Keychron P1 HE DayZ vs Q1 HE
The Keychron Q1 HE offers superior build quality, customization, and gaming performance, making it the better choice for enthusiasts and competitive gamers.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
No reviews
from$224at Keychron (DE)
4.9 (21)4.9 · 21 reviews
from$160at Input Gear
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron P1 HE DayZ
Build quality in the bottom 15% of 75% boards under $300.
- Exclusive DayZ-inspired design with custom keycaps and knob.
- Cherry profile dye-sub PBT keycaps for durability.
- North-facing RGB lighting with 22 preset options.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Get the
Keychron Q1 HE
Rapid trigger
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Full aluminum body (6063) for durability and premium feel.
- Double-gasket design for improved acoustics and flexibility.
- QMK and VIA support for deep customization and macros.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Choose the Keychron Q1 HE if you want a higher-performance, fully customizable keyboard with superior build and wireless options. It is better for gaming, programming, and modding due to its QMK support and double-gasket design. The P1 HE DayZ is only recommended if you are a DayZ enthusiast who values the exclusive cosmetic theme.
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 P1 HE DayZ
Keychron Q1 HE
Rapid trigger
No
Yes
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Hot-swappable
No
Yes
Switch changes without soldering
Switch options
Magnetic
Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile
Display
None
LED
A case display rather than a typing feature
QMK
No
Yes
The deep option when you want to remap every key
- Keychron P1 HE DayZ
- Keychron Q1 HE
- Performance
- 58100
- Build quality
- 4692
- Productivity
- 5097
- Customizability
- 44100
- Portability
- 5881
- Layout size: 75%
- Hall effect (magnetic)
- Knob
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron Q1 HE wins in all use cases due to its superior build quality, higher performance scores, and broader customization options. It offers a lighter weight for travel, QMK and VIA support for programming, and double-gasket design for enhanced typing and gaming. The P1 HE DayZ is a niche option with a themed design but falls short in overall versatility and features.
Pick the Keychron Q1 HE
- Higher performance score of 100 relative to its price tier.
- Features advanced TMR sensors for precision.
- Double-gasket design for stability.
- 1000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
Keychron P1 HE DayZ vs Q1 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
16 of 29 specs differ
Keychron P1 HE DayZ
Keychron Q1 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
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 P1 HE DayZ
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron Q1 HE
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
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.
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 P1 HE DayZ vs Q1 HE: your questions
The Keychron Q1 HE has better build quality with an all-aluminum 6063 body and a double-gasket design, which contributes to its higher build quality score. The P1 HE DayZ uses a full metal body but lacks the double-gasket and has a lower build quality score.
Yes, both the Keychron P1 HE DayZ and Q1 HE are compatible exclusively with Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches. They do not support other magnetic switches like the Gateron Magnetic Jade or KS-20 models.
The Keychron Q1 HE supports both QMK and VIA for key remapping, macros, and shortcuts. The P1 HE DayZ relies on the Lemokey Launcher web app and does not mention direct QMK or VIA support.
The Keychron Q1 HE is better for wireless gaming due to its 1000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz modes and advanced TMR sensors. The P1 HE DayZ also offers 1000 Hz in 2.4 GHz mode but has a lower polling rate of 125 Hz over Bluetooth.
Both the Keychron P1 HE DayZ and Q1 HE have a 4000 mAh battery that provides up to 100 hours of use with the backlight off. Charging takes around 5 hours via USB-C.
Yes, the P1 HE DayZ comes with Cherry profile dye-sub PBT keycaps, while the Q1 HE uses OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps. Both are PBT, but the profiles differ in shape and feel.
The Keychron Q1 HE is more portable due to its lighter weight of 1735 g compared to the P1 HE DayZ's 1639 g (though similar) and a higher portability score. Both have wireless connectivity, but the Q1 HE's lower weight and compact dimensions make it easier to transport.
The P1 HE DayZ has north-facing RGB with 22 preset backlight options, while the Q1 HE features south-facing RGB LEDs. Both offer customizable lighting, but the orientation differs.
The Keychron Q1 HE is better for programming due to its QMK and VIA support, allowing full key remapping and custom macros. It also offers more layout options including ISO and ANSI, which is beneficial for different typing preferences.
Yes, the Keychron Q1 HE is available in a Barebone Knob version, which allows you to add your own switches and keycaps. The P1 HE DayZ only comes as a fully assembled keyboard.
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.