At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Sturdy construct
• Hot-swappable switches
• Easy keyboard programming in VIA
• Priced very competitively

Cons

• Slightly awkward keyboard structure
• No tenting equipment accessible (not whilst an elective accent)

Our Verdict

Cheaper ergonomic keyboards exist, however not by a lot—and never with the Keychron Q11’s degree of customization and extra premium supplies. It feels good to sort on, and its 75-percent dimension deftly balances the wants of keeb minimalists with of us who want extra devoted keys. The solely notable ergo function lacking is a tenting accent.

Price When Reviewed

$205

Best Prices Today: Q11 QMK Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

Until lately, mechanical keyboards had been out of my attain. Ergonomic mechanical keyboards aren’t but frequent, and people who exist are costly. At least, costly by regular individuals requirements—keeb fanatics won’t blink twice at spending a number of hundred on a keyboard (a lot much less yet one more for his or her assortment), however I do.

So when Keychron ready to launch its Q11 QMK cut up keyboard, PCWorld’s resident mechanical keyboard skilled Michael Crider requested if I, an individual who’s been chained to a Goldtouch keyboard because the darkish ages, wished to offer it a spin.

Heck sure I did.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best gaming keyboards.

Keychron Q11 QMK worth

One of the explanations for my pleasure: The Q11 isn’t simply an ergonomic mechanical keyboard. With all of its options, the Keychron Q11 is a surprisingly inexpensive ergonomic mechanical keyboard appropriate with each Windows and Mac computer systems.

Dygma

Rivals that value about the identical have soldered switches (e.g., Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge, Cloud Nine ErgoTKL, Cloud Nine ErgoFS). On the opposite finish of the size, extra customizable keyboards just like the Zsa ErgodoxEZ simply hit $300, with boards just like the Dygma Raise pushing into the $400 vary. Many within the increased vary are compact boards, too, leaving few choices when you like devoted arrow keys (a lot much less perform keys).

Meanwhile, the Q11 provides loads of customization—hot-swappable switches, two rotary dials, a CNC machined aluminum physique, simple QMK/VIA programming—but prices $205 totally constructed. It lacks a tenting equipment accent (a function constructed into the Kinesis and Cloud Nine boards), however Keychron says it’s contemplating whether or not to make one. (Yes, please!) These facets don’t have an effect on ergonomics, however the Q11 feels good for its value.

Keychron Q11 QMK design

The Q11’s cut up design is what makes it ergonomic. Better ergo keyboards generally share that one function, although with totally different takes. 

More inexpensive boards are often one piece, with every half of the keyboard set aside at a set, unchangeable width. They dominate in shops like Best Buy. The costlier fashions (i.e., those you’ll discover on specialised web sites) allow you to modify the place of the 2 keyboard halves—change the space between them, modify their angle, or each. Keyboard spacing can vastly have an effect on consolation throughout the day, particularly when you’re pounding on it for hours at a time.

The Keychron Q11 skips previous the junior leagues with a totally cut up keyboard design, joined collectively by a typical USB-C cable. You can modify the space between the 2 halves of the keyboard, in addition to their horizontal angle.

Alaina Yee / Foundry

This 75-percent keyboard has a polling price of 1,000Hz, and consists of perform keys, arrow keys, and a strip of 5 programmable macro keys on the left. You additionally get devoted web page up, web page down, and residential keys on the best aspect of the board—however no finish key. Metal knobs (two complete) sit within the higher left and proper corners, which management your PC’s quantity by default. Clicking them to mute your sound produces very strong (and satisfying) tactile suggestions.

Included with the totally constructed board are double-shot OSA PBT keycaps, which mix the peak of an OEM keycap with the form of an SA keycap. Underneath are your alternative of Gateron G Pro switches in both purple or brown. (For our evaluate unit, I selected brown.) The $185 bare-bone mannequin skips the switches and keycaps, leaving it solely to you to populate it your self.

For those that are new to mechanical keyboard customization (like me), the totally constructed possibility is the simpler approach to go. The Q11 has a barely distinctive structure for its spacebar row, with a Ctrl, Windows, Alt, and Function key crammed on the left aspect of the board. On the best aspect, there are Alt, FN1, and Ctrl keys. Keychron helpfully gives the measurements you’ll need when you convey your personal keycaps, however it’s that rather more to determine and resolve on when getting began. Also, it appears more durable to seek out appropriate keycap units on AliExpress. (Hello, am newb, please give me your l33t low-cost purchasing suggestions.)

Alaina Yee / Foundry

As for the RGB lighting—the south-facing LEDs are clear and simple to see because the typist, and Keychron offers you 20 pre-programmed patterns to select from. (My private favourite: Pixel Rain, which gently blinks totally different keys on and off in a random sample, with softer colours than the everyday unicorn vomit look.)

How does it really feel to make use of the Keychron Q11?

PCWorld

After an preliminary acclimation interval (during which I’ll or could not have messaged Michael with all of the drama of somebody who hates change), the Q11 grew on me. It has a strong, weighted really feel and feels sturdy when banging away on it. I do use rather more pressure than earlier than when typing (nearer to the instances I’ve used a guide typewriter), however the expertise isn’t uncomfortable and I can all the time swap the switches. Once the huge quantity of selections on the market cease being so overwhelming, at the very least.

I solely have two private complaints—first, the structure of the left spacebar row. I’d have most well-liked an extended spacebar. With the scale of my palms and the way I sort, I spent about two weeks with my left thumb unpleasantly hitting the hole between the Function key and the spacebar till my muscle reminiscence tailored.

The second is the dearth of an End key. I take advantage of it on a regular basis as a author/editor, and on my Goldtouch keyboard, it sits on the best aspect of the keyboard. Why the empty spot underneath the house key, Keychron? An End key would have match completely there. And but, a small void as a substitute.

Alaina Yee / Foundry

Fortunately, these programmable macro keys exist, although I’d have a lot most well-liked a devoted key (with matching labeled keycap). Programming the board is tremendous simple via the VIA net app, and the Q11 helps two totally different layers of keystrokes per supported working system. On the primary layer for Windows, it took about 5 minutes to determine and set the macro keys to incorporate my beloved End key, plus shortcuts for numerous apps and program instructions. Another 5 minutes of trial and error and I had a ten-key pad within the second layer (activated utilizing the FN1 button)—and it solely took that lengthy as a result of I re-created my Goldtouch keyboard’s model of this (and its structure) from reminiscence.

One sudden aspect advantage of Keychron’s totally cut up keyboard design: The board is extra moveable, when you wanted to pack it up. (My Goldtouch keyboard has one large joint that binds the 2 halves collectively.) No carrying case is included although, and as talked about above, a tenting equipment doesn’t exist. I require vertical tilt for correct ergonomics, so I’ve been making do with a plastic tub of hand cream for a modest angle. It doesn’t really feel as snug as my Goldtouch keyboard’s extra dramatic tilt, although.