iQunix has made its name on delivering some of the best prebuilt mechanical keyboards on the market. Today, we’re looking at its brand new Q66 Summer Tour, part of its brand new line of 65% mechanical keyboards. With this keyboard, iQunix has done the modding for you and delivers one of its best typing experiences to date. Gamers will also appreciate its mouse-friendly design and 1ms wireless connection speed for latency-free gaming. No matter what stripe of keyboard fan you are, if you enjoy its compact layout, the Q66 seems bound to impress.
Specifications
- Current Price:
- TTC Gold Pink Switches: $139//$149 (iQunix)
- TTC Speed Silver Switches: $149/$169 (iQunix)
- TTC Holy Panda Switches: $159/$179 (iQunix)
- Model: Q66
- Type: Mechanical Keyboard
- Structure: Gasket Mount
- Layout: 65%
- Keys Count: 66
- Materials: PBT Keycaps + ABS Frame
- Switches: Cherry MX / TTC
- Switches Orientation: South-facing
- Lifespan: 50/100 Million Keystrokes
- Larger Key Structure: Costar Stabilizers
- Legends Printing: Double-shot
- Keycap Profile: Cherry
- Connection: Bluetooth 5.1 / 2.4GHz / USB Type-C
- Hot Swappable: Support
- N-Key Rollover: Support
- Battery Capacity: 4000mAh (5V*1A)
- Response Time: 1ms (Wired & 2.4GHz) / 8ms (Bluetooth)
- Polling Rate: 1000Hz (Wired & 2.4GHz) / 125Hz (Bluetooth)
- Interface: USB Type-C
- Cable Length: 150cm
- Product Weight: Approx. 780g
- Dimensions: 340 x 116 x 31 mm
- Operating Systems: Windows / macOS / iOS / Android
- Package Includes: Keyboard×1, Manual×1, Cable×1, Mac Supplementary Keycaps×4, Puller×1, Dust Cover×1, 2.4GHz Receiver×1, USB Extender×1, Cleaning Brush×1
iQunix Q66 - What Is It?
The iQunix Q66 is a compact mechanical keyboard that features dual-mode connectivity, high quality keycaps, switches, and a boutique design. The version we were sent is the Summer Tour variant, coming in a mix of muted cyan and beige. It is also available in Flouresence (white, grey, and neon yellow) as well as the Happy Ape colorway, which is yellow, brown, beige, red, and green (think bananas and fruit). The keyboard was also available as a group buy with an aluminum case, though that period has ended and the production models all use plastic enclosures.
The Q66 is the most compact keyboard that iQunix has released yet. It uses a 65% layout, which means that it does away with the function row, numpad, and most of the navigation and editing cluster. It still has dedicated arrow keys for navigation and editing, as well as Delete and Insert buttons for when you're working on documents. The other buttons are mostly present but are accessed as secondary functions by holding the Fn button.
The 65% layout has become quite popular in the mechanical keyboard community. If you don't need a numpad and frequently don't use the function row, it can be an excellent middle ground between gaming and writing. The lack of numpad leaves additional space for your mouse hand and allows you to keep your hands closer together in a more ergonomic posture. It can take a little getting used to, but it's a far more functional layout that a compact 60% layout (like the Ducky One 2 Mini) and still gives you quick access to commands that may no longer have a dedicated key.
The team at iQunix has produced some of the best mechanical keyboards we've come across in the last several years, and the Q66 is no exception. In fact, it may be the best sounding, best feeling keyboard they've released yet. It's filled with enthusiast features that enhance both the sound and feel of the keyboard.
The first considering ones with the switches. While the specifications list currently lists Cherry MX and TTC switches, the model we reviewed only has TTC switches available and is better for it. The available options here are TTC Gold Pink, Speed Silver, and Holy Panda. Each of these switches comes prelubed from the factory and, speaking from experience with each, are smoother than any Cherry MX switch I've ever used while also having no spring ping after each key stroke. The switches are also hot-swappable, so if you'd like to try something new, you need only unplug them and plug a new set in, no soldering required. That also means that if you get tired of your choice, or perhaps have a spill that leaves some keys sticky, there's no need to buy a whole new keyboard.
