Ive tried the wootings, and they are only better if you want a 60% imo. Personal prefrence is huge, but having tried both the HE Max line from keychron is better build quality, better cs, and better overall. This is my OPINION ofc, and is just my experience with the boards. For her case though if her son needs a full size board, wooting literally has no options. Keychron is the best true 100% with HE on the market. The monsgeek and all the alt options ive seen are 97-99% boards. Not true 100% boards.
Keychron is considered one of the best keyboard makers on the market, Monsgeek is good, as well, I just wouldnt say better. Ive owned both and enjoyed both, but have prefered keychron. I suppose personal prefrence comes into play here.
Also id ad monsgeeks alternative that you suggested isnt a true 100% its a 98% or 99%. It is missing a few keys and for my case at least it wouldnt work with my keycap set. The non true 100% boards have a variation on the num pad style.
Okay first off most mechanical wireless keyboards are what they call trimode - they work over usb, bluetooth, or 2.4 gigahertz dongle. You can (and I generally do) disconnect the battery completely (o even remove it) and treat them as purely wired. Second, the Keychron Q and V series boards are generally available both in wired only and in trimode. Third... they have been having terrible quality control problems with both of these product lines and I really can't recommend them.
On the other hand, you may find that a better deal would be to get two keyboards, a small, possibly magnetic board for gaming and a full-sized or 96% board for work. For the letter the Monsgeek M2 V5 via is kind of the platonic ideal of a 96% aluminum board. The YMDK YMD96 in the wooden case is a simpler, more compact and I think rather elegant option.
Magnetic boards, you'll have to ask someone else. I have been increasingly disappointed in the options, even the Keychron offerings have some clangers.
For a smaller conventional board, I like the Keychron J2 enough I bought extras for my media laptop and for hacking on... I've been customizing the firmware. Or the RK RK61, though that one really *needs* heavy customization... the default layout is terrible. I have custom layout.json files as well as firmware source and images to improve it rather a lot.
They have a problem that started late 2023 or early 2024 with the very flexible plate and PCB in many of the Q and V series boards with the gasket mount, where over time the switches get loosened and worked out of the PCB by the pressure of the plate and the plate foam, and you start getting bouncing and missed keystrokes. Keychron's customer support is most abusively bad, and they make people jump through all kinds of Hoops to deal with this. I have seen reports that this has been fixed in more recent versions but there's still a lot of old stock in the pipeline, and I have seen reports of people having these problems with more recent boards. My own Q Series boards are much older than the start of the problem but looking at pictures that people have posted it looks to me like the plate foam is just too thick and heavy, and some people have reported that rebuilding the board without any plate foam solves the problem at the cost of some change in the feel and sound of the board.
You may never have an issue but it's a risk.
The m2v5 is perfectly good as an office board, that's actually what I was recommending it for. It's a little bit big and heavy in my opinion for a game board but some people like a battleship.
To get an idea of the sizes and layouts that are available, the Keychron website is actually a good place to just browse to get an idea of what board configuration spark joy in your heart.
I have been a 75% fan since the early 90s, and lately I've kind of flipped to even smaller boards.
Anything with QMK firmware, it's 2026, there's so many great keyboards with QMK firmware it seems a shame to put up with proprietary firmware restrictions and weirdness.
Keychron: I have a K2 Pro and it's a lovely tank. I have a couple of J2s and have been hacking on the firmware. The Q and V have had quality problems and if they start losing keystrokes a few months in the support is completely pants, abusive.
Akko: Monsgeek M1/M2 v5 VIA or Akko 5075 VIA.
Magnetic: Keychron K or J series. They're the only QMK magnetic option other than Sunder who are even more always sold out than Keychron.
Electromechanical: Glencreag WK84 or Womier WD75 because wood is such a lovely case material.
Or:
* [Monsgeek M1 v5](https://www.monsgeek.com/product/m1-v5-via-rapid-disassembly/) * ($80 barebones)
* [Akko 5075B VIA](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FLDJZPH9) * ($60 barebones)
* [YMDK YMD75](https://ymdkey.com/collections/75-diy) * ($64-$110 diy)
* [Womier RD75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-RD75-Pro-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DG82QD1X) ($95 w/ coupon)
* [Womier WD75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Mechanical-Swappable-Translucent-Keycaps-POM/dp/B0DT8SP79R) * (wood! $90)
* [Glencreag WK84](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYDM9N49) * (wood! $95 w/ coupon)
* [Redragon K715](https://redragonshop.com/products/finke-k715-pro) * ($30)
* [Royal Kludge RK R75 QMK/VIA](https://www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-R75-Mechanical/dp/B0CWGR5KM9) * ($51 with coupon)
* [Womier Q75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Keyboard-Topographic-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DQV22S2T) ($59)
* [Womier Era75](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Wireless-Mechanical-Pre-lubed-Swappable/dp/B0FGD7HWPW) ($63)
* [Womier SK71 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/Womier-Keyboard-Mechanical-Swappable-PRO-Black/dp/B0DSFWXFV7) ($65)
* [Yunzii AL80](https://www.amazon.com/YUNZII-AL80-Wireless-Mechanical-Swappable/dp/B0DT73C6VP) ($84)
* [Keychron J2](https://www.amazon.com/Keychron-Mechanical-Bluetooth-Hot-swappable-Compatible/dp/B0GLNSP4BN) * ($69)
* [Kiiboom Phantom 81 Lite](https://www.amazon.com/KiiBoom-Mechanical-Programmable-Backlights-Hot-Swappable/dp/B0FB93MCLG) * ($91)
* [Redragon k739](https://www.amazon.com/Redragon-Mechanical-Programmable-Pre-Lubed-Swappable/dp/B0G38YZ8M1) * ($65)
PS: the official "best keyboard" is the Norbauer Seneca but it starts at $3600. :)
Monsgeek M2 V5 way better value than that Keychron board from a reputable brand
https://preview.redd.it/4e7zw1o0hjjg1.jpeg?width=1320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d36c78eeaacc5f5b884a3ee613b18f110c6a58e0
Imo Keychron is overpriced in comparison to brands like monsgeek, womier, weikav 212$ for a mid tier board is overpriced a Neo75 or Neo98 is around the same price and that blows any of the mentioned brands out of the water as far as quality goes. Only thing Keychron has going in comparison is good software and good customer support plus years in the buisness getting the reputable name out there but there is far better boards for $200+ that’s why I recommended the monsgeek as it’s almost half the price and is around the same quality minus not being Hall effect that’s just me tho obviously it’s all opinions and preferences
I have a Monsgeek M2 with Akko V3 Cream Yellow Pro switches and some random keycaps off amazon. I am using all the included foam and padding in the kit. I am looking for recommendations on some better quality keycaps and thocky switches. I am not sure if I want to go with SA, XDA, or possibly ceramic, but I do know that they must be white and blue. I also want to change from a clacky build to a thocky build, so any switch recommendations would be very much appreciated because the only thocky switch I know are oil kings. I tried a friends keyboard and it sounded like pebbles or jade bouncing together, so that's my goal.
Link to test audio -> [https://soundcloud.com/clear-yatogami/test-keyboard-audio](https://soundcloud.com/clear-yatogami/test-keyboard-audio)
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