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Keychron Q8 (Alice Layout) QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard

SKU: Q8-J1
$185.00 $195.00

Type
Color
Switches

The fully assembled version includes:

  • The keyboard PCB, the case, and the steel plate.
  • Double-shot OSA PBT keycaps (including Mac & Windows keycaps).
  • Gateron G Pro switches.

The barebone version does not include the keycaps and switches.
No discount codes can be used for Q8.

Please drop your email on "Notify Me When Available" if the product model is out of stock.

Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

Keychron Q8

Keychron Q8 is a 65% Alice layout all-metal mechanical keyboard. With its all-metal CNC machined body, a full-size layout, double-gasket design, QMK/VIA support, and knob option, the Q8 meets all your practical needs and gives you a high-end typing experience.

Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Features of Keychron Keychron Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Customize Your Q8

Choose the keycaps, switches, and more accessories for your Q8

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A Refined Piece of Metal Art

The entire metal body is crafted with 6063 aluminum that is processed through CNC machined, polished, anodized, sandblasted, and undergoes 24 more manufacturing stages to make this solid metal piece of art that is the Q8. 

Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

All-around customizable keyboard

To build a fully customizable keyboard, we designed every component easily assembled. Therefore, you can customize and adjust each component you want.

Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

Double Gasket Design

The Double Gasket Design is a new innovative structure in the industry. In addition to the gaskets on the plates, we added silicone pads between the top and bottom cases to significantly reduce the acoustic resonance between the metals and reduce the noise of the impacted metals. This design allows the keyboard to maintain the flexibility of the gasket structure and improves the overall typing sound. 

Double Gasket Design oKeychron Q6 Full Size Custom Mechanical Keyboard
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Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

An Epic Core Inside The Keyboard

A powerful ultra-low-power ARM architecture MCU equipped with 128K Flash will provide more flexibility for developers. The polling rate is 1000 Hz right out of the box, which makes the latency hardly noticeable even in competitive games.

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OSA Profile Double-shot PBT Keycaps

For the new double-shot PBT keycaps, we built a new profile. It has a similar height to the OEM profile and has an SA-like shape. We named it the OSA (OEM spherical angled) keycap. The PBT keycaps will provide excellent oil resistance, enhance the type feel, and prevent the legends from fading out.

OSA Profile Double-shot PBT Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard
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Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

Switch layouts between macOS & Windows

Built with the Mac users’ experience in mind while still retaining compatibility for Windows devices, the Keychron Q8 comes with a system toggle and an additional set of customized keycaps for both Windows and macOS systems. You can now save two different layouts on the keyboard, one for each system.

Programmable Knob

Designed to enhance your creative workflow, the premium rotary encoder allows you to easily customize your favorite keys and macros on the knob through the VIA software.

Rotary encoder function of Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

You can easily customize the Q8's knob to your desired key or macro commands such as: zooming in/out, adjusting screen brightness, brush size, volume, selecting video clips or photos, or backlight hue.

Setting the macros for "zoom in/out"

Using the knob as "zoom in/out"

Program Q8 with QMK & VIA

With full QMK and VIA support, you can easily program and remap each key on the keyboard. The open-source firmware means endless possibilities for keyboard layouts, shortcuts, backlight effects, even the knob, and more. 

Hot-swappable

The hot-swappable sockets are mounted on the PCB, so you can install or change the switches without soldering. The PCB supports both 3 pin and 5 pin MX mechanical switches.

South-facing RGB LED Lights

The south-facing RGB LED is designed to better illuminate the keyboard backlight from the typist’s angle with the premium non-shine-through PBT keycaps installed. The south-facing RGB is also free from interference when the users install OEM or Cherry-profile alternative keycaps on the keyboard.

Note: The Q8's top case has sharper corners to make it much more compatible with third-party keycaps.

Barebone US layout of Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

Pre-lubed Gateron G Pro Switch

The optimized molded switch with more precise positioning and less wobble will undoubtedly improve the feel at your fingertips. With the fully assembled Q8 version fitted with factory pre-lubricated Gateron G Pro switches, a smoother travel experience is guaranteed for you.

Gateron Baby Raccoon Switch Feature

Keychron Q8 Special Edition

The Gateron Baby Raccoon switches preinstalled on the Q8 special edition comes with a linear typing feel, quicker response and transparent top cover. It's designed to better illuminate backlit and provide a smooth and extraordinary typing experience.

