For those who want to try out the world of custom keyboards, the Keychron Q1 is an excellent choice. It's very solidly built, probably the most stable chassis I've seen in a long time. Moreover, the MX Clear switches are very sensitive to the touch, making them perfect for typing. However, using such a switch can get very expensive, making it an option only for enthusiasts and wealthy people.
Keychron Q1 V2 is a keyboard that supports hot-swappable switches. It offers the functionality of replaceable switches, allowing users to adjust the feel of the keyboard to their liking. Additionally, the Q1 V2 is a wired keyboard that comes with a detachable USB-C cable, making it perfect for typists on the go.
In recent years, the trend of building personalized keyboards has grown, with manufacturers offering more customization options to meet customer needs.
Enter the Keychron Q1 (Version 2), an option from one of the more established custom manufacturers that comes with a sturdy CNC aluminum frame and PBT keycaps, a hot-swappable PCB, and convenience customization method.
As a barebones kit, the Q1 costs £149/$169, but if you don't want to customize it, you can buy it fully assembled for $179.
Before we get started with the design, it’s worth mentioning that this is a custom Keychron Q1, not a fully assembled kit. With a custom one, you can choose your key witch and keycaps, the latter of which will determine at least part of its appearance.
For my setup, I chose some Mac-inspired keycaps, which make the Q1 look like an old Apple extended keyboard from 1987 to 1990 that came with the Macintosh II and SE It's a strange design. This gives the Q1 a certain retro aesthetic that looks great, and considering these keycaps are made from dye-sublimated PBT plastic, they also feel very durable.
No matter which keycap you choose, the frame of the Q1 remains the same. It consists of a CNC’d 6063 aluminum chassis, which brings some ridiculous heft and heft that its smaller stature seems to be unable to match, at least from the OEM board.
Given the sheer thickness of the aluminum case and the lack of deck flex, there will be a small amount of bounce in the keys even though this is a washer mounted keyboard. If you wish, you can choose to add metal panels to the panels, which can provide greater structural rigidity.
This is also a keyboard with a smaller footprint, and its 75% layout brings a TKL-style composition, although it has a compressed navigation cluster so it only takes up one column. Generally speaking, 65% and 75% keyboards have always been my preferred layouts, considering the desk space you save and you don't lose much in functionality other than the numeric keypad.
On the back, the interface is nice and simple, with a USB-C port for connectivity (the cable here is an airplane-style coiled product that looks awesome) and a Windows/Mac selector switch , as this keyboard works on both platforms. 
When it comes to switching options for barebones kits, the world is your oyster. Since this is a hot-swappable PCB, no soldering is required and you can plug in any MX style switch that has 3 or 5 pins on the bottom.
The process for doing this is simple, just press a switch and push down slightly until it snaps into place, although it's worth buying a few extra if you bend the pins and can't push them back into place s things.
If you buy the Keychron Q1 directly from Keychron, you have the option of using a range of Gateron G Pro switches, but for me, I decided to look for some Cherry MX Clears.
For those who don’t know, MX Clears are a heavier version of the MX Browns, requiring 65g of force to actuate, while the Browns weigh 55cN. They offer a more pronounced feel and more pronounced bumps, making them a perfect choice for typists.
In day-to-day use, the Clears inside the Q1 absolutely shine, delivering responsive keys and a satisfying click. While there's nothing stopping you from trying it, they may be a little on the gaming side. At the disclosed 1000Hz polling frequency, the Q1 may be responsive enough for gaming with some of the lighter switches inside.
It turns out that you can use the bundled switch loop to switch between MacOS and Windows on the fly, which proves particularly helpful considering I'm someone who works on a MacBook and plays games on a Windows PC. As soon as you change modes, all relevant functions will appear and be ready.
Bright RGB lighting
In terms of lighting, the Keychron Q1 comes with some RGB, thanks to the south-facing RGB LED mounted under the base plate, which looks like it has the right switches installed. A treat.
Unfortunately, since these MX Clears have a black casing, it's almost impossible to get the RGB to shine through, but the lighting is there and generally looks pretty good, even if there isn't much customization in the way of VIA software in the bundle.
VIA is a very powerful keyboard customization software, even though its menu display is different, it looks very simple. There are options to program four separate function layers, as well as remap functions directly to keys.
You can also write macros and adjust a set of lighting presets. This is a very practical toolkit that will meet most people's needs. While it doesn't look as big of a budget as kit from the likes of Razer and Corsair, the VIA definitely gets the job done.
With its CNC-machined aluminum casing, the Keychron Q1 is one of the best built-in keyboards money can buy, and if it’s durability you’re after, then There aren't many better options. Custom keyboards are just a market that will grow over time, and the Keychron Q1 is a shining example of how to use it right. For the price of a high-end keyboard, you get a CNC-made aluminum case, along with any switches you like (for a fee) and some great startup software.
If you're looking to get more out of your next keyboard, the Q1 delivers just that without going into the ultra-high-end price range. The Keychron Q1 is an easy recommendation for anyone interested in mechanical keyboards and anyone who wants a quality keyboard that will last for years to come.
Especially if none of the currently running gaming keyboards meet your needs. If you're an enthusiast who wants to try out a custom keyboard, the Q1 is definitely a good choice.
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