking for a keyboard i can use at public areas like the coffee shops. I don't want something as quiet as a stock laptop keyboard, i want something that will make typing more fun, but not too annoying towards the people around me. Which color switch would you recommend me?

[@MartinAaberge]

Then I think red would be a good fit if you type a lot, black if you type some, browse around and work. For pure typing I recommend lighter switches, so reds :)

[@claracheong]

From a MacBook Pro keyboard to getting a K3 Low profile optical switch, would u recommend linear red / linear white / tactile brown?

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi C. If you are coming from the MacBook keyboard where there is a bit of travel and that little bumpy feeling, I would say Brown is the one that would resemble it better. both white and red are, as you say, linear and will feel different. I think white is too light. Why don’t you get brown, red, and blue? Then you have my favorites across the board ;)

[@claracheong]

Haha will u care to explain linear/tactile? Does that mean linear switches are flat while tactile switches have that bumpy feel?

[@MartinAaberge]

linear has no resistance so when you click it, it just goes from A to B. A tactile switch will have a mechanical bump that you will feel when you press it down :)

[@claracheong]

Thanks for the prompt response and recommendation! Will use your referral link ;)

[@EF.BE.I]

@@claracheong basically on the linear switch it is completely smooth travel from the top of the keystroke to the dead bottom the key stroke. With the brown switches. Add about halfway point there is a point of resistance were you have to use a little bit more force to get over that “hump”

[@antoniofilipe70]

Hello Nice video. is there a eurropean keyboard with acents for keychron K3 pro low profiel?

[@MartinAaberge]

I was able to find a scandinavian layout at maxgaming.no so I assume some local shops might have variations.

[@antoniofilipe70]

@@MartinAaberge Thank you very much Martin

[@Joe-ew1gh]

Love the video, just became the new sub; the video is definitly informative and did help me to decide which to buy (I just ordered a few seconds ago). I know this might be the weirdest comment you may receive, but can you share which English typing practice website you used in your video? I really need practice on English typing LOL. Moreover, looking forward to more videos! The quality is just great and the general appearance is really balanced! 💪🏽💪🏽

[@MartinAaberge]

That’s great! Welcome as a new sub. If you look at my latest video, you will see some more tests, including the new banana and mint switches. I am using monkeytype to do the typing tests. monkeytype.com

[@Joe-ew1gh]

@@MartinAaberge Tks for such a quick reply! I've already watched the new clip, I love the contents and I am considering to give it try. Yet I'm still waiting for my blues so if those don't fit then bananas and mints would be the new alternatives!

[@MartinAaberge]

Let me know how it works out in the end :)

[@gabrielhenfield7086]

Also have a question in regards to the affiliate seller you attached in the description? Is that a reputable seller? I actually made an order through keychron 2020 (who is attached) and reading reviews the seller seemed sketchy? It was odd that keychron themselves dont have k3's (let alone with the brown switch what I had ordered) but this seller gave me the ability to order whichever I wanted with rgb lighting which is hard to find already online. Is this a trusted seller because the whole thing seemed a little off.

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi. I’ve ordered from Keychron three times. First the K3, then all the switches, and recently the K7 with more switches and accessories. The first two orders had no issues at all and the K7 just shipped. I think they sometimes just run out of products and need to restock. The link in the description should be an Amazon link now by the way, is it not? Here’s an affiliate link for you for the rgb version: amzn.to/3B9qHru

[@gabrielhenfield7086]

@@MartinAaberge Thanks for the reply. I ended up picking up a k3 without rgb on trip to boston about 3 weeks ago. When I'm ready to buy another ill head back over to scoop one up from them. I appreciate the reply man take care!

[@PhuNguyen-my9un]

@@gabrielhenfield7086 Hello sir. Is it still good?

[@lxi_zn]

Nice vid, exactly what I was looking for. I can't distinguish between red and brown 😅 Main use will be for home office and work in the office with some light gaming (mmo and fps). Which switch would you recommend?

