Epomaker G84 HE vs Keychron Q1 HE
Choose the Epomaker G84 HE for its lower cost and superior battery life, or the Keychron Q1 HE for its premium aluminum build and extensive customization via QMK/VIA.
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4.9 (30)4.9 · 30 reviews
from$72at Epomaker
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
4.9 (21)4.9 · 21 reviews
from$160at Input Gear
Which one should you get?
Get the
Epomaker G84 HE
Battery
Build quality in the bottom 45% of 80% boards under $100.
- Massive 8000mAh battery for extended wireless use.
- Lighter weight of 1000g for easier portability.
- Includes detailed sound dampening with Poron, IXPE, and silicone layers.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron Q1 HE
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Premium 6063 aluminum and copper case construction for durability and feel.
- Full support for QMK and VIA open-source firmware for limitless customization.
- Extensive layout support including ANSI, JIS, and multiple ISO variants (UK, Nordic, DE, etc.).
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Your budget and priorities for materials define this choice. If you want the longest battery life, a lighter keyboard, and hall effect features at a more accessible price, the Epomaker G84 HE is the practical pick. If you are willing to invest more for a tank-like aluminum build, unparalleled customization through QMK/VIA, and extensive layout options, the Keychron Q1 HE is the superior long-term platform. For competitive gaming, both are functionally equivalent.
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.
Epomaker G84 HE
Keychron Q1 HE
Layout size
80%
75%
Battery
8,000 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
ABS
Aluminum
Switch options
Linear, Magnetic
Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, PCB Mount
- Epomaker G84 HE
- Keychron Q1 HE
- Performance
- 98100
- Build quality
- 6092
- Productivity
- 7697
- Customizability
- 58100
- Portability
- 8581
- Hall effect (magnetic)
- Rapid trigger
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron Q1 HE is the clear choice for users who prioritize deep customization, whether through physical modding or software programming, and who value a premium metal build. The Epomaker G84 HE wins for mobile use and office environments where its light weight and exceptional battery life are major advantages. For pure gaming performance, both keyboards are evenly matched with their high-end hall effect features.
It's a tie
- Both keyboards feature hall effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation points and rapid trigger support.
- Both support 8000 Hz polling rate for low latency input.
- Both offer SOCD (Snap Key) cleaning and DKS (Dynamic Keystroke) functionality for precise control.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Epomaker G84 HE
30 owner reviews
“Lovely keyboard apart from the software and the lightbar on the logo having no inapp customisation Otherwise perfect It could also have more colour options”
Keychron Q1 HE
21 owner reviews
“Love this keyboard. Wooting was my first choice but they don’t have wireless and with this version having TMR sensors and Wireless capability it’s my new Keyboard for work.”
“I love this thing. I wish there were these changes: Cable mode was switch in position closest to the outer edge of keyboard. Extra usb-c which is another port, I'd like to plug my 2fa device in there. Sort out why the programmer doesn't work under arch linux…”
Epomaker G84 HE vs Keychron Q1 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
19 of 29 specs differ
Epomaker G84 HE
Keychron Q1 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
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.
Epomaker G84 HE
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron Q1 HE
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
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.
Epomaker G84 HE vs Keychron Q1 HE: your questions
The Epomaker G84 HE has a significantly larger 8000mAh battery, which should provide longer usage time between charges compared to the Keychron Q1 HE's 4000mAh battery. This makes the Epomaker better suited for long wireless sessions.
No. The Epomaker G84 HE uses proprietary Epomaker software for customization. Only the Keychron Q1 HE supports the open-source QMK and VIA firmware, which allows for more advanced and community-driven key remapping and macro creation.
Yes, both the Epomaker G84 HE and the Keychron Q1 HE list Mac and Windows support. The Keychron specifically mentions including keycaps for both systems and a system toggle switch.
The Epomaker G84 HE uses an ABS plastic case, while the Keychron Q1 HE is built with a 6063 aluminum and metal case. This makes the Keychron much heavier (4000g vs 1000g) and typically gives it a more premium, solid feel.
Yes, both keyboards are hot-swappable. However, they are specifically designed for magnetic hall effect switches. The Keychron Q1 HE's listing notes it is compatible only with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches sold by Keychron.
Both use gasket mount designs for a softer typing feel. The Keychron Q1 HE has a double-gasket design and allows you to remove an internal acoustic pad for more flex. The Epomaker G84 HE uses a five-layer sound dampening system including Poron and silicone for a creamy sound.
Yes. The Keychron Q1 HE explicitly supports ISO-UK layout among many other ISO variants (Nordic, DE, FR, etc.). The Epomaker G84 HE is listed only with an ANSI US layout.
Yes, both the Epomaker G84 HE and the Keychron Q1 HE list rapid trigger as a feature. This is a key advantage of hall effect switches, allowing keys to reset instantly based on travel distance.
The Epomaker G84 HE uses plate-mounted stabilizers. The Keychron Q1 HE uses screw-in PCB stabilizers, which are generally considered more stable and easier to tune or replace for modding enthusiasts.
The Epomaker G84 HE has north-facing RGB LEDs with shine-through keycaps. The Keychron Q1 HE has south-facing RGB LEDs with non-shine-through keycaps. South-facing LEDs avoid interference with Cherry-profile keycaps.
Both support high polling rates. The Epomaker G84 HE lists 8000 Hz in 2.4G and cable mode. The Keychron Q1 HE listing specifies a 1000 Hz polling rate in its 2.4G and wired mode, though its metadata also includes 8000 Hz.
Yes, both keyboards come with PBT keycaps. The Epomaker's are shine-through double-shot PBT, while the Keychron's are OSA profile double-shot PBT that are not shine-through.
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