The keyboard uses costar stabilizers. Unlike traditional Cherry-style stabilizers, these stabs use small clips that attach to the wire underneath. This makes them quite a bit harder to install and remove, but provides less opportunity for rattle. IQunix pre-lubes the stabilizers from the factory the eradicate any unwanted noise and genuinely makes them some of the best sounding, best tuned stabilizers you can find on a pre-made keyboard. Cherry stabilizers, in comparison, are easier to remove but require more maintenance over time. I hate taking them off, but I'll take iQunix's costars over Logitech, Razer, or Corsair's Cherries any day of the week.
The keyboard uses a gasket-based mounting structure and layers of sound dampening foam to improve the typing experience. Most prebuilt keyboards use a tray or top mount design, or some variation therein, where the plate holding the switches and PCB screw directly into the case. Here, they sit on a cushion, isolating your keystrokes from the rest of the case and making each bottom out feel slightly softer under the fingers. It softens and rounds out the sound. There's not much flex to be found here, but it accomplishes its acoustic goals quite well.
There are also multiple layers of dampening material throughout its design. Between the plate and PCB is a layer of sound dampening foam. Beneath the switches is another layer of foam to tune the sound. Beneath the plate and PCB is a thick layer of silicone to remove any sense of hollowness from the case. It is a well-considered and well-tuned keyboard that is as satisfying to type on as it is to hear.
The Q66 supports tri-mode connectivity that includes 2.4GHz low latency wireless using an included dongle, Bluetooth 5.1 across three devices, and wired connectivity. Swapping these connections can be done on the fly with a quick key combination. Each was reliable and fast to connect, though for gaming I would recommend sticking with the wireless dongle for its fast 1ms response rate.
The keyboard features RGB backlighting, and it's quite bright, but it takes a back seat to the thick, high-quality keycaps. The keycaps are made of PBT plastic and are doubleshot, which means the legends are made of a second piece of bonded plastic. They will never fade or shine over time. They feel substantial under the finger and are as high quality a set as I've found included on a keyboard before. The legends are not shinethrough, however, so they act as a true backlight, creating a bed of illumination between the keys.
iQunix Q66 - Performance
The Q66 is my favorite prebuilt keyboard of the year. I’ve been testing it now for several weeks in anticipation of this review, and it has been wholly impressive. For gaming, but especially for typing, it’s a banger.
My sample came with TTC Holy Panda switches. These switches are highly tactile, much more so than Cherry MX browns. Their tactile bump is at the top of the press, so they provide a poppy feel under the fingers with each keystroke. Holy Pandas are a perpetually popular switch option, but unlike the Drop + Invyr Holy Pandas, these come pre-lubed and feel great straight out of the box.
The combination of gaskets and silicone leads to a very dampened typing experience where the sound of the switches can really shine. I was surprised to find that the Q66 really doesn’t flex very much when typing. The gasket mount implementation is centered on acoustics and removing the harsh bottom outs.
The keyboard comes with a pre-applied sheet of switch foam. This sheet sits between the switches and PCB, and is purely for acoustic tuning. PE and PORON switch sheets typically add additional pop to the typing sound but have a tendency to dominate the sound signature. Here, it’s enhancing rather than dominating. It helps add character to the typing sound and lends the Q66 a sound profile that you would typically only find when building a keyboard yourself.
The gaming performance is excellent. With the USB dongle, it performs identically (in feel) to its wired connection. With RGB enabled, I make a point to plug it in overnight once a week. With RGB off, the battery can easily last a month or more. Bluetooth is just as reliable, and swapping between connections is quite fast. By the time you’ve pressed the Fn combo to swap devices and centered on the new screen, it’s usually ready to go, which makes the experience feel seamless.
I also appreciate that iQunix has added the editing keys (Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Print Screen) as dedicated secondary commands. That wasn’t always the case on its prior keyboards. It makes the layout entirely functional and mostly equivalent to a TKL in functionality while also being much smaller.
The only thing left to be added is programmability, which iQunix is actively working on. It has spent a good chunk of the last year developing its software suite to support its prior keyboards. The Q66 is still “Coming Soon” and should add easy remapping support and potentially even macros. Until then, AutoHotKey can come in and fill the void in the meantime.
Final Thoughts
The iQunix Q66 is an excellent mechanical keyboard. It delivers a top-tier typing experience that exists right alongside entry-level custom mechanical keyboards. It might seem slightly expensive compared to the big gaming brands, but what you’re getting here is a clear and obvious cut above in sound and feel. And while a true custom keyboard might allow you more personalization, this keyboard comes with switches, keycaps, and all the mods done for you. It is one of the best keyboards iQunix has released yet and is absolutely worth picking up for yourself.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
