Keychron Q11

Split, sturdy but tricky timing

I spent some time with the Keychron Q11, a mechanical split keyboard that sits in the $200-230 price range. The keyboard offered some interesting features like programmable knobs and a solid build quality that gave it a premium feel. One of the standout features was its versatility - you could use it as a split keyboard or join the halves together for a traditional layout. The keyboard came with full-size mechanical switches, which was both a blessing and a curse. While they were hot-swappable (meaning you could change them out), I found the timing for home row modifications to be quite frustrating, especially coming from low-profile keyboards. The height of the keyboard also required some getting used to, even with the optional palm rests.

Pros

• Solid build quality with premium feel
• Programmable knobs and macro keys

Cons

• Difficult timing for home row modifications
• Relatively high profile may cause wrist strain
• Limited customization options compared to competitors