Keychron K1 Max vs K1 Pro2.4GHz Wireless or Lower Cost?
Choose the K1 Max for its dedicated 2.4GHz wireless connection and larger battery, or the K1 Pro if you only need Bluetooth and want a lower cost.
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3.3 (16)3.3 · 16 reviews
from$89at Keychron
Down 42% this monthDown 42% this month
5.0 (5)5.0 · 5 reviews
from$67at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K1 Max
Battery
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $100.
- Includes a 2.4GHz wireless connection alongside Bluetooth 5.1 and wired USB-C.
- Larger 4000mAh battery capacity for extended wireless use.
- Features interior IXPE and latex acoustic foam for a quieter typing sound.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- Missing ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Get the
Keychron K1 Pro
Build quality in the top 15% of 80% boards under $100.
- Often available at a more affordable price point.
- Slightly lighter (580g) and lower profile (8mm height) for better portability.
- Supports an even wider array of layout standards including JIS, ISO-FR, and ISO-ES.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
Your primary need for a wireless connection dictates the choice. If you require the most reliable, low-latency wireless for gaming or work, the Keychron K1 Max is the clear pick with its 2.4GHz dongle and superior battery. If you primarily use Bluetooth or a wired connection and value a slimmer, more cost-effective keyboard, the Keychron K1 Pro delivers almost all the same core features for less.
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 K1 Max
Keychron K1 Pro
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Battery
4,000 mAh
2,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Mount style
PCB Mount, Plate Mount
Tray Mount
Weight
608 g
580 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Sound dampening
Yes
No
- Keychron K1 Max
- Keychron K1 Pro
- Performance
- 8281
- Build quality
- 8280
- Productivity
- 9080
- Customizability
- 8988
- Portability
- 7373
- Layout size: 80%
- Hot-swappable
- Low profile
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Case material: ABS, Aluminum, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
What will you mostly use it for?
The K1 Max is the more capable all-rounder, winning for gaming, office use, and content creation due to its versatile 2.4GHz wireless, sound-dampening foam, and large battery. The K1 Pro is a compelling choice for travel thanks to its slightly slimmer, lighter build and lower cost. For programming and core typing, both keyboards are equally matched with their excellent QMK support and low-profile design.
Pick the Keychron K1 Max
- The K1 Max offers a 1000 Hz polling rate in both its 2.4GHz and wired modes, according to its specification sheet.
- The 2.4GHz wireless connection is marketed for peak gaming performance with low latency.
- Its larger 4000mAh battery supports longer wireless gaming sessions.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K1 Max
16 owner reviews
“My first better keyboard and I am absolutely satisfied. We'll see how it works after a longer time. I just thought of one small thing, I have nowhere to hide the receiver when I leave with just the laptop and I want to leave the keyboard at home. Like you can…”
“Beware of the double-clicking issue. I have got 2 units of this. They're both having the same problem and worse.”
Keychron K1 Pro
5 owner reviews
“I realy like this keyboard. I feel is harder to make typos compared to the K3 v2. I decided to go with the K1 Pro instead of the K3 Pro and it's going to to take time to adjust to the new layout, but the feeling and shape of the keys is definitely better.”
Keychron K1 Max vs K1 Pro specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
8 of 26 specs differ
Keychron K1 Max
Keychron K1 Pro
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
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 K1 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron K1 Pro
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 K1 Max vs K1 Pro: your questions
The main difference is wireless connectivity. The K1 Max features a triple-mode connection including 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, and wired. The K1 Pro offers only Bluetooth and wired modes. The K1 Max also has a larger 4000mAh battery and includes internal sound-dampening foam.
The Keychron K1 Max has a larger 4000mAh battery, while the K1 Pro has a 2000mAh battery. According to their specifications, this gives the K1 Max the potential for significantly longer use between charges, especially with its RGB lighting active.
Both keyboards offer hot-swappable versions as an option. The vendor pages specify that only the hot-swappable versions allow you to change switches without soldering. Both are compatible with Gateron and Keychron low-profile mechanical switches.
Yes, both support a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired mode for responsive gaming. The K1 Max has an additional advantage for wireless gaming, as its 2.4GHz mode also operates at 1000 Hz, whereas the K1 Pro's Bluetooth mode runs at a lower 90 Hz polling rate.
Yes, both the Keychron K1 Max and K1 Pro are fully compatible with macOS and Windows. They include keycap sets for both operating systems and the Keychron Launcher configuration software works on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
The Keychron K1 Max is likely quieter. Its vendor description explicitly mentions it contains IXPE acoustic foam and latex foam to dampen sound and provide a quieter typing experience. The K1 Pro's description does not mention any internal foam.
Yes, based on the listed dimensions, the K1 Pro has a height of 8mm while the K1 Max is 24mm tall. This makes the K1 Pro the slimmer of the two keyboards, which may be preferable for portability or a lower typing angle.
Absolutely. Both the K1 Max and K1 Pro support the open-source QMK firmware and the VIA/Keychron Launcher web app. This allows for deep customization, including remapping any key, creating macros, and adjusting lighting effects without installing dedicated software.
Both keyboards come with low-profile, double-shot PBT keycaps according to their vendor descriptions. PBT plastic is known for its durability and resistance to oil and shine compared to ABS plastic.
The Keychron K1 Pro is slightly better suited for travel. It is lighter (580g vs 608g) and thinner (8mm vs 24mm). Since travel often involves using a laptop with built-in Bluetooth, the K1 Pro's lack of a 2.4GHz dongle is less of a drawback, and its lower cost is beneficial.
Yes, both keyboards are available with RGB backlighting or white backlighting versions. The vendor pages state the RGB versions offer over 22 different lighting effects that can be customized via the Keychron Launcher app.
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