I have found the source factory of Beijing-made keyboards, my second Kechuang mechanical keyboard, the latest customized Q5 early adopters

I feel that after the Gasket structure mechanical keyboard was launched this year, the non-Gasket structure mechanical keyboard became unpopular.

At first, I knew about the Beijing-made keyboard, and then I saw some bloggers posting the Keychron keyboard on Weibo, and then I knew about this brand. I heard from my friends that this brand first became popular on foreign desks, and then slowly returned to China. . Keychron is the foundry of Beijing-made keyboards, so the appearance of Beijing-made keyboards and Keychron keyboards is very similar. I have been using the mechanical keyboards of Keychron (Chinese name: Kechuang), and I use the Keychron three-mode mechanical keyboard K4 ( Red axis), I have also played with other brands of keyboards in the middle, and I have been using K4 intermittently for nearly a year. The space gray keyboard and the iconic red "esc" key are more suitable for my light-colored small book.

Keychron started to launch several customized mechanical keyboards in the second half of this year, the new series Q.

The Q5 has been sold out since it was launched. It’s been a long time since I finally received this Q5 (knob version-black-Gardalon Gpro red switch, model Q5M1). After playing for more than a month, I finally remembered to write this post.

Because of the all-metal frame, when I received the package, I thought the store had sent me a brick, which was heavier than expected. No wonder this type of keyboard is called aluminum tuotuo.

The unpacking process is not detailed. Compared with the packaging of the K4, the reason why the Q5 may be all metal is that the inside of the packaging box uses a full range of sea-colored sponges for cushioning.

· Keyboard body

· Data cable (with type-c to USB adapter)

· Key puller

· Puller

· Phillips screwdriver

· Hex screwdriver

· manual

· Spare keycaps

· Gaskets

· Spare screws

· Spare keycaps*3

Although the model is black, the keycaps are actually a black, blue, and red contrasting color design. The iconic orange "esc" key of the Keychron K series in the past, the Q series is also standard, and the "ENTER" key is also added. Orange keycaps.

Q5 has a knob version and a normal version. The layout of the knob version and the normal version is slightly different. The function key area of ​​​​the normal version (the row from the F1 key) has no partition, and the function key area of ​​​​the knob area has partitions, so the normal version is better than the knob. The version has two more buttons for page turning function (if the knob is also counted as one button). The knob defaults to the volume adjustment function, and students who are used to the page turning function suggest that they can choose the normal version.

This keyboard is the best workmanship keyboard I have come into contact with so far. It is made of CNC aluminum body. I heard that the mass production of CNC aluminum body is difficult and the cost is also high. In the past, a certain brand made momentum to promote CNC aluminum body. In the end, mass production was not successful.

It is estimated that considering the weight of the all-metal body, there is no multi-level foot support, and the keyboard has a fixed tilt angle, which is listed in the manual as 5.3°.

You can see 8 golden screws on the base, which can be disassembled with the tools in the box.

I have always been interested in linear switches. This time I have chosen my favorite G-pro red switch, and the keyboard also comes with RGB lighting effects. There is no disassembly and DIY plan yet. The RGB lights of Q5 are all south-facing, which is a very special design.

Regardless of single-mode or triple-mode, keychron will be equipped with a win/mac switch key as standard, which is why keychron has been planted by many fans.

Because the K4 has an ultra-narrow bezel, and the Q5 has a wide bezel design, the Q5 will be larger than the K4.

Keyboard layout, these two keyboards belong to the 96% layout, but they are different. As shown in the above picture, the key areas of K4 are not divided into areas, and the Q5 is divided into key areas. I prefer to call this layout of K4 as 100 keys, this layout of Q5 is called 96 arrangement.

Judging from the keypad design of the keyboard, the 96 layouts are well arranged and more aesthetically pleasing.

The difference between keycaps, K4 is a square keycap, Q5 is a spherical keycap.

The all-metal body of the Q5 is more textured than the K4.

The same Jiadalong G-pro red switch, on the gasket structure keyboard, is more silent than the non-gasket structure keyboard.

This Keychron Q5 is the second gasket structure mechanical keyboard I have experienced. It may be because of the plastic body of the previous one. Under the heavy metal body of the Keychron Q5, when typing on the keyboard, it is quieter and less silent. Hollow feedback tone. My keyboard is Jiadalong G-Pro switch body. Many domestic keyboard manufacturers use Jiadalong switch body of this type. It has already experienced the test of the market. If you have a friend like me who pursues a keyboard with a quiet effect, it is recommended Blindly select the linear axis (red axis, silver axis), the trigger key stroke is 2 mm, and the trigger pressure is 45g. What is the concept, that is, you can type with a light click on the keyboard, unlike the green axis, which requires a larger Press down with strength and fingers. I have a deep understanding, and I feel that the all-metal body and the gasket structure are a perfect match!

The advantage of the single-mode keyboard is that it has zero delay and no charging. Occasionally use Photoshop to retouch pictures, and I have a little experience. Every time I retouch, I will habitually copy the painting with crtl+j. Using Q5 to operate, I will feel that it is faster than using a bluetooth keyboard to copy the painting. I don’t know if it is Psychological effect.

The game party stays up late to play games. If you don’t want to disturb your family and need low latency, this keyboard is highly recommended.

Q5 supports hot-swapping of the shaft body. This function is not usually used. If it is missing, it feels like something is missing. At present, many mechanical keyboards support this function.

Q5 的键盘支持持QMK&VIA开源改键。可以通过Keychron官网下载这两个驱动，QMK软件用于恢复出厂设置，VIA用于自定义改键。喜欢拓展改键的同学可以自由发挥，对我来说，最没用的按键就是“ins”键了，一不小心还会误触，还好K4和Q5 都没有这个按键，暂时没有改键需求。

At first, I thought this data cable converter was superfluous. Why don’t other brands also have a standard data cable with a type-A interface, until I suddenly plugged it into the ipad and used it, it’s really delicious.

Plug the Type-C cable directly into the ipad, and when the keyboard lights up, you know there is something going on.

After testing it, I plugged in the ipad keyboard to code, and it was as smooth as silk. For simple typing, an ipad+keyboard can be used as a substitute for a computer.