Keychron Q1 HE review: A next-gen magnetic marvel for typing and gaming alike
Keychron Q1 HE is a full metal QMK wireless keyboard with magnetic hall effect switches. Pictures: Keychron.
The Keychron Q1 HE is an impressive wireless mechanical keyboard that blends cutting-edge hall effect technology with a minimalist aluminium build, offering gamers and typists customisable control, fast actuation, and incredible versatility.
The market has been flooded with mechanical keyboards over the last decade, but not all are made equal. Keychron is a keyboard maker that distinguishes itself with customisable builds and clean aesthetics. I’ve been testing their new Q1 HE mechanical keyboard, which features hall effect magnetic switches and wireless QMK/VIA support in a compact 75% form factor. Spoiler alert, it’s one of the best wireless mechanical keyboards I’ve used to date. It's not without its quirks, but the attention to detail, responsiveness, and flexibility make it a top-tier offering.
The Q1 HE is similar to the Q6 Max I recently reviewed. It features an all-aluminium CNC-machined body made from 6063-grade material, and at 1,735g, the Q1 HE is one of the heaviest 75% keyboards you'll come across. That extra weight not only adds to its durability but also gives it a premium, high-end feel.
The unit I tested, in carbon black finish, looks exceptionally sleek on a clean desk setup.
Build quality is excellent. There’s no deck flex, no rattling, and the anodised finish resists fingerprints surprisingly well. It’s heavy enough to stay planted, even during more intense gaming sessions. The included PBT keycaps have a satisfying texture, and thanks to the double-gasket mounting system, typing on the Q1 HE feels both dampened and firm.
The keyboard I received is fully ISO-UK layout conformant, and it worked perfectly with both my MacBook and Windows PC.
Instead of traditional mechanical switches, the Q1 HE uses Gateron double-rail hall effect magnetic switches. These switches don’t rely on physical contact to register input; instead, they detect how close a magnet is to the PCB, allowing for adjustable actuation points from 0.1mm to 4.0mm. That means you can tune each key’s sensitivity exactly to your liking.
This results in a dramatically different feel compared to traditional mechanical switches. For gaming, the rapid trigger functionality is excellent. You don’t have to lift your finger entirely to re-activate a key, which means faster inputs, tighter control, and smoother transitions, particularly in fast-paced FPS or action titles.
I’m not a competitive gamer, but I really appreciated the feel and customisability of the keyboard. As someone who spends most of their time typing and occasionally gaming, I loved being able to fine-tune the experience. For example, I set a deeper actuation point for writing and shallower triggers for gaming. You can even program dual-action keypresses, triggering different actions depending on how far you press a key.
Despite all the talk of mechanical and magnetic switches, the wireless performance on this keyboard is equally impressive. The 2.4GHz connection, paired with a 1,000Hz polling rate, ensures lag-free responsiveness, even when used wirelessly for competitive gaming. I was sceptical at first, but over several hours of testing across titles like Destiny 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, I couldn’t detect any meaningful input lag.
It supports Bluetooth 5.1, which is excellent for pairing with up to three devices. Switching between my MacBook, Windows PC, and iPad Pro was as simple as tapping a function key combo. Keychron has nailed the connectivity options here, and for those who still prefer it, a USB-C wired mode is also available.
One caveat: battery life can vary depending on backlight usage and polling rate. With RGB turned off, Keychron claims up to 180 hours of use.
The Q1 HE is fully programmable with QMK and VIA, as well as Keychron’s own web-based Launcher. This means full key remapping, macro assignment, and lighting control, all right from your browser, so no software installation is necessary. It works well, although the interface could be daunting for absolute beginners.
The board is hot-swappable, so you can replace the hall effect switches with other compatible magnetic variants. The keycaps are standard profile and easy to swap too.
The Q1 HE is certainly not cheap. However, considering the materials, wireless technology, hall-effect switches, and sheer customisability on offer, it’s well within reason for enthusiasts. However, the price could be a barrier for casual users or first-time mechanical keyboard buyers. The Q1 HE is an absolute joy to type on, and the keys are noticeably quieter than most mechanical keyboards I’ve tested. If you’re ready to dive into the future of custom mechanical keyboards, this one is hard to beat.
€211 www.keychron.uk
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