The Keychron Q8 is the eighth keyboard in Keychron's Q-series. Like the others in this series, this wired-only unit is designed to be fully customizable, so it has a hot-swappable printed circuit board to easily replace the switches, screw-in stabilizers, and an included toolkit to deconstruct the keyboard. However, what sets this keyboard apart from the several others in the series is the compact (65%) Alice layout, which splits the keys into two angled clusters. As an added detail not usually found on split-key layouts, this keyboard has two "B" keys to more easily adapt to the layout if you're used to straight boards.
Our Verdict
Although not designed for this use, the Keychron Q8 is a great keyboard for gaming. It feels very well-built and has RGB backlighting that's fully customizable using the companion software. You can also use the companion software to program macros to any key and adjust the key mapping. It's also comfortable to use thanks to its Alice layout, but this layout can take some time to get used to. Unfortunately, its latency is too high for competitive or fast-paced games, but it's perfectly suited for casual gaming.
- Incredible build quality.
- Easily customizable; hot-swappable PCB.
- Companion software available on all desktop operating systems.
- Alice layout takes a bit of getting used to at first.
- Latency too high for competitive gaming.
The Keychron Q8 isn't recommended for use with mobile devices, though you can technically use this keyboard with any device with a USB-C port. That said, it's made of solid aluminum and is very heavy, so it isn't a very portable option.
The Keychron Q8 is an excellent keyboard for office use. It feels incredibly well-built and comfortable to type on, thanks to its Alice layout. The companion software is available on all major operating systems, and there's an operating system toggle on the top of the keyboard to ensure full compatibility. It's also very quiet to use, thanks to the layers of sound-dampening foam inside the board. However, the Alice layout can take a bit of getting used to at first, so your typing speed and accuracy will take a bit of a hit if you're only used to straight boards.
- Very comfortable to use.
- Excellent typing quality.
- Incredible build quality.
- Easily customizable; hot-swappable PCB.
- Companion software available on all desktop operating systems.
- Alice layout takes a bit of getting used to at first.
The Keychron Q8 is a great keyboard for programming. Its companion software is available on all major desktop operating systems, including Linux, so you can easily program macros to any key regardless of what system you use. It also features a very high build quality, and it's comfortable to type on for long periods, thanks to the Alice layout. Unfortunately, since it's wired-only, you can't use it in a multi-device setup. Though the Alice layout is comfortable, there's a bit of a learning curve, which will impact your typing speed and accuracy at first.
- Very comfortable to use.
- Excellent typing quality.
- Incredible build quality.
- Easily customizable; hot-swappable PCB.
- Companion software available on all desktop operating systems.
- Alice layout takes a bit of getting used to at first.
- Wired-only.
The Keychron Q8 is a poor keyboard to use with a home theater PC setup since it's a wired-only unit that lacks a trackpad for on-screen navigation. While it does have backlighting, the key legends aren't shine-through, so they may be a bit more difficult to see in the dark unless you're seated directly in front of the keyboard.
- Incredible build quality.
- Alice layout takes a bit of getting used to at first.
- Wired-only.
- No trackpad for on-screen navigation.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Keychron Q8 comes in three colorways: Carbon Black, Silver Grey, and Navy Blue. It also comes pre-assembled with your choice of Gateron G Pro tactile Brown, linear Red, or clicky Blue switches. Alternatively, you can get the barebones base of this keyboard with no switches or keycaps. There's also the option to get this keyboard with a knob in the top right corner. We bought and tested the pre-assembled Silver Grey unit with a knob and Gateron G Pro Brown switches installed. While we normally include a photo of the label in our reviews, this unit doesn't have one.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Keychron Q8 is the eighth keyboard in Keychron's customizable Q-series. The major difference in this board is the Alice layout. While this layout isn't considered a fully ergonomic style since the keys aren't fully split apart, the angled key clusters promote a more natural posture in your wrists and elbows. However, there's a learning curve involved in using this keyboard as it's different from typical straight keyboards. To help make learning the layout easier, this keyboard has two "B" keys, one for each cluster, which is a rare find on a split-key style board, as the "B" key is typically put on one side or the other as it's the most middle key in the alphanumeric cluster. Like the other Keychron Q-series boards, this one is fully customizable and includes a toolkit to help you personalize the board to your liking. As a minor note, the latency on this board is slightly higher than the others, but it's still great for casual gaming.
If you're interested in more options, check out our recommendations for the best ergonomic keyboards, the best keyboards for typing, and the best Keychron keyboards.
The Keychron Q8 is the next release in Keychron's Q-series lineup after the Q7. These boards are incredibly similar in their design and build quality, but the major difference is that the Q8 has an Alice layout, which is a split key layout with two key clusters sitting at an angle, while the Q7 is a typical straight profile board. The Q7 has more navigational cluster buttons, as it's a compact (70%) keyboard.
The Keychron Q8 is a wired-only Alice layout keyboard from Keychron's premium Q-series lineup. Alternatively, the Keychron K8 is a wireless keyboard with a TenKeyLess size from Keychron's more budget-friendly K-series lineup. The Q8 has companion software, which the K8 lacks. The Q8 is better suited for permanent desk setups, while the K8 is more portable and more versatile.
The Keychron K2 (Version 2) is a compact (75%) wireless keyboard that's fairly customizable, as you can choose a variant with a hot-swappable printed circuit board (PCB). The Keychron Q8, on the other hand, is a wired-only, Alice layout keyboard. The Alice layout means the keys are split into two distinct clusters that are angled away from each other to promote a more natural wrist placement. That said, the Q8 takes a bit longer to get used to at first, while you'll have no problem using the K2 V2 right out of the box.
The Logitech ERGO K860 and the Keychron Q8 are two very different keyboards, though they may look slightly similar. The Logitech has a true ergonomic design with a wave-like curve in the middle that splits the keys into two descending clusters. It also has negative incline settings to keep your wrists from bending upwards. The Keychron has a fixed incline setting that's still fairly high, so you'll have to flex your wrists upwards to reach the keys. While it also has two split key clusters, it lacks the curve in the middle that makes it a truly ergonomic layout, but the angled key clusters help to promote a more natural posture. That said, if ergonomics are the name of the game, the Logitech is a better choice.
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