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North Wales Live
12-07-2025
- North Wales Live
Review: Keychron Q1 HE is the ultimate keyboard for gamers and pros
Right, where do I start? If you sit at home all day in front of a computer, one of the most impactful things you can ever buy yourself is a mechanical keyboard. It's up there with a cappuccino machine for your home office. I can't quite put it into words why but trust me, the first time I got to try one and felt and heard the reassuring clickety click, it got a little dusty in the room! Of all the mechanical keyboards I have tested I've not come across a real stinker, but the king at the moment is definitely Keychron. The keyboards are just so solid and give you a lovely typing experience every time. However, they do cost. It's not that they're overpriced but sometimes if you want the best you're going to have to pay for it. The latest to come across my desk is the Keychron Q1 HE. It's the first 75% wireless QMK keyboard with Hall Effect Gateron double-rail magnetic switches. What does that mean? The Hall Effect mechanism offers super-fast rapid response times and allows user to assign multiple actions to a single key, depending on how deeply it is pressed. Sounds like magic. To be honest, if you're filling out spreadsheets or writing a report, you're not going to go out of your way to try this. However, if you're a a gamer of a video editor I'd imagine with a bit of imagination you'll have a field day. What will make you sit up straight, however, is the tactile feel of the keys themselves that will have you purring. Its small form factor means it doesn't dominate your desk, while having all the essential keys you'll need. It does not have a number pad, you'll have to get a full-sized keyboard for that. And don't be fooled by its size into thinking the Q1 is portable. It's made of aluminum and weighs a ton! Your cat will not be knocking it off your desk anytime soon. I found the typing angle comfortable and more than a little reminiscent of an old-fashioned typewriter. Due to the weight, you can't adjust that angle. This being a Keychron, if you're a pro user you can really get stuck in and customise the keycaps, the switches and even some of the internal components. There's also plenty of scope to make it your own by using the Keychron Launcher web app, which I found frwsshingly user-friendly for the layman. As for connections, you can take your pick from Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless dongle or wired. The Bluetooth 5.1 support allows pairing with up to three devices. You are given keys to switch in and out depending if you're on a Mac or Windows. I'm a shallow man in many ways so while all the tech is very cool, I found that I spent far to long playing with the 22 types of RGB backlight settings you have to choose from! As this might indicate, the Keychron Q1 HE is really for the pros and high-end users, although its form factor makes it great in the home office environment. And, if nothing else, it's built to last. If you're a light user, it's probably a little too much. I'd still recommend getting a mechanical keyboard, but you can pick up a perfectly decent one for half the price. But for anyone else, it's well worth a look.
Wales Online
12-07-2025
- Wales Online
Review: Keychron Q1 HE is the ultimate keyboard for gamers and pros
Review: Keychron Q1 HE is the ultimate keyboard for gamers and pros Users can assign multiple actions to a single key, depending on how deeply it is pressed The Keychron Q1 HE Right, where do I start? If you sit at home all day in front of a computer, one of the most impactful things you can ever buy yourself is a mechanical keyboard. It's up there with a cappuccino machine for your home office. I can't quite put it into words why but trust me, the first time I got to try one and felt and heard the reassuring clickety click, it got a little dusty in the room! Of all the mechanical keyboards I have tested I've not come across a real stinker, but the king at the moment is definitely Keychron. The keyboards are just so solid and give you a lovely typing experience every time. However, they do cost. It's not that they're overpriced but sometimes if you want the best you're going to have to pay for it. The latest to come across my desk is the Keychron Q1 HE. It's the first 75% wireless QMK keyboard with Hall Effect Gateron double-rail magnetic switches. What does that mean? The Hall Effect mechanism offers super-fast rapid response times and allows user to assign multiple actions to a single key, depending on how deeply it is pressed. Sounds like magic. To be honest, if you're filling out spreadsheets or writing a report, you're not going to go out of your way to try this. However, if you're a a gamer of a video editor I'd imagine with a bit of imagination you'll have a field day. What will make you sit up straight, however, is the tactile feel of the keys themselves that will have you purring. Its small form factor means it doesn't dominate your desk, while having all the essential keys you'll need. It does not