What is the main difference between the Keychron Q1 and S1?

The Q1 is a gasket-mounted 75% keyboard with a standard-profile design and multiple listed layout standards. The S1 is a low-profile, tray-mounted 75% keyboard with low-profile PBT keycaps.

Is the Keychron Q1 or S1 better for gaming?

Both are wired and list a 1000 Hz polling rate, so those specifications do not distinguish them. The Q1 has south-facing RGB and the S1 has north-facing RGB; the choice may come down to layout and typing profile.

Which keyboard is lighter, the Keychron Q1 or S1?

The Keychron S1 is listed at 960 g, while the Q1 is listed at 1825 g. The S1 is the lighter option if weight is a priority.

Does the Keychron Q1 have a knob?

Keychron lists knob and non-knob Q1 variants. The vendor says the knob can be customized through VIA for controls such as zoom, volume, or video clip selection.

Does the Keychron S1 have a knob?

The S1 features listed here include multimedia keys, but do not identify a knob option. The Q1 is the model with a vendor-described programmable knob variant.

Are the Keychron Q1 and S1 hot-swappable?

Hot-swappable versions are listed for both keyboards. Keychron says the S1 hot-swap sockets support Gateron low-profile mechanical switches, while the Q1 vendor description specifies support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches.

What keycap material does each keyboard use?

The S1 vendor description identifies double-shot PBT low-profile keycaps that are not shine-through. The Q1 ISO vendor description identifies OSA-profile ABS shine-through keycaps, while the product metadata also lists PBT as a Q1 keycap material.

Does the Keychron Q1 or S1 support QMK and VIA?

Both models list QMK and VIA support. Keychron describes the Q1 knob variant as configurable through VIA and describes the S1 as supporting key remapping through QMK and VIA.

Which keyboard has more layout options, the Q1 or S1?

The Q1 metadata lists ANSI, ISO, JIS, and several regional ISO standards, and Keychron describes an ISO collection for UK, German, Nordic, Swiss, French, and Spanish layouts. The S1 is listed with an ANSI layout.

Are the Keychron Q1 and S1 wireless?

Both are listed as wired-only keyboards with USB-C connectivity. Neither is described as offering wireless connectivity.

What mounting styles do the Keychron Q1 and S1 use?

The Q1 is listed with a gasket mount, and its vendor description calls out a double-gasket design. The S1 uses a tray mount, so the mounting style is a key difference between them.

Which Keychron keyboard is better for travel?

The S1 is lighter and has smaller listed dimensions than the Q1, making it the more practical choice if carrying weight and size are the main concerns. Both remain wired-only keyboards.

Compare Keychron Q1 vs S1 Differences Side by Side

This comparison is for buyers choosing between two wired 75% aluminum keyboards with QMK support and hot-swappable versions. The Q1 is a heavier, gasket-mounted board with multiple listed layout standards and a vendor-described programmable knob option. The S1 takes a low-profile approach, weighs less, and uses low-profile PBT keycaps. Both support 1000 Hz polling, so the deciding factors are typing profile, customization scope, and portability.