Gateron Baby Raccoon Switch Feature
All New Screw In PCB Stabilizers

All New Screw-in PCB Stabilizers

The screw-in design increases stability and makes it easier for changes and upgrades. Precise craftsmanship makes the stabilizers more stable and less shaky. The big keys’ (space bar, shift, enter, delete) typing experience is now more stable and smooth. The Keychron Q8 also supports third-party stabilizers, including Cherry or Durock.

Looking for ISO Layout?

The Q8 ISO collection comes with fully assembled keyboards with 🇬🇧UK, 🇩🇪German, 🇩🇰🇫🇮🇮🇸🇳🇴🇸🇪Nordic, 🇨🇭Swiss, 🇫🇷French, and 🇪🇸 Spanish layout, and the “Barebone ISO" option is suitable for all ISO countries (e.g.: 🇮🇹Italy, 🇵🇹Portuguese, 🇭🇺Hungary, etc.) to build their keyboard with keycaps in their preferred languages and switches. 

Sound Test

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What's in the box?

Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron Q8 65% Alice Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

Specs

Width136 mm
Length358 mm
Front Height19.8 mm  (without keycaps)
Back Height31.5 mm (without keycaps)
Feet Height2.7 mm
Angle
Weight1820 g ± 10g (Fully Assembled Version)
Body MaterialFull CNC machined aluminum
Plate MaterialSteel
Polling Rate1000 Hz
Keycaps (Fully Assembled Version)Double-shot PBT keycaps, not shine-through, OSA Profile (OEM height, SA shape)
MCUUltra-low-power Arm Cortex-M4 32-bit STM32L432 (128KB Flash)
SwitchesGateron G Pro (Fully Assembled Version)
BacklightSouth-facing RGB LED
Switch SupportHot-swappable (5 pin & 3 pin)
StabsScrew-in PCB stabs
ConnectivityType-C wired
CableType-C cable + Type-A to Type-C adapter
Operating Environment-10℃ to 50℃
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Keychron Q8 User Guide

Learn more about the Keychron Q8 such as the Q8 shortcuts, assembling the Q8, factory reset, and more in the FAQ section.

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All Keyboards

Customer Reviews

Based on 9 reviews
78%
(7)
22%
(2)
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C
Chelsea M
Fantastic intro ergo 'board

I just received my Shell White Q8 with Gateron Pro Browns today and am already in love. This is my fourth Keychron board in the past three years; I started with the K2(v1 or v2), then the K1, and most recently have been using the Q5, all with the stock Blues they came with at purchase. I'm a customer service chat agent, and I work from home, so I not only am typing to multiple customers at once, but I also interact with my coworkers by typing, as well - after a couple of years of this, 40 hrs/week, 51 weeks/year, my fingers and wrists are really starting to feel the effects of all that typing! I thought I would have a really difficult time adapting to the Alice layout of this keyboard, but I actually feel pretty comfortable with it already, and I've only been using it for about 30 minutes since receiving it.

The Gateron Pro Browns are PERFECT. They are much more forgiving than the Blues, and I love the gentle but still satisfying sound they make while typing. I don't think I'll ever be going back to Blues. Eventually, I'll need to get myself a numpad, but for now, this should be just fine.

I switched out the keycaps for the Cherry Profile Double-Shot PBT Keycaps in White Mint that I already had installed on my Q5, and I love the combo. I just wish the set came with mint-colored number keys and mint-colored small space bar keys to add a little more color to the set. I also wish this keycap set was offered in the same profile as the keycaps that come standard on the Q8, because those seem really nice, as well. If they're offered, I will buy them. On the page for these keycaps, it's stated there is no 'Home' key for this board; that actually isn't true, and there is one included with the set.

TL;DR: This 'board is high-quality (as always), a joy to type on, and way easier to adapt to than I had anticipated as a first-time user of a non-traditional layout. I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing a reduction in the pain I've developed in my wrists and fingers from long hours typing every day! Thanks for making these ergonomic mechanical options available for Mac users, Keychron :)

J
JE
Spacebar keys shine to mirror finish... are they PBT?

This is my 5th or 6th Keychron and my absolute favorite keyboard I've owned yet. I replaced the stock G-Pro Reds with double spring Silvers, switch pads, Krytox, etc. It is ridiculously fast to type on. The odd thing, and the reason for 1 star deduction, is that it seems like the spacebar keycaps might be ABS. My right one has shined up to a mirror finish in less than a month or so. Also, it would be cool to release boards like this 65% and the 75% at the same time. I most likely would have chosen the 65% regardless, but it would have been nice to have the option to choose since the boards were released within a few weeks of each other and there was no announcement of the 75% that I recall seeing.

