Keychron Q8 review 2024: for work and play

The Keychron Q8 is a great way to get started with mechanical keyboards, but some people might find it hard to type on the Alice layout. Keychron has been making great mechanical keyboards for a long time, and they always welcome newcomers to the peripherals market. The keyboards are usually sold as both fully-assembled and “barebones” kits, so they can be used by people who don’t want to put them together and by people who want to experiment with customization in the future.

In the past, we’ve talked about a number of options, such as the slim Keychron K3, the small Keychron Q1, the “tenkeyless” Keychron Q3, and the Keychron Q5, which is bigger and has a more standard layout. The Keychron Q8 is a new customizable keyboard with high-end features. This time, it focuses more on a layout that is good for your body.

Keychron Q8 review: Design

After that cynical intro, let’s talk about the Keychron Q8. This design uses the same parts as Keychron’s other great Q keyboards (see our review of the Q5) and applies them to the popular Alice layout found on many boutique builds. This methodical way of putting the keys together gives the keyboard a curve like many so-called ergonomic designs, but it still works with standard MX switches and a variety of keycap sets. You can buy this keyboard from its official website.

Keychron Q8 review: Features

Even though most people haven’t tried ergonomic typing, the Keychron Q8 hot-swappable 65% Alice keyboard gives those who haven’t tried it yet a chance, and it’s a great chance. The Keychron Q8 is a high-quality mechanical keyboard with some unique features that make it stand out from the rest. It’s time to give an Alice board a try.

Keychron Q8 review: Customization

When you order the Keychron Q8, you can choose between pre-lubricated Gateron G Pro Red, G Pro Blue, or G Pro Brown switches. You can also buy the keyboard without switches or keycaps, which is called “barebones.”

Via keyboard software, which is a free download, can be used to change the keyboard’s functions and features. It worked fine for me once we added the.json file for the Q8, which I found on Keychron’s website. Inside the box, you’ll find a USB cable to connect the keyboard, keycaps for Windows and Mac, and a few extra gaskets.

Keychron Q8 review: Typing

Overall, it’s a very pleasant experience to type, but it’s not quite as life-changing as switching to a mechanical keyboard. If you want to switch from an Apple Magic keyboard or another non-mechanical keyboard, you will have a very steep learning curve if you go straight to a mechanical Alice layout keyboard.

When we switched from a different mechanical keyboard, we felt more at ease because we already knew how it felt to type on one. If you’ve already switched to a standard layout mechanical keyboard, the Q8 could be the next step.

Keychron Q8 review: Performance

Keychron also uses Gateron screw-in PCB stabilisers to make sure that the bigger keys work smoothly and steadily. There are stabilisers for the backspace, shift, and enter spaced bar keys. The Q8 also works with stabilisers from companies like Cherry and Durock.

The keyboard, a keycap puller, a switch puller, a screwdriver, and a hex key are all part of the retail package. The keyboard comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable that is 1.2 metres long and has a USB-A adapter. The Keychron Q8 QMK keyboard has 98 keys. There are directional arrows on the right, two small space bars, and fn1 and fn2 buttons between the space bars

Keychron Q8 review: Price and availability

And like the other Q keyboards, the Keychron Q8 is expensive, but it’s a shockingly good deal when you look at it in the big picture. Prices start at $175 if you bring your own switches and keycaps, and go up to $205 for the version with Gateron G Pro switches, PBT keycaps, and the rotary knob.

Cases are black, silver, or blue, and the keycaps are the same colour. You might as well buy the custom-curved wrist rest for $33 as well, since you’re not likely to find anything else with the same shape as this keyboard.

Final Words

The Keychron Q8 is a good keyboard for use in an office. The Alice layout makes it feel very well made and makes it easy to type on. All of the major operating systems can run the companion software, and there is a switch for the operating system at the top of the keyboard to make sure everything works well.

The layers of sound-absorbing foam inside the board also make it very quiet to use. But the layout of the Alice board takes a little getting used to at first, so if you’re used to straight boards, your typing speed and accuracy might go down a bit.

FAQs

Are Keychron keyboards good quality?

Keychron has been called one of the best keyboard brands because it is easy to use and has unique features. This is why it has gotten good reviews from the media and real feedback from many different people. “To be honest, it was also one of our team’s main goals: to make something small and easy to use.

Which is better Ducky or Keychron?

The Keychron is more flexible because it can be used with more devices and even in a home theatre PC setup. Also, it works perfectly with both macOS and Android, while the Ducky only works perfectly with Windows. But, unlike the Ducky, the Keychron doesn’t have any macro-programmable keys.

Why is Keychron so popular?

Keychron keyboards are made so that users can change the way they type to suit their own needs. They often come with toolkits that make it easier to change things, which makes them a great way to get into the world of keyboard hobbyists without spending a lot of money.