Mechboards CFTKB Mysterium Kit V1 vs Keychron Q1 V1Solder or Hot-Swap
Choose the Mysterium for a hands-on soldering build, or the Q1 for hot-swappable switches, QMK support, and an aluminum gasket-mount case.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
No reviews
from$75at Mechboards
4.8 (734)4.8 · 734 reviews
from$85at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Mechboards CFTKB Mysterium Kit V1
Build quality in the bottom 15% of 75% boards under $100.
- 75% kit with support for ANSI and ISO layouts.
- Acrylic case and FR4 switch plate and bottom plate.
- Kit includes PCB, USB-C components, controller with bootloader pre-installed, screws, standoffs, and rubber feet.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
Get the
Keychron Q1 V1
Hot-swappable
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- Aluminum case with gasket-mount construction.
- Hot-swappable sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches.
- QMK and VIA support, plus a programmable knob and multi-media keys.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Choose the Mysterium if you want a DIY kit with an acrylic case and FR4 plates, and are prepared to solder its switches and USB-C connector. Choose the Q1 if you want to change switches without soldering or value its aluminum gasket mount, QMK/VIA support, and programmable knob. Check keycap compatibility if shine-through legends or sculpted profiles are important to you.
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.
Mechboards CFTKB Mysterium Kit V1
Keychron Q1 V1
Hot-swappable
No
Yes
Switch changes without soldering
Case material
Acrylic
Aluminum
Knob
No
Yes
QMK
No
Yes
The deep option when you want to remap every key
VIA
No
Yes
GUI remapping without compiling firmware
- Mechboards CFTKB Mysterium Kit V1
- Keychron Q1 V1
- Performance
- 4372
- Build quality
- 4890
- Productivity
- 4398
- Customizability
- 4699
- Portability
- 5663
- Layout size: 75%
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q1 takes most categories because it combines hot-swap sockets, remapping support, and dedicated controls. Its listed polling rate also gives gaming-focused buyers a concrete spec to compare. The Mysterium is the more fitting travel pick only if an acrylic case is preferred, though its weight is not listed, so portability cannot be established. For a build centered on soldering, the Mysterium remains the more direct DIY option.
Pick the Keychron Q1 V1
- The Q1 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate, while no polling rate is listed for the Mysterium.
- The Q1 has hot-swappable switch sockets, while the Mysterium's switches are soldered.
Mechboards CFTKB Mysterium Kit V1 vs Keychron Q1 V1 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
14 of 25 specs differ
Mechboards CFTKB Mysterium Kit V1
Keychron Q1 V1
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Mechboards CFTKB Mysterium Kit V1
Listed on the product, not split by store: ISO.
Keychron Q1 V1
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips 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.
- Check on Amazon
Amazon
Check price
Mechboards CFTKB Mysterium Kit V1 vs Keychron Q1 V1: your questions
The Keychron Q1 V1 is hot-swappable and supports 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches. The Mysterium's switches are soldered, so changing them requires soldering.
The Q1 lists hot-swap sockets, QMK, VIA, and knob support for customization. The Mysterium is a DIY kit, but its soldered switches make switch changes more involved.
The Q1's listed features include QMK and VIA support. Keychron also describes QMK and its Launcher web app as tools for remapping keys and setting macros.
Yes, but the Mysterium's switches are soldered, so swapping them means soldering. By contrast, the Q1 has hot-swappable sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches.
The Mysterium supports ANSI and ISO layouts. The Q1 lists ANSI, ISO, and JIS layout support.
The Q1 lists Mac and Windows support, and its vendor description mentions a system toggle and additional keycaps for both systems. The Mysterium description does not specify operating system support.
Yes, knob support is listed for the Q1, and the vendor describes its rotary encoder as programmable through VIA. Example uses include volume, zoom, brush size, and selecting video clips.
The Q1 compatibility rule warns that south-facing LEDs can leave shine-through legends dark. Its vendor description also identifies the included PBT keycaps as non-shine-through.
The Mysterium has an acrylic case and FR4 switch plate and bottom plate. The Q1 has an aluminum case, and its listed plate options are aluminum and steel.
The Mysterium vendor description says the kit does not come with plate foam. It lists the FR4 plates, PCB, components, controller, screws, standoffs, rubber feet, and acrylic pieces among the included parts.
The Q1 is the more evidence-backed choice for gaming because its listed polling rate is 1000 Hz. It also has hot-swappable switches, while the Mysterium's switches are soldered.
The Q1 is listed as wired only, with Type-C wired connectivity in the vendor specifications. The Mysterium vendor description also lists USB-C components, but does not describe wireless connectivity.
Not sold on either?
Still torn?
Answer a few quick questions and the keyboard finder ranks 2,000+ boards by how you will actually use yours.