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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 2, 2026

Novelkeys NK65 vs Keychron Q65 Max

Get the Keychron Q65 Max for knob and qmk.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Novelkeys NK65

Build quality in the top 35% of 65% boards under $200.

Get the

Keychron Q65 Max

Knob

Build quality in the top 10% of 65% boards under $300.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

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.

Novelkeys NK65

Keychron Q65 Max

  • Connection

    Wired

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Case material

    Polycarbonate

    Aluminum

  • Mount style

    Top Mount

    Gasket Mount

  • Knob

    No

    Yes

  • QMK

    No

    Yes

    The deep option when you want to remap every key

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Novelkeys NK65
  • Keychron Q65 Max
Performance
61
78
Build quality
72
87
Productivity
73
93
Customizability
75
95
Portability
70
89

What they share

  • Layout size: 65%
  • Hot-swappable
  • VIA
  • Sound dampening
See every spec side by side

Full specs

Novelkeys NK65 vs Keychron Q65 Max specs

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

11 of 26 specs differ

Novelkeys NK65

Keychron Q65 Max

Typing & switches

Switch options

—
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Top Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

65%
65%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

None
None

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

Polycarbonate
Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum
Steel

Keycaps

ABS
PBT

Weight

—
2,420 g

Dimensions

—
34 x 121 x 363 mm

Typing angle

8°
7°

Backlight

RGB
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

No
Yes

Extras

Released

2023
2023

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

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