Skilled’s Ranking
Professionals
- Distinctive Alice structure
- Unbelievable construct high quality
- Straightforward customization
Our Verdict
Keychron’s Q sequence is as soon as once more spectacular for high quality and customization, now coming within the much-loved Alice structure. It’s a simple purchase if you would like an ergonomic structure with wonderful typing and plenty of options.
Finest Costs At the moment: Keychron Q8 keyboard
Enjoyable truth: no person actually understands ergonomics. Except for some commonsense recommendation like “get out of your chair every now and then” and “don’t hunch over your laptop computer like Gollum slurping down fish guts,” there aren’t a number of guidelines which are extensively agreed upon to universally assist. Everyone’s completely different, and each physique’s completely different — if one thing feels good for you, then it is best to most likely hold utilizing it.
With that cynical prologue out of the best way: the Keychron Q8. This design makes use of the entire identical components as Keychron’s different wonderful Q keyboards (see our evaluate of the Q5) and applies it to the favored Alice structure, featured on many boutiques builds. This methodical key association grants the keyboard a curve, as seen in lots of allegedly ergonomic designs, whereas holding it appropriate with customary MX switches and quite a lot of keycap units.
Michael Crider/IDG
And that’s about all there’s to say about it. The Q8 makes use of Keychron’s wonderful design chops for a keyboard that you just’ll both love, or discover extremely irritating, relying in your adaptability and typing fashion. Should you’re within the former group, you’ll admire that the Keychron Q8 is surprisingly low cost for all it gives, and it’s one of many solely Alice structure keyboards you should purchase with out getting on a ready checklist.
A laundry checklist of options
The Keychron Q8 has all of the options of the opposite members of the Q sequence. These embrace an enormous and heavy milled aluminum physique, built-in foam gaskets for quiet typing, hot-swap switches for personalisation, RGB lighting, high-quality PBT keycaps, and screw-in stabilizers. Contained in the field you’ll discover a braided USB-C-to-C cable, a C-to-A adapter, puller instruments for each keycaps and switches, an Allen wrench for opening the case, and a few additional foam gaskets if you would like extra even padding. The keyboard helps the favored QMK and VIA requirements for programming its keys and lights.
Michael Crider/IDG
That final one will most likely be important for newer customers of the Alice structure. Although this modified, extra user-friendly model contains useful additions like full arrow keys and a rotary dial for quantity, you’ll most likely wish to modify issues, like learn how to activate the operate layer or exactly what’s managed by the rotary dial.
Studying curve
Whereas we’re on the topic: sure, this keyboard takes a number of getting used to. Extra for me than for many customers, I might guess, as a result of I flunked out of center college typing class. Regardless of my love of mechanical keyboards, my precise typing approach is atrocious; I developed a touch-typing fashion after years and years of hunting-and-pecking at 40WPM, with about 70 p.c of my key presses coming from my dominant left hand.
Michael Crider/IDG
So for me, adjusting to a break up structure requires greater than merely accounting for the slight slant of the QWERTY space. I’ve to actually power myself to sort “appropriately,” holding my fingers on the classical house rows, or else my index finger tries and fails to bridge the hole within the center. Frankly I can solely stand to do it for about an hour, then I’ve to return to a daily structure with a purpose to get my work finished on time.
Michael Crider/IDG
However I stress, that is very a lot a “me” drawback. The one actual weak point of this model of the Alice structure is that with a purpose to make room for the arrow cluster, it omits proper Ctrl and Alt keys — when you can’t swap to the left facet you’ll additionally discover it irritating. These with extra classically appropriate typing approach, whose fingers don’t roam over a superbly horizontal set of keys like a cartoon mouse dancing on a piano, will discover it a lot simpler to regulate. That’s doubly true when you already use a break up or ergonomic structure.
I ought to point out, Keychron makes a barely bigger model of this keyboard with the identical normal structure, however the addition of a operate row. It’s referred to as the Q10.
Finest-in-class typing
Past that very particular structure subject, the Keychron Q8 is nearly as good as its stablemates. Tinkerers are free so as to add no matter sorts of switches they wish to any of the person keys, and program enjoyable and attention-grabbing actions and lighting through, um, VIA or QMK firmware. (Simply pay attention to the odd 2/2 layer limitation due to the keyboard’s built-in Mac/Home windows swap.) You’ll most likely must hunt round a bit for an Alice-compliant keycap set if you would like a substitute, however the default doubleshot OSA keycaps are wonderful.
Michael Crider/IDG
If all you’re on the lookout for is a good typing expertise, the Keychron Q8 delivers. It’s exhausting to explain the distinction between a high-quality board like this one and, say, an excellent however pedestrian mannequin from Logitech or Razer. The keys virtually glide with satisfying motion, clicking down onto a base that feels prefer it was lovingly poured right into a {custom} mildew. The very best analogy I can provide you with is the distinction between driving a price range Kia and a brand new BMW. They’re each completely practical, however the latter is indefinably extra automotive, in dozens of little however noticeable methods. Whether or not or not it’s definitely worth the distinction in value is a subjective query.
Justified expense
And like its fellow Q keyboards, the Keychron Q8 is an costly keyboard, however a surprisingly good worth in context. Costs begin at $175 when you convey your individual switches and keycaps, and prime out at $205 for the model with Gateron G Professional switches, PBT keycaps, and the rotary knob. (Actually, the most costly model is the most effective deal, contemplating you’ll most likely spend double the distinction on keycaps alone.) Instances are available in black, silver, and blue, with matching keycap colours. You may as nicely spring for the $33 custom-curved wrist relaxation, too, because you’re unlikely to search out the rest that may match this keyboard’s distinctive geometry.
Michael Crider/IDG
There are cheaper pre-built keyboards with the Alice structure, just like the Feker Alice 80 offered on KPRepublic or the Epomaker Alice. However these usually have a plastic case, lack foam or gasket mounting, and depend upon flaky proprietary programming software program. A boutique small batch Alice construct, equaling the specs and high quality that Keychron is providing, can simply attain into the $400 to $500 vary. And that’s assuming you will get a spot within the group purchase, and have the persistence to attend six months or longer for supply.
A superb however area of interest design
Michael Crider/IDG
The Keychron Q8’s high quality will enchantment to everybody, however the Alice structure received’t. Should you’re available in the market for one thing vaguely “ergo” and the break up, barely curved keys will really feel good in your typing fashion, you may lay down your cash confidently. That’s very true if you wish to customise both the structure or the bodily keyboard itself. Should you want one thing extra standard, go along with the Keychron Q2, which has a broadly related 65% structure with out the curve.