J
J.
A good board stock, and an excellent board with simple mods

Out of the box, the Q8 is a pretty dang good board. I ordered mine in silver with the brown switches and a set of cherry profile keycaps (not a fan of the look or profile of the originals). It sounded pretty nice out of the box, but there was some audible case ping when typing, and the stabs have just a touch of scratchy sound/feel. I went ahead and applied the friction break mod, added a very thin layer of case foam, and lubed the stabs with Krytox 205G-0. These simple mods made a massive difference in sound and feel, and I can now say that I am in love with this board. This is my first time using the Gateron pro browns, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! They are lighter than I anticipated, are very smooth, and have a quiet yet satisfying sound signature. The layout has taken me a little bit of time to get used to, but my wrists are thankful for the improved positioning compared to a standard board. Overall I would highly recommend the Q8 to anyone willing to put in a few minutes of work to make it sound much better.

K
K.G.
The benefit of mass-produced arisu

Ordered the 2nd batch of releases and an fr4 plate, and saw many reviews and mod videos of people friction breaking, which is adding tape between the 2 metal pieces to reduce case ping, I also saw people lubing the stock stabs. After opening mine up, I was surprised that there was already tape between the 2 metal pieces and the stock stabs lubed. I planned on doing these things myself, but them doing this already saved me so much time and energy. This would not have been the case if this was a group buy, they saw that people were pretty much required to do these things and they adjusted their manufacturing it even comes with tape mod stock, they know this hobby and are willing to save us time. The stock lube stabs sound great, not over-lubed like some other companies either. It really is a buy-and-ready-to-go, which is something I'm not used to in this hobby. Would be nice to see them sell just cases eventually, as well as different knobs. Coming from YMDK wings, this is definitely a welcomed step up and will be my main for a long time to come. 10/10

P
P.F.
Incredible

I've bought a number of mechanical keyboards over the last ~10 years or so and this is my favorite. It sits in the sweet spot for me between a traditional 65% layout like the K6 and something more exotic like the ErgoDox EZ (not quite EZ enough for me) which has a board for each hand and an ortholinear orientation.

The unboxing experience was really, really good. I've used a Keychron K6, and this is a completely different beast. It feels heavy when you pull it out of the box, but in a really good way, like when you pull takeout out of a bag and you think "damn they loaded me up with the good stuff". Colors look great in person--I got the black layout with dark letter keys/light modifier keys. The keys feel great and it is surprisingly quiet. I got browns coming from a Ducky SF One with blues that was a bit too loud. This feels so quiet even for browns I had to doublecheck I didn't accidentally order some other color. I think I could've gotten blues because the board has so much sound dampening in its design.

I haven't tried anything programmable yet--I prefer to be able to just plug and play and this keyboard lets me do that so far. I have a feeling I'll eventually remap del/home to pg up/ pg down, actually nevermind, they do that with fn1 modifier I just realized while writing this. Wow! Everything just kinda works the way you'd think it ought to. Definitely worth the $205 my company paid for it, but TBH I'd buy this out of pocket.

Q8-C1-Keychron Q8 QMK/VIA custom mechanical keyboard Alice layout full aluminum frame for Mac Windows Linux fully assembled black Gateron G Pro switch red
Q series

Keychron Q8 (Alice Layout) QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard

From $165.00 $175.00

The fully assembled version includes:

  • The keyboard PCB, the case, and the steel plate.
  • Double-shot OSA PBT keycaps (including Mac & Windows keycaps).
  • Gateron G Pro switches.

The barebone version does not include the keycaps and switches.
No discount codes can be used for Q8.

Please drop your email on "Notify Me When Available" if the product model is out of stock.

Type

  • Fully Assembled
  • Fully Assembled Knob
  • Barebone
  • Barebone Knob
  • Fully Assembled Knob Special Edition

Color

  • Carbon Black - B
  • Silver Grey - B
  • Navy Blue - B
  • Carbon Black - A
  • Silver Grey - A
  • Navy Blue - A
  • Carbon Black
  • Silver Grey
  • Navy Blue
  • Shell White

Switches

  • Gateron G Pro Red
  • Gateron G Pro Blue
  • Gateron G Pro Brown
  • Barebone
  • Gateron Baby Raccoon
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