Marathon battery life makes Keychron’s Ultra 8K keyboards the best ever

Keychron’s expansive keyboard catalog covers everything from Full size basic mechanical panels For specialized layouts such as Southpaw Alice Or a Half keyboard for one-handed gaming. The Q and V series are among our favorite recommendations for ready-to-use keyboards, and the latest iterations – S and V Ultra models – a direct upgrade to the lineup, with benefits for casual users and keyboard geeks alike.

I tested two Ultra keyboards: the Kikron V5 Ultra 8K and Kikron Q1 Ultra 8K. The $119.99 V5 Ultra is a nearly full-size 1800 layout tablet with a number pad in a plastic case, while the $229.99 Q1 Ultra is a 75 percent layout (my preferred size) with a much heavier milled aluminum chassis and a sturdier build and typing feel. Aside from the case material and layout, they are very similar keyboards and both are excellent.

The Ultra 8K lines are the highest-end versions of the V5 and Q1 keyboards to date, preceded by the Max versions (which added 1000Hz and 2.4GHz wireless) and Pro models (which It’s gone wireless for the first time using only Bluetooth). 2.4GHz wireless connections have been upgraded from 1000Hz polling to 8000Hz (hence the 8K suffix) to maintain fast response times – especially when gaming. Most people won’t notice the difference, but that’s no reason to get the Ultra anyway.

Unlike older Q and V series boards, the Ultras run on ZMK, and The firmware is open source Often used by advanced keyboard enthusiasts (absolute com. sickos) to build their own custom boards. ZMK is powerful, but updating keymaps can be a pain, as is ZMK Remapping program Less polished than options like via or flask Available for QMK-based boards. (Keychron’s older keyboards ran QMK.) Fortunately, it uses Ultra keyboards Keychron’s browser-based launcher To remap keys, dial in custom lighting patterns, or set macros, just like other Keychron models.

The most obvious advantage of the ZMK for most people is battery efficiency. That’s why Keychron claims you can get up to 660 hours of use on the Ultra 8K panel — about four times longer than it claims for the Max models. If you use your keyboard for about eight hours a day with the backlight off, that’s 83 days before you care about connectivity — or longer, if you’re using Bluetooth. It’s not the 1-2 years of battery life that some membrane keyboards offer, but that kind of battery life in a mechanical keyboard was unheard of not long ago. Even some of the best wireless mechanical keyboards from recent years typically require charging every two weeks or so (depending on your usage).

Marathon-level battery life goes a long way to making the V5 Ultra and Q1 Ultra my favorite Keychrons to date. Now that I’ve spoiled it, I hope other manufacturers follow suit with their ZMK boards. The V series and Q series were very good keyboards available in many layouts, so not having to charge them frequently is a nice plus. On the other hand, 8000Hz polling is a “sure, why not” kind of benefit. Esports champions using the fastest displays can probably tell the difference between 1000Hz and 8000Hz. maybe.

As for the typing experience on the new Ultras, each has been subtly improved over their predecessors. The V5 Ultra 8K and Q1 Ultra 8K have upgraded screw mounts for reduced wobble on larger keys (Enter, Space bar, Backspace, etc.) and a better feel of the return action. The Ultras also use new Silk POM (polyoxymethylene) switches that are available in red (linear), brown (tactile), and banana (more tactile). Full POM keycaps are often used in switches to reduce scratching when pressing the keys.

On the V5 Ultra with brown Silk POM switches, the new keys have a slightly deeper but harsher typing sound compared to the V1 Max I tested last year. Max’s Gateron Jupiter brown, last-generation switches and their nylon housings feel quieter. I think the new Ultras sound better while you’re hammering – as long as you don’t mind using a slightly higher pad. The Ultra’s new switches and stabilizers also feel smoother. The only downside is that the tactile bump of the brown keys is now barely there. They feel closer to linear lines. If you want a tactile switch that has actual touch on this panel, Go bananas (Or swap out your favorite keys).

I tested these tactile banana switches on the Q1 Ultra 8K, and they feel deeper than the last generation with Gateron bananas without losing tactility. The Q1 Ultra is actually a touch Quieter From Q1 Max. It’s still far from silent, but it feels smoother. The revised stabilizers make a noticeable difference to the space bar and enter keys, which feel more tightly set and are quieter when they return. Underneath the case is a back panel with an engraved sci-fi/celestial design. It’s nice to look at, even if you rarely see it, but it doesn’t add any extra weight to the Q1 Ultra like you typically see on the lower weights of other panels — it’s a whopping 3.8lbs/1.72kg, just like the Q1 Max, and heavier than a 14-inch MacBook Pro. (The V1 Ultra 8K weighs 1.7 lbs / 770 g for reference.)

The Ultra generation is a clear upgrade over previous Keychron models. The Maxes are still around, because Keychron rarely seems to stop or replace anything entirely, but at only $10-20, it’s worth spending a little more on the Ultras for the amazing battery life alone. The improved stabilizers are a nice bonus.

Keychron will likely move the ZMK-based Ultra features to more of its lines and expand the Q and V Ultra offerings to include more layouts, as it always does. And it’s only a matter of time before other keyboard manufacturers turn to the ZMK, with the hope that more mechanicals will give a similar big boost to the battery. I love the competition as much as I love the cool consoles, which we really have these days.

Photography by Antonio G. Di Benedetto/The Verge