J. Trew@itstrewJanuary 12th, 2022In this write-up: rgb, qmk, equipment, palms-on, keychron, mechanical keyboard, q2, overview
Keychron pleasantly surprised mechanical keyboard lovers when it declared the Q1. It was the company’s first foray into totally customizable keyboards, and we preferred it a lot. Currently it is the turn of the Q2, which is a smaller sized (65% or no “function key”) variation of the Q1. Regardless of the diminished footprint, it retails for the similar price, beginning at $149 for the barebone or $169 if you want it absolutely assembled – more affordable than considerably of the opposition.
When we analyzed the Q1 we favored it a good deal. It available the similar amount of configuration as the substantially-beloved GMMK Pro for about $100 fewer. That explained, the providing level of the GMMK Pro (in this author’s viewpoint) is all about individuals lavish “Lubed Panda” switches and the organization, responsive typing encounter. The “Panda” is GMMK’s individual “switch” which for these that never cling out at Fall and/or use a “mech” are the mechanical element of the key – the significant bit, genuinely, as that’s generally what will determine how the keyboard “feels.”
As with the Q1, the Q2 is suitable with By using configuration software program (and thus QMK) which simply allows you to remap keys to practically anything at all, make macros and much more. Also like the Q1 (and the GMMK Pro and more and more others) there’s the possibility to replace the leading-suitable-most crucial (Insert) with a clickable rotary for quantity and media management.
I’ll acknowledge, after using the GMMK Pro for a whilst now, I come across the Gateron Reds that arrived with the Q2 a tiny flacid by comparison, but which is the pleasure of a customizable keyboard, you can use whichever switches you like (or alter out more or significantly less any other portion). You could even load it with the Pandas if you desire, while that would demand a (ton of) additional devote.
The Q2 stays USB only (no wi-fi) but is still compatible with possibly Windows or Mac and the corresponding OS-certain keycaps are included in the box. It’s also just as rugged and very well created as the Q1 with the all-metal casing. You can select in between 3 shades thereof: Black, gray and navy blue.
In the long run, the selling stage of the Q2 boils down to regardless of whether you prefer a compact keyboard or to have obtain to bodily perform keys (they’re continue to accessible below with shortcuts obviously).
The Q2 is also joined by some other comparatively new additions. Keychron is prolific if nothing at all else. In distinct, there’s the light-weight/70% K14 which is both equally wi-fi and has very hot-swappable switches for a extra economical on-the-go option that retails for a modest $59. The firm also a short while ago unveiled its 1st mouse wired the M1. It’s visually fairly equivalent to the Razer Viper ($39) but also bears more than a passing resemblance to the Glorious O (also from the exact folks at the rear of the GMMK Pro).
Orders for the Keychron Q2 are open up as of now.
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