Q1 Max vs HE: Keychron's BEST 75% Keyboards

[@LethalBeagle]

You are killing it with the Keychron content. I’ve been wanting one for awhile but don’t know what to get, but your videos are helping a lot!!!

[@JakeReevesVideo]

Thanks, I hope you figure out which is best for you 👍🏻

[@demetriusvaux]

I’m impressed that you’ve coordinated the lighting scheme with the switcher’s name color. That level of detail truly stands out.

[@JakeReevesVideo]

Thanks ✌🏻

[@JuanCAraujoS]

The difficulty of HE tactile switches lies on how to stablish a tactile bump if the actuation point is variable and adjustable. I mean, the function of the tactile bump in the aforementioned switches is to give feedback on the actuation point.

[@MusicalWhiskey]

Yup. HE switches have to be linear by default.

[@bigd5899]

glorious has a very nice tactile he switch just not for boards that use ks 37 switches like the keychron

[@mozphat9308]

Good point but using tactile switches would mean that you make the compromise to set the activation distance to match the tactile bump of the switch...

[@bigd5899]

@@mozphat9308 you dont have to, many mechanical tactiles dont even do that. Ive tried panda he‘s now and found them surprisingly pleasant. Most importantly the bump peaks incredibly early so you can still use .5mm activation distance probably less even.

[@MSJChem]

I've had my Q1HE for about 6 months and I love it so far. Excellent video by the way. I swapped out the stock switches for the lighter ones and switched the aluminium plate for the brass plate.

[@JakeReevesVideo]

Thanks, I’m glad you liked the video. And thank you for sharing your mods ✌🏻

[@nottheonlyjustin]

I’m thinking about ordering this maybe tonight and going to get the barbones with the lighter switch as I’m used to the lighter feel of gaming switches. How does the brass plate change the sound?

[@MSJChem]

@@nottheonlyjustin The brass plate makes a more muted metallic sound if that makes sense. The lighter switches are 30 g actuation force which is very light but I like light linear switches so they suit me. I don't actually use my Q1 for gaming, I actually use it for productivity. However, I just got a Q12 Max so the Q1 is on the side lines for now.

[@rosegumxo]

Impressed with your editing skills and Keychron content. Just curious about your current top 3 favourite mechanical keyboard that has a premium typing feel and sound?

[@Crag_Hack]

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for

[@JakeReevesVideo]

I’m glad you found it helpful 👍🏻

[@krzysztofprzygoda7635]

Great job! The best comparison Q Max vs Q HE I've ever seen. Thanks! My dream keeb would be Q2 HE with north-faced LEDs, PBT KSA shine-through keycaps with bright legends Apple MBP alike. Probably, it will never happen. I doubt also in tactile HE switches ever show up, because entire HE idea requires linear behaviour.

[@JakeReevesVideo]

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻 With the rate at which Keychron releases keyboards, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see your requests in a year or so…

[@utubekullanicisi]

I'm looking for almost the same thing you are. I'm willing to forego RGB for white LEDs if it leads to a more pure white color, but I can't find any keyboard like that with just white LEDs. I prefer the Q1's key layout but I wish to be able to get it with Wooting's rapid trigger firmware/driver implementation instead of getting Wooting's 80% layout with it. Throw in 8kHz wired USB-C & wireless 2.4GHz, 240Hz Bluetooth, and high quality plastic keycaps with backlit legends as well, and we're golden. Basically what I'm describing is "take Wooting's rapid trigger and wired & wireless mode, Keychron's keyboard layout and Bluetooth operation, and the MacBook's bright white backlight".

[@MarbsMusic]

Have a Q2, Q1 Pro and Lemokey P1 but wanting to try the HE switches... this was a fantastic review, might have to pickup the HE.

[@JakeReevesVideo]

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed the video 👍🏻

[@farmeunit]

I am loving my Lemokey P1 but waiting for a K2 HE. My Q1 is only a V2, so steel plate. Still like it, just different.

