Review: Keychron Q1 HE is the ultimate keyboard for gamers and pros
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.
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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
The Independent
07-05-2025
- The Independent
Nobody wants a Cybertruck: Number of sold trucks falls short of expectations as anger over Musk festers
Tesla Cybertruck sales underperformed in Q1, dropping more than 50 percent compared to sales in Q4 of 2024, reflecting a larger theme for the electric vehicle maker, which has faced market volatility and decreasing sales as its CEO has taken a role in the Trump administration. In the last quarter, Tesla sold roughly 6,400 Cybertrucks – more than double the number from the same time last year but significantly fewer than the 12,900 sold in the final quarter of 2024, according to research firm Cox Automotive. It's the second consecutive quarter Tesla has seen a dip in Cybertruck sales. Sales peaked during Q3 of 2024 with roughly 16,600 sold. The distinctive-looking electric truck has faced a series of challenges over the last few months, with safety regulators recalling more than 46,000 vehicles, an explosive detonation inside a Cybertruck in January, and people targeting the cars, dealerships and sellers motivated by politics. However, sales do not appear to be related to a lack of demand for electric vehicles. Overall sales of electric vehicles in the United States rose 11 percent during the first quarter, according to Cox Automotive. Roughly 7.5 percent of all new vehicle sales in the first quarter were electric vehicles – an increase from last year. The Cybertruck was introduced to the electric vehicle market in 2023, and at the time, Musk touted that more than one million people had paid a $100 refundable deposit to reserve one. 'Demand was off the charts,' Musk said at the time, though the Tesla CEO contended that it would take roughly 18 months to see a positive cash flow from the Cybertruck. Though Musk teased the vehicle as highly anticipated, it has failed to meet those expectations. Last year, Tesla sold roughly 39,000 Cybertrucks, making up less than 5 percent of the company's total sales. It's unclear how sales have impacted Tesla's Cybertruck inventory or whether there is a massive surplus, as reported by some outlets. While there is no way to track that publicly, the company has reportedly begun taking steps to reduce its Cybertruck inventory. Tesla recently moved workers from Cybertruck production to its Austin factory to work on more popular models, Business Insider reported in January. It also dropped production targets for several Cybertruck lines over the last few months, workers familiar with the matter told Business Insider. Production lines have reportedly also been thinned out; now, some are said to be working at a fraction of their previous capacity. The Cybertrucks' struggles also arise while Musk juggles his roles in businesses and the Trump administration. Appointed a 'special government employee,' Musk has taken a role as a senior adviser to Trump, sitting in on cabinet meetings and spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency. The public has largely disapproved of Musk's role overseeing massive cuts to the federal government. One poll from the Washington Post, ABC News and Ipsos found that only 35 percent of Americans approve of Musk's position in the White House. Similarly, Silver Bulletin found that 38 percent of people approved of Musk and Fox News found 39 percent of people approve. The general public's disdain for Musk has resulted in worldwide boycotts of Tesla, with vehicles or dealerships becoming victims of vandalism and harassment in the U.S. Tesla's stock has been going down since it peaked in December, after Trump won the presidential election. It saw its largest dip between February and March. Even overseas, registrations of new Tesla vehicles, other than the Cybertruck, dropped nearly 46 percent in Germany, 62 percent in, 59 percent in France and 80 percent in Sweden compared to last year, according to the New York Times. Some of that decline can be attributed to fewer deliveries of Tesla's newest Model Y. But not all hope is lost for the Cybertruck. Given Tesla manufactures most of their vehicles in the U.S., the company may see sales increase over the next year as consumers face Trump's tariffs on vehicles and vehicle parts.
