In recent years, the price war for key rings has caused the price of mechanical keyboards to increase, leading to the appearance of many inferior products in the market. However, there has been a positive development in the key circle market this year, with many cost-effective peripheral products that offer full hardware and feel. One such product is the SKN Qinglong 3.0 three-mode mechanical keyboard, which has surprised many users with its innovative features and performance.
The keyboard adopts the popular GASKET soft elastic structure and comes standard with the TTC Flame Red Switch V2 for 3 yuan each. It also features an FR4 fiberglass positioning plate and an innovative Hos hot-swappable shaft seat. In this article, we will take a closer look at the SKN Qinglong 3.0 keyboard and evaluate its performance.
Unboxing
The packaging of the SNK Qinglong mechanical keyboard is quite impressive, featuring a blue dragon pattern on the front and the keyboard's name in hot stamping fonts at the center. The packaging also highlights several features of the keyboard, including its three-mode connection, GASKET PRO structure, and 99+1 key arrangement. The brand name, SKN, is printed on the side of the packaging.
Upon opening the package, the user is greeted with a thick dust cover. The package includes a variety of accessories, such as a SNK Qinglong mechanical keyboard, a 2.4G wireless receiver, a USB C-A adapter, a keyboard dust cover, and a USB-A to USB-C L-shaped elbow keyboard cable. Additionally, a two-in-one key/shaft puller, a hexagonal screwdriver, and a manual are also included.
Overall, the SNK Qinglong mechanical keyboard comes with a comprehensive set of accessories that cater to the user's needs.
Exterior
The SNK Qinglong 3.0 keyboard has an attractive dark blue shell that is matched with white, blue, and red keycaps. It has a 98-type configuration with a total of 99 keys that support full-key rollover. The keyboard has a metal knob in the upper right corner that has anti-slip texture on the side. This knob can be used to adjust the system volume and mute.
The overall weight of the keyboard is about 1135g, and its dimensions are 405*138*33.8mm (length*width*height). The key area on the right side of the keyboard is somewhat different from the general 98-arrangement keyboard. It uses a 2U large 0 key. There is a metal scroll wheel in the upper right corner and a calculator key next to it. This design is very friendly to users who often deal with numbers.
The top of the keyboard is equipped with a recessed USB-C interface that is used to charge the keyboard and connect to the computer in wired mode. There is also a mode switch that is located next to the USB-C interface. The pop-up state is wired mode, and the pressed state is wireless mode (including 2.4G and Bluetooth). This design looks simpler than the common toggle switch.
The keyboard supports four connection methods, including wind, cloud, thunder, and electricity. The picture above shows electricity. The keyboard nameplate sticker is located in the center of the back of the keyboard, and the magnetic absorption compartment above is used to place the 2.4G wireless receiver. There are 5 oval anti-slip pads and two double-section foot supports distributed around it.
By adjusting the footrest, users can switch between three keyboard inclination heights. With this set of ergonomic OEM-height keycaps, users can type more comfortably and won't get tired easily while typing for a long time. The Del, PU, and PD buttons, as well as the three indicator lights Num, CAP, and power, are designed between the main key area and the numeric key area, which looks more harmonious.
Keycaps & Shafts
The SNK Qinglong keyboard is equipped with a set of OEM height keycaps that are made of PBT material. The keycaps are available in red, blue, and white three-color combinations, and the fonts are beautiful and appropriately thick. The functions are marked on the keycaps, making it easy for new users to get started quickly. This keyboard is very user-friendly.
The PBT material used in the keycaps gives them a unique roughness, indicating that the PBT content is high. The keycaps made of this material are very resistant to oiling and have a longer service life. The characters on the keycaps are formed by using secondary molding technology, which ensures that they will not wear out easily. The workmanship of this set of keycaps is of high quality, as can be seen from the water outlet at the back of the keyboard.
The keyboard uses an FR4 Chinese-style positioning plate, which is made of fiberglass material. It is printed with cursive and corresponding characters and has moderate softness and hardness. The FR4 positioning plate is more durable than metal and has a more even feel. It is matched with the TTC Flame Red Axis V2, which is more flexible and durable.
The large keys of this keyboard adopt a satellite axis scheme, which makes them smooth to press and produces good sound. They are well adjusted and provide a comfortable typing experience.
This keyboard supports full-key hot swapping and is compatible with both five-pin and three-pin shafts. It adopts a lower light position design, which enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the keyboard.
Dismantle
The SKN Qinglong mechanical keyboard is designed to be easily disassembled. Before separating any parts, it is important to unplug the three connected groups of cables. Once the cables are unplugged, the keyboard's noise-cancelling filling structure is revealed. The filling structure consists of four layers, including a self-developed ASL foam material sandwich pad, IXPE shaft pad, PET voice actor pad, and filled silicone bottom pad. This four-layer filling structure effectively eliminates noise and reduces typing noise, providing users with a purer typing sound and a soft and elastic feel.
The PCB of the SKN Qinglong keyboard is designed with a self-developed HoS hot-swappable axis seat. This seat is made of stainless steel and has an enlarged opening for easy and quick removal. The innovative design also ensures that the keyboard does not kneel when plugging in quickly. Compared to traditional hot-swappable axis seats, the side view of the HoS hot-swappable axis seat is much thinner, leaving more space for DIY.
Finally, the SKN Qinglong keyboard has a 4000mAh lithium battery built under the silicone bottom pad. This battery provides long-lasting power for the keyboard, ensuring that users can type uninterrupted for extended periods of time.
Drivers & Lights
The Lieyan Red Axis V2's condenser enhances the brightness and natural color transition while providing satisfactory viewing angles. The driver software offers powerful features such as button customization, macros, multi-region custom lighting, and audio rhythm lighting.
Use
The keyboard's multimedia control keys are easily accessible through the Fn+W and Fn+M shortcuts. Additionally, the F7-F12 keys can also be used for multimedia control. Users can adjust the computer's volume using the knob located in the upper right corner of the keyboard. The knob has a good sense of scale when rotating, and its mute function can be activated by pressing it. The white button on the left side of the knob can call up the system calculator with one click, which is convenient for frequent users.
The combination of Gasket and TTC Flame Red Switch V2 makes the keyboard feel softer and more comfortable. The sound of the keys hitting the bottom is crisp, and the sound point of "click, click" is concentrated, with no cavity sound or scattered noise. The keycap fits the hand well, making it enjoyable to use.
The keyboard uses a game-grade core chip that supports full-key conflict-free, making it capable of playing various competitive games. When playing games, the Fn+Win shortcut can be used to shield the Windows keys to prevent accidental touches. The keyboard has no delay, whether in wired or wireless mode. The keyboard has been tested with several MOBA games, and the experience was great.
Overall, the keyboard is suitable for both multimedia and gaming purposes, with its multimedia control keys, volume knob, and game-grade core chip. Its comfortable typing experience and lack of delay make it a great choice for gamers.
Summary
The SNK Qinglong 3.0 mechanical keyboard boasts a range of hardware configurations, including triple-mode connection, Gasket structure, TTC flame red axis V2, full-key hot swap, RGB lighting, and four-layer silencer padding. It also features several innovative designs, such as a self-developed HoS hot-swappable shaft seat and Guofeng FR4 theme positioning plate. The keyboard offers a great typing experience with a "HIFI" sound, and is compatible with multiple Windows, MAC, Android, and IOS systems. The three-mode connection method allows for a wider range of usage scenarios, and the battery life can last up to 4 weeks. Overall, the SNK Qinglong 3.0 mechanical keyboard provides an excellent daily input experience and is a worthwhile investment for both personal collection and use.
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