Akko ACR PRO68 vs Keychron Q1 MaxDIY Kit vs Wireless Flagship
Choose the Akko ACR Pro for a low-cost, wired DIY project, or the Keychron Q1 Max for a premium, feature-complete wireless experience.
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from$115at WhatGeek
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from$209at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Akko ACR PRO68
DIY Kit
Build quality in the top 40% of 65% boards under $150.
- Extremely affordable starting point for a custom mechanical keyboard.
- Comes as a DIY kit including both an aluminum and polycarbonate plate.
- Features a unique acrylic case construction with CNC machining.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
Get the
Keychron Q1 Max
Wireless Flagship
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Offers tri-mode connectivity: 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.1, and wired USB-C.
- High-performance 1000 Hz polling rate on 2.4 GHz and wired modes.
- Extensive programmability via open-source QMK and VIA firmware.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Your budget and need for wireless connectivity are the primary deciding factors. The Akko ACR Pro is an outstanding value for anyone wanting to build a custom, wired keyboard on a tight budget. The Keychron Q1 Max justifies its higher cost with a premium metal build, versatile wireless connectivity, high-performance specs, and best-in-class firmware support, making it a complete package for demanding users.
The differences that matter
Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.
Akko ACR PRO68
Keychron Q1 Max
Layout size
65%
75%
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
Acrylic
Aluminum
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Knob
No
Yes
- Akko ACR PRO68
- Keychron Q1 Max
- Performance
- 4582
- Build quality
- 6989
- Productivity
- 6797
- Customizability
- 5198
- Portability
- 7181
- Hot-swappable
- Sound dampening
- Keycaps: PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron Q1 Max is the more versatile choice, winning in gaming, office, programming, and content creation due to its wireless features, high polling rate, and extensive programmability. The Akko ACR Pro wins for travel solely based on its lower weight and more compact size. For modding, both are excellent platforms with the ACR Pro offering a blank-slate kit and the Q1 Max providing top-tier firmware support and acoustic tuning out of the box.
Pick the Keychron Q1 Max
- The Keychron Q1 Max offers a 1000 Hz polling rate in its 2.4 GHz and wired modes for lower latency.
- Its tri-mode wireless connectivity provides cable-free flexibility.
- The listing mentions N-key rollover is supported in both wireless and wired modes.
Akko ACR PRO68 vs Keychron Q1 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 27 specs differ
Akko ACR PRO68
Keychron Q1 Max
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Akko ACR PRO68
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron Q1 Max
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-CH
In stockDoes not ship to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Akko ACR PRO68 vs Keychron Q1 Max: your questions
No, the Akko ACR Pro is sold as a DIY barebones kit. This means it does not include switches or keycaps. You must purchase these components separately to assemble a working keyboard.
The Keychron Q1 Max features tri-mode connectivity. It supports a 2.4 GHz wireless connection with a 1000 Hz polling rate, Bluetooth 5.1 for connecting to three devices, and a wired USB-C connection.
Yes, both the Akko ACR Pro and the Keychron Q1 Max have hot-swappable PCBs. This allows you to install and remove compatible 3-pin or 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches without any soldering required.
The Keychron Q1 Max is superior for programming due to its support for QMK and VIA firmware. These open-source platforms allow for deep, system-level key remapping, layer creation, and complex macro programming directly from a web configurator.
No, according to the provided specifications and vendor description, the Akko ACR Pro DIY kit does not include any form of RGB backlighting.
Keychron's specifications state the Q1 Max has a 4000mAh battery. The manufacturer claims up to 180 hours of wireless use with backlighting off, and up to 100 hours with RGB lighting at its lowest brightness.
The Akko ACR Pro uses a silicone switch pad, Poron foam between the PCB and plate, and EVA foam in the case. The Keychron Q1 Max uses a combination of multiple premium acoustic foams, including IXPE, PET film, and a Latex bottom pad, in addition to its double-gasket design.
Yes. The Keychron Q1 Max comes with double-shot PBT keycaps, with options for KSA profile or OSA side-printed shine-through caps. The Akko ACR Pro, being a barebones kit, does not include any keycaps.
The Akko ACR Pro is more portable. It is lighter (1470g vs. 1724g) and has a more compact 68-key layout compared to the Keychron Q1 Max's 75% layout. Its wired-only nature also means one less cable to pack for charging.
Yes. The Keychron Q1 Max is designed for Mac and Windows compatibility. It includes a system toggle switch and an extra set of keycaps with Mac-specific legends, allowing you to save separate layouts for each operating system.
The Akko ACR Pro DIY kit includes two plates. It comes with a primary aluminum plate and includes an extra spare polycarbonate (PC) plate, giving you two different typing feels to choose from during assembly.
The Keychron Q1 Max offers a 1000 Hz polling rate when used in its 2.4 GHz wireless mode or in wired USB-C mode. This is a standard high-performance rate for gaming. In Bluetooth mode, the polling rate is 90 Hz.
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