[@MartinAaberge]

Tough one… it comes down to preference between linear and tactile. Home office and work in the office, I’d go brown. They are a bit noisier than red so if you sit right next to someone who hates noise, you might want to pick . For gaming, linear react fast. Both?

[@lxi_zn]

@@MartinAaberge thanks. I think I will go brown to be safe. For now I am just waiting for a different colour version (a la non back-lit) before I order

[@dvckyymc]

this obviously goes for the k12 right?

[@MartinAaberge]

No, the K12 is a high profile. This is low profile :)

[@dvckyymc]

yeah i got it all worked out. thanks

[@DankBlank]

I have a G915 TKL with the tactile switches so I'm not thinking about buying another low profile keyboard just yet , but what would your switch recommendation/opinion be for a low profile keyboard? I was thinking of going linear like Keychron's white or mint optical switches more than tactile because of the low travel distance because of the low profile.

[@MartinAaberge]

Have a look at this video where I go into details on when I would pick what switches : Keychron K3/K7 - Choose The Right Low-Profile Optical SWITHCES. Sound Tests and Personal Thoughts kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6KZqJiMlql8is0

[@robertpearson8546]

I made the mistake of buying a Keychron K7. What I received was NOT wireless (no dongle included) and, when connected by USB cable, many keys did not work. Keychron ignored all my requests for an RMA and a refund. Before buying anything from Keychron, think! Do you want to give your money to a company that treats its customers this way?

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi Robert. I'm sorry to hear you had issues with your board. I'm on a Mac for wireless and Lunux on the cabled one so I never even looked for a dongle. On the Mac it just connects without a dongle. Interesting though. I'll check my box and see if I got one.

[@kryptomeria]

Thank you so much. I never use mechanical before, so your video helped me a lot!

[@MartinAaberge]

That’s great :) check out my other video on the same subject to hear how the banana and mint sounds :)

[@JohnSmith-kw6be]

I have one question about the gateron brown switches. Does their tactile feed back feel like a membrane or does it feel clicky like cherry browns?

[@MartinAaberge]

This is the optical Keychron ones. They do not feel clicky like the blue, but not completely membrane either. Maybe more membrane than click.

[@JohnSmith-kw6be]

@@MartinAaberge @Martin Aaberge Thanks for replying. Even though the original video was a few months ago. But they do provide "clicky" tactile feedback right? As long as it has that, I am fine with it.

[@MartinAaberge]

@@JohnSmith-kw6be I just swapped them out with the blue and I’d say they give the same colicky feel, only softer. Obviously, it feels a bit different since they are tactile and. It clicks, but it feels pretty similar so yeah. They feel tactile with a noticeable bump :)

[@BCtechB]

What's the difference between Gateron and optical switches?

[@MartinAaberge]

I haven't tried the gateron switches, but in general, optical swithces break the light (Ir) beam on the PCB while mechanical need to make contact physically. @Switch and Click has a good guide here: switchandclick.com/optical-vs-mechanical-keyboards-which-is-better/

[@sikfreeze]

I just got blue. I think blue is too light for my taste. The sound it makes is a lot lower than I expected. l wish there were more feedback for each key press. Now I'm not sure if I should get the brown or the orange switches.

[@MartinAaberge]

Tough choice. Orange is heavier than the blue so that might work for you. The brown I think gives great feedback, and less noise.

[@sikfreeze]

@@MartinAaberge Between the sound and feedback, I would choose better feedback so I guess I'll go for the brown ones and see if it works out

[@sikfreeze]

@@MartinAaberge Thanks for your thoughts...really helpful

[@MartinAaberge]

@@sikfreeze that’s great. Let me know what you think.

[@sikfreeze]

@@MartinAaberge Sure will do

[@clifflin7149]

Based on what I tried, if you are buying a K3, DO NOT choose the optical switches, those are replaceable but the typing experience is horrible (the worst mechanical switch I've ever used). I tried optical red and brown, both are too bad to keep typing for a minutes. I feel that the friction is much more noticeable than the normal switches.

