Keychron K1 Pro vs K17 MaxCompact or 96% Layout
Choose the K1 Pro for a lighter, more compact 80% board, or the K17 Max for its 96% layout, 2.4 GHz connection, and knob support.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
5.0 (5)5.0 · 5 reviews
from$67at Keychron
4.8 (4)4.8 · 4 reviews
from$94at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K1 Pro
Build quality in the top 15% of 80% boards under $100.
- 80% layout in a lighter 580 g body.
- Bluetooth and wired connectivity, with a stated 1000 Hz polling rate in wired mode.
- QMK and VIA support, plus a hot-swappable version.
- 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 K17 Max
Knob
Build quality in the top 20% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% layout with 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired connectivity.
- Knob support, alongside listed multimedia keys.
- Vendor-described IXPE acoustic foam and latex foam inside the keyboard.
- 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-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 Pro if lower weight and a shorter 80% layout matter more than extra connection options. Choose the K17 Max if you want a 96% layout, 2.4 GHz wireless, or knob support, and are comfortable with its larger, heavier body. For either keyboard, confirm the exact hot-swappable configuration before buying.
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 Pro
Keychron K17 Max
Layout size
80%
96%
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic
ABS, Aluminum
Mount style
Tray Mount
PCB Mount
Knob
No
Yes
- Keychron K1 Pro
- Keychron K17 Max
- Performance
- 8183
- Build quality
- 8081
- Productivity
- 7993
- Customizability
- 8891
- Portability
- 7353
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 2,000 mAh
- Low profile
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The K17 Max has the edge for gaming flexibility and desk-based work thanks to its 2.4 GHz option, larger layout, and knob support. The K1 Pro is the more practical travel pick because it is lighter and shorter. For programming and switch or firmware customization, the shared QMK, VIA, and hot-swap features make either a reasonable fit. Choose the layout that better suits your desk and typing habits.
Pick the Keychron K17 Max
- The K17 Max supports 2.4 GHz wireless at a stated 1000 Hz polling rate, as well as wired play.
- The K1 Pro lists a 1000 Hz polling rate for wired mode, but its listed connections do not include 2.4 GHz.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
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 K17 Max
4 owner reviews
“Wish it was metal but i do love the low profile keyboard”
Keychron K1 Pro vs K17 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 26 specs differ
Keychron K1 Pro
Keychron K17 Max
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case 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 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
Keychron K17 Max
Keychron
ISO
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
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 Pro vs K17 Max: your questions
The K1 Pro is an 80% keyboard weighing 580 g, while the K17 Max is a 96% keyboard weighing 750 g. The K17 Max also adds 2.4 GHz connectivity and knob support.
Yes, the K17 Max lists 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired connections. Keychron specifies a 1000 Hz polling rate for its 2.4 GHz and wired modes.
The K1 Pro's listed connections are Bluetooth and wired, with no 2.4 GHz option listed. Its vendor description specifies a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired mode.
The K1 Pro is lighter at 580 g, compared with 750 g for the K17 Max. Its listed length is also shorter, 346 mm versus 387 mm.
Both models are offered with hot-swappable versions, so check the configuration before ordering. Keychron describes the K1 Pro option for Gateron low-profile mechanical switches and the K17 Max option for Gateron or Keychron low-profile mechanical switches.
Both list QMK and VIA support. Keychron also describes using its Launcher web app for key remapping and macros.
The K17 Max has a 96% layout, while the K1 Pro has an 80% layout. Choose the K17 Max if you prefer the fuller layout, or the K1 Pro if a smaller keyboard is the priority.
Both models list PBT keycaps, and Keychron describes them as low-profile double-shot PBT. The vendor says these keycaps are non-shine-through.
Yes, Keychron describes IXPE acoustic foam and latex foam inside the K17 Max. The vendor associates these layers with quieter keystrokes and switch support.
Both list Mac/Windows support, and Keychron describes Mac and Windows keymaps for each model. The K1 Pro vendor also says it includes keycaps for both operating systems.
The K17 Max offers 2.4 GHz wireless with a stated 1000 Hz polling rate, as well as wired connectivity. The K1 Pro lists a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired mode, making it an option if you plan to play wired.
Knob support is listed as a feature of the K17 Max. The K1 Pro's listed extra features do not include knob support.
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.