Keychron K1 Max vs Q14 ProLow Profile or Alice?
Choose the K1 Max for a lighter, low-profile TKL keyboard with 2.4 GHz, or the Q14 Pro for a heavier aluminum Alice layout with a left-side numpad and wider switch support.
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4.6 (10)4.6 · 10 reviews
from$89at Keychron
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4.3 (6)4.3 · 6 reviews
from$167at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K1 Max
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $100.
- 80% low-profile layout with a listed weight of 608 g.
- Connectivity includes 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired modes.
- Hot-swap support, QMK, and VIA are listed features.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron Q14 Pro
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $200.
- 96% Alice layout pairs a left-side numpad with a knob.
- Full CNC-machined aluminum case, gasket mount, and PC plate are specified.
- Hot-swap support covers most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches, according to Keychron.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Pick the K1 Max if you want a lighter low-profile TKL and value 2.4 GHz connectivity. Choose the Q14 Pro if its left-side numpad, Alice layout, aluminum construction, and broad MX switch compatibility matter more than weight. Check the K1 Max's battery listing with the seller, since the metadata and vendor description give different capacities.
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 Q14 Pro
Layout size
80%
96%
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Low profile
Yes
No
Ergonomics
Standard
Southpaw, Alice
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic
Aluminum
- Keychron K1 Max
- Keychron Q14 Pro
- Performance
- 8281
- Build quality
- 8189
- Productivity
- 90100
- Customizability
- 8998
- Portability
- 7355
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The K1 Max has the clearer edge for travel and for wireless gaming setups that need 2.4 GHz. The Q14 Pro suits desk work that benefits from an Alice layout, numpad, knob, or a heavier aluminum build. Programming is a close call because both provide QMK, VIA, and hot-swapping, though their layouts differ substantially. For switch and component customization, the Q14 Pro supports a broader range of MX-style switches, while the K1 Max's low-profile switch compatibility is narrower.
Pick the Keychron K1 Max
- The K1 Max supports 2.4 GHz wireless and wired connections, both listed at 1000 Hz polling.
- Its 80% layout and 608 g weight make it a more compact, lighter option than the Q14 Pro.
- The Q14 Pro's listed 1000 Hz rate applies to wired mode, while its vendor description gives 90 Hz for wireless.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K1 Max
10 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…”
Keychron Q14 Pro
6 owner reviews
“This is my second Alice layout keyboard and is my daily driver. The ergonomics are great, and the build is solid. The south paw layout is exactly what I've been looking for in a keyboard. There are lots of customization options but the prebuilt straight out…”
Keychron K1 Max vs Q14 Pro specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
16 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K1 Max
Keychron Q14 Pro
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
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 Q14 Pro
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Keychron K1 Max vs Q14 Pro: your questions
The K1 Max is the more relevant fit if you want 2.4 GHz wireless, which it lists alongside a 1000 Hz polling rate. The Q14 Pro's vendor description lists 90 Hz wireless polling and 1000 Hz in wired mode.
The Q14 Pro is listed with Bluetooth and wired connectivity, not 2.4 GHz. Its vendor description says Bluetooth can connect to up to three devices.
The K1 Max weighs 608 g, while the Q14 Pro's fully assembled version weighs about 2395 g. The K1 Max is the more practical choice if lower keyboard weight matters.
The K1 Max is an 80% TKL layout. The Q14 Pro is a 96% Alice-style southpaw layout with a numpad on the left and a knob.
Both models list hot-swappable switches, but the K1 Max's vendor description limits compatibility to Gateron and Keychron low-profile mechanical switches on its hot-swappable version. Keychron says the Q14 Pro supports most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.
Both list QMK and VIA support. Their vendor descriptions also identify the Keychron Launcher web app for key remapping and macros.
The K1 Max is lighter at 608 g and measures 24 x 346 x 119 mm. The Q14 Pro weighs 2395 g and has a listed footprint of 34 x 157 x 445 mm, making it a heavier desk-focused option.
Keychron lists up to 300 hours of Bluetooth use with the backlight off and up to 100 hours with RGB at its lowest brightness. Actual battery life may vary with use.
The product metadata lists a 4000 mAh battery, but Keychron's vendor product description lists 2000 mAh and up to 95 hours. Confirm the capacity for the exact version with the seller before buying.
Keychron describes the K1 Max's double-shot PBT keycaps as non-shine-through. The fully assembled Q14 Pro's KSA double-shot PBT keycaps are also described as not shine-through.
The Q14 Pro supports most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches, including Cherry, Gateron, and Kailh, according to Keychron. The K1 Max hot-swappable version is specified for Gateron and Keychron low-profile mechanical switches.
The Q14 Pro puts its numpad on the left, and Keychron says the arrangement can leave more room for a mouse on the right. Buyers used to a conventional right-side numpad may need time to adjust.
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