I typed with the Keychron B1 Pro for 3 months — here’s why its older sibling the B6 Pro is my new favorite budget keyboard

I write thousands of words every week, so I need to know that whatever keyboard I’m using is the best one I can get. For the last three months, I’ve been using the Keychron B1 Pro, and I couldn’t be more in love with it. So when its bigger sibling, the Keychron B6 Pro, landed on my desk, I was beyond excited to start testing it. Could this full-size keyboard be one of our best wireless keyboards? You bet! 

With the same bouncy scissor switch keys that I adore on the B1 Pro, the B6 Pro has the same three connection types and customizable ZMK firmware. My typing scores were rapid straight out of the box. On top of that, this board’s epic 1,200-hour battery life will keep you typing for months, and it’s lightweight enough to port around the office or college.

And you get all of this for only $44. What’s the catch? Well, it’s a little unappealing to look at and has no backlight. Find out my full thoughts in this Keychron B6 Pro keyboard review. 

Keychron B6 Pro: Cheat sheet

• Who is it for? Perfect for people who love the sleek design of the B1 Pro but need a full-size layout
• What does it cost? $44 from Amazon U.S. and £44 from Keychron U.K.
• What’s good? The price, battery and the bouncy typing experience
• What are its weaknesses? There’s no backlight, and it’s not the most stylish option

Keychron B6 Pro: Specs

Keychron B6 Pro review: The ups

Due to its more-than-appealing price point, the Keychron B6 Pro has a lot going for it. If you’re after a cheap keyboard with an easy type-feel that can supercharge your productivity, this is a great option.

Easy typing experience

Gone are the days of spending hours adapting to a new keyboard’s typing feel. When I switched to the B6 Pro for testing, I was typing at my usual speeds straight out of the box. You can check out my typing test results from 10fastfingers below. 

As you can see, I was typing on the B6 Pro with the same speed and accuracy as other keyboards. While my best time is still my MacBook Air M2 built-in keyboard, the B6 Pro isn’t far behind with 94% accuracy and 91 WPM. 

The scissor switches on the B6 Pro mean every keystroke is tactile and bouncy, which helps me move from key to key with speed and accuracy.  On top of this, the low-profile keys make it comfortable for your wrists while typing quickly. 

Three connection types

If you need multiple connection types for whatever reason, the B6 Pro has your back. It’ll hook up over Bluetooth or USB-C, and also comes with a USB-A 2.4GHz dongle — bring an adapter if your computer only has USB-C ports.

Affordable

The Keychron B6 Pro is one of the cheapest full-size keyboards I’ve ever seen. At $44, it’s $5 cheaper than the Logitech Signature K650 ($49) and only $5 pricier than Keychron’s 75% version, the B1 Pro ($39). 

Apple’s full-size Magic Keyboard is a whopping $129, and the Logitech MX Keys S is more than double the B6 Pro’s price, at $109. Cherry’s premium productivity keyboard KW X ULP is an eye-watering $187 — but one thing all these boards have that the B6 Pro doesn’t is beauty. If you’re not fussed about looks, Keychron’s B6 Pro is one of the best keyboards out there for the price. 

ZMK firmware

Thanks to open-source ZMK firmware, you can customize the B6 Pro’s layout to your heart’s desire using the Keychron Launcher browser-based web app. If you’re flipping from work to gaming, for example, you can create custom shortcuts and keystrokes for each and quickly flick between the two, to maximize productivity and performance. 

And as Keychron Launcher is completely browser-based, there’s no need to download anything extra and you can tweak the board on virtually any computer. You do have to connect the B6 Pro to your computer with the included USB-C cable to access Keychron Launcher, bear in mind. 

Battery life

Keychron claims that the B6 Pro has a battery life of 8 months. Obviously I can’t test that completely, or this review would be awfully late. But I’ve been using the B1 Pro for 3 months now and it’s not even broken 70% battery yet. So I’m inclined to trust Keychron’s battery claims forthe B6 Pro.

Keychron B6 Pro review: the downs

While there are a lot of things I love about the Keychron B6 Pro, it’s not without flaws. But, luckily for you, these can be easily looked past. 

No backlight

While the 1,200 hour battery life is great for ease of use, it’s only possible because the B6 Pro has no backlight. If you work, type or play games at night, you might struggle with the B6 Pro, especially in the gray and black colorway (white is also available). 

Other super low profile keyboards like the Logitech MX Keys S, the Apple Magic Keyboard and the Cherry KW X ULP feature backlights — making them much better purchases for low light working, although they’re all much pricier than the B6 Pro.

Uninspiring appearance

Although the typing experience is great for your productivity, you might find the B6 Pro’s appearance a little uninspiring. It’s nothing new, though, as the Logitech Signature K650 ($49) looks just as mediocre.  

There are prettier keyboards out there, like Apple’s Magic Keyboard or the MX Keys S (who can say no to that beautiful metallic finish?), but for only $44, the B6 Pro’s appearance is forgivable. 

Keychron B6 Pro review: Verdict

If you’re after an easy, everyday productivity keyboard with a fun typing experience that won’t look out of place on your desk, look no further than the Keychron B6 Pro. The battery life will last you 1200 hours, which is so long it’s almost incomprehensible, and the ZMK customization firmware means you can create custom keyboard shortcuts based on your needs. 

If you only need a 75% layout (without numerical keypad), check out the $39 B1 Pro, which is another of my favorite budget office keyboards. But if you’re into data entry, or just desire a number pad on your keyboard, Keychron’s B6 Pro is an ideal choice.