Keychron Q3 Ultra 8K Review: After a Month and a Half, I Honestly Can't Tell the Difference with 8K Polling

I've made my debut with the English layout.

The catalyst was buying an HHKB (30th Anniversary Snow model, US layout) for work. So, what should I get for home? I like the Q3 Max I'm using now, so maybe I'll just get the same model in US layout... wait a minute, there's a new one out! Should I try it?

So, that brings us to the Keychron Q3 Ultra 8K. I bought it for 39,930 yen at the beginning of June and have used it every day as my stationary typing machine at home for about a month and a half. For the switches, I chose Silk POM (Red, Linear) from the lineup available at the time of purchase.

To give you the conclusion first, the typing feel is superb. But honestly, I couldn't tell the difference with the 8K polling, which is its biggest selling point. I'll write about it in order.

What is the Q3 Ultra 8K?

• Q series with an 80% (tenkeyless) layout and a full aluminum chassis

• 8,000Hz polling via wireless (2.4GHz) is its biggest selling point

• Triple connectivity: 2.4GHz / Bluetooth / Wired

• Hot-swappable, switches can be selected at the time of purchase

• Configuration software is Keychron Launcher (runs in a browser)

"8K polling rate via wireless" is a spec aimed at gaming use. Since I only use it for typing and work, I'll mention how that went later...

What I liked

The typing feel is superb

The chassis is solid and heavy, providing a sense of stability that doesn't budge at all even when typing forcefully. On top of that, you get the Silk POM Red switches, which offer a typing experience that is neither too heavy nor too light. It's just delightful.

To be a bit more specific, there is absolutely no unpleasant sensation or sound even when bottoming out. The rebound feels like it's clinging to your fingers, and there is zero wobble in the keys themselves. It feels like it accepts everything, no matter how you type. I believe this sense of security, where you can type without worrying about anything, is the essence of why it feels so good.

My usual main machine is a SeaSide39 (a custom split keyboard), but on days when I'm typing a lot, I find myself reaching for the Q3 Ultra. Actually, lately, the typing feel is so good that I feel like the time I spend using this one has increased significantly. My main machine's position is starting to waver...

The battery doesn't drain

After a month and a half of normal daily use, I haven't charged it even once. I have been completely free from the stress of "running out of battery without realizing it" that comes with wireless keyboards so far.

Latency is not a concern at all

I use it with the 2.4GHz receiver, and I have never felt any latency while typing. Well, this might be the standard level for modern 2.4GHz connections rather than thanks to 8K.

The downsides and points to note

It is quite loud

The typing sound is "clack-thocky." It is a pleasant sound, but it is loud enough that using it in a quiet environment is impossible. It is out of the question to take it to the office, and the volume is such that it might be a bit awkward in a room with family members late at night... Please consider this a keyboard that is intended for stationary use and requires a specific environment.

It is expensive

It is 40,000 yen. Even as a keyboard enthusiast, I think it is expensive. To the average person, "40,000 for a keyboard?" must be incomprehensible. And to be honest, if you are asking if it performs four times better than a 10,000 yen keyboard, that is absolutely not the case. I don't want you to have the wrong expectations here.

The keys are high

The height of the chassis plus the keycaps is a bit much, and I think it will take time to get used to. You might feel uncomfortable until you find the right position for your wrists. It feels comfortable using a palm rest; I think your wrists will suffer without one.

So, what about 8K?

Honestly, I can't tell at all.

For typing and work purposes, I haven't experienced the benefits of 8,000Hz polling even once in a month and a half. I haven't used it for gaming at all, so it might be different if you are swinging it around in an FPS, but at least if you are choosing it as a "tool for typing text," you don't need to use 8K as a deciding factor.

So, was it a waste? Not necessarily. I believe the essence of this unit is not the 8K, but the ability to "use the typing feel of an aluminum chassis wirelessly." 8K is just a bonus; the typing feel is the main event.

How does it compare to the HHKB?

I use an HHKB (HYBRID Type-S, US layout) at the office, so I am actually comparing these two every day.

It is hard to summarize, but if I had to put it into words—if the HHKB is "refined and thocky," the Q3 Ultra is "let's do this!".

The HHKB is a capacitive non-contact, silent model that sinks elegantly and makes a thocky sound. If you are typing calmly for long hours in a quiet place, this is the one. In contrast, the Q3 Ultra lets a block of aluminum fully express the pleasure of mechanical switches. Honestly, this is the one that gets me excited while typing.

It's not a matter of which one is better, but rather that their personalities are completely different. As a result, I've found a nice balance, including volume levels: 'a quiet HHKB for the office, and a Q3 Ultra for when I really want to get things done at home.' I didn't even plan it that way.

The reality of switching to a US layout

The only things I struggled with when switching from JIS were occasionally hitting the wrong keys around the symbols, Enter, and spacebar, but I think you'll get used to it pretty quickly. The barrier was lower than I expected.

