Analog keyboards have For centuries the world has had “the next big thing” mechanical keyboardThey feature sensors that can more accurately distinguish between light and full key-presses. They’ve long promised to revolutionise gaming and typing, becoming faster, more customisable and (supposedly) more reliable. But they’ve never been attractive enough for most people to adopt: why sacrifice a proven track record for something new and experimental?
I guess you can compare it to analog keyboards electric vehicles. Of course, they are better in many ways on paper, but the entire infrastructure around us is better. Designed for internal combustion enginesAnd we’re all accustomed 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 easy to understand why. hall effect switch The advanced construction of a premium mechanical keyboard brings out the best of both worlds. Plus having reliable and easy-to-understand customization makes the system much easier to understand.
What are Hall Effect Switches?
The Hall effect switch is a type of mechanical switch, which is similar to the Hall effect switch. Optical SwitchIn which several different inputs can occur when one key is pressed. While optical switches use lasers to identify inputs, an HE switch uses magnets to manipulate the electromagnetic field when a switch is pressed, which then returns different values at specific distances.
Although these switches are new to consumer keyboards, the technology has existed for quite some time. One of the early manufacturers of Hall effect switches was Honeywell, who created these switches for the now-famous keyboards. Space Cadet KeyboardHowever this version of the switch is incredibly different from modern versions – the only real similarity is that they both use magnets to create the input.
Photo: Henry Robbins
The advantage of these multiple inputs is that you can adjust the actuation point of your key switch – when the switch recognizes that you have pressed a key. Moving the actuation point to the top of the keystroke can make typing more responsive while moving it to the bottom can prevent accidental mis-inputs. To create a good middle ground, there are settings like “rapid-trigger” that allow multiple key presses in a row without requiring the switch to return to its resting position.
The Q1 HE is Keychron’s first hall effect keyboard. While some keyboards from other manufacturers have already made an impact on the industry ( Wooting 60HE (Being the most prevalent), consumer-grade Hall effect switches are still fairly new and experimental, and Keychron is one of the first major keyboard manufacturers to incorporate this technology.
HE vs. True Mechanical Switches
Nebula Double Rail Magnetic SwitchMade by Gateron, these are a proprietary design that’s currently exclusive to the Q1 HE. With factory lubing and a new slider design, I’m impressed with how smooth they are. However, this kind of smoothness is to be expected from a Hall effect switch; the magnet-based system means no physical contact is required between the switch’s components.
The contactless system also means that these switches will last quite a long time. While Gateron hasn’t released any information on the longevity of these specific switches, its KS-20 Hall effect switches are pretty great. Rated for over 100 million actuations,
The switches, which have a standard low 60-gram weight, feel great to type on. They’re incredibly smooth, with hardly any lateral movement or stem wobble while typing. They also have consistent resistance throughout the keypress and feel natural no matter where the actuation point is adjusted. If the standard 60-gram spring weight isn’t for you, Keychron freely offers its own Dawn And Arora The switches, which weigh 50 and 70 grams respectively, however cannot be ordered as the default switches for the Q1 HE.
