Epomaker Luma40 vs Keychron Q9Wireless or gasket
Choose the Epomaker Luma40 for lightweight tri-mode wireless and a low-profile ortholinear layout, or the Keychron Q9 for its steel plate, gasket mount, split-spacebar option and ISO availability.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
5.0 (3)5.0 · 3 reviews
from$92at Epomaker
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
4.7 (6)4.7 · 6 reviews
from$59at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Epomaker Luma40
Build quality in the top 20% of 40% boards under $150.
- Tri-mode connectivity with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired modes, plus a 1450 mAh battery.
- Ortholinear, low-profile design with a 410 g listed weight.
- Low-profile hot-swap sockets and frosted transparent PC keycaps with north-facing RGB.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps 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.
Get the
Keychron Q9
Build quality in the top 5% of 40% boards under $150.
- Steel plate and gasket mount with a double-gasket construction described by Keychron.
- Programmable knob and a split-spacebar option on Plus versions.
- Hot-swap PCB supports 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches, with barebones versions available.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the Epomaker Luma40 if you want Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz connectivity, a lighter 410 g build and a low-profile ortholinear layout. Choose the Keychron Q9 for its steel plate, gasket mount, MX switch support, ISO option and programmable knob, features the Luma40 does not list. Check the Luma40's low-profile-only switch and keycap fit rules before buying, and note the Q9's south-facing lighting limitation if shine-through keycaps matter.
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 Luma40
Keychron Q9
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Low profile
Yes
No
Ergonomics
Ortholinear
Split Spacebar
Switch options
Clicky, Linear
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Mount style
Tray Mount
Gasket Mount, PCB Mount, Plate Mount
- Epomaker Luma40
- Keychron Q9
- Performance
- 7365
- Build quality
- 8191
- Productivity
- 8894
- Customizability
- 8596
- Portability
- 8570
- Layout size: 40%
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Case material: Aluminum
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The Luma40 is the more travel-oriented pick, with a much lower listed weight and wireless connectivity. It also edges ahead for gaming and general office use when wireless placement or its compact low-profile design matters. The Q9 suits programming and content workflows that can use its knob or split-spacebar Plus option, and offers an ISO version. For switch and build experimentation, its MX-compatible hot-swap sockets and component options make it the more flexible choice.
Pick the Epomaker Luma40
- The Luma40 supports 2.4 GHz wireless and wired use, while the Q9 is wired only.
- Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate, and the Luma40 weighs 410 g for easier repositioning.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Epomaker Luma40
3 owner reviews
“Hello there the luma 40 is one of my favorite keebs i used i can bring it anywhere with me i really love it thanks u guys”
Keychron Q9
6 owner reviews
“Love the keyboard and goes well with the switches i got. Size was bigger than expected but weight is truly high quality Could do with a force break mod though as it is a little pingy”
Epomaker Luma40 vs Keychron Q9 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 27 specs differ
Epomaker Luma40
Keychron Q9
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
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
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.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Epomaker Luma40
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron Q9
- Go to Input Gear
Input Gear
ISO
In stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Epomaker Luma40 vs Keychron Q9: your questions
Yes. The Luma40 supports Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, as well as wired USB-C use. It has a listed 1450 mAh battery.
No wireless connection is listed for the Q9. Its connectivity is wired USB-C only.
The Luma40 weighs 410 g, while the Q9 is listed at 1050 g. The Luma40 is the lighter option for carrying or moving between desks.
The Luma40 is specified for Kailh low-profile switches, and its compatibility guidance says low-profile switches only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit its low-profile setup.
Keychron says the Q9 PCB supports 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches. Its hot-swap sockets are mounted on the PCB, so supported switches can be changed without soldering.
Yes. The Q9 is listed in ANSI and ISO layouts, and Keychron describes ISO versions. The Epomaker Luma40 is listed as ANSI only.
The Luma40 has a 40% ortholinear, low-profile layout. The Q9 has a normal layout, and Keychron also offers a split-spacebar design on Q9 Plus versions.
A programmable knob is listed as a Q9 feature, and Keychron describes assigning it keys or macros for tasks such as volume adjustment or selecting video clips. Check the specific version, since the product listing distinguishes knob and non-knob variants.
The Keychron Q9 has a steel plate. The Luma40 uses a polycarbonate plate.
The Luma40's compatibility guidance warns that Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing because of its north-facing LEDs. It also requires low-profile keycaps, so check keycap fit before purchasing.
Both keyboards list QMK and VIA support. The Luma40 vendor description also names remapping, macros and layers, while Keychron describes QMK remapping and VIA knob customization.
The Q9 compatibility guidance says shine-through legends stay dark with its south-facing LEDs. Keychron describes the supplied PBT keycaps as non-shine-through.
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.