OK so….
1. Double typing can be a result of tired out switches, but can also (perhaps more commonly) be caused by dirt and dust or loose connections on the PCB (circuit board) especially if your keyboard is hot swappable (you can easily remove and replace the switches without having to solder them in), it’s really easy to push too hard or bend the board and pop out a connection. Also software (firmware and drivers typically) can end up old and conflicted and can cause problems. Just FYI.
2. It sounds like you need a sturdy board and the Keychron is a hefty chunk of alumninium, so you’ll def get that. I’d always urge you to consider getting a slimmer board so that your setup is more convenient to use, the next size down is an 1800 with 96% of the keys like the the Keychron Q5.
3. When it comes to switches, there are currently 3 main types (that aren’t bog standard membrane) and there are two you’ll be interested in - standard MX switches and HE (magnetic) switches. Effectively the switches in most keyboards are “analogue” in that they work by connecting two metal terminals when you press them (MX) and performance is therefore only improvable by improving the transmission of that signal to the computer - the polling rate - the Q6 is ok compared to most gaming boards but the Q5/Q6 Max are better. Hall Effect (HE) switches activate when a magnetic field detects that a certain point on the keypress is reached and there’s an instant voltage change. These are popular now for gaming because you can set that activation point wherever you like and also have multiple on a single key. Keychron does an HE version of both the Q5 and Q6 which both also have the same 1000Hz polling rate as the max.
In terms of switches wearing out, if you get a hot swappable board you can just replace them. The HE boards Keychron makes are only compatible with one type of switch (Gateron double rails) which are actually pretty good, and the lack of mechanical action makes it much less likely they’ll wear out. For gaming MX / Cherry switches ( not to be confused with cherry profile keycaps) there are two types people like for gaming, linear or tactile with a definite bump when you press them. That’s really a matter of personal taste (I can’t stand linear switches and find my fingers splaying out across the board in need of some sort of rebound) but this is where you get to sample a few, read around the subject and try them out. The Keychron keycaps are all pretty good.
4. RGB - if you mean north facing (shines straight through the top of the keycap) or south facing, north facing rgbs can interfere with certain types of keycap and generally south facing are actually considered better (they’re also much brighter from the users perspective). Keychron does a side printed OSA profile set and their RGB customisation has 22 types of setting plus adjustable brightness, speed on each of them etc. Generally, the more performance orientated the board, the less likely you’re going to get north facing rgbs.
Hope this helped!
Get a Keychron V5 or Q5 if you can stretch the budget. Barebones V5 is $60 right now so plenty left over for your preferred set of keycaps and switches.
The keyboard rabbit hole is one that I had no idea was infinitely deep when I was looking for a new keyboard. After literal weeks of watching reviews and reading about all the different types of switches, I settled on the Keychron Q5HE. That one is out of your budget, but they have the K10 HE on amazon right now for 135. Keychron make great keyboards
bmcm80
