Not everybody appreciates the luxurious of a mechanical keyboard. Many are proud of the flat keys that include their laptop computer; they need not cope with the value premiums, varieties, and complexities of mechanical switches. Amongst those that do make the leap to mechanical switches, a lot are blissful to decide on a keyboard preloaded with a selected swap sort. However the Keychron Q2 is for these wiling to go an inch or two additional down the rabbit gap.

I say “an inch or two” as a result of the Q2 comes utterly assembled (or with simply the switches and keycaps lacking), letting you choose your degree of customization—and it affords choices that solely a mechanical keyboard fanatic would contemplate.

These choices embody a gasket-mounted design, sound-dampening foam, and pre-lubricated switches, which ought to get rid of pinging noises or low-cost stabilizer rattling. The Q2 is a surprisingly hefty 65% keyboard constructed for the lengthy haul, and whereas the beginning value of $150 is not low-cost, it is extra digestible than different high-end rivals.

Buying choices

As with a few of its different keyboards, together with the wi-fi Keychron K14, Keychron affords quite a few choices when buying a Q2. You may get it as a totally useful keyboard with pre-installed mechanical switches and keycaps, or you will get it as a barebone package (no switches or keycaps). The barebone package is a good possibility for fans who need extra customization than a prebuilt mannequin—however do not need to construct a mechanical keyboard from scratch. The barebone possibility is simply $20-$30 cheaper than the absolutely assembled model, so it isn’t value selecting simply to economize.

Whether or not you get the keyboard assembled or not, you will should determine if it’ll have an Insert key, like a standard 65% keyboard, or a rotary knob. The knob is $10 additional, however you’ll be able to work together with it in 3 ways (clockwise flip, counterclockwise flip, and urgent in). The knob is programmable, so you may truly set it as much as function Insert, too.

You even have three coloration choices, with the chassis being both black, grey, or blue, and the assembled Q2 comes with Gateron G Professional Pink, Blue, or Brown switches (all the identical value).

Exemplary however imperfect sound

The Q2 seems and feels distinctive, however what really units it aside is a scarcity of aural artifacts. I examined the Q2 with G Professional Brown switches. Every key press had a delicate plastic noise when taking place and a extra excited plastic noise with a bit extra pop to it on the way in which up. I heard no metallic pinging noises, even when bottoming out often. I recklessly bashed giant buttons, like Spacebar and Backspace, however there was no stabilizer rattling to rat on me. All I heard was the sound of well-lubricated switches actuating, a delicate clack from the keycaps—and hole clunks from the Spacebar and different giant keys.

That hole sound contrasted with the remainder of the keyboard; somebody even requested me if I used to be typing on two totally different keyboards. (I additionally heard a uncommon, quiet echo when urgent the appropriate Shift key laborious.) Some fans hate a hollow-sounding key, however what bothered me extra was how totally different the larger keys sound from the others.