Keychron Q1 HE: A Game-Changer for Mechanical Keyboards

Analog Keyboards: The Future of Typing

Analog keyboards have long been touted as the “next big thing” in the world of typing. While they offer numerous advantages on paper, the surrounding infrastructure has yet to fully catch up. However, the advanced construction of a premium mechanical keyboard can bring out the best of both worlds. Reliable and easy-to-understand customization makes the system much more user-friendly.

What Are Hall Effect Switches?

Hall effect switches are a type of mechanical switch. Unlike traditional mechanical switches, which are more common, consumer-grade Hall effect switches are relatively new and experimental. Keychron is one of the first major keyboard manufacturers to incorporate this technology.

Hall Effect vs. True Mechanical Switches

Typing Experience

The keyboard features spherical keycaps and a standard 6-degree typing angle, making typing enjoyable even for long periods. However, the relatively tall case and keycaps may require some adjustment. A wrist rest could be beneficial for added comfort.

Construction and Customization

The keyboard comes with extra rubber feet, screws, an Allen wrench, and a screwdriver. Hex screws on the back allow for easy internal access without additional tools. The keycaps are standard, making it easy to find new keysets.

The inclusion of sound-dampening foam and an aluminum plate from the factory are welcome additions. A stiffer aluminum plate, although more expensive than a softer PC or FR4 plate, generally feels better to type on. The foam can be easily removed, allowing for more customization without extra components, making it more office-friendly straight out of the box.

Keychron also offers a separate brass plate and sound-dampening foam for upgrades. However, differences between these and the normal Q1 and Q1 Pro plates imply that the models aren’t compatible despite sharing a name.

Is It Good, Though?

These are larger-scale issues than an individual keyboard. The Q1 HE, on its own, is fantastic. I haven’t encountered another readily available keyboard that matches its levels of typing feel, sound, customization, and build quality.

“The level of customization is overkill for most people, and the proprietary switches mean that this customization is almost entirely on the software side.”

Anyone who really likes testing out different switches or wants a typing experience outside of the narrow window of 50- to 70-gram linear switches may be disappointed by the limited customization options.

Photograph: Henri Robbins

However, most people aren’t going to be changing their switches regularly. They’ll likely find one setup they like and stick with it for years, much like we did before hot-swap sockets and hundreds of switches became available.

Final Thoughts

I really like this keyboard. The Q1 HE does everything right on the user’s end, especially if you’re looking for a quality keyboard straight out of the box. It has some practical flaws, but those don’t matter if you like the default typing experience. The keyboard feels good, sounds good, and offers unique, practical, and incredibly in-depth customization options.