Key Takeaways
1. Keychron has introduced gaming keyboards using Hall effect and analogue switch technology, with models like the mid-tier K4 HE and high-end Lemokey L1 HE.
2. The Q1 HE is Keychron’s leading wireless gaming keyboard, featuring TMR sensors and advanced functionalities such as Snap Tap and adjustable actuation points.
3. The Q1 HE Copper Edition, priced at $499.99, offers a luxurious design with a copper casing and enhanced keycap features while retaining the same core technology as the standard Q1 HE.
4. The Q1 HE Copper Edition includes a double-shot PBT keycap set and improved stabilisers to reduce noise, while maintaining compatibility with customization through QMK firmware.
5. Limitations include south-facing RGB backlighting affecting keycap compatibility and reliance on Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches, which may not meet all users’ expectations for performance.
Keychron has made a bold move into the realm of Hall effect and analogue switch gaming keyboards, unveiling a selection of wired and wireless models that utilize both TMR and HE sensor technology. We’ve had the chance to evaluate several of these keyboards, ranging from the sleek, mid-tier Keychron K4 HE to the high-end Lemokey L1 HE, which fully embraces a gamer aesthetic.
The Q1 HE: A New Wireless Gaming Keyboard
At the forefront of Keychron’s wireless gaming keyboard lineup is the Q1 HE. Despite its naming, this model employs TMR sensors and boasts features such as Snap Tap, Rapid Trigger, DKS, and adjustable actuation points. Recently, Keychron has introduced an upgraded version of the Q1 HE, incorporating all the advanced wireless and analogue technologies into a luxurious copper casing along with matching keycaps.
Pricing and Features
In contrast to the Keychron Q1 HE, available for $239.99 on Amazon, the Q1 HE Copper Edition is priced at an eye-watering $499.99, exclusively sold on the Keychron website. This makes it the priciest keyboard listed on their site at the moment. The Q1 HE Copper Edition retains the same TMR sensors, tri-mode wireless connectivity, and aluminium switch plate as its predecessor, but it also features new screw-in stabilisers aimed at minimizing the ticking noise that often occurs with Keychron keyboards.
Design and Usability
Beyond its hefty copper case, which increases the keyboard’s weight compared to the original, the Q1 HE Copper Edition includes a unique double-shot PBT keycap set. This set showcases black primary keys with copper legends and copper accent keys with black lettering. Additionally, the cap for the programmable knob has been redesigned to fit the copper theme of the keyboard casing.
The shared hardware brings several advantages for user experience and functionality. The Q1 HE Copper Edition maintains the same physical operating system and connectivity mode switches as the standard Q1 HE. Furthermore, the OSA keycaps promise similar comfort and durability to the original model. The QMK firmware and compatibility with the Keychron Launcher ensure that customizing the keyboard’s actuation point, analogue features, lighting, and macros is both fast and user-friendly.
Limitations and Considerations
However, the unified hardware design means that the Q1 HE features south-facing RGB backlighting. This restricts compatibility with shine-through keycaps to either oversized lettering made for south-facing sockets or side-printed legends, which many users find challenging to work with. Moreover, the Q1 HE Copper Edition is still limited to Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches, which we’ve previously reviewed in other Keychron Hall effect keyboards as being adequate but not exceptional. A more significant upgrade could have included support for additional magnetic switches, such as the recently reviewed Wooting Lekker Tikkens, expanding the range of options.
Source:
Link
