Keychron B36: Specs, Features, Pros & Cons
This is the B33 with a number pad bolted on, and if you do data entry that single difference decides it.
Everything that makes the smaller board good carries over: the scissor mechanism keeps typing quiet enough for a shared office or a call, three connection modes cover a desktop, laptop and tablet, and remapping happens in a browser with nothing to install. It is a full-size footprint, so measure the desk.
Category strengths
Where the Keychron B36 beats the average
- More connection options ?
- A lower front height ?17.94 mm vs 21.62 mm (avg)
- Has configuration software ?
- Has media controls ?
- Has programmable keys ?
Where the Keychron B36 trails the average
- A much lower polling rate ?1,000 Hz vs 3,800 Hz (avg)
- Much shorter battery life ?320 h vs 1,517.29 h (avg)
- No n-key rollover ?
- No hot-swappable switches ?
- No onboard profiles ?
- No sound dampening ?
- A much smaller battery ?800 mAh vs 3,406.43 mAh (avg)
- No rapid trigger ?
- No rotary knob ?
- No adjustable actuation ?
Editor’s note
The B36 is the B33 with a number pad bolted on, and if you do data entry that single difference decides it.
Everything that makes the B33 good carries over. The scissor mechanism keeps typing quiet enough for a shared office or a call, the 800 mAh battery is rated for up to 320 hours, and you get 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.2 across three devices and USB-C wired. Keychron's Launcher remaps keys in a browser with nothing to install. It is 650 grams and 108 keys in a 437 mm full-size footprint.
That footprint is the trade. A full-size board pushes your mouse hand further right, which over a working day is the single most common cause of shoulder strain at a desk. If you do not actually use a number pad, the B33 is the better ergonomic choice for the same money.
The limitations are identical to its sibling and worth repeating. There is no backlight of any kind. Keychron states plainly that N-key rollover is not supported, so simultaneous key presses can drop in games. Both the case and the keycaps are ABS, which will shine over time. Bluetooth polling is 125 Hz against 1000 Hz on 2.4 GHz and wired, so use the receiver if latency matters. Nothing here is hot-swappable.
Buy it if you work with spreadsheets, invoices or anything numeric, want it quiet, and want to switch between a few machines without fuss.
Skip it if you do not use the number pad, in which case take the B33 and keep your mouse closer, or if you want backlighting and a mechanical feel, in which case look at Keychron's C-series instead.
Specifications
Quality bars are generated automatically against 95 other keyboards.
Switches & typing
The key switch technology; later types are generally more responsive.
The specific switch used (e.g. Cherry MX Red).
The force needed to register a key; lower is lighter to type on.
Swap switches without soldering.
Registers every simultaneous keypress.
Set the actuation point per key (analog / Hall-effect boards).
Keys report their travel depth for variable gamepad-style input and multi-stage actions.
Performance
How often the keyboard reports input; higher can reduce latency.
End-to-end keypress latency over a wired connection; lower is better.
End-to-end keypress latency over the fastest wireless mode; lower is better.
Resets a key dynamically as it moves, enabling faster repeated inputs.
Layout & size
The keyboard size and layout.
The number of keys.
The overall width.
The overall depth.
The front case height without keycaps; lower boards can reduce wrist extension.
The keyboard's weight.
Connectivity
The supported connection types.
How many paired devices it can switch between.
Battery life for wireless models.
The rated capacity of the internal battery.
A built-in USB port for other devices.
Build & sound
Keycap plastic; PBT resists shine and wear better than ABS.
The case material (e.g. aluminium, ABS plastic).
The switch plate material, which influences stiffness and typing sound.
How larger keys are stabilised (e.g. screw-in PCB or plate-mounted).
The plate / PCB mounting style (e.g. gasket mount).
Internal foam or dampening for a quieter, fuller sound.
The per-key lighting.
Features
Remap keys and record macros.
Dedicated volume and playback controls.
A control knob for volume or custom actions.
Stores layouts on the board itself.
Companion configuration software (e.g. VIA / QMK).
Specs last verified August 13, 202628 of 34 specs verified (82%)Unverified specs show as Unknown — never estimated, never scored
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Ratings & reviews
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The bottom line
The Keychron B36 earns a VS Score of 18, trailing most of the 96 keyboards we compare here, at least on the spec sheet. It stands out for more connection options, a lower front height and configuration software. Just be aware of a much lower polling rate and much shorter battery life before you buy. Weigh those trade-offs against what matters most to you.
The VS Score is calculated from the weighted specifications above, measured against every other keyboards we track — a shortlisting guide, not a substitute for your own priorities. See how we score.
