Keychron Q12 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron Q12
Setting the best example for efficient space usage, the Q12 has a compact 96% layout design with a left-positioned Numpad while retaining all the essential function keys. With its full metal CNC machined body, double-gasket design, QMK/VIA support, and exceptional southpaw design, the Q12 is ideal for fulfilling your space-saving and typing needs!
Left-Handed (Southpaw) Design
Not just for left-handed people, you will also enjoy this design if you are right-handed too because it leaves more room for your mouse and it will be more convenient when using the mouse and numpad at the same time!
A Refined Piece Of Metal Art
The entire metal body is crafted with 6063 aluminum that is processed through CNC machined, polished, anodized, sandblasted, and undergoes 24 more manufacturing stages to make this solid metal piece of art that is the Q12.
All-Around Customizable Keyboard
To build a fully customizable keyboard, we designed every component easily assembled. Therefore, you can customize and adjust each component you want.
Double Gasket Design
The Double Gasket Design is a new innovative structure in the industry. In addition to the gaskets on the plates, we added silicone pads between the top and bottom cases to significantly reduce the sound resonance between the metals and reduce the noise of the impacted metals. This design allows the keyboard to maintain the flexibility of the gasket structure and improves the overall typing sound.
An Epic Core Inside The Keyboard
A powerful ultra-low-power ARM architecture MCU equipped with 128K Flash will provide more flexibility for developers. The polling rate is 1000 Hz right out of the box, which makes the latency hardly noticeable even in competitive games.
OSA Profile Double-shot PBT Keycaps
These double-shot PBT keycaps have a similar height to the OEM profile and has an SA-like shape. We named it the OSA (OEM spherical angled) keycap. The PBT keycaps will provide excellent oil resistance, enhance the type feel, and prevent the legends from fading out.
Switch layouts between macOS & Windows
Built with the Mac users’ experience in mind while still retaining compatibility for Windows devices, the Keychron Q12 comes with a system toggle and an additional set of customized keycaps for both Windows and macOS systems. You can now save two different layouts on the keyboard, one for each system.
Programmable Knob
Designed to enhance your creative workflow, the aluminum rotary encoder allows you to easily customize your favorite keys and macros on the knob through the VIA software.
You can easily customize the Q12's knob to your desired key or macro commands such as: zooming in/out, adjusting screen brightness, brush size, volume, selecting video clips or photos, or backlight hue.
With full QMK and VIA support, you can easily program and remap each key on the keyboard. The open-source firmware means endless possibilities for keyboard layouts, shortcuts, backlight effects, even the knob, and more.
Get the Q12 keymap working on VIA
Since the VIA code for the Q12 is still awaiting approval from Github, it is not yet automatically recognized, so you will need to manually download and import the Q12 keymap.
To get started, please follow the steps: Download the appropriate kemap JSON file below, open VIA, turn on "Show Design tab" on "Settings" tab, and drag the JSON file into the “Design” tab on VIA to get the Q12 keymap working on VIA.
Hot-swappable
The hot-swappable sockets are mounted on the PCB, so you can install or change the switches without soldering. The PCB supports both 3 pin and 5 pin MX mechanical switches.
South-facing RGB LED Lights
The south-facing RGB LED is designed to better illuminate the keyboard backlight from the typist’s angle with the premium non-shine-through PBT keycaps installed. The south-facing RGB is also free from interference when the users install OEM or Cherry-profile alternative keycaps on the keyboard.
Pre-lubed Gateron G Pro Switch
By optimizing the switch mold, the Gateron G Pro switch wobbles less than a standard mechanical switch and feels smoother on each hit. Plus, the factory pre-lubed process on all the G Pro switches (excluding the clicky ones), no doubt this will ensure the best smoothness at your fingertips when typing.
All New Screw-in PCB Stabilizers
The screw-in design increases stability and makes it easier for changes and upgrades. Precise craftsmanship makes the stabilizers more stable and less shaky. The big keys’ (space bar, shift, enter, delete) typing experience is now more stable and smooth. The Keychron Q12 also supports third-party screw-in PCB stabilizers.
ANSI & ISO Layouts
ISO layout is widely used in Europe while the ANSI layout is widely used by the rest of the world. Note: If you live in Europe, we recommend you purchase the "Barebone ISO” version with the corresponding ISO keycaps. The "Barebone ISO” is suitable for all ISO keyboard countries like the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, etc.
What's in the box?
Specs
| Width | 145 mm |
|---|---|
| Length | 409.4 mm |
| Front Height | 20.2 mm (without keycaps) |
| Back Height | 30.9 mm (without keycaps) |
| Feet Height | 2.4 mm |
| Angle | 5.3° |
| Weight | 2491 ± 10 g (Fully Assembled Version) |
| Body Material | Full CNC machined aluminum |
| Plate Material | Steel |
| Polling Rate | 1000 Hz |
| Keycaps (Fully Assembled Version) | Double-shot PBT keycaps, not shine-through, OSA Profile (OEM height, SA shape) |
|---|---|
| MCU | Ultra-low-power ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit STM32L432 (128KB Flash) |
| Switches | Gateron G Pro (Fully Assembled Version) |
| Backlight | South-facing RGB LED |
| Switch Support | Hot-swappable (5 pin & 3 pin) |
| Stabs | Screw-in PCB stabs |
| Connectivity | Type-C |
| Cable | Type-C cable + Type-A to Type-C adapter |
| Operating Environment | -10℃ to 50℃ |