Latest news with #HallEffectGateron
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
