Das Keyboard is a well-known name in the world of mechanical keyboards, known for making keyboards that act as a bridge between productivity and gaming since 2005. With their latest model, the 5QS Mark II, they empower their “Applets” with the ability to display live information with the keyboard's RGB lighting. Along with the new Cherry MX2A switches, an improvement from the previous models, this keyboard has new features, but there are some aspects that appear old and inexplicable.
When it comes to the typing experience, the Das Keyboard 5QS Mark II is unlike today's in-demand keyboards. The keyboard design is bottom-mounted, where the internal part is attached to the bottom of the case using silicone dampeners. This type of assembly is not common nowadays and does not help to enhance the typing feel or sound of the keyboard. Also included are the Silent Red switches, which have a naturally soft and somewhat slimy feel, causing a bogged down typist experience.
This keyboard does not have hot-swap sockets, which is a feature that today's serious users expect, especially in keyboards at a similar price. Despite not being hot-swappable, the keyboard is more reliable, but its lack of customizability is a major drawback. The "Q" software used to customize RGB lighting and other keyboard functions is a great concept, but has a major weakness—using RGB lights to display information is ineffective and difficult to read under normal lighting.
One of the biggest issues with the Das Keyboard 5QS Mark II is the lackluster reception of the applets it offers. Although there are applets that display information such as weather forecast, stocks, and cryptocurrency trackers, RGB light indicators are not intuitive, and difficult to understand at a glance. If your goal is to have simple information in a quick way, it is better to use another method that does not depend on your keyboard.
Overall, the Das Keyboard 5QS Mark II is a keyboard that has great features but has limited uses and lags behind modern keyboards. At its price of $220, it's better to buy another keyboard from well-known brands like Keychron or Razer with a more refined design and functionality.