[@marcelowcr]

Hi Lin! So I did that...guess I didn't see your comment before hand, hehe. I got the switches. Do you have any comparison between the red optical vs Gateron red? Thanks!

[@daniellee4551]

The real question is ... is optical a compromise? Should go for the Brown gateron switches ? which seems impossible to find stock for.

[@MartinAaberge]

I don’t really know. Haven’t tried the Gaterons.

[@arifpria]

This is very informative and helpful! Thank you so much!

[@MartinAaberge]

Thanks! Glad you like it!

[@naniq1021]

Hello, do the switches differ only in the spring inside?

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi Naniq. They are physically different in terms of the feedback. Linears have no physical obstacle, tactiles have a small bump, while clicky makes an actual click when the stem goes past the leaf. I'm not 100% sure how these are built inside, but they follow the same theory as full profile switches AFAIK.

[@GENKI_INU]

How bright are those backlight white LEDs on this board? My main concern is having good visibility. I was thinking of getting the RGB version of the K3, but I heard from owners that those RGB LEDs were quite dim. Maybe the white LED version is brighter?

[@MartinAaberge]

I’ll get back to you and do a check on that. I have noticed that the light are brighter when the usb is plugged in. Which makes sense considering battery life

[@automattic6829]

I started with a K1 but ended up sending it back and getting an RGB k3 instead. The backlight is not nearly as bright as the k1. At first I was bummed, but the more I use it, the less I care. I'm facing two windows in a pretty bright room so during the day the lights don't really matter much. That said, they're just bright enough to look cool on my desk without being distracting in the evening. When I'm actually using the keyboard, I have it set on solid white or light blue (because they appear the brightest), but I'm not generally looking at the keys while typing anyway. For me, it's definitely not a deal breaker. And yes, the lights are definitely brighter when plugged in.

[@LXAndre]

Great video, new sub here! I have money to buy just one and my choice was brown!

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi ! Thank you for your sub! Brown is a good choice👍🏼 I have the k7 coming in sometime in November. Stay tuned for the review. Ordered banana and mint switches. Both of those are tactile with an early bump. Similar to the brown, but a bit different behavior and heavier :)

[@LXAndre]

@@MartinAaberge Nice! Keep up the great work!

[@hzqqqqqq]

brown switch sounds professional for me

[@MartinAaberge]

brown is my favorite as well. I just swapped to reds and I miss the brown already :D

[@hzqqqqqq]

@@MartinAaberge thanks for this informative video. so which one should i choose as this is my first time buying mechanical keyboard. red or brown? would love to hear your opinion. thanks in advance and have a great day ahead!

[@MartinAaberge]

@@hzqqqqqq If you are only buying one, I would buy brown. I suggest you buy these three because it will give you a nice range. RED, BROWN, BLUE. Enjoy!

[@vmikel15vc]

Great and helpful review! Definitely what I was looking for. Already subbed!

[@MartinAaberge]

Awesome, thank you! I'm glad you like the content :D

[@vmikel15vc]

@@MartinAaberge Of course! I watched almost all your videos. You saved me from buying the delta carpio lol. Just a quick question if you don't mind, what's the main difference between the optical blue and brown? My wife will be using this one for work and she just wants to experience something better than a normal laptop keyboard. Does she need to go for the optical blue to completely experience the tactile feel? Or the brown would be enough? I am using a cherry mx blue, and a zealios v2 67g switch is coming. So I am deciding whether to get the optical brown or blue for a different experience.

[@MartinAaberge]

That's fantastic :) The Blue is really clicky, like loud clicky. The browns are tactile so you get this mechanical feel when typing on them. If your wife is looking for mechanical keyboard setups for work, the fastest way to get everyone to hate you is to go for blue. I would advice you go for brown to get something semi-silent and tactile. It will get you the mechanical keyboard feeling and still keep your friends at the office ;)

[@PhuNguyen-my9un]

Good video! I'm about to buy 1, any tips?

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi Phú. I would consider the following: Do you know what kind of switches you like from before? If not, red, brown, blue, and mint would give you a good averege baseline. I would get a wooden palm rest for a more comfortable typing experience :) if you like a heavier typing experience, black, banana, and orange will be your best bet.

