At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Unique Alice format
• Fantastic construct high quality
• Easy 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 format. It’s a simple purchase if you need an ergonomic format with superb typing and many options.

Price When Reviewed

$205

Best Prices Today: Keychron Q8 keyboard

Fun reality: nobody really understands ergonomics. Aside from some common sense 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 quite a lot of guidelines which are broadly agreed upon to universally assist. Everybody’s totally different, and each physique’s totally different — if one thing feels good for you, then you must in all probability maintain utilizing it. 

With that cynical prologue out of the way in which: the Keychron Q8. This design makes use of the entire similar parts as Keychron’s different glorious 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 holding it appropriate with normal 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 glorious design chops for a keyboard that you simply’ll both love, or discover extremely irritating, relying in your adaptability and typing type. If 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 format 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 embody an enormous and heavy milled aluminum physique, built-in foam gaskets for quiet typing, hot-swap switches for personalization, 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 additional foam gaskets if you need 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 in all probability be important for newer customers of the Alice format. Though this modified, extra user-friendly model contains useful additions like full arrow keys and a rotary dial for quantity, you’ll in all probability wish to alter issues, like tips on how to activate the perform layer or exactly what’s managed by the rotary dial.

Learning curve 

While we’re on the topic: sure, this keyboard takes quite a lot 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 type 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 cut up format requires greater than merely accounting for the slight slant of the QWERTY space. I’ve to actually power myself to sort “correctly,” holding my fingers on the classical dwelling 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 format with the intention to get my work achieved on time. 

Michael Crider/IDG

But I stress, that is very a lot a “me” downside. The solely actual weak point of this model of the Alice format is that with the intention to make room for the arrow cluster, it omits proper Ctrl and Alt keys — if you happen to can’t change to the left facet you’ll additionally discover it irritating. Those 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 if you happen to already use a cut up or ergonomic format. 

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

Best-in-class typing

Beyond that very particular format problem, the Keychron Q8 is pretty much 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 fascinating actions and lighting through, um, VIA or QMK firmware. (Just concentrate on the odd 2/2 layer limitation due to the keyboard’s built-in Mac/Windows change.) You’ll in all probability must hunt round a bit for an Alice-compliant keycap set if you need a alternative, however the default doubleshot OSA keycaps are glorious. 

Michael Crider/IDG

If all you’re in search of is a good typing expertise, the Keychron Q8 delivers. It’s arduous 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 customized mildew. The finest analogy I can provide you with is the distinction between driving a price range 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 well 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. Prices begin at $175 if you happen to convey your personal switches and keycaps, and high out at $205 for the model with Gateron G Pro switches, PBT keycaps, and the rotary knob. (Honestly, the most costly model is the very best deal, contemplating you’ll in all probability spend double the distinction on keycaps alone.) Cases are available in black, silver, and blue, with matching keycap colours. You would possibly as properly spring for the $33 custom-curved wrist rest, too, because you’re unlikely to seek out anything that can 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 typically have a plastic case, lack foam or gasket mounting, and rely on 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 will get a spot within the group purchase, and have the endurance to attend six months or longer for supply. 

An glorious 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 available in the market for one thing vaguely “ergo” and the cut up, barely curved keys will really feel good in your typing type, you may 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 standard, go with the Keychron Q2, which has a broadly related 65% format with out the curve.