![]() Fully assembled, the Q5 costs about $195 plus shipping for the version with a knob in the top right corner and $10 less without the knob. The Q3, which I reviewed here, also needed some work to make it sound and feel great and while I didn’t test the Q4, the Q5 is once again great of the box, with no annoying case ping and a good typing feel. The 75% Q1, the company’s GMMK Pro clone, had some issues (though none that a few mods couldn’t rectify), while the 65% Q2 was great out of the box. The Q5 is also a bit of a return to form for Keychron. Despite spending most of my time on 65% keyboards, I do like a good numpad when I see it and the 1800 layout is a nice alternative to the larger full-size option. That’s basically a full standard keyboard with a numpad, but it removes the open space between the alpha keys and numpad and squishes the arrow keys below the enter key. But the most interesting one in the series so far is the new Q5 with its 1800 layout. ![]() There are now 65%, 70%, 75%, 80% and 100% options - all with a gasket mount with aluminum cases and plates, as well as per-key RGB lighting. Keychron is trying to hit every possible keyboard form factor with its Q-series of custom keyboards. But now that everything is expensive because of inflation, why not give it a shot? Topre boards have been doing their thing all through the mechanical keyboard renaissance and have been a reliable - if expensive - option. This is one look and feel that has never really gone out of style, because it was never truly in style. But something made me go for the old beige one. When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense! There’s also a more gamer-y looking one with a printed macro layer. They also offer a “Happy Hacking” HHKB alternative that retains the feel but on a super-compact layout that moves the left ctrl key to where caps lock is. I chose to test out their more traditional full-layout keyboard, which has media keys and other layer-type functions. ![]() To be clear, these are the silent keycap option. It has a very pleasant and soft low-register sound to it, one that makes me feel productive, and there’s a certain solidity to the press that feels lightly resistant the whole time, rather than changing throughout. The keypresses feel meaty but not resistant to your fingers, and are quiet and well spaced. The Realforce keyboards, made and distributed by Fujitsu, are a cult hit due to an extremely comfortable and old-school feel. Sometimes the old ways are best, and Topre is unapologetically a throwback to a simpler time when everything was beige and macro was just short for macaroni. ![]()
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