Keychron announced its latest high-quality mechanical keyboard, the Keychron Q5. The Q5 is a 96% form factor keyboard, meaning it includes function keys, a numpad, and a number row, though it does not include dedicated keys for page up, page down, home, and a few others.
The Keychron Q5 has a heavyweight metal frame and a double-gasket design that result in it being a premium board that weighs nearly 8 pounds. The Q5 is customizable via QMK and VIA for lighting and key mapping, allowing users to personalize both their RGB and input functionality to their liking. Additionally, the keyboard is hot-swappable with PBT keycaps and forward-facing LEDs.
Keychron markets the Q5 as the ultimate keyboard for both workplace productivity and gaming performance as it is sturdy, reliable, and ultra-fast with a 1000 Hz polling rate. The board can be purchased complete, or barebones, and with or without RGB lighting, at Keychrons website for approximately $175 USD.
Full-Size Mechanical Keyboards
Keychron Launched the Q5 96% Customizable Mechanical Keyboard
Trend Themes
1. Customizable Mechanical Keyboards - The Keychron Q5 keyboard is customizable via QMK and VIA for lighting and key mapping, providing an opportunity for more personalized mechanical keyboards.
2. Hot-swappable Keyboards - The Keychron Q5 keyboard is hot-swappable with PBT keycaps, a feature that allows users to switch out switches without soldering, presenting an opportunity for more accessible customization.
3. Premium Full-size Keyboards - The Keychron Q5 keyboard boasts a heavyweight metal frame and double-gasket design, making it a premium full-size mechanical keyboard, presenting an opportunity for the growth in high-end mechanical keyboards.
Industry Implications
1. Computer Hardware - Computer hardware companies can benefit from the trend of customizable mechanical keyboards like the Keychron Q5.
2. Gaming - The Keychron Q5 keyboard is marketed as an optimal gaming keyboard, presenting an opportunity for gaming companies to offer similar high-end keyboards.
3. Consumer Electronics - The trend of premium full-size keyboards like the Keychron Q5 presents an opportunity for consumer electronics companies to offer high-end mechanical keyboards to a broader range of customers.