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Keychron Q5 96% Layout QMK/VIA Custom Mechanical Keyboard - Barebone Version A fully customizable mechanical keyboard (without switches and keycaps) with QMK/VIA support. Anyone can intuitively master any keyboard keys or macro commands through VIA software. The Q5 is designed to be able to assemble easily, so you can customize it the way you want. With full aluminum frame, a 1800 compact layout, double-gasket design, excellent compatibility with macOS, Windows, Linux, hot-swappable functionality, PCB screw-in stabilizer, and south-facing RGB, the Q5 is crafted for personalized premium typing comfort. Note: Users need to buy switches and keycaps separately in order to type with the Q5 Barebone version. Master Any Keys or Macros with QMK/VIA Compatibility with macOS, Windows and Linux Simply connect the Q5 to your device with a cable, import the Q5 keymap JSON file into the VIA software, drag and drop your favorite keys or macro commands to remap any key you want on macOS, Windows, or Linux operating systems and save two different layouts on the keyboard, e.g.: create a macro command of a screenshot on macOS. Check our user guide or user manual for more instructions. A brand new ultra-low-power Arm structure MCU which is powerful, and armed with 128K Flash will provide more flexibility for developers. All-Around Customizable Keyboard To build a fully customizable keyboard, we designed every component easily assembled. Therefore, you can customize and adjust each component including keycaps, switches, gasket, plate, and case foam if you want. Hot-Swappable Socket The PCB socket of Q5 is compatible with almost all the MX style 3pin and 5pin mechanical switches on the market(including Cherry, Gateron, Kailh, Panda, etc.) without soldering required. Double-Gasket Design Allows the Q5 keyboard to maintain the flexibility of the gasket structure and improves the overall typing sound. We added silicone pads between the top and bottom cases besides gaskets on the plates to significantly reduce the sound resonance between the metals and reduce the noise of the impacted metals. Screw-In PCB Stabilizers The screw-in design increases stability and makes it easier for changes and upgrades. Precise craftsmanship makes the stabilizers more stable and less shaky. The big keys’ (space bar, shift, enter, delete) typing experience is now more stable and smooth. The Q5 also supports third-party stabilizers, including Cherry or Durock. South-facing RGB LED Lights Designed to better illuminate the keyboard backlight from the typist’s angle.
Keychron Q5 Barebone version (without switches and keycaps) A fully customizable mechanical keyboard with the 1800 compact layout, full aluminum CNC machined body, double-gasket design, and QMK/VIA support, the Q5 is designed every component easily assembled, you can customize and adjust each component including keycaps, switches, gasket, plate, and case foam if you want.
With full QMK and VIA support You can easily program and remap each key on the keyboard. The open-source firmware means endless possibilities for keyboard layouts, shortcuts, backlight effects, and more.
Hot-swappable The hot-swappable sockets are compatible with almost all the MX style 3pin and 5pin mechanical switches on the market (including Gateron, Cherry, Kailh, etc.). , you can hot-swap the Q5 Barebone version without soldering. The big keys’ (space bar, shift, enter, delete) typing experience is now more stable and smooth with the new screw-In PCB stabilizers.
Double-Gasket Design Allows the keyboard to maintain the flexibility of the gasket structure and improves the overall typing sound. We added silicone pads between the top and bottom cases to significantly reduce the sound resonance between the metals and reduce the noise of the impacted metals.
South-facing RGB LED Lights Designed to better illuminate the keyboard backlight from the typist’s angle and also free from interference when the users install OEM or Cherry-profile alternative keycaps on the keyboard. Note Users need to buy switches and keycaps separately in order to type with the Q5 Barebone version.
Hardware build quality is absolutely top tier. Right up there with the best, if not the actual best, in the world at the time of this review.A USB C port and a Win/Mac switch right next to is a nice touch. It does come with a USB C cable that has a USB A adapter on it which is handy too. The cable was a little on the short side to me but it'll work well enough for most people I think.This thing is so heavy it makes the old Model M seem like a lightweight!! It does make it inconvenient to move around but then this isn't the sort've keyboard you'd be looking to buy if you wanted something mobile anyways. Does a great job dampening noise from typing though. So if you want a quieter keyboard this is a feature you might approve of.It is a wired only model but I view that as a feature and not a bug. I'm tired of all these wireless devices that have batteries in them that randomly die after a year and become useless!! On top of that they're usually soldered in or buried inside some friction-clipped-together mess that breaks half the time you try to fix it when opening them up. Also tired of charging them all the time too. So yeah this is very much a desktop only keyboard and in that circumstance you don't really need it to be wireless anyways.Lighting is great! Nice and bright "south facing" (towards the typer in other words) fully RGB per key LEDS. Bear in mind though that you can't do per key RGB color adjustments!! Plenty of other patterns, speed settings, and colors to work with across the whole keyboard though.The switch sockets are the 5 pin type and all appeared fine to me but I'm no expert there. All I know is there were no visual defects, all my switches were pressed in without issue, and they all worked perfectly on the first try.It comes with all the latest sound reduction mods (that is what the heavy metal tray, double gasket and foam insert help with) which again is great if you want a quieter typing keyboard. If you don't care so much about the noise or don't mind a little rattle these features won't do anything for you and you'd be better off buying a cheaper keyboard to save the money.I only took a stars off because:A) No adjustable feet! On a keyboard of this price and tier having adjustable feet is a must as an option.Though I will say the feet it does come with are pretty good. Seem to be a type of silicon or other soft rubber that grips the surface and dampens vibration well. Still I'd like to be able to change the angle of the keys.B) The price!!!!! At over $180 at the time of this review for a switchless and keycap less barebones keyboard the price is going to be tough to swallow for most.The only reason I could justify it was because I'm a "buy once buy right" type and because this keyboard does legitimately appear to be something that might last the rest of my life! Quite frankly though you can still get a pretty solid hot swap mechanical keyboard for around $50-ish right now that for most people will be just fine. If you don't mind taking them apart then you can do mods to make them quieter as well though I think this keyboard will still win out in that dept due to its sheer mass alone.C) The VIA firmware/software sucks. It is easy to use but it sucks a whole lot. Expect to get familiar with the reset methods on this heyboard (the reset switch is hidden under the spacebar which you have to remove to access FYI) because you're going to need to know them. There is a key combo to force a reset on the keyboard itself but it almost never works so I don't bother with it anymore.The settings will randomly get lost or stop working when changes are made for me. Trying to use the back up .json file doesn't work. I have to go and do it all manually most of the time and then save it. So long as I leave it alone after that they'll work (following a fresh reset) but if I make changes afterwards they'll randomly get lost or the RGB features stop working.And no this is not a PC related issue. I've tested it out a few Intel and AMD based systems in my house and the issue is repeatable. There are various forums and such loaded with keyboard enthusiasts to ask for help regarding the software but there doesn't seem to be any good solutions as far as I can tell at the time of this review.Many other people report similar issues with it though things do seem to be (slowly) improving with the software quality over time the current status is still not good. Especially for a product of this price.If I was making changes all the time quite frankly I would've refunded this keyboard. Luckily I only needed to make a few changes early on and then I got things to where I'll need them to be for a good long time. If however you do need to be changing macros and such all the time then look elsewhere this keyboard is not for you.
