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The latest product from China-based mechanical keyboard specialist Keychron is a functional ceramic artpiece you can type on. The Q16 HE 8K is the “first-to-market full-ceramic build keyboard,” according to Keychron’s press release, pairing custom analog magnetic switches with niche kiln-fired materials to provide a “distinct tactile and auditory profile unlike metal or plastic.”
Keychron is launching the Q16 HE 8K via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign — which is pretty typical for specialist keyboard hardware — starting at $229.99 for early backers. It comes in a 65 percent layout and is available in blue or minty white color options. The estimated delivery for Kickstarter orders is currently set for November 2025.
There are already companies like Cerakey that provide ceramic keycaps, but Keychron’s Q16 HE 8K goes a step further by having both a full ceramic body and keycaps. The ceramic material is described as durable, scratch-resistant, and suitable for day-to-day reliability. It’s probably not ideal for users who need something portable, and that durability likely won’t extend to surviving being dropped, but it may appeal to careful keyboard enthusiasts looking for something a little unique.
The glazed ceramic sheen is more noticeable on the “cetacean blue” color option… Image: Keychron …compared to the “mint white” variant. Image: Keychron
The Q16 HE 8K features an 8,000Hz polling rate and adjustable actuation sensitivity up to 0.01mm for setting personalized controls. The keyboard also includes Keychron’s custom Ultra-Fast Lime switches built with Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) technology, a type of Hall effect switch that uses magnetic induction to improve accuracy and power efficiency. Keychron says this TMR tech enables faster and more precise inputs compared to traditional Hall effect switches.
The “Ultra-Fast Lime” key switches are custom, but aren’t ceramic. Image: Keychron
“Great keyboards should feel fast, sound great, and look like objects worth keeping,” said Keychron’s operations head, Paul Tan. “With Q16 HE 8K, we explored ceramic for everyday use, then matched it with magnetic sensing and 8K performance so users get both a new material experience and elite speed.”