Keychron K2 Max vs Q1 V1Wireless or Aluminum
Choose the K2 Max for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz freedom, or the Q1 V1 for its full-aluminum gasket-mounted build and programmable knob.
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4.5 (2)4.5 · 2 reviews
from$94at Keychron
4.8 (734)4.8 · 734 reviews
from$85at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K2 Max
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.
- Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity, with Bluetooth connections to up to three devices.
- 4000 mAh battery and 940 g listed weight.
- Hot-swappable switches, QMK, and VIA support.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the
Keychron Q1 V1
Knob
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- All-aluminum case with a gasket mount.
- Programmable knob can be assigned to keys or macros for creative tasks.
- Hot-swappable switches and QMK/VIA support.
- 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.
Pick the K2 Max if wireless connectivity, multi-device Bluetooth, or a lighter board matters most. Choose the Q1 V1 if you prefer an all-aluminum gasket-mounted build and expect to use the programmable knob or customize more of the board. Both provide a 75% layout, hot-swap support, and QMK/VIA, so the deciding factor is whether you prioritize wireless flexibility or the Q1 V1's construction and knob.
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 K2 Max
Keychron Q1 V1
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
ABS, Aluminum
Aluminum
Mount style
PCB Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Knob
No
Yes
Weight
940 g
1,700 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron K2 Max
- Keychron Q1 V1
- Performance
- 8171
- Build quality
- 8590
- Productivity
- 9598
- Customizability
- 9198
- Portability
- 7963
- Layout size: 75%
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The K2 Max has the clearest advantage for gaming with wireless flexibility and for travel with its lower listed weight. It also suits desks where Bluetooth device switching is useful. The Q1 V1 stands out for hands-on customization and creative workflows, particularly for buyers who want its gasket mount and programmable knob. For general programming, both offer closely matched layout and remapping features.
Pick the Keychron K2 Max
- The K2 Max offers 2.4 GHz wireless and wired modes, both listed with a 1000 Hz polling rate.
- The Q1 V1 is wired-only, though it also has a listed 1000 Hz polling rate.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K2 Max
2 owner reviews
“Négatif: Le temps de livraison et la clareté des infos”
Keychron Q1 V1
734 owner reviews
“Although it is very pingy out of the box, with a few quick customisations it will sound amazing. Shipping isn’t that quick tho, with slow and outdated updates.”
Keychron K2 Max vs Q1 V1 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K2 Max
Keychron Q1 V1
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
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 K2 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron Q1 V1
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips 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 K2 Max vs Q1 V1: your questions
Yes. The K2 Max supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections, and Keychron says its Bluetooth mode can connect to up to three devices.
No. The Q1 V1 is listed as wired-only and uses a USB-C wired connection. It does not offer Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz connectivity.
The K2 Max has a listed weight of 940 g, while the Q1 V1 is listed at 1700 g. The K2 Max is the more practical pick if lower weight matters for moving a keyboard.
Both are listed as hot-swappable. Keychron describes support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches on each model.
Both list QMK and VIA support, and their vendor descriptions mention key remapping and macros through Keychron Launcher. The K2 Max vendor page says Launcher setup uses a wired connection.
Yes. The Q1 V1 supports a programmable rotary knob that can be assigned to keys or macros, with examples including volume, brightness, brush size, and selecting video clips.
The Q1 V1 is listed with a gasket mount, and Keychron describes it as providing a more flexible typing feel. The K2 Max is listed with PCB and plate mounting, not a gasket mount.
Yes. Both are listed as 75% keyboards, so they share the same broad layout size. Their connectivity and construction differ, with wireless modes on the K2 Max and an all-metal gasket-mounted build on the Q1 V1.
The K2 Max is listed with PBT keycaps, and Keychron describes them as double-shot PBT in an OSA profile. The vendor also says the keyboard includes customized keycaps for Windows and macOS.
The Q1 V1 is listed with ABS or PBT keycaps depending on configuration. Keychron's assembled-version box contents specify double-shot PBT keycaps and additional Mac and Windows keycaps, while its product page also notes possible MT3 and XDA compatibility issues.
The K2 Max is the more travel-friendly choice based on its 940 g listed weight and wireless connectivity. The Q1 V1 weighs 1700 g and requires a wired connection.
Both list south-facing RGB lighting. Keychron describes more than 22 RGB backlight settings for the K2 Max, while the Q1 V1 vendor page describes south-facing RGB LEDs.
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