Keychron Q11 QMK evaluation: An ergonomic mechanical keyboard with nice worth

Greatest Costs Right now: Q11 QMK Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

Till not too long ago, mechanical keyboards had been out of my attain. Ergonomic mechanical keyboards aren’t but widespread, and those who exist are costly. At the very least, costly by regular individuals requirements—keeb fanatics may not blink twice at spending a number of hundred on a keyboard (a lot much less one more for his or her assortment), however I do.

So when Keychron ready to launch its Q11 QMK cut up keyboard, PCWorld’s resident mechanical keyboard professional Michael Crider requested if I, an individual who’s been chained to a Goldtouch keyboard for the reason that darkish ages, wished to provide it a spin.

Heck sure I did.

Additional studying: See our roundup of the very best gaming keyboards.

Keychron Q11 QMK worth

One of many causes for my pleasure: The Q11 isn’t simply an ergonomic mechanical keyboard. With all of its options, the Keychron Q11 is a surprisingly inexpensive ergonomic mechanical keyboard suitable with each Home windows and Mac computer systems.

Dygma

Rivals that value about the identical have soldered switches (e.g., Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge, Cloud 9 ErgoTKL, Cloud 9 ErgoFS). On the opposite finish of the size, extra customizable keyboards just like the Zsa ErgodoxEZ simply hit $300, with boards just like the Dygma Increase pushing into the $400 vary. Many within the larger vary are compact boards, too, leaving few choices in case you like devoted arrow keys (a lot much less operate keys).

In the meantime, the Q11 presents loads of customization—hot-swappable switches, two rotary dials, a CNC machined aluminum physique, straightforward QMK/VIA programming—but prices $205 totally constructed. It lacks a tenting package accent (a characteristic constructed into the Kinesis and Cloud 9 boards), however Keychron says it’s contemplating whether or not to make one. (Sure, please!) These features don’t have an effect on ergonomics, however the Q11 feels good for its value.

Keychron Q11 QMK design

The Q11’s cut up design is what makes it ergonomic. Higher ergo keyboards generally share that one characteristic, although with totally different takes. 

Extra inexpensive boards are normally one piece, with every half of the keyboard set aside at a hard and fast, unchangeable width. They dominate in shops like Greatest Purchase. The costlier fashions (i.e., those you’ll discover on specialised web sites) allow you to modify the place of the 2 keyboard halves—change the gap between them, modify their angle, or each. Keyboard spacing can vastly have an effect on consolation in the course of the day, particularly in case you’re pounding on it for hours at a time.

The Keychron Q11 skips previous the junior leagues with a completely cut up keyboard design, joined collectively by a normal USB-C cable. You may modify the gap between the 2 halves of the keyboard, in addition to their horizontal angle.

Alaina Yee / Foundry

This 75-percent keyboard has a polling fee of 1,000Hz, and consists of operate keys, arrow keys, and a strip of 5 programmable macro keys on the left. You additionally get devoted web page up, web page down, and residential keys on the correct facet of the board—however no finish key. Metallic knobs (two whole) sit within the higher left and proper corners, which management your PC’s quantity by default. Clicking them to mute your sound produces very stable (and satisfying) tactile suggestions.

Included with the totally constructed board are double-shot OSA PBT keycaps, which mix the peak of an OEM keycap with the form of an SA keycap. Beneath are your selection of Gateron G Professional switches in both purple or brown. (For our evaluation unit, I selected brown.) The $185 bare-bone mannequin skips the switches and keycaps, leaving it totally to you to populate it your self.

For individuals who are new to mechanical keyboard customization (like me), the totally constructed choice is the better method to go. The Q11 has a barely distinctive structure for its spacebar row, with a Ctrl, Home windows, Alt, and Operate key crammed on the left facet of the board. On the correct facet, there are Alt, FN1, and Ctrl keys. Keychron helpfully supplies the measurements you’ll want in case you carry your individual keycaps, however it’s that rather more to determine and resolve on when getting began. Additionally, it appears tougher to seek out suitable keycap units on AliExpress. (Hey, am newb, please give me your l33t low cost purchasing suggestions.)

Alaina Yee / Foundry

As for the RGB lighting—the south-facing LEDs are clear and simple to see because the typist, and Keychron provides you 20 pre-programmed patterns to select from. (My private favourite: Pixel Rain, which gently blinks totally different keys on and off in a random sample, with softer colours than the everyday unicorn vomit look.)

How does it really feel to make use of the Keychron Q11?

PCWorld

After an preliminary acclimation interval (by which I’ll or could not have messaged Michael with all of the drama of somebody who hates change), the Q11 grew on me. It has a stable, weighted really feel and feels sturdy when banging away on it. I do use far more pressure than earlier than when typing (nearer to the instances I’ve used a guide typewriter), however the expertise isn’t uncomfortable and I can all the time swap the switches. As soon as the huge quantity of selections on the market cease being so overwhelming, no less than.

I solely have two private complaints—first, the structure of the left spacebar row. I might have most well-liked an extended spacebar. With the scale of my arms and the way I sort, I spent about two weeks with my left thumb unpleasantly hitting the hole between the Operate key and the spacebar till my muscle reminiscence tailored.

The second is the dearth of an Finish key. I exploit it on a regular basis as a author/editor, and on my Goldtouch keyboard, it sits on the correct facet of the keyboard. Why the empty spot below the house key, Keychron? An Finish key would have match completely there. And but, a small void as an alternative.

Alaina Yee / Foundry

Happily, these programmable macro keys exist, although I might have a lot most well-liked a devoted key (with matching labeled keycap). Programming the board is tremendous straightforward by means of the VIA net app, and the Q11 helps two totally different layers of keystrokes per supported working system. On the primary layer for Home windows, it took about 5 minutes to determine and set the macro keys to incorporate my beloved Finish key, plus shortcuts for numerous apps and program instructions. One other 5 minutes of trial and error and I had a ten-key pad within the second layer (activated utilizing the FN1 button)—and it solely took that lengthy as a result of I re-created my Goldtouch keyboard’s model of this (and its structure) from reminiscence.

One surprising facet good thing about Keychron’s totally cut up keyboard design: The board is extra transportable, in case you wanted to pack it up. (My Goldtouch keyboard has one large joint that binds the 2 halves collectively.) No carrying case is included although, and as talked about above, a tenting package doesn’t exist. I require vertical tilt for correct ergonomics, so I’ve been making do with a plastic tub of hand cream for a modest angle. It doesn’t really feel as comfy as my Goldtouch keyboard’s extra dramatic tilt, although.