Keychron Q12 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard – Page 13 – Keychron Canada

Keychron Q12 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard

SKU: Q12-O3Z
$286.00

Type
Color
Switches

Notify Me When Available

The fully assembled version includes:

  • The keyboard PCB, the case, and the steel plate.
  • Double-shot OSA PBT keycaps (including Mac & Windows keycaps).
  • Gateron G Pro switches.

The barebone version does not include the keycaps and switches.
No discount codes can be used for Q12.

Please drop your email on "Notify Me When Available" if the product model is out of stock.

Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout 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!

Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

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!

Customize Your Q12

Choose the keycaps, switches, and more accessories for your Q12

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. 

Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

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.

Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

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. 

Double Gasket Design of Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

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 out of the box, which makes latency non-existent for the competitive game.

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.

OSA Profile Double-shot PBT Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

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.

Rotary encoder function of Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

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.

Setting the macros for "zoom in/out"

Using the knob as "zoom in/out"

Program with QMK & Launcher
Program with QMK & Launcher

Program with QMK & Launcher

The open-source QMK firmware means endless possibilities for key remapping, macros, shortcuts, and more. Now you can easily customize each key with the Keychron Launcher web app.

Program the keyboard with Launcher
Click here to use Keychron Launcher

* Please use the latest version of Chrome / Opera / Edge browser to open the Launcher and connect the keyboard to your device via wired mode.

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.

Barebone US layout of Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical 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.

Gateron G Pro Switch Features
All New Screw In PCB Stabilizers

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 are European, 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.

ANSI/US layout of Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

ANSI Layout

ANSI/US layout of Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard

ISO Layout

What's in the box?

Package List of Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard Fully Assembled Knob Version
Package List of Keychron Q12 Compact 96% Layout Custom Mechanical Keyboard Barebone Knob Version

Frequently bought together (Add-on)

Please select the matching variant for your product.

V3 Brass Plate
V3 Brass Plate
V3 Brass Plate
V3 Brass Plate
V3 Brass Plate
V3 Brass Plate

V3 Brass Plate

V3 PC Plate
V3 PC Plate
V3 PC Plate
V3 PC Plate
V3 PC Plate
V3 PC Plate

V3 PC Plate

V3 Aluminum Plate
V3 Aluminum Plate
V3 Aluminum Plate
V3 Aluminum Plate
V3 Aluminum Plate
V3 Aluminum Plate

V3 Aluminum Plate

V2 Brass Plate
V2 Brass Plate

V2 Brass Plate

Q1 Aluminum Plate
Q1 Aluminum Plate
Q1 Aluminum Plate
Q1 Aluminum Plate

Q1 Aluminum Plate

Keychron Q13 Pro / Q13 Max Acoustic Upgrade Kit
Keychron Q13 Pro / Q13 Max Acoustic Upgrade Kit
Keychron Q13 Pro / Q13 Max Acoustic Upgrade Kit
Keychron Q13 Pro / Q13 Max Acoustic Upgrade Kit

Keychron Q13 Pro / Q13 Max Acoustic Upgrade Kit

Q4 Pro Aluminum Plate
Q4 Pro Aluminum Plate
Q4 Pro Aluminum Plate
Q4 Pro Aluminum Plate

Q4 Pro Aluminum Plate

K2 Pro / K2 Max Brass Plate
K2 Pro / K2 Max Brass Plate

K2 Pro / K2 Max Brass Plate

Specs

Width145 mm
Length409.4 mm
Front Height20.2 mm (without keycaps)
Back Height30.9 mm (without keycaps)
Feet Height2.4 mm
Angle5.3°
Weight2491 ± 10 g (Fully Assembled Version)
Body MaterialFull CNC machined aluminum
PlateSteel
Polling Rate1000Hz
Keycaps (Fully Assembled Version)Double-shot PBT keycaps, not shine-through, OSA Profile (OEM height, SA shape)
SwitchesGateron G Pro (Fully assembled version)
BacklightSouth-facing RGB LED
Switch SupportHot-swappable (5 pin & 3 pin)
StabsScrew-in PCB stabs
ConnectivityType-C cable
CableType-C cable + Type-A to Type-C adapter
MCUUltra-low-power ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit STM32L432 (128KB Flash)
Operating Environment-10℃ to 50℃
Keychron Q12 User Guide

Learn more about the Keychron Q12 such as the Q12 shortcuts, assembling the Q12, factory reset, and more in the FAQ section.

Customer Reviews

Based on 8 reviews
75%
(6)
13%
(1)
13%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
g
gage whiteduck
south paw keychron

Everything I wanted in a keyboard and more. This keyboard is heavy enough to be used as an weapon in a pinch. Bought this for war thunder for more buttons to make guiding in bullpup missiles in. Works well.

B
Ben Parkin
Weird and Wonderful

Everyone probably knows about Keychron's build quality and all about the switches and blah blah blah.

This layout is so wonderfully weird though. I really enjoy having the number pad way off on the left to give me more mouse room, while still having the main part of the keybaord centred on me. Learning to use it left-handed is definitely taking some getting used to.

I do have 2 minor quibbles/opinions: I feel like the -, +, ENTER column should similarly be on the left-most side of the keyboard. I'll probably get used to it eventually as I learn though.

Secondly, the default positioning of the lighting effects and delete keys is backwards, imo. Delete should be in the top-right position making a nice column with HOME, PGUP, PGDN (and where it's easy to get to without looking) and the lighting should be in slightly. Thankfully this is SUPER MINOR as it's easy to change them around in firmware and swap the keycaps.

J
Jimmy
Great!

First Keychron and custom I ever bought and I really enjoy it. 96% compact is really nice. Even stock this board feels and sounds great. Whats a game changer is the left sided numpad. Its definitely more ergonomic, even for right handed folks, and is my favorite feature about this board.

Took the barebones option so I can't speak about the switches or keycaps. But other than that it really is great.

G
Gabriel P.
Worth every penny, except for the switches maybe.

I have looked for a long time for keyboards with the numpad on the left. It makes so much sense when using the mouse with the right hand.
I do mainly coding with the keyboard.
I compared with the Moutain Everest Max, and it just can't be compared.. Keychron is S tier, while the Everest is B tier IMO.

I bought aftermarket switches : Boba U4 . I don't like noisy switches.
I also bought aftermarket keycaps, cherry profile. I much prefer cherry profile than the keychron profile.

I didn't have to mod the keyboard, they have already made a tape mod, and there is also gaskets between both the metal halves of the housing.

I love the feel, and love the sound now that I've put Boba U4 switches. (Silent!!)

The only other complaint I would have, is no 'end' key. What I've done is use my aftermarket keycaps: I put the end key in place of the default home location, and the home key instead of the right CTRL. This is soo good for coding. You hit the arrows to navigate, and 'home' is left of the index, and 'end' is just over the ring finger.

This thing is a tank and will last a lifetime.
Would 100% recommend.

Oh and shipping was fast for me! I'm in Quebec, Canada and it took a week. Info to carrier Jan 24, in my mailbox Jan 31.

T
Tyrel Klassen
It feels good.

This is my first keyboard in this category (I have previously owned Corsair and Razor mech keyboards) and it is a colossal step up. I'm pretty sure I am a snob now. The left numpad takes some getting used to but on my small desk it frees up some extra mouse space which has been great for someone not willing to give up the numpad.