have a number pad, you'll have to get a full-sized keyboard for that. And don't be fooled by its size into thinking the Q1 is portable. It's made of aluminum and weighs a ton! Your cat will not be knocking it off your desk anytime soon. I found the typing angle comfortable and more than a little reminiscent of an old-fashioned typewriter. Due to the weight, you can't adjust that angle. This being a Keychron, if you're a pro user you can really get stuck in and customise the keycaps, the switches and even some of the internal components. There's also plenty of scope to make it your own by using the Keychron Launcher web app, which I found frwsshingly user-friendly for the layman. The Keychron Q1 HE As for connections, you can take your pick from Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless dongle or wired. The Bluetooth 5.1 support allows pairing with up to three devices. You are given keys to switch in and out depending if you're on a Mac or Windows. I'm a shallow man in many ways so while all the tech is very cool, I found that I spent far to long playing with the 22 types of RGB backlight settings you have to choose from! As this might indicate, the Keychron Q1 HE is really for the pros and high-end users, although its form factor makes it great in the home office environment. And, if nothing else, it's built to last. If you're a light user, it's probably a little too much. I'd still recommend getting a mechanical keyboard, but you can pick up a perfectly decent one for half the price. But for anyone else, it's well worth a look. The Keychron Q1 HE is available for £239.99 via Amazon Alternatives Article continues below Razer Pro Type Ultra - Wireless Mechanical Keyboard AULA F99 Pro Wireless Gaming Keyboard
Irish Examiner
10-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Keychron Q1 HE review: A next-gen magnetic marvel for typing and gaming alike
The Keychron Q1 HE is an impressive wireless mechanical keyboard that blends cutting-edge hall effect technology with a minimalist aluminium build, offering gamers and typists customisable control, fast actuation, and incredible versatility. The market has been flooded with mechanical keyboards over the last decade, but not all are made equal. Keychron is a keyboard maker that distinguishes itself with customisable builds and clean aesthetics. I've been testing their new Q1 HE mechanical keyboard, which features hall effect magnetic switches and wireless QMK/VIA support in a compact 75% form factor. Spoiler alert, it's one of the best wireless mechanical keyboards I've used to date. It's not without its quirks, but the attention to detail, responsiveness, and flexibility make it a top-tier offering. Design and build The Q1 HE is similar to the Q6 Max I recently reviewed. It features an all-aluminium CNC-machined body made from 6063-grade material, and at 1,735g, the Q1 HE is one of the heaviest 75% keyboards you'll come across. That extra weight not only adds to its durability but also gives it a premium, high-end feel. The unit I tested, in carbon black finish, looks exceptionally sleek on a clean desk setup. Build quality is excellent. There's no deck flex, no rattling, and the anodised finish resists fingerprints surprisingly well. It's heavy enough to stay planted, even during more intense gaming sessions. The included PBT keycaps have a satisfying texture, and thanks to the double-gasket mounting system, typing on the Q1 HE feels both dampened and firm. The keyboard I received is fully ISO-UK layout conformant, and it worked perfectly with both my MacBook and Windows PC. Magnetic switches Instead of traditional mechanical switches, the Q1 HE uses Gateron double-rail hall effect magnetic switches. These switches don't rely on physical contact to register input; instead, they detect how close a magnet is to the PCB, allowing for adjustable actuation points from 0.1mm to 4.0mm. That means you can tune each key's sensitivity exactly to your liking. This results in a dramatically different feel compared to traditional mechanical switches. For gaming, the rapid trigger functionality is excellent. You don't have to lift your finger entirely to re-activate a key, which means faster inputs, tighter control, and smoother transitions, particularly in fast-paced FPS or action titles. I'm not a competitive gamer, but I really appreciated the feel and customisability of the keyboard. As someone who spends most of their time typing and occasionally gaming, I loved being able to fine-tune the experience. For example, I set a deeper actuation point for writing and shallower triggers for gaming. You can even program dual-action keypresses, triggering different actions depending on how far you press a key. Wireless versatility and performance Despite all the talk of mechanical and magnetic switches, the wireless performance on this keyboard is equally impressive. The 2.4GHz connection, paired with a 1,000Hz polling rate, ensures lag-free responsiveness, even when used wirelessly for competitive gaming. I was sceptical at first, but over several hours of testing across titles like