Key Takeaways
1. Premium Features: The Keychron Q4 HE features a full-aluminium frame and high-end gaming attributes similar to the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX.
2. Gasket-Mounted Design: It has a gasket-mounted structure with sound-dampening foam for a softer typing experience and enjoyable sound.
3. Keycap Quality: The keycaps are made from double-shot PBT for durability, featuring a 60% layout that improves ergonomics but hides certain functions in a layer.
4. Customization Options: Users can personalize the keyboard through Keychron Launcher or QMK, with features like adjustable actuation distance and Analog Mode for enhanced gaming control.
5. Availability: The Q4 HE is available exclusively on Keychron’s online store, with other models offered at Best Buy.
Keychron has been very active recently, unveiling the Lemokey P1 HE and the Keychron Q6 HE double-tap in January, followed by the budget-friendly Keychron K4 HE in March (a review is coming soon). Today, they revealed the Q4 HE, a new 60% Hall-effect keyboard crafted from an all-aluminium case, complete with several premium features that distinguish it from options like the Wooting 60HE.
Premium Gaming Features
Keychron brings together all the high-end gaming attributes from keyboards such as the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX (priced at $147.57 on Amazon) and encases them in a full-aluminium frame that offers a more sophisticated, premium appearance.
Design and Connectivity
Similar to the Keychron Q13 Max we recently looked at, the Keychron Q4 HE adopts a gasket-mounted structure and incorporates multiple layers of sound-dampening foam, delivering a gentler typing experience and an enjoyable sound profile. The 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity is an additional perk for users seeking a tidier desk setup or those who wish to use their gaming keyboard with devices like an Android tablet. The 1,000 Hz polling rate matches the latency of a wired USB-C connection, making the Q4 HE suitable for both work and gaming.
Keycap Quality
The keycaps of the Q4 HE are constructed from double-shot PBT, making them more resistant to oil than ABS keycaps, while the OSA profile lends a more professional look without sacrificing comfort and familiarity. The 60% layout is space-efficient, omitting the F row, number pad, and navigation cluster, which ultimately allows for greater mouse movement and overall ergonomics. However, this design means that functions like the F row, print screen, and navigation keys are hidden within a function layer, which may not suit everyone’s needs.
Customization Options
For personalizing its traditional features such as key remapping, macros, and backlighting, the Q4 HE utilizes Keychron Launcher or QMK, along with HE-specific gaming options like adjustable actuation distance, Rapid Trigger, SOCD, DKS, and Analog Mode. This last feature simulates gamepad controller input for finer controls. Based on our experience, Keychron Launcher has proven to be one of the more stable and user-friendly customization software available, only slightly behind Wooting’s Wootility in terms of functionality and ease of use.
Availability
Currently, the Keychron Q4 HE can be purchased solely from Keychron’s online store. However, Keychron offers a variety of HE and traditional mechanical keyboards at Best Buy, including the Q1 HE (currently priced at $215.00 at Best Buy), which is a 75% version of the Q4 HE.
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