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Head to head · Prices checked Oct 28, 2026

Helix lab Aaru Divine Egyptian Hieroglyphic Relievo vs Keychron Q1 Max

Choose the Q1 Max for wireless connectivity and built-in configuration features, or the Aaru if its hieroglyphic design is the priority.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Helix lab Aaru Divine Egyptian Hieroglyphic Relievo

Build quality in the bottom 15% of 80% boards at any price.

If you want

  • Aluminum case and aluminum plate.
  • 80% ANSI layout with wired USB-C connectivity.
  • Hot-swappable DIY kit format.

Rules this board out

  • No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
  • No numpad.

Get the

Keychron Q1 Max

Knob

Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.

If you want

  • Wireless choices include Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections.
  • Aluminum case with a polycarbonate plate and gasket mount.
  • Hot-swappable switches, with linear, tactile, and clicky options listed.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • No numpad.

Bottom line

Choose the Keychron Q1 Max if you want wireless use, a knob, and QMK or VIA customization, along with hot-swappable switches. Choose the Aaru for its Egyptian hieroglyphic design and aluminum plate, but account for its wired-only connection and the fact that the kit is sold without switches or keycaps.

What actually differs

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.

Helix lab Aaru Divine Egyptian Hieroglyphic Relievo

Keychron Q1 Max

  • Layout size

    80%

    75%

  • Connection

    Wired

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Knob

    No

    Yes

  • QMK

    No

    Yes

    The deep option when you want to remap every key

  • VIA

    No

    Yes

    GUI remapping without compiling firmware

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Helix lab Aaru Divine Egyptian Hieroglyphic Relievo
  • Keychron Q1 Max
Performance
67
82
Build quality
45
89
Productivity
67
97
Customizability
76
98
Portability
59
81

What they share

  • Hot-swappable
  • Case material: Aluminum
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Q1 Max takes the lead across these use cases, primarily because it combines wireless options with more listed controls and configuration features. Its 1000 Hz polling rate for wired and 2.4 GHz use is a concrete advantage for gaming-focused buyers. Both boards are hot-swappable DIY kits, so the Aaru remains an option for buyers drawn to its Egyptian hieroglyphic design. Neither has a numpad.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron Q1 Max

  • Q1 Max lists a 1000 Hz polling rate for wired and 2.4 GHz connections.
  • It supports wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4 GHz connectivity, while the Aaru is wired only.

Full specs

Helix lab Aaru Divine Egyptian Hieroglyphic Relievo vs Keychron Q1 Max specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

14 of 27 specs differ

Helix lab Aaru Divine Egyptian Hieroglyphic Relievo

Keychron Q1 Max

Typing & switches

Switch options

—
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

—
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount

Sound dampening

No
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

80%
75%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI, ISO, ISO-CH, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

No
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

—
1,000 Hz

Battery

Wired only
4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum
Polycarbonate

Keycaps

—
PBT

Weight

—
1,724 g

Dimensions

—
23 x 145 x 328 mm

Typing angle

—
5°

Backlight

RGB
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

No
Yes

N-key rollover

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

No
Yes

Extras

Released

2022
2023

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

Helix lab Aaru Divine Egyptian Hieroglyphic Relievo

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

Where to buy

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.

FAQ

Helix lab Aaru Divine Egyptian Hieroglyphic Relievo vs Keychron Q1 Max: your questions

No. Its listing specifies wired-only connectivity, while the Keychron Q1 Max supports wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4 GHz connections.

The Mechkeys listing describes the Aaru as a kit without switches or keycaps. Keychron says its Q1 Max barebone version also excludes those parts, while the fully assembled version includes them.

The Q1 Max lists a 1000 Hz polling rate for wired and 2.4 GHz connections. The Aaru is wired only, and its listing does not give a polling rate.

Yes, Bluetooth is one of the Q1 Max’s listed connection options, alongside 2.4 GHz and wired modes. The Aaru listing specifies wired-only use.

The Aaru listing identifies it as a hot-swappable DIY kit but does not list QMK or VIA support. The Q1 Max explicitly lists QMK and VIA support.

Both are hot-swappable DIY kits. The Q1 Max additionally lists QMK and VIA support, a knob, and vendor-described key remapping and macros through Keychron Launcher.

No, the Q1 Max is a 75% layout and its compatibility rules specify that it has no numpad. The Aaru is an 80% layout and also has no numpad.

No. Its compatibility rules say ISO layouts, including ISO-DE and UK variants, are not offered; the listed layout is ANSI.

The Q1 Max has south-facing RGB LEDs, and its compatibility rules warn that shine-through legends stay dark. Some sculpted keycaps may also clip the LEDs.

The Aaru has an aluminum case and an aluminum plate. The vendor description further specifies a 1.5 mm gold-color aluminum plate.

The Q1 Max uses a polycarbonate plate and PBT keycaps. Keychron describes its listed keycaps as double-shot PBT, with KSA and OSA options.

The Q1 Max has a 4000 mAh rechargeable battery and supports wireless connections. The Aaru is listed as wired only and has no battery listed.

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