[@matthewwyers4342]

All the pre built keyboards on Amazon seem to not have black switches. If someone could find a black switch that's wireless/wired and provide a link I would appreciate it.

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi Matthew. Thank you for your comment. I think these have blacks as options (affiliate): YUNZII Keynovo IF98 amzn.to/3mxyPgB YUNZII KC68 amzn.to/3ttWx1d If you include the search terms "Gateron Black" or "Kailh Black" you might get more results. Normally you can select different switches where you would select case color etc. right below the photos.

[@ComfyCosi]

What's the typing test that he's using in the video?

[@MartinAaberge]

monkeytype.com

[@foxitive]

I recently got the K3 (pleasant surprise to find I got a K3V2 with the kickstand feet and orange housings on the original set of blue switches), and I also picked up the red and brown switches. I really like the crunchy feel of the blue switches, but they're a bit too loud. Reds feel ok, good sound but kinda smushy, and the difference between the reds and the browns isn't that much when I'm actually using them to type or game. Would you say that the oranges are quieter than the blues, or are they about the same - or should I just give in and try to mod the blues to reduce the sound but keep the clicky feel? Also, the K7 is coming out soon (65%, same low profile as K3) with new Banana and Mint optical, will you be trying them?

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi Foxitive. Really cool that you got the V2. I would like to test that as well. You even got the limited edition (first 1000) orange housing switches :D The orange is not quiter than the blues, it is more noisy because it requires more force to push down. I think the blue is an excellent switch. I really like the brown and I don't think it is too close to the red because of the nature of the switch. The reds are linear and the browns are tactile. If I were you, I would spend a week with Browns and see how it feels. The K7 is super interesting. I have been looking for keyboards without the Function keys. This looks like a great fit. Maybe I should pick it up and try out the banana and mint switches as well. What types are those?

[@foxitive]

@@MartinAaberge The orange housings do look pretty neat - doesn't match my colour scheme, but they make a nice contrast against the blue switch colour :D Hmm, I'll have to do some more searching to see if there's a way to make the blues a little quieter then if the oranges are no better. I've committed a heinous mechanical keyboard crime and spent the last few days with a mish-mash of all three switches on the letter keys (I do not have the patience for a whole week on each switch haha), and once I get going the tactile bump on the browns don't really register as much as I thought they would compared to the reds - I didn't mean to say that the browns and reds feel identical lol I was originally looking for a 65% rather than the K3's 75%, tried the SK622 (low-profile but half-height caps I'd say?) and sent it back, also tried the NuType F1 but unfortunately hit some gnarly QC issues with my unit and currently still debating with their customer service for a refund, so I'm super intrigued by the K7. Between the two, the SK622 basically had almost every possible combination of function keys mapped somewhere on another layer, while the NuType has basically zero. If you're comfortable with manual remappping and/or using layers, 65% boards are great and look very clean imo. The keychron website describes the Banana and Mint switches as similar to Holy Pandas but with a low profile, meaning a tactile bump but smoother. Couldn't say for certain, I've never tried Holy Pandas and not particularly interested in full-height switches, so these new ones certainly sound interesting (and should theoretically be hot-swappable into the K3 as well, but we'll have to wait and see about that).

[@Seconds84]

@@MartinAaberge I actually just ordered the K3 the day before they officially announced the v2. My order number seems to fall in line with getting the V2 upgrade automatically. What upsets me is I ordered the hot swap, RGB optical blue switch variant, even though I wanted brown or red, as blue was all that was in stock. Now that I know I got the new orange housing variant on its way I am actually aggravated that I settled. Now if I want to swap switches now, I will lose the orange housing lolol. I already know I am not going to like these blue switches based upon this video.

