Verdict
The Keychron Q5 Pro is an excellent mechanical keyboard . It ’s incredibly well built , alongside offering commodious wireless connectivity and reactive linear switches . It also pop the question a good range of customisation , as well as software , too . However , it is quite expensive .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Keychron Q5 Pro makes for another intriguing keyboard in the marque ’s Q - series formula – a cock-a-hoop , brawny keyboard with good looks , and a lot of feature packed in inwardly .
They ’re a brand that has wowed me in the yesteryear with their previousKeychron Q1 Pro , a keyboard I ’ve proudly used for the last few months with no payoff , and the Q5 Pro bet to be another side to the same coin in terms of providing a versatile , modern mechanically skillful keyboard for reasonable money , in the current market .
I ’ve been testing the Q5 Pro for the last few weeks to see if it dwell up to the hoopla , and to see if it ’s sincerely one of thebest mechanically skillful keyboardswe’ve tested .
Design
The Q5 Pro immediately take care and feels like a Keychron product with a machine aluminium guinea pig that makes it one of the sturdy and heaviest keyboards around . A total mass of 2.16 kg for this full - assembled variant backs that up , and the Q5 Pro exudes quite the premium feel .
It also features a operational layout , offering a 96 % fashion alternative which cater a full complement of keys with a number pad , sailing cluster and arrow keys in a slightly small form factor than the common standard 100 % layout . This gives you a footling more desk space to recreate around with without sacrificing anything in the form of functionality . It ’s a layout that has gained more appeal as the enthusiast space has grown , being antecedently limited to a few recession models from longstanding manufacturing business and before that , a kitchen stove of Cherry keyboards which explain its conversational title as the ‘ 1800 ’ layout . My keyboard come in an ANSI layout with a unmarried peak Enter key , although I should accent there is an ISO pick for a more standard UK - style central arrangement .
This Q5 Pro also amount with the volume boss in the top correct recess , which feels nice and tactile , alongside three other function keys marked with PlayStation - style form legend . Elsewhere , its two - spirit black and grey keycaps look excellent , alongside the tonic Esc and Enter key fruit in naughty . They ’re made of treble - shot PBT plastic , which is lasting and looks fantastic , while the spherical KSA profile is reasonably comfortable to use , if a little tall at first .
I should say at this articulation that the Q5 Pro , as with Keychron ’s other keyboards , is available in other colours and with other first - political party keycap sets if you want to change the profile of these to something a little more conventional . Otherwise , you’re able to choose from a broad grasp of third - political party options from a chain of other producer that will play nicely with the Q5 Pro .
Around the back , the user interface is keep as simple and convenient as other Pro Keychron board , with a toggle switch between Bluetooth and cable process , as well as between Windows or Mac functions , as well as a USB - ampere-second port wine for pumped up use . It ’s easy to use and works a dainty .
Performance
Inside , my sample of the Q5 Pro came with Keychron ’s K Pro Red switches , a wakeful and linear choice that felt responsive for my gaming testing in Counter Strike 2 and COD Warzone . They ’re a reasonable transposition for oecumenical productiveness workload , and felt reasonably smooth and coherent . I ’d prefer tactile switches over linears , and to be fair to Keychron , they provide the Q5 Pro with both Brown and gamy switch choice for a cushy tactile or a clicker option .
The Q5 Pro is also gasket - mounted , intend it bid quite a bouncy experience under finger’s breadth . This increases the overall reactivity under finger compared to a more rigid experience on a keyboard with an integrated metallic element plate work through it . Elsewhere , the Q5 Pro ’s acoustic are also excellent , thanks to its layers of froth inside reducing any hazard of case Ping River or undesirable randomness . It vocalize smooth , although is n’t quite as good as a fully custom alternative .
You also have the alternative to switch the transposition inside the Q5 Pro out if you so choose , give this keyboard is also hotswappable . Doing so is easygoing , as you take the keycap off with the bundled keycap puller , and then pull the switch out with the switch puller that ’s also bear inside the box . In terms of switches you could put in , the PCB inside the Q5 Pro is compatible with either 3 or 5 pin on the underside , giving you a pile of choice . When swapping them in , just make indisputable to describe the pin up and advertize down until the electric switch clicks into topographic point .
Connectivity over Bluetooth is easy too , with the Q5 Pro couple to up to three machine . Pairing is simple with the key combination of Fn and either 1 , 2 or 3 , depend on the chosen channel . Using it over a cable television is as easy as switching the toggle on the Q5 Pro ’s rear to cable , punch a USB - speed of light choice in , and it just work .
For wireless operation , the Q5 Pro features a 4000mAh battery inside , which Keychron says offers upwards of 300 hours with RGB off and up to 100 hour with it on , albeit on its lowest setting . They ’re some upright figures , especially if you do n’t mind the want of colourful lighting , and the Q5 Pro offer up up of a few weeks ’ before postulate to be bear down back up .
Software and Lighting
For its software , the Q5 Pro surveil in the footstep of other Keychron keyboards , and feature full backing for VIA and QMK firmware . Out of the two , VIA is my preferred choice , commit the GUI it offer , and it ’s a remarkably powerful composition of software . VIA give up you to remap subprogram with ease , as well as plan key on four separate function layers and macro , as well as offering a range of light presets to choose from . It ’s lightweight and easy to use , too .
The Q5 Pro ’s ignition is vivacious across the RGB spectrum , although it is subdued by the self-coloured keycaps , and works as more of an underglow . With keycaps that allow illumination to shine through fully however , it ’s likely to be a peck more vivacious , although as a backlight , it is still more than functional if a petty severely to notice on lower brightness floor .
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Should you buy it?
The K Pro Red switches inside the Keychron Q5 Pro furnish a snappy and responsive typewriting experience , although , with its hot - swappable PCB , you could also shift them out at will .
While the Keychron Q5 Pro is a great all - around mechanically skillful keyboard , it lack the play dash in terminal figure of plan and feature that likewise - price wireless option elsewhere offer , such as a down in the mouth - latency wireless connection over a USB - A receiver .
Final Thoughts
Keychron ’s Q5 Pro is a fantastic mechanically skillful keyboard , and continues Keychron ’s fantastic reputation for offer a various and responsive mechanically skillful keyboard . Its machined aluminium frame is one of the sturdiest available at its Mary Leontyne Price degree , while it offers a snappy typing experience with the pack linear electric switch inside and convenient Bluetooth connectivity .
Its enthusiast - level feature also affect with the like of gasket mounting , a hot - swappable PCB and the power of VIA making it a quite a little more than just a pretty face . The latter make it a better choice for generalists than the the likes of of theLofree Block 98 , which lacks any kind of first - party software system for programming keys . From a personal perspective , the Q5 Pro also looks better than Lofree ’s option , with a smarter overall esthetic .
Against the likes of theAsus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless , the Q5 Pro is more an enthusiast - grade choice , lack its rapid wireless connectivity over a USB receiver , but offering more in the way of serious-minded trace such as gasket mounting and practiced software . It is also a little more expensive at £ 185/$210 , but it ’s a price worth pay if you want a swell all - rounder with a bigger contour factor . For more choice , check out our lean of thebest mechanical keyboards .
Trusted Score
How we test
We use every keyboard we test for at least a week . During that time , we ’ll check it for relief of exercise and put it through its pace by playing a assortment of unlike musical style , let in FPS , strategy and MOBAs .
We also check each keyboard ’s software system to see how easy it is to custom-make and set up .
FAQs
The Keychron Q5 Pro has full VIA and QMK support , offering versatile and convenient programming of keys and lighting effects .
