An ode to the Q2
Little brother
We can still hear the Q1 singing:
"Everyone can hear it now
my little brother is born,
I am now extremely happy,
because I have a new friend."
It almost moves me to tears.
Why the Q2?
Compact yet versatile
The new Keychron Q2 ergonomic keyboard features a full aluminium frame. It has some weight to it, but experienced typists among us will know that this feels very premium. The Q2 has a 65% layout, which means that some keys are missing from the right side of the keyboard, for example, the numeric keypad. The advantage of this is that it makes the Q2 narrow. With a narrow keyboard, you can keep your mouse close to you, which ensures you don't experience discomfort in your arm or shoulder, for instance.
The Q2 is fully Hot Swappable and features south-facing backlight. This allows you to enjoy the cheerful lights under your keycaps even more.
Gaskets are incorporated into the Q2's housing, which ensure that the plates in the keyboard bounce nicely while typing. You do have to like that, though.
Difference from the Q1
The Q2 is essentially the Q1's little brother. They are both compact, Hot-Swappable, feature RGB backlight, and look almost identical. However, there are some differences. For example, the Q2 does not have a row of function keys at the top of the keyboard. Additionally, the Q2's keycaps are made of PBT instead of ABS, as with the Q1. PBT is a type of plastic that is stain-resistant and durable, making them last much longer. The Q2 includes an extra gasket inside the keyboard, which increases flexibility during typing. Finally, the Q2 (optionally) features a rotary knob.
What makes the Q2 so good?
Fully customisable
In other words, adaptable. If you wish, you can make the Q2 entirely your own, both inside and out. New switches, gaskets, sound-absorbing foam, keycaps – it's all replaceable.
Additionally, with VIA software, you can assign any property you want to each key. The open-source firmware means endless possibilities for keyboard layouts, shortcuts, backlight effects, the knob, and much more. You can read more about how to do this in Keychron's blog.
To download the VIA software, click on "VIA Software for programming" under the "Downloads" heading (on the right side of this page). You will then be taken to the Keychron website. Scroll down and click on the correct operating system at the bottom.
High-quality frame
The Q2's frame is expertly crafted. The entire piece consists of 6063 aluminium, has been machine-milled, polished, anodised, and sandblasted, and has undergone 24 further production stages. Together with the compact 65% design, this has resulted in a fine piece of craftsmanship.
Get the most out of your Q2
Programming the keys with QMK & VIA software
To program your keys, first download the software from the Keychron website. You can find the link under the "Downloads" heading on this page. Make sure you click on the correct operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) at the bottom of the page. This video explains how the VIA software works.
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Keycaps
For the Q2 keyboard, we have some really cool sets of Keycaps available. With 8 different colours, there's something for everyone.
Please note! We actually have 11 colours available in this set, which fit multiple keyboards. However, the colours Forest, Ocean, and Orange White do not fit the Q2.
Wrist rest
The Q2 is a relatively high keyboard. You slide a wrist rest against the bottom of your Q2 and rest your wrists on it. This prevents a bend in the wrists, so you won't experience discomfort in your wrists and can type undisturbed. All wrist rests for the Q1 are also suitable for the Q2, as they have the same width. We have wrist rests made of walnut wood and resin.
