I Was Wrong About Low Profile Keyboards: IQUNIX MQ80 Review

IQUNIX MQ80: First Impressions and Features

• 💡 The IQUNIX MQ80 is a low-profile keyboard that challenges initial skepticism about smaller, flatter designs, offering a premium feel at a competitive price.
• 📦 It comes with a nice carrying case, though its bulkiness might be less practical for users who prefer slipping their keyboard into a laptop sleeve.
• 🛠️ Included accessories like a brush, keycap puller, switch puller, and a 2.4 GHz dongle add significant value, setting it apart from competitors like the Low Free Flow.
• 💻 The keyboard includes Windows modifier keys, catering to Mac users by default, with a sleek black version also available.

Layout, Ergonomics, and Build Quality

• 🎯 The 75% layout is a key feature, retaining the F-row and arrow keys, which is an improvement over previous IQUNIX models like the Magic 65.
• ⌨️ Low-profile keyboards are beneficial for users who find standard keyboard angles too high or are accustomed to laptop typing, offering greater comfort and reducing the need for wrist rests.
• 💪 The build quality is impeccable, featuring an aluminum case with a solid, non-rattly construction, and a gasket mount system (termed 'leg gasket') that provides a slight bounce and reverberation reduction.

Performance and Customization

• 📶 The inclusion of 2.4 GHz wireless is a significant advantage over Bluetooth-only options for wireless performance.
• 🌈 The RGB lighting is disappointingly dim, especially in daylight, though the side glow offers a subtle accent.
• 🔋 It boasts a claimed 350-hour battery life, though this was not tested for the full duration.
• ⚙️ The Kale Palm Gold Red linear switches are noted as exceptionally smooth and high-quality, though the naming is confusing.
• ⚠️ A significant drawback is the rattly spacebar stabilizers, which required considerable fine-tuning with dielectric grease on both units tested.

Comparison and Conclusion

• ⚖️ The MQ80 is compared to the Low Free Flow, with the MQ80 offering 2.4 GHz wireless while the Low Free Flow has slightly better tactile switches.
• 💰 For those not needing a 75% layout, the IQUNIX Magic 65 is a cheaper alternative and arguably comparable in quality.
• 👍 Overall, the MQ80 is a very competitive offering in the low-profile keyboard market, especially for users who prioritize its layout and wireless features and are less concerned with extensive keycap customization.