[@clarkwey7618]

How is the lemokey p1 vs q1 pro?

[@MarbsMusic]

@ Q1 Pro has better gasket performance and easier to switch between OSs but the P1 sounds a little better out of the box and I like the key caps much better… and it’s about half the price for the same connection options if you get the Q1 Max version.

[@hassan7569]

I got the Q1 Max, but I'm honestly surprised at how rattly the stabs are, like they're almost worse than my K2... No amount of modding seems to help either.

[@tehehe5929]

Both sound thin, hollow and loud. Are there Silent DR Gateron HE switches available?

[@fixpoint]

Fantastic video. The production quality was excellent. Beautiful shots. Thanks in part to your various keyboard videos, I've placed an order for the Q1 Max with the bananas. This will be my first mechanical keyboard (if you don't count the ones I grew up with as a kid with the original PCs). I've been living in Apple-land for years, so it'll be interesting to see how I adapt going from the Apply ultra low-profile keyboards to Q1 Max. Before deciding on the Q1 Max, I was tempted by the Lofree low-profile options as an intermediary height into the mechanical world. Your videos on those were also helpful. Had I gone that route, I would have opted for the Flow (don't like the aesthetic of the Edge), but I've heard the BT has an annoying 2-3 second reconnect time. So, in the end, I went with the Q1 Max. I didn't get a wrist pad, but based on this video, it sounds like I might have to opt for one given the height of the KSA caps. I'm curious if I made the right decision with the bananas versus the browns. In your video, the bananas had a higher pitch sound, which was a bit concerning. But it seems like a lot of folks really like the feel of the bananas, which is why I ultimately chose them. I'm not a gamer, so linear switches don't seem appealing (although I've never actually tried one), but they do seem very popular these days and the default on a lot of keyboards. I'll likely need to buy a 2nd keyboard anyways, so maybe I'll just get an HE to go along with the Max 🙂

[@JakeReevesVideo]

Nice choice 👍🏻 I quite like the bananas as well. I found transitioning from the Apple keyboards I was drawn towards tactile switches at first as well, but now that I’ve been using mechanical keyboards for a while I’ve developed an appreciation for linear switches too - particularly firmer ones. Thanks for your kind words about my videos - I’m glad they were helpful as you make your decision. My next video is on the NuPhy Nos75 (still working on it) which is a truly customizable low-profile keyboard that may also be worth looking into if you want something transitional ✌🏻

[@fixpoint]

I’m going to likely buy a second keyboard to take to work, so perhaps I’ll try a linear switch in that board. I’m looking forward to seeing your upcoming Nos75 review. I’m also eyeing the inexpensive rainy75 boards as my second (and those are stock linear only, I have no interest in any modding myself). Thanks again!

[@TristanPope]

Do you like the reds or browns more? I have both now and I find the browns are better for typing and the reds better for all else. Curious your thoughts.

[@JakeReevesVideo]

I started out with a strong preference for tactile browns, but have gradually drifted more towards linear reds for most things as well. There is something undeniably nice about that tactile feel when doing text heavy work though…

[@TristanPope]

@@JakeReevesVideo Yeah it is almost like it puts ya in a rhythm when typing and reds are more like an inertia machine down a very large hill haha!

[@Katjasverige]

Great review ! I have zero clue about keyboards , but I googled a lot and thinking to order q1 max as a gift to a gamer (he had korsair k 70 lux ) . Is it a good choice or HE is better ? If I understood correctly you are saying that magnetic switch has significant limitations . He uses cable for PC , does q1 just use wireless connection or it’s just an option ? And I see options for brown or red switch , what is the difference ? Does it have colorful light in the darkness or smth ? 😅 thank you !!!!!

[@BankruptGreek]

get them a he, for games it's a noticeable difference.

[@Katjasverige]

@@BankruptGreek actually I bought him Q6 max in the end with red switch and he loves it 😁 it’s so quiet omg , I love .