The biggest issue is turning the IME on/off. Since there is no JIS 'Hankaku/Zenkaku' key, I had to figure out what to do about that. I used AutoHotkey to set 'tapping the left Alt for English, tapping the right Alt for Kana' instead.

#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0

; Altキーダウン時にダミーキー送出 → ChromeのAlt単体認識を無効化
~*LAlt::Send("{Blind}{vk07}")
~*RAlt::Send("{Blind}{vk07}")

; AltキーUp時にIME切り替え
LAlt Up::IME_SET(0)   ; 英数
RAlt Up::IME_SET(1)   ; かな

IME_SET(SetSts, WinTitle := "A") {
    hwnd := WinExist(WinTitle)
    if (WinActive(WinTitle)) {
        ptrSize := !A_PtrSize ? 4 : A_PtrSize
        stGTI_cbSize := 4 + 4 + (ptrSize * 6) + 16
        stGTIBuffer := DllCall("GlobalAlloc", "UInt", 0x40, "UInt", stGTI_cbSize, "Ptr")
        NumPut "UInt", stGTI_cbSize, stGTIBuffer, 0
        hwnd := DllCall("GetGUIThreadInfo", "UInt", 0, "UInt", stGTIBuffer)
            ? NumGet(stGTIBuffer, 8 + ptrSize, "UInt")
            : hwnd
    }
    DllCall("SendMessage"
          , "UInt", DllCall("imm32\ImmGetDefaultIMEWnd", "UInt", hwnd)
          , "UInt", 0x0283
          , "Int", 0x006
          , "Int", SetSts)
}

There are three key points.

• Distinguishing by press rather than a toggle. You don't have to think, 'Which one is it on now?' If you tap the left, it's always English; if you tap the right, it's always Kana

• Sending a dummy key when Alt is pressed down to prevent Chrome from focusing on the menu when Alt is pressed alone

• Since I didn't touch the Win key, all shortcuts like Win+D remain intact

As someone who usually sets up tap/hold configurations in ZMK (firmware for custom keyboards), it was a pleasant discovery that I could create the same feel on an off-the-shelf product using the OS. By the way, since the Q3 Ultra supports QMK/VIA, you could also implement Mod-Tap (different keys for tap and hold) on the keyboard side. The concept is exactly the same as ZMK's `&mt`; you just write `MT()` in the 'Any' key in VIA. If you're into custom keyboards, you can make the switch in 5 minutes.

You can read about how much time I wasted on ZMK tap-hold settings in this article...

https://note.com/karakuriya_0204/n/nb166e8180f1c

You can also change keymaps using the official Keychron Launcher (a configuration tool that runs in your browser). My impression after using it is that it's easy. If you just want to tweak a standard keymap, this is more than enough. Honestly, not having to 'build and flash every time you change a setting' like with ZMK was an enviable experience.

How I use it alongside the SeaSide39

• Days when I do a lot of typing → Q3 Ultra. Chosen for the satisfying typing feel

• Tasks that require a pointing device → SeaSide39. The strength of having an integrated trackball is unshakable

I've settled into this division of labor. I think it's a great two-keyboard setup where my hands naturally choose the right one based on the task.

By the way, I plan to let go of the Q3 Max I was using until now. It's not that I had any complaints at all; it's purely to switch to the English layout. If you're going to keep using the JIS layout, it's still a flawless piece of hardware.

...And just as I've nicely settled into this two-keyboard setup, I remembered that the Orca Echo I pre-ordered will arrive in November. I have a feeling this division of labor is about to collapse already...

https://note.com/karakuriya_0204/n/n3cc5092219bc

Who is this recommended for?

Based on my experience using it for a month and a half, this is the kind of person this keyboard is perfect for.

• People who are particular about their keyboards. In terms of typing feel alone, it fully delivers on its $400 price tag.

• People who want to feel like, 'Oh, maybe I'm the best typist in the world right now'. It's not an exaggeration; when you're typing, you really do get this mysterious sense of omnipotence.

• People who want a good keyboard regardless of the details. I can confidently recommend this as a 'you can't go wrong with this' choice.

• People who want to add some fun to their work. Time spent just typing becomes a little reward.

In short, this isn't a tool you buy for its specs, but a tool you pay for because it feels good to touch. If you can spend $400 on that, I don't think you'll regret it.

Summary: I can't tell the difference with 8K. But I find myself touching it every day.

I can't feel the highlight of the spec sheet, I think the price is high myself, and the sound is loud enough that I have to be considerate of my family. When written down, it sounds terrible, but before I knew it, I was typing on this every day, and it's starting to eat into the usage time of my main machine.

In the end, maybe what's important to me in a keyboard is the typing feel. More than 8K polling, it's whether my fingers say, 'I want to type again.' The Q3 Ultra definitely does $400 worth of work in that regard.

JIS (Japanese layout) is here

*This note participates in the Amazon Associates and Rakuten Affiliate programs, and I may earn income if products are purchased through the links in this article.