[@MartinAaberge]

@@Seconds84 keep the blue switches and order the others when they are in stock. The switches were delivered quite quickly :)

[@Seconds84]

@@MartinAaberge i got my V2 keyboard in with the orange housings. I’m gonna be upset to lose that esthetic but I cannot stand the blue switches. I generally used browns before, but I hear these browns have a known issue that keychron has acknowledged. I noticed you mentioned reds over the blacks. I’m considering ordering some new switches, why go red over black with the low profile and potential of accidental presses?

[@bencis1892]

Thanks! red, brown and blue.

[@MartinAaberge]

You’re welcome :) a good set!

[@bencis1892]

@@MartinAaberge Voy a comprar el teclado keychron y un juego de interruptores de esos colores.

[@MartinAaberge]

@@bencis1892 that’s great! i hope you’ll be happy with the set :)

[@chaosmetroid]

As someone who likes Cherry MX Blue, like....... A LOT. I recently got K3v2 but it came with Brown Switches (USED pretty much new). I'm not a fan of it, I mean I like it but I like the CLICK FEEL. How would compare the Blue/Orange to a Normal Cherry MX Blue? Or which feels closer to it?

[@MartinAaberge]

I switched to blue yesterday. Compared with the Cherry MX Blue they are much lighter and does not produce the same pow. If you were a fan of clicky and don’t find the brown all that pleasant, I suggest you try the blue for your K3. If you like more resistance, you can try the orange. To me, the orange is a tad to heavy so the blue feels more like the browns but clicky.

[@DonDealio]

How about banana and mint switches? Were they only released after this video was published?

[@DonDealio]

Allright - now I found your later update. Thanks a lot :) Mentioning here for others who may be looking for the same. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6KZqJiMlql8is0

[@MartinAaberge]

@@DonDealio I'm glad you found it. I'll pin a comment with the update :D

[@mrcerebrosus1701]

Thank you a lot!

[@MartinAaberge]

thanks for watching

[@Mr-iX]

Do these switches wear out when changing them often? I have read that the browns feel more mushy when they where removed and inserted again

[@MartinAaberge]

I have switched them a dozen of times and haven’t felt any wear. I changed switches two-three times per week for a while ;)

[@MartinAaberge]

Just an update here. I have swapped switches one gazillion times and no real wear so far :)

[@sayednab]

can you do k3 pro version ?

[@MartinAaberge]

Maybe. I haven't been able to get a hold of any Keychron representative to collaborate, and I don't plan to buy all their boards to test them. I'd be happy to test more of their keyboards if I can land a deal. For now, I have two more builds coming up that I have in the pipeline before I keep working on new content :D

[@codegeek8256]

What is the difference between tactile and linear switch?

[@MartinAaberge]

Tactile has a silent noticable bump while linear has no real resistance.

[@airrwalker]

Is the Keychron Low Profile Optical switch Quieter than Gateron Low Profile Mechanical switch?

[@MartinAaberge]

That, I do not know. Hopefully some of the viewers do?

[@phcphcphc]

Is there is difference in the sound ? I cannot hear it. I just want the most silent one. After watching this review I still dont know wich one that is.

[@MartinAaberge]

White, which is linear and the one that require least force I would say is more silent

[@santohasib1360]

Awesome video!!!

[@MartinAaberge]

Thank you! :) I’m working on another one where the banana and mint is also covered :)

[@aces8481]

thank you King 👑

[@MartinAaberge]

You’re welcome :)

[@nazarshortcuts]

Tactile browns are the most enjoyable, as for me.)

[@MartinAaberge]

I agree. Browns are very nice. I like blue and red as well :)

[@groundsymphony]

If you had to choose one, will you go for the brown one or blue one? And why?

[@MartinAaberge]

If I had to choose just one, I would go for the brown. It feels a bit smoother, while maintaining the tactile click. It also makes sure noone kills you because of noise :)

[@miguelmorales8560]

Can i use the Keychrone un a Nuphy keyboard?

[@MartinAaberge]

The keycaps? The switches? I'm not sure I understand the question. Could you elaborate?

[@arvincasupanan6481]

Red or Brown, which one would you choose?