[@BankruptGreek]

@@Katjasverige very nice, good job on giving them such a great gift

[@Katjasverige]

@@BankruptGreekthanks ! His reaction was priceless 😁🫶 I am so proud of my research ! I even managed to guess the right switch (i had to learn what switch is 😂)

[@clexdigital]

Loved your video - very detailed and informative! Do you have reviews of other HE keebs?

[@JakeReevesVideo]

I reviewed the DrunkDeer HE keyboard a while back, but I have an upcoming project that should be out by the end of the summer taking a look at a NuPhy HE keyboard, so stay tuned for that 👍🏻

[@zuldo8577]

So HE is better if you like linear switches?

[@JakeReevesVideo]

HE has more features, so if you like linear switches and are OK with the sound sample, then I would go HE ✌🏻

[@zuldo8577]

@@JakeReevesVideo do you think mechanical linear switches sound/feel better than HE switches?

[@juncheolkim5645]

thanks for the great video! I just wonder where you buy this keyboard. I guess recent productions are well-made than before q1 max😂

[@JakeReevesVideo]

Inventory levels shift frequently with Keychron keyboards, but I usually can find them directly from Keychron (see linktree in description) or from Amazon ✌🏻

[@MichePiece]

what monitor do you have?

[@popes6305]

What if Q1 HE compared to lamzu atlantis pro? Whats ur opinion about it and which one would u rather to choose

[@Arvi_The_Clown]

Does Q1 Max and Q1 HE have the exact same shade of white case? I just got Q1 Max in shell white and it's white colour feels bad, it doesn't match with any shade of white on my desk setup, is Q1 HE more pure white? Or it's just the same as Max?

[@JakeReevesVideo]

I believe they are the same white colour.

[@Arvi_The_Clown]

@@JakeReevesVideo thanks for the reply, it's real shame they didn't go with the pure white colour instead of this. I guess all I can is go with Black one, at least it's keycaps will be pure white

[@JakeReevesVideo]

@@Arvi_The_Clown ya, it’s hard to do perfect white, so there are often variances unfortunately

[@Arvi_The_Clown]

@@JakeReevesVideo thanks again for the reply, much appreciated. Last question for you good sir, do you know whether all of these keychron Q series are in this dirty white colour? Are there any special editions or something with more pure white board colour?

[@JakeReevesVideo]

I am not totally sure, but I suspect if the Max and HE are the same, they likely are all similar - probably using the same white processing.

[@360Hawktuah]

I'm not sure what was more impressive: the quality and features of this keyboard, or the production quality of this video. I'm not even a keyboard enthusiast; I was just looking to upgrade my 30-dollar Logitech and stumbled upon the HE keyboards. No music, no fluff-just concise information and great coverage of every nook and cranny. Genuinely, thanks for that!

[@Kzoiks]

Now all I need is a 100% or at the very least a 96% version with the hall effect sensors... preferably with the JIS layout so we can have a large left shift and a large ISO enter key. For some reason nobody is getting rid of the pointless duplicate keys in both ANSI/ISO layouts, only JIS comes close (sadly with a small backspace key instead but oh well). Please Keychron... -_-

[@zerokyoz]

very interesting thought

[@Jakobus31]

How did you get the black blue and white keycap set in the osa format. I can only find them stock on the Q1 max as the ksa version. 10:29.

[@JakeReevesVideo]

The OSA keycaps I have with the Q1 HE came with the keyboard - they were not purchased separately. Given how recent the launch was, perhaps they aren’t selling them separately yet.

[@RoquetteAttaquer]

Q1 HE with Banana switches is my gem ❤

[@JakeReevesVideo]

Sadly - Bananas aren’t compatible with the HE because they aren’t magnetic switches. I do wish they had a two-stage banana-like tactile magnetic switch 🤞🏻

[@maxonsky7572]

I don't get it. Why 200$ keychron sounds way worse than the cheaper Rainy 75?

[@thenatous_]

can say that many budget keyboards start to get a lot better, sometimes because the brand from china both manufacture and sell the keyboards so there’s no middle cost -> cheaper