Keychron Q Ultra series: 4 months of wireless usage with 8kHz polling rate?!

Summary

I am really excited for news in the mechanical keyboard space from Keychron. If these battery life claims hold up, we are in for a ground breaking battery length. I am unsure if we actually need 8k polling rate on keyboards, specially when they are not using HE or magnetic switches. And lucily, Keychron can confirm that there will be ISO (and we can assume JIS) versions of these keyboards availale.

Keychron’s new Ultra series offers super long wireless battery life with 8k polling rate

Keychron are not resting on their laurels, and are coming with exciting keyboard news during CES 2025.

A total of six new keyboards are launching soon, all with the open source software ZMK (not the usual QMK), and Keychron claims that this enables battery life up to 4 months (that’s with 5 hours usage a day), or a total of 660 hours! And all that battery life is with 8k polling enabled and 2.4 Ghz.

I think this the total battery life is particular exciting. A near 4 months of usage with 5 hours daily means more than half a year for many home battle stations. All this while keeping an 8k polling rate.

Another question is whether we even need 8k polling rate on a mechanical keyboard? Thas’s 8000 thousand updates per second, with mechanical switches - is it neccesary? Keychron seems to think so, but I recon this is for markeding purposes more than actual user need.

The smalles Q1 Ultra seen in White and Black / Credit Keychron

Keychron Q Ultra series

The Q Ultra series are launching on January 6th, and it comes in three versions:

Q1 Ultra, a 75% retailing for $230,
Q3 Ultra, a TKL version retailing for $230, and a
Q6 Ultra that will be a full sized keyboard retailing for $240.

All keyboards come in black and white color schemes. Where the black is coupled with darker grey and has cyan highlights. The white board comes with white and black, with stylish orange (or red) accents. All in all very nice looking keyboards.

The Q Ultra series also feature an entire metal body crafted from 6063 aluminum, meaning this keyboard will be stable, durable and have a high end feel. The know is made out of the same material. They pack a 4000mAh battery to achieve that ridiculous battery life.

The Q Ultra series knob in aluminium / Credit Keychron

They also come with double-shot PBT keycaps, acoustic foams, hot swappable mechanical key support with the new Silk POM switches, and gasket mount design.

For those who like RGB, that is also featured with per key, south facing RGB (all configured in the online ZMK launcher). Neat.

The Q6 Ultra in black The Q1, Q3 and Q6 Ultra in black / Credit Keychron

Keychron V Ultra series

The V Ultra series is a more budget friendly version. With cheaper materials (plastic) used in the chassis and keycaps. But also gets a lot of the same features as the Q Ultra series with ZMK support, 8k polling rate, tri-mode connectivity, and good battery life.

Compaired ot the Q Ultra series, V Ultra packs a 3000mAh battery, which is still plenty for months of usage and would amount to aroun 495 hours since its about 3/4th of the battery in the Q Ultra. KAYMATH!

The V Ultra series also comes in 3 versions, launching late January,

V1 Ultra, a 75% retailing for $110,
V3 Ultra, a TKL version retailing for $120, and a
V5 Ultra, that utilizes a 1800 layout retailing for $130.

The V Ultra series are using OSA keycap profile, with double shot PBT composition.

Keychron Silk POM switches

They are also coming with a new set of switches, the Silk POM. They have an all POM design, a material that has low friction that results in a smooth typing feel.

The Silk POM switches come in three variants:

Yellow (35gf linear)
Red (45gf linear)
Brown (55gf tactile)

All switches are pre-lubed from factory and have 3.8mm travel distance.

ISO and JIS versions confirmed!

While this was not a part of the press releases, I did reach out to Keychron and they can confirm that there will be ISO (and looking at their histori, I assume JIS) versions of these keyboards available.

While I understand that there goes a lot into creating hardware that is suited for globale keyboard enthusiasts, I appreciate that Keychron is taking the time to makeing ANSI, ISO and JIS versions available.

Keychron K2 HE, now with more luxury

They are also launching two new additions to the K2 HE line, namely the K2 HE Resin and Concrete. Keychron is adding more exotic materials to the K2 HE line where we have alredy seen wood finér being used.

Both Concrte and resin feature a tight 75% layout, and retail for $239 and coming in February 2026.