Keychron K2 Ultra vs V1 UltraAluminum or Knob
Choose the K2 Ultra for its aluminum frame and steel plate, or the lighter V1 Ultra if you want a knob and polycarbonate plate.
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4.0 · 4 reviews
from$119at MK
5.0 · 1 reviews
from$97at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K2 Ultra
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $150.
- Aluminum-and-ABS case with a steel plate.
- 4000 mAh battery, with the vendor listing up to 760 hours with backlighting off.
- Three listed switch types: tactile, linear, and clicky.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Get the
Keychron V1 Ultra
Knob
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.
- At 770 g, it is lighter than the K2 Ultra.
- Includes a knob alongside its 75% layout.
- Uses a polycarbonate plate and gasket mount.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-IT. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Choose the K2 Ultra if an aluminum-and-ABS case, steel plate, and the longer vendor-listed battery life matter most. Pick the V1 Ultra if you prefer a knob, a polycarbonate plate, and a lower weight. Both offer the same core 75% format, tri-mode connectivity, and hot-swap flexibility.
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 Ultra
Keychron V1 Ultra
Case material
ABS, Aluminum
ABS, Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Linear, Tactile
Knob
No
Yes
Weight
1,084 g
770 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-IT
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
- Keychron K2 Ultra
- Keychron V1 Ultra
- Performance
- 9091
- Build quality
- 8684
- Productivity
- 9498
- Customizability
- 9294
- Portability
- 8279
- Layout size: 75%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
What will you mostly use it for?
Gaming is a close match because both keyboards share the same listed polling rate and connection options. The V1 Ultra is the more practical fit when lower weight or a knob matters, including for travel and content workflows. Programming and modding are broadly balanced, with hot-swap support and customization features on both. The clearest choice is between the K2 Ultra's aluminum-and-steel construction and the V1 Ultra's lighter plastic-and-polycarbonate build.
It's a tie
- Both list an 8000 Hz polling rate and 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired connectivity.
- Both have hot-swappable switches, N-key rollover, and south-facing RGB.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K2 Ultra
4 owner reviews
“very compact, build quality is great, and I don't even feel any latency when using the keyboard wireless.”
“The only "zmk" support is from the launcher itself and its missing most of the ZMK features. For example Combos!”
Keychron V1 Ultra
1 owner reviews
“Keychron has the best keyboard for keyboard enthusiasts. This is my 3rd and I have no notes. Exactly what I wanted, versatility, thockiness, and portability.”
Keychron K2 Ultra vs V1 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
7 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K2 Ultra
Keychron V1 Ultra
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 Ultra
Keychron (DE)
ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V1 Ultra
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
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 K2 Ultra vs V1 Ultra: your questions
The K2 Ultra has an aluminum-and-ABS case and a steel plate, while the V1 Ultra uses a plastic case and polycarbonate plate. The V1 Ultra also includes a knob and weighs less.
Yes, the V1 Ultra is listed as a fully assembled knob version and its vendor description calls out the knob design. The K2 Ultra's listed extra features do not include a knob.
The V1 Ultra weighs 770 g, while the K2 Ultra weighs 1084 g. That makes the V1 Ultra the lighter option for a setup where keyboard weight matters.
Both list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity. Their vendor descriptions specify an 8000 Hz polling rate for wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
Keychron lists up to 760 hours for the K2 Ultra with backlighting off, compared with up to 660 hours for the V1 Ultra with backlighting off. Battery life depends on lighting and usage conditions.
Yes, both are listed as hot-swappable. The V1 Ultra vendor description says it supports many 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, while the K2 Ultra description also highlights switch changes without soldering.
The K2 Ultra has a steel plate, while the V1 Ultra has a polycarbonate plate. Choose between the two based on your preferred materials and typing feel.
Both vendor descriptions list Keychron Launcher for key remapping and macros. Their metadata also lists QMK and VIA support.
Both list an 8000 Hz polling rate, 2.4 GHz and wired connections, and N-key rollover. Those shared features make either a reasonable fit if gaming performance is your main concern.
Yes, both list south-facing RGB lighting and PBT keycaps. Their vendor descriptions identify the keycaps as OSA double-shot PBT.
The K2 Ultra vendor listing names Red, Brown, and Banana Keychron Apex switches. The V1 Ultra listing names Red, Brown, and Banana Keychron Silk POM switches.
The V1 Ultra is lighter at 770 g, compared with the K2 Ultra at 1084 g, and both support Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless use. Both are 75% keyboards, so compare their listed dimensions as well when planning a travel setup.
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