Keychron K1 Max vs V1 MaxLow-Profile vs Gasket Mount
Choose the K1 Max for a slim, low-profile typing experience, or the V1 Max for a deeper, customizable gasket-mounted feel.
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4.6 (10)4.6 · 10 reviews
from$89at Keychron
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
4.9 (14)4.9 · 14 reviews
from$94at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K1 Max
Low-Profile
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $100.
- Ultra-slim low-profile design with an aluminum frame construction.
- Lighter weight (608g) for easier portability and desk adjustment.
- Includes redesigned stabilizers and IXPE acoustic foam for improved 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-IT. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron V1 Max
Gasket Mount
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- Gasket mount design with a polycarbonate plate for a softer, more acoustically tuned typing feel.
- Hot-swap PCB supports a wide range of standard 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
- Includes premium screw-in PCB stabilizers and is available as a barebones kit.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Your priority should guide your choice. If you want the thinnest possible mechanical keyboard with a unique low-profile key feel, the Keychron K1 Max is the clear option. If you prefer a more traditional, customizable mechanical keyboard with a superior gasket-mounted typing experience, broader modding support, and a knob, the Keychron V1 Max is the better investment. Both are excellent wireless boards with strong software support.
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 V1 Max
Layout size
80%
75%
Low profile
Yes
No
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic
ABS, Plastic
Mount style
PCB Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Knob
No
Yes
- Keychron K1 Max
- Keychron V1 Max
- Performance
- 8283
- Build quality
- 8186
- Productivity
- 9097
- Customizability
- 8998
- Portability
- 7378
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The V1 Max is the more versatile choice for users who value deep customization, a premium typing feel, and a compact layout with a knob. It wins for programming, modding, and content creation. The K1 Max excels in portability and offers a distinct low-profile typing experience that may be preferable for office use and travel. For gaming, the core performance specs are identical, making it a tie based on personal preference for key feel.
It's a tie
- Both have a 1000 Hz polling rate in 2.4 GHz and wired modes for low latency.
- Both support N-key rollover for simultaneous key presses.
- The K1 Max's lower profile may suit some desk setups, while the V1 Max's gasket mount can offer a softer bottom-out feel.
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 V1 Max
14 owner reviews
“Feels great, haven't got a new KB since my Novatouch. Great high end features and feel, DSA caps on it feel good.”
Keychron K1 Max vs V1 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
13 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K1 Max
Keychron V1 Max
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 V1 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-SW, ISO-PT
In 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 V1 Max: your questions
The K1 Max is an ultra-slim, low-profile keyboard with an aluminum frame. The V1 Max is a standard-profile keyboard with a gasket mount design and a plastic case. This results in a significant difference in typing height and key feel.
No. According to Keychron, the K1 Max hot-swappable version is only compatible with Gateron and Keychron brand low-profile mechanical switches. It does not support standard MX-style switches or optical switches.
The V1 Max's hot-swappable PCB supports most 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches, including popular brands like Gateron, Cherry MX, and Kailh. This gives you a much wider selection for customization.
Both keyboards are well-suited for Mac users. Each includes dedicated Mac keycaps, a system toggle switch, and allows you to save separate keymaps for macOS and Windows using the Keychron Launcher software.
Yes, both the K1 Max and V1 Max connect via a removable USB Type-C cable for wired use and charging. The V1 Max listing also notes it includes a Type-A to Type-C adapter.
Both keyboards feature a 4000mAh rechargeable battery. Keychron's specifications for the V1 Max state up to 190 hours with backlighting off, and around 100 hours with RGB on at its lowest brightness. Comparable performance can be expected from the K1 Max.
Gasket mount refers to a design where the plate holding the switches is suspended on rubber or silicone gaskets within the case. This reduces harsh vibrations and creates a softer, more consistent typing sound compared to traditional tray or plate mounts.
Yes. Both the K1 Max and V1 Max support QMK and VIA firmware. This allows for extensive key remapping and macro programming directly through the VIA web app or QMK Configurator, with no dedicated software download required.
The V1 Max has south-facing RGB LEDs, which are better for illuminating the board with non-shine-through keycaps and prevent interference with Cherry-profile keycaps. The K1 Max has north-facing and south-facing RGB options, but its low-profile keycaps are not shine-through, which some users note limits the lighting effect.
Yes. The K1 Max uses low-profile LSA (Low Profile Spherical-Angled) profile keycaps. The V1 Max uses OSA (OEM Spherical-Angled) profile keycaps, which are standard height with an SA-like shape. Both are made from double-shot PBT material.
The vendor description lists 'Fully Assembled Knob' and 'Barebone Knob' as the available types for the V1 Max, suggesting the knob is a standard feature on this model. A knob-less version is not indicated in the provided information.
The K1 Max offers a familiar, laptop-like low-profile feel that may be an easier transition. However, the V1 Max's standard layout and broader switch compatibility make it a more conventional entry into the mechanical keyboard hobby, especially if you plan to explore customization.
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