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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 7, 2026

Keychron C1 Pro vs C2 ProTKL vs Full Size Wired

Choose the C1 Pro for a compact TKL layout or the C2 Pro for a full-size layout with a number pad.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron C1 Pro

TKL

Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Compact TKL (80%) layout saves desk space and is easier to transport.
  • Lighter at 830g for improved portability.
  • Three-level adjustable typing angles (4.8°, 8.5°, 10.7°) for ergonomic flexibility.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • Missing ISO-FR. The other board is sold in those layouts.
  • No numpad.

Get the

Keychron C2 Pro

Full Size Wired

Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Full-size (100%) layout includes a number pad for office and data work.
  • Available in multiple ISO layouts (DE, ES, FR) for European users.
  • Offers both Keychron Super and Apex switch options for more choice.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • Missing ISO-IT. The other board is sold in those layouts.

Bottom line

If you need a compact board for travel or a clean desk, the Keychron C1 Pro is the clear choice with its TKL layout and lighter weight. If you require a number pad for accounting, data entry, or video editing, the Keychron C2 Pro full-size layout is the better option. Both deliver identical performance, so let the layout decide.

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.

Keychron C1 Pro

Keychron C2 Pro

  • Layout size

    80%

    100%

  • Knob

    Yes

    No

  • Weight

    830 g

    975 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

  • Layout standard

    ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-IT

    ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR

    ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit

  • Dimensions

    20 x 357 x 131 mm

    28 x 130 x 436 mm

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron C1 Pro
  • Keychron C2 Pro
Performance
91
90
Build quality
82
81
Productivity
98
95
Customizability
91
88
Portability
57
45

What they share

  • Connection: Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
  • Case material: ABS, Plastic
  • Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
  • Mount style: Tray Mount
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

For gaming, programming, and modding, both keyboards are effectively equal due to identical switch support, firmware, and core specs. The C1 Pro wins for travel because of its smaller size and lower weight. The C2 Pro is better for office and content creation tasks where a full-size layout with number pad improves workflow. The main differentiator across use cases is the layout, not performance or features.

For gaming

It's a tie

  • Both support an 8000 Hz polling rate for low latency.
  • Both use tray mount with plastic plate and PBT keycaps.
  • Similar performance scores in the provided data indicate comparable speed.

From real owners

What owners say

Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.

Keychron C1 Pro

4.8

10 owner reviews

Praise
“My son loves it. Upgrade from an implosion cap version. Not used to the US layout but he it learning some python. Might as well use a US Keyboard”
TheodorVerified buyer· via Keychron
Critique
“Looks great and sounds amazing but keys gets stuck/don’t work or double press too often. When I remove the key caps to clean, it still doesn’t fix the problem. Example, my 7 key doesn’t work when pressed and my G key when pressed wrotes two g’s instead of one.”
Z.D.Verified buyer· via Keychron

Keychron C2 Pro

4.9

14 owner reviews

Praise
“The overall typing experience is smooth and controlled. The beige tones match my desk perfectly, and the sound profile is satisfying without being loud.”
Matthew F.Verified buyer· via Keychron

Full specs

Keychron C1 Pro vs C2 Pro specs

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

6 of 25 specs differ

Keychron C1 Pro

Keychron C2 Pro

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Tray Mount
Tray Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

80%
100%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-IT
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
No

Display

None
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

8,000 Hz
8,000 Hz

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS, Plastic
ABS, Plastic

Plate material

Plastic
Plastic

Keycaps

PBT
PBT

Weight

830 g
975 g

Dimensions

20 x 357 x 131 mm
28 x 130 x 436 mm

Typing angle

11°
10°, 8°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2023
2023

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

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

Keychron C1 Pro

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-IT

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Keychron C2 Pro

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES

    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

Keychron C1 Pro vs C2 Pro: your questions

The main difference is layout size. The C1 Pro is a TKL (80%) keyboard with no number pad, while the C2 Pro is a full-size (100%) keyboard with a number pad. Both share the same wired connectivity, 8000 Hz polling, QMK firmware, and PBT keycaps.

Both are equally suited for gaming because they offer the same 8000 Hz polling rate, hot-swappable switches, and south-facing RGB. The choice depends on whether you prefer a compact TKL layout or a full-size layout with a number pad.

Yes, both keyboards support QMK open-source firmware and VIA software for key remapping, macros, and shortcuts. They can also be configured using the Keychron Launcher web app on Chrome, Opera, or Edge browsers.

Yes, both come with OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps that are not shine-through. These provide oil resistance and durable legends, according to Keychron. Both keyboards also feature south-facing RGB LEDs beneath the keycaps.

Yes, both keyboards include a system toggle and additional keycaps for Windows and macOS. The vendor description states they are suitable for all devices and support configuring different keymaps for Mac and Windows via the Keychron Launcher.

The C1 Pro is more portable due to its smaller dimensions (357mm length) and lighter weight (830g) compared to the C2 Pro (436mm length, 975g). The TKL layout also takes up less space in a bag.

Both offer Keychron Super switches (Red, Brown, Banana). The C2 Pro additionally offers Keychron Apex switches (Red, Brown, Banana) which feature an upgraded wall-stem structure for reduced stem wobble and are factory pre-lubed.

Yes, both are hot-swappable and compatible with most 3-pin and 5-pin MX style mechanical switches from brands like Cherry, Gateron, Kailh, and Panda, as stated in the vendor descriptions. No soldering is required.

Both keyboards have an 8000 Hz polling rate that is adjustable down to 125 Hz. This provides low latency for gaming, as highlighted in the Keychron product descriptions.

No, both the Keychron C1 Pro and C2 Pro are wired-only keyboards that connect via USB-C. They do not support Bluetooth or any other wireless connection according to the provided specs.

The C1 Pro is only available in ANSI layout. The C2 Pro is available in ANSI as well as ISO-DE, ISO-ES, and ISO-FR layouts, making it a better choice for users in European regions.

According to the specification details in the vendor pages, both the C1 Pro and C2 Pro use plate-mounted stabilizers. The extra features metadata lists screw-in stabilizers for both models, but the spec sheet states plate-mounted.

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