Key Takeaways
1. Keychron launched the Q6 Ultra 8K and V1 Ultra 8K wireless mechanical keyboards, featuring new Milk POM switches exclusive to Best Buy, with online availability expected in early 2026.
2. The new keyboards use ZMK firmware, designed for wireless efficiency, which may improve battery life compared to previous models using QMK firmware.
3. Keychron has enhanced the materials in the Q Ultra series, including CNC-cut aluminum rotary knobs that replace the previous knurled design for better durability.
4. The Q Ultra keyboards will have decorative bottom plates with unique designs, a feature typically found in custom mechanical keyboards.
5. The new Keychron Silk POM switches are designed for smoother keystrokes and a modern sound profile, improving upon the previous switch materials used.
We recently shared news about the Keychron Q6 Ultra 8K and V1 Ultra 8K, two new wireless mechanical keyboards that appeared quietly at Best Buy. When we initially wrote about these keyboards, details were limited due to incomplete listings on Best Buy’s site. To get more information on the updates to the Q series wireless keyboards, we contacted Keychron and received some confirmations, including important changes that might enhance the battery life of Keychron’s wireless models.
New Features and Availability
With the launch of the Q6 Ultra 8K and V1 Ultra 8K, it became apparent that Keychron was introducing new switches along with these wireless mechanical keyboards. Keychron confirmed in its reply to Notebookcheck that the keyboards will feature the new Milk POM switches, and they are currently exclusive to Best Buy. However, there are plans to make the Q6 Ultra 8K and V1 Ultra 8K available on Keychron’s online store in early 2026 as part of the “Q Ultra 8K and V Ultra 8K series.”
Firmware and Battery Life
In addition to the visual updates, Keychron confirmed that the firmware for the new full-size mechanical keyboard and its Q and V Ultra counterparts will be built on ZMK. While this might not be noticeable to most users—especially those using the Keychron Launcher for customization—it could have implications regarding durability and battery life. As of now, neither Keychron nor Best Buy has shared any battery life estimates for the new full-size mechanical keyboard or the 75% layout.
ZMK is often viewed as an alternative to QMK, specifically designed for wireless keyboards, which tends to be more efficient than QMK, the firmware that most current Keychron keyboards use. For example, the Keychron B2 Pro, which runs on ZMK, is estimated to deliver 300 hours of usage from an 800 mAh battery. In contrast, the QMK-powered Keychron Q1 Max (currently priced at $229.99 on Amazon) has a 4,000 mAh battery but only offers around 100 hours of battery life with backlighting turned off. While this isn’t a direct comparison, the efficiency gap is clear, indicating significant potential for improved battery life in the Q Max keyboards.
Specifications and Design
According to our communications with Keychron’s PR team, the Q Ultra series is set to maintain many of the same specifications as the existing Q Max series, hinting that buyers will have a variety of layout options to select from, including 75%, 65%, and full-size mechanical keyboards. Even with these layout similarities, Keychron has also enhanced the materials used in the Q Ultra 8K keyboards. For instance, the rotary knobs on the new Q and V Ultra series keyboards will feature a new design crafted from CNC-cut aluminium. These new smooth knobs will replace the knurled knobs seen on models like the Q13 Max we reviewed, and Keychron asserts that they will offer better durability.
In an unusual move for Keychron, the new Q Ultra keyboards will also include decorative plates on their bottoms—typically a feature found in custom mechanical keyboards. The decorative plate on the Q6 Ultra 8K full-size model showcases a “sci-fi futuristic backplate design,” with engravings inspired by physics concepts, such as an atom’s depiction and what appears to be a planet’s orbit.
With the cases receiving a moderate material upgrade, the switches have also been refreshed to the new Keychron Silk POM switches. These switches are expected to provide long-lasting smoothness during keystrokes along with a more modern sound profile compared to the nylon, POM, and PC mix used in the Gateron Jupiter switch series.
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