[@MartinAaberge]

If I could only pick one, brown. Check my other switch video where I talk about why :)

[@d4niells]

Tanks for this video 🤗

[@MartinAaberge]

You’re welcome. I hope you figured out which switches to buy :)

[@durikke2]

What About the Optical Switches?

[@MartinAaberge]

These are the opticals. If you're thinking about the mechanical ones, I don't have them around to test, unfortunately.

[@durikke2]

@@MartinAaberge It's all good, i got a red optical Switch myself, the actuation is really good! Thanks for the video.

[@lmtrades]

cool watch on the side, model ?

[@MartinAaberge]

That is a Skagen Hybrid :)

[@codegeek8256]

Which website do you use for the typed words?

[@MartinAaberge]

Sorry for the late reply. I use monkeytype :)

[@gabrielhenfield7086]

what mouse is that?

[@MartinAaberge]

That is the Logitech Mx master 3 for Mac

[@ahmedsalah7240]

excuse me what type the keyboard you use it ?

[@MartinAaberge]

Hi. The keyboard I use is a Keychron K3

[@ahmedsalah7240]

@@MartinAaberge thank you

[@MartinAaberge]

@@ahmedsalah7240 no problem :D

[@johnwayne622]

Quick question! How do I turn off the white backlight for k3 V2, just bought it by watching you channel!

[@MartinAaberge]

Keep pressing the top right key till you find your preferred light. I think one of the modes is OFF.

[@johnwayne622]

@@MartinAaberge still can't unfortunately,I've tried all the mode

[@johnwayne622]

Update! Press fn and light effect key to turn off the backlight mode

[@johnwayne622]

To turn off backlight mode, press fn and light effect key. It'll help save battery.

[@johnwayne622]

To turn it back on, simply do the same

[@s4uss]

Brown don't feel very good, too mushy, and reds are too sensitive. I just installed Banana57 ones, and they are just the best of these 3. Don't get anything else than Banana, trust me. Well I guess Black50 could be a good alternative to Red40, then it's not that easy to misclick, but Banana still feels better, more like tactile old keyboards. Mint67 would be too draining to type on for too long, only for very heavy fingers.

[@MartinAaberge]

I agree. Bananas are my daily drivers :)

[@MartinAaberge]

Which switch(es) will you get? Let me know in the comments. Technically, you can also buy the Gateron mechanical switches. We are looking at the Keychron Low-profile Optical switches today :)

[@BogDog9]

i had a bad experience with optical reds so now im taking gateron

[@MartinAaberge]

@@BogDog9 How did it go?

[@xoym]

Good job!

[@MartinAaberge]

Thank you:)

[@잉이이-f1f]

Is the depth of the switches for k3 shorter than the other ones??

[@MartinAaberge]

That depends what other switches you refer to. The Keychron low-profile optical switches are 10.7mm, the gateron low-profile mechanical switches are 11.7mm, while the classic switch is 17.9mm

[@donutboy9576]

Thank you! :)

[@MartinAaberge]

You’re welcome!

[@jillting1852]

Isnt the low profile and linear should be quiet

[@MartinAaberge]

yes, the whites are the most quiet. They will make some noise due to the fact that they are keys with some travel, and are not lubed. Ranging from silent to loud: white-red-black-brown-blue-orange

[@aliakseimakaranka4681]

Great, thanks!

[@MartinAaberge]

You’re welcome :)

[@bishstar5185]

Very nice video.

[@MartinAaberge]

Thank you!

[@mallen912]

On point and very informative. Thank you…

[@MartinAaberge]

Thank you!

[@patrickphippspa584]

FANTASTIC video and you sir, are just a joy to watch. Been binging on your channel as a result of this. Great WORK!! Oh, yeah. Liked,

[@MartinAaberge]

Thank you so much Patrick. I’m honered

[@학생1-r5o]

I like your video, beautiful😻

[@MartinAaberge]

Thank you! 😊 I'm glad you like it!

[@EasonTek]

how about the banana and mint switches

[@MartinAaberge]

I want to try them out. Might test them on a k7. Waiting for a reply from Keychron