Destiny 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, I couldn't detect any meaningful input lag. It supports Bluetooth 5.1, which is excellent for pairing with up to three devices. Switching between my MacBook, Windows PC, and iPad Pro was as simple as tapping a function key combo. Keychron has nailed the connectivity options here, and for those who still prefer it, a USB-C wired mode is also available. One caveat: battery life can vary depending on backlight usage and polling rate. With RGB turned off, Keychron claims up to 180 hours of use. Customisation and software support The Q1 HE is fully programmable with QMK and VIA, as well as Keychron's own web-based Launcher. This means full key remapping, macro assignment, and lighting control, all right from your browser, so no software installation is necessary. It works well, although the interface could be daunting for absolute beginners. The board is hot-swappable, so you can replace the hall effect switches with other compatible magnetic variants. The keycaps are standard profile and easy to swap too. Verdict The Q1 HE is certainly not cheap. However, considering the materials, wireless technology, hall-effect switches, and sheer customisability on offer, it's well within reason for enthusiasts. However, the price could be a barrier for casual users or first-time mechanical keyboard buyers. The Q1 HE is an absolute joy to type on, and the keys are noticeably quieter than most mechanical keyboards I've tested. If you're ready to dive into the future of custom mechanical keyboards, this one is hard to beat. €211
WIRED
23-04-2025
- WIRED
WobKey's Rainy 75 Mechanical Keyboard Punches Above Its Weight
The Rainy 75 is a common sight on the r/MechanicalKeyboards subreddit, a community that nerds out about the thock of a keyboard and, naturally, fun keycaps. It seems like every week or so, someone posts about their new purchase from WobKey, and every time, the consensus revolves around how good of a budget option it is. That's because, for under $150, the Rainy 75 has every feature you could want in a mechanical keyboard today. There are a few strange design choices, but I finally got my hands on one, and I'm impressed by this keyboard. The Rainy 75 is available in three flavors: Lite, Standard, and Pro. The Lite retails for $129 and includes HMX Violet linear switches, a polypropylene plate, and a 3,500-mAh battery. The Pro—the model I tested—includes Kailh Cocoa linear switches, an FR4 plate, RGB lighting, and two batteries totaling 7,000 mAh for $159. The Standard is in between and costs $139. Poppy, Crisp, and Smooth Photograph: Henri Robbins Typing on the Rainy 75 feels and sounds fantastic. It has that poppy, crisp typing sound you see in videos online, and typing feels every bit as energetic and enjoyable. I assume the 'Rainy 75' name comes from the typing sound, since its softer and rounded sound profile sounds like rain falling. The linear 'Cocoa' switches are manufactured by Kailh for the Rainy 75. These switches have a relatively light operating force of 45 grams, which is comparable to a Cherry MX Red, and use a polyoxymethylene stem (POM) and Nylon housing, which helps to create a marbly typing sound and a smooth typing feel. The switches are responsive, popping back up quickly after being pressed, and have hardly any scratch, even when pressed down slowly. The stems of these switches have little wobble from side to side or front to back, making keypresses feel sturdy. The stabilizers on this keyboard come pre-lubed and, despite being plate-mounted instead of printed-circuit-board–mounted, they feel fantastic. While I could talk about how smooth and quiet they are, it's easier to say that I didn't even notice they were there when typing. These stabilizers are tuned perfectly and don't require any work out of the box. That said, I imagine that, like most plate-mounted stabilizers, they will require a reapplication of lube after a while. Photograph: Henri Robbins The gasket-mount system holding the keyboard together is really impressive. It feels bouncy and soft without seeming too muted or mushy. The dampening from the gaskets is consistent across all of the keys, only becoming somewhat stiffer around the edges. Finicky Functionality This keyboard has some quirks that, while not huge, can be annoying. Sometimes, when pressing Alt+Tab on this keyboard, or any other key combinations involving the Tab key, I have to press the combination twice for it to work. I've resolved these oddities by turning the keyboard off and on. Typically, one of my favorite features on a mechanical keyboard is support for QMK and VIA. QMK, short for Quantum Mechanical Keyboard, is an open source firmware that allows for almost limitless customization of a keyboard's layout. VIA is a system for customizing specific QMK-compatible keyboards using an in-browser interface. These allow for simple and efficient customization of mechanical keyboards, meaning a QMK-enabled keyboard will have long-term support without reliance on proprietary software that may stop being updated after a few years.
