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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 11, 2026

Helix lab Aaru vs Keychron Q65

Get the Keychron Q65 for knob and qmk.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Helix lab Aaru

Build quality in the top 50% of 80% boards at any price.

Rules this board out

  • No numpad.
$799 at Mechkeys

Get the

Keychron Q65

Knob

Build quality in the top 5% of 65% boards under $100.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
$79 at Keychron

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

Keychron Q65

  • Layout size

    80%

    65%

  • Case material

    Aluminum, Brass

    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

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Helix lab Aaru
  • Keychron Q65
Performance
67
66
Build quality
59
89
Productivity
66
95
Customizability
75
96
Portability
60
70

What they share

  • Connection: Wired
  • Hot-swappable
See every spec side by side

Full specs

Helix lab Aaru vs Keychron Q65 specs

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

10 of 24 specs differ

Helix lab Aaru

Keychron Q65

Typing & switches

Switch options

—
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

—
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

No
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

80%
65%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

None
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

—
1,000 Hz

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum, Brass
Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum, Brass
Steel

Keycaps

—
PBT

Weight

—
2,420 g

Dimensions

—
34 x 121 x 363 mm

Typing angle

—
7°

Backlight

RGB
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

No
Yes

Extras

Released

2022
2022

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.

Helix lab Aaru2 stores
Keychron Q654 stores

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