Barebones Keyboards
Case, plate, and PCB. You bring the switches and keycaps. Listed when the base is worth building on.
The Keychron Q1 Pro is the gasket 75% we mark Best Overall. The MonsGeek M1 and M3 are the cheaper aluminum boards. The Glorious GMMK 3 is the one from a normal store. A lot of the rest are Keychron wireless boards sold without switches.
If you only want one, start with Keychron Q1 Pro . It is the barebones board we marked Best Overall.
52 keyboards
“The Honda Civic of custom keyboards”
A 1.7 kg aluminum 75% with Bluetooth, QMK/VIA and a knob. Reviewers praise its soft, bouncy typing feel; the stock sound is decent but can ping.
“Glorious's modular gasket-mount barebones with a knob and hot-swap PCB”
A wired, modular barebones with a polymer case, aluminum plate, modular gaskets, hot-swap sockets and knob support. Reviews cover the HE and Boardsmith versions: decent typing, rattly stabilizers, and software that is not great.
“Ultra-slim 75% scissor-switch board with ZMK and no backlight”
A low-profile 75% wireless keyboard with scissor-switch keys, ZMK firmware and no backlight. Tom's Guide and WIRED liked the typing feel; the plastic build and missing backlight are the trade-offs.
“Ultra-slim 96% scissor board with a numpad and no backlight”
A low-profile 96% wireless keyboard with a numpad, ABS keycaps and no backlight. No review of this exact model turned up; evidence is Keychron's specs and its siblings' reviews.
“Ultra-slim 75% scissor board with Launcher remapping”
A low-profile 75% wireless board with Launcher remapping, 1000Hz over 2.4GHz and wired, and no backlight. Parka Blogs liked it but hit shortcut problems.
“80% TKL scissor-switch wireless board with 3.5 mm travel”
A tenkeyless wireless keyboard with taller scissor switches, ABS construction and no backlight. TechPowerUp covered the launch; no independent review of the B33 itself turned up.
“96% scissor-switch wireless board with a numpad and no NKRO”
A 96% wireless scissor-switch keyboard in ABS with no backlight. Keychron lists no NKRO. No review of this exact model found.
“96% Alice-layout scissor board with macro column and knob”
A 96% Alice-style wireless keyboard with scissor keys, a macro column and a knob, in ABS with no backlight. Only launch coverage found; no review yet.
“Ultra-slim 96% wireless board with 1000Hz and no backlight”
A low-profile 96% wireless keyboard, 495 g by Keychron's figure, with no backlight. No review of this exact model found; evidence is Keychron's specs and sibling reviews.
“75% Alice-layout scissor board with macro column and knob”
A 75% Alice-style wireless keyboard with scissor keys, a macro column and a knob, in ABS with no backlight. Only launch coverage found; no review yet.
“Ultra-slim full-size wireless board with 112 keys and no backlight”
A low-profile 100% wireless keyboard with 112 keys, 623 g by Keychron's figure and no backlight. No review of this exact model found.
“Low-profile 75% wireless board with hot-swap and QMK”
A low-profile 75% tri-mode board with QMK, the Launcher web app and a 2000 mAh battery. Evidence is Keychron's spec page and a comparison listing; no standalone review found.
“Wireless 75% with hot-swap, QMK and a knob in an ABS case”
A tri-mode 75% with QMK and Launcher, hot-swap sockets, foam-damped sound and a plastic case. GamepadSquire rated it highly for value; evidence is limited.
“Wireless 80% TKL with hot-swap, QMK and a big battery”
A tri-mode tenkeyless with QMK and Launcher, hot-swap sockets and a 3750 mAh battery. No standalone review found; evidence is Keychron's specs and a comparison listing.
“Wireless full-size with hot-swap, QMK and a numpad”
A tri-mode full-size with QMK and Launcher, hot-swap sockets and a 3750 mAh battery. No standalone review found; evidence is Keychron's specs and a comparison listing.
