Analog keyboards have It’s been the “next big thing” for years in the world of mechanical keyboards. These have sensors inside that can differentiate much more accurately between a light press and a full press. They have long promised to revolutionize gaming and writing, by being faster, more customizable, and more reliable (supposedly). But they have never been compelling enough for most people to adopt them: why sacrifice a proven track record for something new and experimental?
I think you can compare analog keyboards to electric vehicles. Sure, they’re better on paper in a variety of ways, but the entire infrastructure around us is designed for internal combustion engines, and we’re all used to the handling and performance characteristics of our gas guzzlers. Why make a change when it’s hard to know if the benefits outweigh the risks?
Keychron’s new Hall Effect (HE) keyboard, the Q1 HE, makes it easier to understand why. Combining the high-tech customization of a Hall effect switch with the advanced construction of a premium mechanical keyboard brings out the best of both worlds. Additionally, having reliable and easy-to-understand customization makes the system much easier to understand.
What are Hall effect switches?
Hall effect switches are a type of mechanical switch, similar to optical switches, which can have multiple different inputs with a single key press. While optical switches use a laser to identify inputs, an HE switch uses magnets to manipulate an electromagnetic field when a switch is pressed, which then returns different values at specific distances.
While these switches are new to consumer keyboards, the technology has been around for some time. One of the first manufacturers of Hall effect switches was Honeywell, which made these switches for the now legendary space cadet keyboard. However, this version of the switch is incredibly different from modern iterations; the only real similarity is that they both use magnets to create doorways.
Photography: Henri Robbins
The benefit of these multiple inputs is the ability to adjust the actuation point of your key switches, when the switch identifies that you have pressed a key. Moving the actuation point toward the top of the keystroke can make typing more responsive, while moving it toward the bottom can prevent accidental misinputs. To create a good middle ground, there are settings like “quick trigger” that allow you to press multiple keys in a row without the switch having to return to its rest position.
The Q1 HE is Keychron’s first Hall effect keyboard. While some other manufacturers have already had an impact on the industry (the Wooting 60HE being the most common), consumer Hall effect switches are still something quite new and experimental, and Keychron is one of the first major keyboard manufacturers to incorporate this technology.
HE versus true mechanical switches
He Nebula Dual Rail Magnetic Switches, manufactured by Gateron, is a patented design currently exclusive to the Q1 HE. With factory lube and a new slider design, I’m impressed by how smooth they are. However, this kind of smoothness should be expected from Hall effect switches; The magnet-based system means that no physical contact needs to occur between the switch components.
The contactless system also means that these switches will last quite a long time. While Gateron has not released any information on the longevity of these specific switches, their KS-20 Hall Effect switches are Rated for over 100 million performances..
The switches, which have a standard maximum weight of 60 grams, are great for typing. They are incredibly smooth, with hardly any lateral movement or wobble of the stem when writing. They also have a constant resistance throughout the key press and feel natural no matter where the actuation point is set. If the standard 60 gram spring weight isn’t for you, Keychron independently offers its Sunrise and dawn switches, which have weights of 50 and 70 grams respectively, although they cannot be ordered as default switches of the Q1 HE.