Das Keyboard 5QS Smart RGB Programmable Mechanical Keyboard for Work & Gaming, Soft Tactile Mechanical Switches, Built-in RGB Profiles, Palm Rest, Volume Knob, Aluminum Top (104 Keys, Black)

I have two older Das Keyboards. One I bought twelve or thirteen years ago for my Mac, and an older Das Keyboard Ultimate. They both have Cherry Blue switches but neither of them are RGB. For the past five years or so I've been using a Ducky Shine 5, also with Cherry blue switches. Until recently I was happy, but the F7 key started to get wonky and as a software developer I use the F-keys for debugging, and the F7 key getting stuck just at the break point and hammering my debugger with F7s was crazy annoying. I still like my older Das Keyboards, but have become quite accustomed to the per-key RGB lighting, so I began to look for a replacement keyboard. At first I settled on the Razer Huntsman Elite, which is a fine keyboard, but the RGB app doesn't support Linux. The Ducky didn't have that issue because the lighting profiles are built into the device and not dependent on an app. I finally got some good RGB lighting on the Razer, but it took third party apps to do it. Then I found the Das Keyboard 5QS. I am very happy that is supports Linux out of the box, the thing that made me hesitate was the fact that it didn't come with Cherry blue keyswitches. I decided to try it out anyway. I'm typing this review on it and am not really impressed. I am so used to Cherry blues, and they are kind of the industry standard for mechanical keyswitches. It seem strange to me that Das would make a set of their own keyswitches that were the only switches available on their flagship keyboard, and that they'd be mushy. Another thing I don't really like is the pop up feet on the bottom of the keyboard that hold it at the right angle. My Das Keyboard ultimate has a magnetic foot that goes across the entire width of the keyboard to hold it at the right angle and it doesn't fold down. I'm constantly pushing my keyboard around my desk as I work and The Das Keyboard Ultimate and my Ducky Shine 5 had good non-collapsing feet, but the ones on this new 5QS are always collapsing which is very frustrating. If I keep it I'll have to 3D print something, or super-glue these feet in the extended position. I shouldn't have to do that on a $200 keyboard. So while typing this review I have about decided to return it. It's too much money to pay for a keyboard that annoys you. Squishy keys in conjunction with the cheap, flip-out, collapsing feet make this a $120 keyboard. C'mon Das. You can do better than this and you always have in the past. As a positive. If you were using this in an office/cubicle situation then the squishy keys may be what you want. They are quiet.

This keyboard brings back the feel of real switches, which I've missed for a couple of decades. Modern membrane keyboards are cheap garbage; this is the real thing. The only drawback is that there are no instructions for the software, and the app is crap. It's great out of the box, but worthless if you want any usability beyond its bare functionality. The documentation is trash. To me, it's still worth the huge cost, just because I miss the reliability and feel of a real keyboard.

First of all, its switch has a great tactile feel. The build quality is good. The edge of that aluminum plate is a little bit sharp but not a big deal. The main issue is that large buttons especially caps lock is super scratchy if you don't press it straight down from the center. I actually bought several romer G switches and lube them to see if it's possible to fix by lubing. The answer is no. It's kind of a design mistake. You will get a similarly scratchy one if you didn't apply much lube, or you will get a linear switch if you apply a lot. So it means you won't be able to fix it. It's still a good keyboard if you don't mind that problem. That switch actually has the best tactile feeling in all switches I've ever used.

The keyboard is good quality, but when logged into DAS app to save settings keyboard will intermittently stop working, freeze until you unplug and re-plug the keyboard.

This is a well built keyboard with a nice feel but has a problem I can’t live with: the navigation keys (Up, Dn, Left, Right, Home, End, PgUp, PgDn) on the numeric keypad don’t work on my iMac … integration of these keys on a single keypad was why I was willing to pay the steep price on the 5QS. I’ve been through a few tech support sessions with DAS and so far they haven’t come up with any solutions … if they don’t, regrettably, I’ll have to return it.