The Das Keyboard 5Q Cloud-Connected Mechanical Keyboard Review: How To Get Noticed
by E. Fylladitakis on February 26, 2019 10:00 AM ESTPer-Key Quality Testing
In order to test the quality and consistency of a keyboard, we are using a texture analyser that is programmed to measure and display the actuation force of the standard keyboard keys. By measuring the actuation force of every key, the quality and consistency of the keyboard can be quantified. It can also reveal design issues, such as the larger keys being far softer to press than the main keys of the keyboard. The actuation force is measured in Centinewton (cN). Some companies use another figure, gram-force (gf). The conversion formula is 1 cN = 1.02 gf (i.e. they are about the same). A high-quality keyboard should be as consistent as possible, with an average actuation force as near to the manufacturer's specs as possible and a disparity of less than ±10%. Greater differences are likely to be perceptible by users. It is worth noting that there is typically variance among keyboards, although most keyboard companies will try and maintain consistency - as with other reviews, we're testing our sample only.
The machine we use for our testing is accurate enough to provide readings with a resolution of 0.1 cN. For wider keys (e.g. Enter, Space Bar, etc.), the measurement is taking place at the center of the key, right above the switch. Note that large keys generally have a lower actuation force even if the actuation point is at the dead center of the key. This is natural, as the size and weight of the keycap reduce the required actuation force. For this reason, we do display the force required to actuate every key but we only use the results of the typically sized keys for our consistency calculations. Still, very low figures on medium sized keys, such as the Shift and Enter keys reveal design issues and can easily be perceptible by the user.
The exclusive Gamma Zulu mechanical switches that Das Keyboard is using are, without a doubt, very consistent. The disparity is a little higher than what Cherry’s (genuine) products usually display, but it is by all means excellent. There is virtually no chance that a user will be able to discern any difference between any keys just by touch. The average actuation force of the keys is 48 cN, very similar to that of Logitech’s Romer-G switches, yet the shorter travel distance does make the keypresses feeling a little stiffer overall.
Hands-on Testing
I always try to use every keyboard that we review as my personal keyboard for at least a week. My typical weekly usage includes a lot of typing (about 100-150 pages), a few hours of gaming and some casual usage, such as internet browsing and messaging. I tend to prefer Cherry MX Brown or similar (tactile) switches for such tasks. In theory, the Gamma Zulu switch resembles Cherry’s MX Brown switch, therefore the Das Keyboard 5Q should have been very comfortable for long typing sessions.
However, in my experience, that was not the case. While I cannot state that the Das Keyboard 5Q is uncomfortable, the key presses feel slightly mushy and the return force feels a bit on the high side when the keys bottom out. I believe that the vast majority of users will find it acceptable and get used to the feeling quickly, but my fatigue levels were definitely somewhat higher over using a keyboard with MX Brown switches. The saving grace of the Das Keyboard 5Q is the excellent wrist rest, which is one of the most comfortable that I have ever seen.
Although the Das Keyboard 5Q is targeted more towards professionals rather than gamers, the Gamma Zulu switches clearly are designed with rapid response in mind. The keyboard does react exceptionally to rapid keypresses and feels very responsive. The key travel is shorter and the return force of the switch is rather high, reducing the key travel and reset times. The difference over a typical mechanical switch is no more than a few milliseconds, which definitely is not important for most gamers, but competitive/professional gamers probably do care for even that tiny bit of time. If we could identify one disadvantage here, it would be the mushy feeling of the keypresses that will remind users of typical membrane-based keyboards.
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boozed - Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - link
WHY?PeachNCream - Wednesday, February 27, 2019 - link
Product differentiation and the appearance of innovation are both necessary to land sales in a market that is saturated by cost-effective substitutes. Media keys, macro capabilities, per-key RGB lighting, mechanical switches...all of those things are already available everywhere. Even derelict bricks and mortar stores like Staples sell such keyboards. Das Keyboard MUST have a feature that isn't available elsewhere or at least is uncommon enough to make their product somewhat unique so the company can justify higher costs than some other company. They reached the conclusion that this "cloud connected" offering uses the right combination of uniqueness, buzzword injection, and low-cost capability to integrate it into the 5Q in order to proposition potential buyers that are in turn looking for a way to stand out from their friends. Das Keyboard is old. They know what they're doing and even if this thing flops, they have other offerings and a loyalist following of people that find branding important.FreckledTrout - Thursday, February 28, 2019 - link
For me they need to remove the cloud bits and make it tenkeyless but keeping the media / volume controls. I would buy one if they did that. This looks very high quality and the volume control is nice.sadsteve - Thursday, February 28, 2019 - link
Heh, after reading the comments the cloud connected keyboard sure sounds like a failure. I know I wouldn't buy it.abufrejoval - Friday, March 1, 2019 - link
Dear God, a keyboard with an 80MHz CPU included?What has the world come to?
I am typing this on an IBM PS/2 keyboard manufactured on March 28th, 1990 which in all likehood was mated to an IBM PS/2 machine sporting a 33MHz 80386 at best, a 24/16-Bit 80286 more likely...
Whilst I'm at it, I still prefer the previous AT-style layout, because those function keys to the left you could actually reach blindly, whereas the top row requires taking your eyes off the screen every now and then. There was also a proper cursor pad uninfested by numbers and an escape key integrated within it, which you needed to navigate the intricate states software required before it got mice infested and all GUI.
It cost a thousand solid £, $, DM whatever(no € yet) at the time and it has remained worth it.
Of course I just picked it out of a pile of discarded computers (couldn't afford the original originally), to gether with a backup (still unused), so I won't ever have to switch to one of those plastic evils that have overwhelmed the world of keyboards since.
Of course it could have been left out there, because of the sound these things are making: To the person driving the keyboard, it's like the engine noise of a sports car you drive.
To any other person in the same office or room, it's like the engine noise of the sports car your neighbour drives.
Well now you know why I have a hard time posting a short comment: Typing is a true pleasure on this keyboard, like playing a Steinway piano.
Azethoth - Tuesday, March 5, 2019 - link
If it ever breaks you can get something with 18 G keys on the left and you can remap them to whatever you want, even F keys.Wahaj - Friday, March 1, 2019 - link
Nice article<a href ="https://mod-apps.ga ">here my website link</a>Dr_b_ - Sunday, March 3, 2019 - link
Did the kickstarter for this, the software is terrible, the keyboard took too long to develop, especially for a dedicated keyboard company.The RGB illumination is decent, but the software is still too basic.
The tilt supports on the back of the keyboard are too cheap and flimsy, one has already broken, and now i cant tilt the keyboard.
Avoid this thing
azrael- - Monday, March 4, 2019 - link
From https://www.daskeyboard.com/p/5q-cloud-connected-r...Double shot keycaps US, and ABS lasered ROW
To the uninitiated that means that the US gets (quite durable) double shot keycaps while the rest of the world needs to make due with simple laser-engraved keycaps (thanks a lot for that). I would imagine it's ABS in both cases. However, this is in contradiction with the review claiming the US version comes with laser-engraved keys.
Pull the "cloud" crap out of the board and it might actually be decent ...especially for US customers.
uberDoward - Tuesday, March 5, 2019 - link
Can I just please get a backlit, mechanically switched, ergonomic keyboard, please?