The Keychron Q1 HE 8K is one of the company’s many HE 8K refreshed keyboards. Offering Hall effect functionality paired with 8,000 Hz polling, the Q1 HE 8K has the modern gaming must-have boxes checked, but how does it fare in real-world testing? Here’s my review after two weeks of heavy use.
Solid specs
The Q1 HE 8K is a 75% keyboard with an aluminum case and a double-gasket mount design to soften keystrokes and improve acoustics. It uses Keychron Ultra-fast Lime magnetic switches, which arrive pre-lubed and focus on smooth, stable travel. Actuation can be adjusted per key from 0.1 mm to 3.35 mm, allowing either a light or heavy input, or anything in between.
Paired with the web app, the magnetic switches can be tuned with features like Dynamic Rapid Trigger, Snap Click, Last Key Priority, and Analog Mode. These can all enhance the gaming experience in a big way, which is why there’s so much hype surrounding Hall effect tech right now.
Fine-tuned advantage
With a low actuation point and 8K polling rate active, this keyboard can be made to feel incredibly responsive. In first-person shooters, it feels especially naughty. With that said, it will take some playing around with the settings to fully optimize for your usage, across all of your games.
The Q1 HE 8K feels and sounds like quality, too, with Keychron having become very well-versed in its choice of materials and how to tune a keyboard. I was particularly happy with the screw-in stabilizers, which offer a nice touch that some competitors have missed.
The downsides
The three downsides of owning this keyboard are simple yet tough to get around: first, switch limitation; second, the weight; and third, the lack of wireless.
When it comes to switches, the Q1 HE 8K currently only supports the magnetic switches from Keychron. You won’t be swapping in your traditional switches, so don’t even consider that.
As for the weight, this is a keyboard that feels premium, and a lot of that comes down to the metal casing. While I love this aspect, if you plan to travel with this keyboard in your bag, you may need to consider the weight.
Finally, to fully lean into the 8K speed, Keychron forces users to use a wired connection. There’s no wireless here.
Disclosure: Review sample provided by Keychron.
Final Verdict
At $229.99, the Keychron Q1 HE 8K is a high-end keyboard that focuses on performance and build quality. Its Hall effect features and fast polling rate offer clear benefits once properly tuned, and the overall feel reflects Keychron’s experience with premium designs. While it isn’t the most flexible or portable option, it delivers where it matters most for users prioritizing responsiveness and solid construction.
Positives and Negatives
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Extremely fast 8K polling
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Adjustable per-key actuation depth
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Excellent build and acoustics
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Smooth switches
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Strong gaming-focused software features
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Limited to Keychron magnetic switches
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No wireless connectivity option
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Heavy aluminium case design
