Keychron Q8 review: This high-quality ergonomic keyboard feels delightful

Price When Reviewed

$205

Best Prices Today: Keychron Q8 keyboard

Fun reality: nobody really understands ergonomics. Aside from some commonsense recommendation like “get out of your chair once in a while” and “don’t hunch over your laptop like Gollum slurping down fish guts,” there aren’t loads of guidelines which might be broadly agreed upon to universally assist. Everybody’s totally different, and each physique’s totally different — if one thing feels good for you, then it’s best to most likely maintain utilizing it. 

With that cynical prologue out of the best way: the Keychron Q8. This design makes use of the entire similar components as Keychron’s different wonderful Q keyboards (see our review of the Q5) and applies it to the favored Alice format, featured on many boutiques builds. This methodical key association grants the keyboard a curve, as seen in lots of allegedly ergonomic designs, whereas conserving it appropriate with customary MX switches and quite a lot of keycap units. 

Michael Crider/IDG

And that’s about all there may be 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. If you’re within the former group, you’ll recognize that the Keychron Q8 is surprisingly low cost for all it gives, and it’s one of many solely Alice format keyboards you should purchase with out getting on a ready listing. 

A laundry listing of options 

The Keychron Q8 has all of the options of the opposite members of the Q collection. These embody 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. Inside 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 further foam gaskets if you’d 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 format. Though this modified, extra user-friendly model consists of useful additions like full arrow keys and a rotary dial for quantity, you’ll most likely wish to regulate issues, like the right way to activate the operate layer or exactly what’s managed by the rotary dial.

Learning curve 

While we’re on the topic: sure, this keyboard takes loads of getting used to. More for me than for many customers, I might guess, as a result of I flunked out of center college typing class. Despite 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 % of my key presses coming from my dominant left hand. 

Michael Crider/IDG

So for me, adjusting to a break up format requires greater than merely accounting for the slight slant of the QWERTY space. I’ve to actually power myself to kind “correctly,” conserving my fingers on the classical residence 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 an everyday format to be able to get my work completed on time. 

Michael Crider/IDG

But I stress, that is very a lot a “me” drawback. The solely actual weak point of this model of the Alice format is that to be able to make room for the arrow cluster, it omits proper Ctrl and Alt keys — should you can’t change to the left aspect you’ll additionally discover it irritating. Those with extra classically right 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 should you already use a break up or ergonomic format. 

I ought to point out, Keychron makes a barely bigger model of this keyboard with the identical common format, however the addition of a operate row. It’s called the Q10.

Best-in-class typing

Beyond that very particular format situation, 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. (Just pay attention to the odd 2/2 layer limitation due to the keyboard’s built-in Mac/Windows change.) You’ll most likely should hunt round a bit for an Alice-compliant keycap set if you’d like a alternative, however the default doubleshot OSA keycaps are wonderful. 

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If all you’re on the lookout for is a superb typing expertise, the Keychron Q8 delivers. It’s arduous to explain the distinction between a high-quality board like this one and, say, a superb however pedestrian mannequin from Logitech or Razer. The keys nearly glide with satisfying motion, clicking down onto a base that feels prefer it was lovingly poured right into a customized mildew. The finest analogy I can provide you with is the distinction between driving a funds Kia and a brand new BMW. They’re each completely useful, however the latter is indefinably extra automotive, in dozens of little however noticeable methods. Whether 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 an incredibly good worth in context. Prices begin at $175 should you convey your individual switches and keycaps, and prime out at $205 for the model with Gateron G Pro switches, PBT keycaps, and the rotary knob. (Honestly, the most costly model is one of the best deal, contemplating you’ll most likely spend double the distinction on keycaps alone.) Cases are available in black, silver, and blue, with matching keycap colours. You may as effectively spring for the $33 custom-curved wrist rest, too, because you’re unlikely to search out anything that may match this keyboard’s distinctive geometry. 

Michael Crider/IDG

There are cheaper pre-built keyboards with the Alice format, just like the Feker Alice 80 sold on KPRepublic or the Epomaker Alice. But 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 reach into the $400 to $500 range. And that’s assuming you may get a spot within the group purchase, and have the persistence to attend six months or longer for supply. 

An wonderful however area of interest design 

Michael Crider/IDG

The Keychron Q8’s high quality will attraction to everybody, however the Alice format gained’t. If you’re out there for one thing vaguely “ergo” and the break up, barely curved keys will really feel good on your typing fashion, you’ll be able to lay down your cash confidently. That’s very true if you wish to customise both the format or the bodily keyboard itself. If you want one thing extra typical, go with the Keychron Q2, which has a broadly comparable 65% format with out the curve.