Keychron C1 Pro vs Q28K vs Aluminum
Choose the C1 Pro for its 8000 Hz polling and TKL layout, or the Q2 for an aluminum case and compact 65% form factor.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
4.8 (10)4.8 · 10 reviews
from$50at MK
4.8 (241)4.8 · 241 reviews
from$59at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron C1 Pro
8K
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $100.
- 8000 Hz polling rate, with the vendor describing adjustment from 125 Hz to 8000 Hz.
- 80% TKL layout retains a function row.
- Hot-swappable sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron Q2
Aluminum
Build quality in the top 5% of 65% boards under $100.
- CNC-machined aluminum case and steel plate with a gasket mount.
- 65% layout is smaller than the C1 Pro's 80% layout.
- Programmable knob can be assigned to keys or macros.
- 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.
- 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
Pick the C1 Pro if you want a TKL layout and prioritize its 8000 Hz polling rate, or if you need a listed ISO-IT layout. Choose the Q2 if its aluminum case, gasket mount, compact 65% layout, and programmable knob better match your desk or customization plans. Both are wired and hot-swappable, so layout and construction are the clearest deciding factors.
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 Q2
Layout size
80%
65%
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
ABS, Plastic
Aluminum
Mount style
Tray Mount
Gasket Mount, PCB Mount
Weight
830 g
1,645 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron C1 Pro
- Keychron Q2
- Performance
- 9166
- Build quality
- 8390
- Productivity
- 9895
- Customizability
- 9198
- Portability
- 5770
- Connection: Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The C1 Pro gets the edge for gaming and work that benefits from a function row, with its stated 8000 Hz polling and larger TKL layout. The Q2 is the more compact option by layout, but its substantial weight makes it less convenient to carry. For customization, the Q2 stands out through its aluminum-and-steel construction and assembly-focused design, while both models support hot-swapping and QMK. Its programmable knob also gives the Q2 a practical advantage for creative workflows.
Pick the Keychron C1 Pro
- The C1 Pro lists 8000 Hz polling, compared with the Q2's 1000 Hz.
- Its 80% layout retains a function row, while the Q2's 65% layout omits it.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron C1 Pro
10 owner reviews
“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”
“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.”
Keychron Q2
241 owner reviews
“The Q2 is waaaaay underrated. Tempest mod, lubed durock v2 stabs, tecsee PME or HPE housing long pole tactile switches and you have yourself a killer board.”
Keychron C1 Pro vs Q2 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
13 of 26 specs differ
Keychron C1 Pro
Keychron Q2
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
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 Q2
Input Gear
ISO-FR
In stockShips to you
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
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.
Keychron C1 Pro vs Q2: your questions
The C1 Pro lists an 8000 Hz polling rate, while the Q2 lists 1000 Hz. Both are wired and hot-swappable, so the C1 Pro is the clearer pick if polling rate is your priority.
The C1 Pro uses an 80% TKL layout, while the Q2 uses a 65% layout. The Q2 has neither a function row nor a numpad, whereas the C1 Pro has no numpad.
No, the Q2 is a 65% keyboard and its compatibility notes specify that it has no function row. The C1 Pro's 80% TKL layout retains one.
The Q2 has the smaller 65% layout, but it weighs 1645 g, compared with 830 g for the C1 Pro. Both are wired-only, so the Q2's smaller layout does not make it lighter.
Yes, both are hot-swappable and support 3-pin and 5-pin switches. The Q2 description specifies PCB-mounted hot-swap sockets.
The Q2 combines a CNC-machined aluminum case, steel plate, gasket mount, and hot-swappable PCB sockets. The C1 Pro is also hot-swappable, but uses a plastic case and tray mount.
Yes, the Q2 includes a programmable knob that can be assigned to keys or macros. Keychron gives examples including zoom, volume, and selecting video clips or photos.
Both models list QMK and VIA support. Keychron's product descriptions also identify its Launcher web app for key remapping and macros.
Their listed PBT keycaps are not shine-through, and both keyboards use south-facing RGB LEDs. The compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends stay dark with these LEDs.
The C1 Pro's listed layouts include ANSI, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, and ISO-IT, but not ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, or ISO-FR. The Q2 lists ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, and ISO-FR, but not ISO-IT.
No, both are listed as wired-only keyboards with USB-C connectivity. Neither product's listed connectivity includes a wireless option.
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.