Forbes
17-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Epomaker Unveils Its Fashionable Luma84 Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboard
Keyboard brand Epomaker has launched its latest Luma85 75 mechanical keyboard with a 75% and 84 key layout. The new Luma84 has fashionably low-profile keycaps for stylish office use and is available with black or white keycaps. Epomaker was founded by a group of gamers, software engineers, product designers and mechanical keyboard enthusiasts who wanted to make their own keyboards. This latest model answers the increasing demand for keyboards that can be customized Thanks to QMK firmware and support for VIA software, users can configure this hot-swappable mechanical keyboard to improve their workflow with more flexibility. For example, users can use the Luma84 to automate repetitive tasks by creating macros that can streamline coding or improve efficiency in the office using the keyboard's open-sourced QMK firmware or the intuitive web-based interface of VIA software. By customizing settings, users can remap keys for a more ergonomic layout or by swapping switches for ones with different trigger forces and tactile behavior. Mechanical keyboards can help boost productivity and personalization. Although the new Luma84 has a smart office look, it's also aimed at serious gamers. Made with an aluminum case and featuring grease-free PBT keycaps, the Luma84 has a sturdy construction and minimalist appearance that makes it suited to a range of uses. The switches fitted on the Luma84 are Gateron's low-profile design which are shaped for a more ergonomic feel that Epomaker says can reduce strain on the typist's wrists while offering fast response times thanks to a shortened key travel distance that's also designed to feel very smooth. Users can choose between Red linear switches or more clicky Brown versions. These days, an increasing number of people like to pick a keyboard that reflects their personality. Logitech has responded to this with its POP range of colorful mechanical keyboards and the Epomaker Luma84 addressed this same Gen Z market. With the Luma84, users can transform their workspace with a keyboard that has a minimalist style as well as wireless connectivity that does away with a tangle of cables. However, for those who want a wired connection, the Luma84 has a USB Type-C port with a high-speed polling rate of 1000Hz, which gamers will appreciate. The keyboard also ships with a 2.4GHz USB dongle that provides a wireless connection that also has a 1000Hz polling rate. For those who want to work across multiple devices, the Luma84 also offers Bluetooth connectivity with instant switching between up to three devices across platforms. So, it's possible to move between a Windows PC, an iPad or an Apple MacBook using the same keyboard. Compatibility also includes support for Android and Linux. While the stock keyboards that ship with many desktop computers are unsophisticated and cheap membrane designs, they can cause wrist strain and tired fingers. The Luma84 has a gasket mount design that provides a low-profile rake and a mechanical feel that many people prefer. By suspending the keyboard plate with Gaskets and packing the space with various sound-absorbing foams and silicone, Epomaker has eliminated the hollow echo of some mechanical designs that can cause friction in a shared office. With a soft and responsive feel thanks to pre-lubed and tuned switches, Epomaker claims the Luma84, helps boost productivity while providing a more comfortable and durable typing experience. Low-profile keyboards seem to be growing in popularity as regular profile mechanical keyboards are reminiscent of the clunky old keyboards used on mainframe computer terminals in the 1970s. The Luma84's DSA profile keycaps on the Luma84 have dye sublimation and double-shot legends for a clearer finish. Other legends, such as the keys with macOS modifiers, are picked out in lighter shades. Meanwhile, all the keys of the Luma84 have south-facing RGB backlighting that can be customized by color and motion effects using hotkeys and the web-based VIA software. The Epomaker Luma84 75% mechanical keyboard is available now from the Epomaker website and priced at $109.99.
