Keychron Q1 RGB Wired Custom - Review

Product Review: Keychron Q1 RGB Wired Custom Mechanical Keyboard

As a professional product reviewer, I was excited to get my hands on the Keychron Q1, a fully assembled customizable 75% layout mechanical keyboard with QMK/VIA support. This keyboard is designed with every component to be easily assembled, customized, and adjusted to meet your typing needs.

Let’s start with its appearance – the Keychron Q1's full aluminum CNC machined body and OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps give it a sleek and professional look. The RGB lighting adds to the keyboard's aesthetics, giving you the option to choose from a variety of colors to customize your keyboard.

The Keychron Q1's QMK/VIA support, an open-source firmware, allows you to intuitively remap your favorite keys and create macros with any key on any operating system (macOS, Windows, or Linux) for a fluid workflow. The keymap customization process is straightforward, and you can easily download the appropriate keymap JSON file, open VIA (the keyboard's configuration software), turn on "Show Design tab" on "Settings" tab, and drag the JSON file into the “Design” tab on VIA to get the Q1 keymap working on VIA.

Another great feature of the Keychron Q1 is its hot-swappable sockets, which are mounted on the PCB and compatible with almost all the MX-style 3pin and 5pin mechanical switches on the market (including Gateron, Cherry, Kailh, etc.). The pre-installed Gateron G Pro mechanical brown switch provides unrivaled tactile responsiveness with up to 50 million keystroke lifespan. You can also change switches without soldering, thanks to this keyboard's hot-swappable sockets. This feature makes it easy to customize your typing experience, and you can try out different switches to find the one that suits you best.

The double-gasket design is a unique feature that sets the Keychron Q1 apart from other mechanical keyboards. Besides the gaskets on the plates, Keychron adds silicone pads between the top and bottom cases to reduce the sound resonance between metals and reduce the noise of the impacted metals. This design allows the keyboard to maintain the flexibility of the gasket structure and improves the overall typing sound, giving you a satisfying and quiet typing experience.

The screw-in design also increases stability and makes it easier for changes and upgrades, especially concerning the big keys’ (space bar, shift, enter, delete) typing experience. Additionally, the Keychron Q1 v2 also supports third-party stabilizers, including Cherry or Durock.

In terms of usability, the Keychron Q1's keys are well-spaced and have a tactile feel that makes typing comfortable and accurate. The keyboard's 75% layout makes it a perfect size for those who need the functionality of a full-sized keyboard without taking up much desk space. Whether you're writing code, gaming, or typing a report, the Keychron Q1 is versatile and comfortable to use.

Conclusion:

Overall, the Keychron Q1 RGB Wired Custom Mechanical Keyboard is an excellent option for those who want to customize their typing experience. With its fully customizable keys, hot-swappable sockets, QMK/VIA support, and double-gasket design, the Keychron Q1 is a unique and high-quality keyboard that meets the needs of gamers, programmers, and typists alike. I highly recommend this keyboard to anyone looking for an ergonomic and customizable keyboard that looks and feels exceptional.

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Keychron Q1 RGB Wired Custom

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