Keychron’s Q1 can help beginners start using custom mechanical keyboards

Vinyl records continue to be sold, not because millions of people miss the past, but because of the special experience provided by wax-printed music. Various utilities can still be found in devices many years ago. This includes mechanical keyboards used for typing. Most people are happy to use new, quieter typing devices, while a small and growing number of people like the clicks and deep keystrokes of the past.

Companies such as Keychron took on the task of combining the authenticity of a mechanical keyboard with modern wireless and USB-C connectivity. There are many companies that make mechanical keyboards, but at the moment, Keychron seems to be the most active company trying to familiarize novices with the world of old keyboards. This includes making products that are natively compatible with iPad and iPhone. The company’s latest efforts have brought more customization and convenience to the process of purchasing a mechanical keyboard for the first time.

What is Keychron Q1?

Keychron’s latest mechanical keyboard is Q1. Compared with any previous Keychron keyboard, Q1 is much more customized and personalized.

It is designed to provide a personal typing experience, with the ability to change switch types, keycaps, stabilizers, and add personal badges and nameplates.

Those who are well versed in the world of mechanical keyboards may know how to shop around and find the parts you need, but if you are just starting out, this is not easy. Keychron makes this easy by listing all compatible parts Q1 on one page. All you have to do is decide how it looks and feels. Changing the type of board, for example, from metal to plastic, will change the feel and sound of typing, rather than changing a switch of a different color.

You can choose the appearance color of Q1, currently available in black, blue and gray. A variety of keycap sets were offered at the time of launch, but if no specific set is perfect, you can mix and match at any time. All the basic tools needed to pull out the keycap, switch, and remove the case are in the box.If you don’t know much about the world of mechanical keyboards, but you have seen beautiful mechanical keyboards Instagram And feel that your work efficiency is lagging due to lack of clicks, then Q1 is your starting point.

Use Q1 keyboard

The first thing I noticed about Q1 is how heavy it is. The frame of the keyboard is CNC milled aluminum. There are rubber feet to stabilize it on the table. Overall, it feels as sturdy as any keyboard I have ever touched-it is a tank.

My evaluation unit is equipped with black, white and red keycaps, and the Newsweek logo as a custom badge. The badge itself is not a button, nor does it perform any action. This is just a personalized stamp for $30. People love encryption and NFT, and this may be the perfect place to add your favorite avatar.

I replaced most of the keycaps and different switches. Different color switches have different sounds and feels. The beauty of customization is that I can use different switches for the space bar, enter key, and delete key, because I like its combined effect.

Q1 is a high keyboard, so you may need a palm rest. There is no angle adjustment on the keyboard itself. On the back of the device, there is a USB-C port to connect it to the computer, next to it is a selector to choose the type of operating system it is using-Windows or macOS.

The keyboard is plug and play and easy to use. Very similar to the hardware, the keys can be customized and remapped using the VIA application. I have used the keyboard on both the Windows computer and the Mac without any problems. Of course, if you switch back and forth on a regular basis, the keycap Command key or Windows key will turn off on one, but both operating system-specific keycaps are included in the box.

By default, there are RGB backlighting and at least a dozen patterns and effects that can be performed by lights. Similarly, function keys are also great for quick access to media controls and screen brightness.

If you are not used to it, typing with deep keys and clicking sounds is different. If it turns out that you missed the thin keyboards on modern laptops, then Q1 would be a costly mistake. However, if you do want to jump in, please give yourself enough time to adapt to the changes. Of course, if you like the idea of ​​a mechanical keyboard but want something thinner and don’t need customization, then you’d better take a look at other Keychron products.

Compare other Keychron keyboards

The company’s other relatively new (wireless) option is K3. This is a slim (75% layout size) keyboard with a slimmer design.It is closer to the mechanical version AppleMagic Keyboard.

The body is still made of aluminum, but it is lighter and easier to carry. It can connect to multiple devices wirelessly and switch between them by just pressing a few buttons. The switches can still be swapped and still have white or RGB backlighting. The K3 starts at $74, and the price will increase, depending on whether you need a multi-color backlight.

Similarly, the layout size of K6 is 65%, while the button layout of K1 is full size.

I tried K3 with blue switch and I like it very much. It doesn’t feel as high-quality and luxurious as Q1, but it doesn’t want to be that way either. It is an intermediate solution for those who want mechanical sound and feel but don’t want the deepest keystrokes. This is also a good solution, which can be used with laptops that move a lot in the house. The battery life of the K3 is very long. It is charged via the USB-C port and can also be used for data connections.

Should you buy Keychron Q1?

I want the Q1 keyboard to have Bluetooth for wireless connection, but this is the only drawback I can think of. The keyboard is expensive, but it is consistent with the other options and the quality they provide. Considering how heavy and dense it feels, even the wireless needs can be misguided-I doubt if I want to move it.

The most exciting part of Q1 is that it makes it easy for novices to join the fun of a mechanical keyboard. Be prepared to invest some time, because it looks as neat as different keycaps, and it takes some patience to replace them all.

Where to buy Key Chronograph US$169.

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As always, the listed prices may fluctuate over time.