The Keychron Q1 HE is all about its magnetic appeal

At the specialist for mechanical keyboards Key chron When the company referred to its newly launched model and emphasized that it was the brand's first keyboard to feature Hall-effect magnetic switches, the suggestion was met with some confusion. At first glance, the Q1 HE looks almost identical to the Keychron Q1 Pro. And that's why Is superficially identical. Now we have the new thing Keychron Q1 HE At our fingertips we can say that difference must be felt and heard to be fully appreciated.

Before we go any further, we should explain what “HE” stands for: Hall effect. The Hall Effect magnetic switch is a new technology and differs from membrane and mechanical switches found in most keyboards in how it registers a key press. Unlike these two standard switch designs, a Hall effect switch consists of a small magnet and a sensor under each keycap. When a key is pressed, the magnet creates a magnetic field of varying strength from the sensor, which informs the keyboard controller chip that you have pressed a key.

The great thing about this technology is that keystrokes are registered instantly and precisely. Additionally, how this key press is registered can be customized. A keyboard equipped with Hall effect switches can be optimized for shorter or longer trips depending on user preference. Whether you're a gaming master with quick keystrokes or a typing impresario, a Hall Effect keyboard can result in more responsive typing – with sensitivity up to 0.1mm and adjustable actuation points ranging from 0, 5 to 3.8 mm (if that's all it sounds like). Gobbledygook, all this just means is that you can type anywhere between a tap tap and a harder press.

Setting the actuation point to 0.8mm or 1.0mm shortens the trigger time and increases sensitivity. The reset occurs as soon as you release the button, ensuring a faster response. Another interesting feature that magnetic switches enable is the ability to assign up to four actions to a single button, all dependent on pressure depth. For example, a light pressure might force a game character to move forward in a game, while a stronger pressure makes the protagonist walk.

The Keychron Q1 HE features 75% of the same layout and wireless capabilities of the Q1, with a 2.4G connection mode with 1000 Hz polling and Bluetooth connectivity that allows up to three devices to be connected. And like its predecessor, the HE Edition feels premium and robustly constructed, with a metal housing and dual-seal design that delivers ASMR-satisfying feel and sound. Keystrokes register with just a squeak, but are quiet enough to secretly send an email during Zoom calls without distracting anyone.

The Q1 HE works perfectly out of the box when connected to an Apple device, mobile device or Windows device. However, if you want to get into every nook and cranny of customization, Keychron now offers a configurator called Launcher, designed exclusively for its keyboards. The web-based configuration app eliminates the need to download an application and provides access to numerous customization options, including key remapping, macro key setup, and LED color customization.

The Keychron Q1 HE QMK wireless custom keyboard is available in two color variants: Carbon Black and Shell White. Fully assembled with rotary knob and hall effect Gateron 2.0 magnetic switch configuredHes, expect to part with $219 before the Q1 HE begins shipping this month.

Gregory Han is a senior editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native, he has a great love and curiosity for design, hiking, tidepooling, and road trips. A selection of his adventures and thoughts can be found at gregoryhan.com.