“K1, from Keychron's store”
The current K1 is a low-profile 80% with Keychron Milk POM switches, shine-through ABS keycaps and a 160-hour battery rating, over Bluetooth or wired. No review of this version was found.
“K1 Max, from Keychron's store”
The K1 Max adds a 2.4 GHz dongle to the low-profile TKL. Wccftech and GGRecon found it comfortable and travel-friendly; low-profile switches are the main limit.
“K1 Pro, from Keychron's store”
The K1 Pro is the QMK/VIA low-profile TKL. AppleInsider called it an excellent upgrade with redesigned stabilizers and a 1000 Hz wired rate; wireless is Bluetooth only.
“K1 SE, from Keychron's store”
The K1 SE is the budget-tier low-profile TKL: ABS keycaps, a 190-hour battery rating, optical or mechanical switch options and about 550 g. The maker lists no QMK support on this version.
“K10, from Keychron's store”
The K10 (version 2) is the basic 100% full-size: OEM ABS keycaps, Bluetooth and wired, plastic or aluminum-frame builds, and a 240-hour battery rating. It lacks the PBT caps of the K10 Pro.
“K10 HE, from Keychron's store”
The K10 HE is the full-size Hall-effect K10: aluminum frame, 0.2 to 3.8 mm adjustable actuation, 2.4 GHz and about 1320 g. GameRevolution scored it 9 out of 10.
“K10 Max, from Keychron's store”
The K10 Max adds a 2.4 GHz dongle, Super switches and better dampening to the full-size K10. Tom's Guide called it fantastic, noted a harder bottom-out and no volume knob.
“K11 Max, from Keychron's store”
The K11 Max is a low-profile 65% Alice ergonomic board with 2.4 GHz and QMK/VIA. Tom's Guide praised the comfort and build but flagged loose feet and finicky software.
“K11 Pro, from Keychron's store”
The K11 Pro is the Bluetooth-only slim 65% Alice with a knob and QMK/VIA at about 510 g. No review of this model was found.
“K12, from Keychron's store”
The K12 is the original 60% with ABS keycaps, tray mount and a 240-hour battery rating. Keebnews called it well built with a loud spacebar and a high profile; the maker lists no QMK support.
“K13 Max, from Keychron's store”
The K13 Max is a low-profile 80% with an integrated numpad, 2.4 GHz and QMK/VIA at 600 g. Tom's Guide liked the comfort but flagged loose feet, short battery life and a numpad learning curve.
“K13 Pro, from Keychron's store”
The K13 Pro is the Bluetooth-only slim numpad TKL with QMK/VIA at about 580 g. Buyer feedback on the maker's page mentions a locked numpad; no professional review was found.
“K14, from Keychron's store”
The K14 is a 70% budget board with ABS keycaps, a plastic case with metal reinforcement and a 240-hour battery rating. Inverse called it a great starting board with a basic typing feel.
“K15 Max, from Keychron's store”
The K15 Max is a low-profile 75% Alice with 2.4 GHz and QMK/VIA. XDA liked the comfort and slim design; How-To Geek found it hard to adapt to and not very ergonomic at this height.
“K15 Pro, from Keychron's store”
The K15 Pro is the slim 75% Alice with a programmable aluminum knob, Bluetooth and QMK/VIA at about 696 g. No review of this model was found.
“K17 Max, from Keychron's store”
The K17 Max is a low-profile 96% with a numpad, 2.4 GHz and QMK/VIA at about 750 g. No board-specific review was found.
“K17 Pro, from Keychron's store”
The K17 Pro is a slim 96% with a knob and waterfall-shaped keycaps. Crafting Worlds liked the design but found the stock switches unpleasant; the maker lists little data.
“K2, from Keychron's store”
The original 75% K2: a wired and Bluetooth board with a plastic or aluminum-frame case, ABS keycaps and a 4000 mAh battery. The older, simpler design that the Pro, Max, HE and Ultra 8K build on.
