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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: tp4tissue on Fri, 27 October 2023, 18:18:57

Title: Keychrons, AVOID !!
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 27 October 2023, 18:18:57

One of Tp4's 4 units bought is defective. The battery dies within half hour.

Took it apart, the battery has swelled a bit.

It's very likely that keychron is recycling refurb stock and selling units as new. This is not a trust worth company.

On top of the fact that they advertise nkro for the k2, but the non-backlit version is only 10-kro, ONTOP of the poor soldering.   

Tp4 is moving Keychron solidly to AVOID.   It was a gamble at the sale price, but at full price, look elsewhere.   :eek:

Title: Re: Keychrons, AVOID !!
Post by: Prince Valiant on Fri, 27 October 2023, 21:31:27

Thanks for the warning.

Title: Re: Keychrons, AVOID !!
Post by: Rhienfo on Sat, 28 October 2023, 05:59:47

I heard really good things about them in terms of what you get for the price, especially their K Pro series. but I guess their QC may not be that consistent. Wasn't gonna buy one anyway but that's worrying to hear anyway as KC is a big brand.
 
Are the other units fine then? cause it could be a singular slip up.

Title: Re: Keychrons, AVOID !!
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 28 October 2023, 07:28:02

The other ones "seem" fine. I've taken all of them apart, the soldering is pretty crummy on all of them. Will update if they act up.

With electronics, it comes down to trust / reliability / quality control. So the internals matter quite a bit, there were clearly cold joints on a few switches.

Exterior, the design is not bad but the aluminum slips on the sides do not line up perfectly, you have to do your own offset with the screw to get it even, and you can't tighten it down all the way, or it would push past the edge again.

The double shot caps are good, the laser-ed shine-through caps are atrocious.

Title: Re: Keychrons, AVOID !!
Post by: Leslieann on Sat, 28 October 2023, 09:43:22

I've seen crap batteries go bad before they even left a warehouse.
Not just like cheap cell phone batteries but high(er) end drone batteries as well from semi-reputable brands.

Could they be reselling refurb as new, maaaybe, but given the state of the battery industry it's far more likely just a sh*t battery that sat on a shelf too long.

Title: Re: Keychrons, AVOID !!
Post by: LogLab on Sat, 28 October 2023, 13:00:06

That's dissappointing, I've only heard good things about them before! Did you contact them to see what they said?

Also, just curious, what kind of batteries do they use?

Title: Re: Keychrons, AVOID !!
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 28 October 2023, 14:19:30

It's a 4000mah lipo, if this thing punctures in a shipping truck, Easily start a fire.

Title: Re: Keychrons, AVOID !!
Post by: Demonseed Elite on Fri, 12 January 2024, 15:59:18

I was looking to get a Keychron Q6 Pro too as my first custom keyboard.

Who would you recommend for a 104/108 Full keyboard that has a long wireless life and can take standard 5-pin MX style switches?