“K2 HE, from Keychron's store”
A 75% Hall-effect K2 with Rapid Trigger, adjustable actuation, 2.4 GHz, a wood Special Edition and a 980 g body. Reviewers praised the feel and gaming features; some describe a plastic body even though Keychron lists aluminum.
“K2 Max, from Keychron's store”
The K2 Max adds 2.4 GHz wireless at 1000 Hz to the 75% K2 and keeps QMK/VIA, PBT keycaps and a 4000 mAh battery. Only sibling-board reviews were found.
“K4, from Keychron's store”
The original 96% K4: compact full-size with Bluetooth, Keychron Super switches, double-shot PBT keycaps and a 4000 mAh battery. Little review coverage; this is the least equipped K4.
“K4 HE, from Keychron's store”
The K4 HE is a 96% Hall-effect keyboard in aluminum with Rapid Trigger, a short-cable software limit and a Windows Central verdict of a great keyboard with minor limits.
“K5, from Keychron's store”
The K5 Ultra-Slim is the aluminum-and-plastic version of the SE slim full-size at about 770 g, with LSA ABS keycaps and a 90-hour battery rating.
“K5 SE, from Keychron's store”
The K5 SE Ultra-Slim is an aluminum, tray-mount full-size with LSA ABS keycaps, a 90-hour battery rating and about 673 g. Simpler and lighter than the K5.
“K6, from Keychron's store”
The original 65% K6 is a small, light plastic or aluminum-bezel board with ABS keycaps. The Keeblog found the stock keycaps thin and the plastic version hollow.
“K6 HE, from Keychron's store”
A 65% Hall-effect K6 in an aluminum body: Rapid Trigger, 2.4 GHz, 820 g. GameRevolution rated it 9 out of 10 and noted the lack of tactile options.
“Retro-styled 80% wireless hot-swap board with QMK and Launcher”
A retro-styled 80% TKL with 2.4GHz, Bluetooth and wired modes, hot-swap Keychron Super switches and QMK. Evidence is Keychron's page and one Japanese owner write-up that found it loud and heavy.
“Wired low-profile 75% in CNC aluminum with a steel plate”
A wired low-profile 75% with a full CNC aluminum body, steel plate and hot-swap option. MakeUseOf and How-To Geek praised the build and typing feel.
“The M3's 75% sibling”
An aluminum 75% with a ball-catch case, gasket mount, 8,000 mAh tri-mode battery and VIA. Reviewers praise the build and easy disassembly and fault the switches and the hidden mode switch.
“The 96% aluminum kit”
A 98-key aluminum compact full-size barebone with gasket mount, VIA, tri-mode wireless and an 8,000 mAh battery. Vortex Gaming praised its typing feel.
“Aluminum TKL, barebone price”
A wired aluminum TKL (87-key) barebone kit with gasket mount, a PC plate, QMK/VIA and screw-in stabilizers.
“The full-size aluminum kit”
A wired 108-key aluminum full-size barebone with gasket mount and QMK/VIA, about 2.45 kg. MonsGeek lists it as discontinued.
“The wireless full-size kit”
The wireless M5: a 108-key aluminum full-size kit with gasket mount, tri-mode connectivity and a 6,000 mAh battery. MonsGeek lists it as discontinued.
“The Alice kit”
A wired aluminum Alice-layout 65% barebone kit with a PC plate, gasket mount and QMK/VIA. A weighty kit that ThePhonograph rated highly for typing and sound.
“The wired 65% kit”
A wired aluminum 65% barebone kit with gasket mount, a clear polycarbonate plate and VIA. The plainer, cheaper sibling of the wireless M7W.
“The Mineral 96%”
The 98-key Mineral: a tri-mode aluminum compact full-size with a curved CNC side frame, PVD back weight, gasket mount and VIA.
“NuPhy's assembled custom-style TKL kit with an aluminum top and omni-mount”
A barebones TKL with a CNC aluminum top, thick PC bottom, FR4 plate, hot-swap sockets, QMK/VIA and tri-mode wireless. Tom's Hardware called it a great introduction to custom boards; Tom's Guide hit firmware issues and spacebar wobble.