Model
	94	86	Select a keyboard to compare
Rating	4.9 stars (42 reviews)	4.8 stars (18 reviews)
Purchase Options
Main differences	Built with the ANSI, ISO, JIS, ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW layout standard Comes with a knob Includes screw-in stabilizers Has built-in sound dampening Uses a Gasket Mount mounting style Weighs about 1825 g Sized at 22 x 145 x 328 mm Features ABS, PBT keycaps Offers Yes, Rgb, South-face, Rgb South-face RGB lighting	Features a low-profile design Built with the ANSI layout standard Features N-key rollover Uses a Tray Mount mounting style Weighs about 960 g Sized at 8 x 118 x 310 mm Features PBT keycaps Offers Yes, Rgb, North-face, Rgb North-face RGB lighting
Score	Scores Performance: 72.3 Build Quality: 89.4 Productivity: 97.4 Customizability: 98.4 Portability: 65.3	Scores Performance: 82.4 Build Quality: 82.1 Productivity: 80.7 Customizability: 89.2 Portability: 64.6
Name	Name Keychron Q1	Name Keychron S1
Release year	Release year 2022	Release year 2022
Switch Options	Switch Options Linear, Tactile, Clicky	Switch Options Linear, Tactile, Clicky
Profile	Profile Normal Profile	Profile Low Profile
Hot Swappable	Hot Swappable	Hot Swappable
Layout Size	Layout Size 75%	Layout Size 75%
Layout Standard	Layout Standard ANSI, ISO, JIS, ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW	Layout Standard ANSI
Layout Ergonomics	Layout Ergonomics Normal	Layout Ergonomics Normal
Knob Support	Knob Support	Knob Support
Display Support	Display Support	Display Support
Mac/Win Support	Mac/Win Support	Mac/Win Support
Multi-Media Keys	Multi-Media Keys	Multi-Media Keys
USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
USB passthrough	USB passthrough	USB passthrough
Connection	Connection Wired, Wired only	Connection Wired, Wired only
Polling Rate	Polling Rate 1000 Hz	Polling Rate 1000 Hz
Battery capacity	Battery capacity -	Battery capacity -
Hall Effect Support	Hall Effect Support	Hall Effect Support
QMK Support	QMK Support	QMK Support
VIA Support	VIA Support	VIA Support
VIAL Support	VIAL Support	VIAL Support
N-Key Rollover	N-Key Rollover	N-Key Rollover
Rapid Trigger	Rapid Trigger	Rapid Trigger
Mount Style	Mount Style Gasket Mount	Mount Style Tray Mount
Screw in Stabilizers	Screw in Stabilizers	Screw in Stabilizers
Sound Dampening	Sound Dampening	Sound Dampening
Backlight	Backlight Rgb, South-face	Backlight Rgb, North-face
Case Colors	Case Colors	Case Colors
Case Material	Case Material Aluminum	Case Material Aluminum
Keycaps Material	Keycaps Material ABS, PBT	Keycaps Material PBT
Dimensions	Dimensions 22 x 145 x 328 mm	Dimensions 8 x 118 x 310 mm
Weight	Weight 1825g	Weight 960g

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Pros and Trade-offs

Choose the Q1 if you want a gasket-mounted build, broader layout choices, or the knob option for customizable controls. Choose the S1 if low-profile keycaps and a lighter, thinner aluminum board matter more. Both are wired 75% keyboards with QMK support and 1000 Hz polling, so neither has a clear stated advantage on those shared points.

Keychron Q1

+Gasket mount with an aluminum case and listed aluminum, steel, or polycarbonate plate options.
+Hot-swappable, with QMK and VIA support.
+Vendor-listed ISO layout collection includes UK, German, Nordic, Swiss, French, and Spanish options.
+Knob variant supports customizable keys and macros through VIA, according to Keychron.
+South-facing RGB and screw-in stabilizers.

−At 1825 g, it weighs substantially more than the S1's listed 960 g.
−Wired-only connectivity and no screen.
−The vendor-described Q1 ISO version uses shine-through ABS keycaps, while the metadata also lists PBT options.

Keychron S1

+Low-profile design with double-shot PBT low-profile keycaps.
+Lighter than the Q1 at 960 g, with a thinner listed height.
+QMK and VIA support, with hot-swappable versions available.
+Two vendor-listed tilt angles, 3° and 6°.
+North-facing RGB and multimedia keys.

−The listed layout is ANSI, unlike the Q1's multiple layout standards.
−Hot-swap support is limited to Gateron low-profile mechanical switches, according to Keychron.
−Tray mount rather than the Q1's gasket mount.
−Wired-only connectivity and no screen.

Which Keyboard Is Better for Your Needs?

The Q1 has the edge for office work, programming, modding, and creative workflows, primarily through its layout options and configurable knob variant. The S1 is the more travel-friendly pick by listed weight and dimensions, though both require a wired connection. Gaming is a close match on the stated connectivity and polling rate. Buyers should also factor in the Q1's standard profile and gasket mount versus the S1's low-profile design and tray mount.

GamingTie

•Both keyboards are wired and list a 1000 Hz polling rate.
•Both offer linear, tactile, and clicky switch options in the metadata.
•The Q1 has south-facing RGB, while the S1 has north-facing RGB.

OfficeKeychron Q1

•The Q1 offers multiple listed layout standards, including ANSI, ISO, and JIS variants; the S1 is listed as ANSI.
•The Q1 has a knob option and multimedia keys for additional controls.
•Both include Mac and Windows support and QMK support.

ProgrammingKeychron Q1

•Both support QMK and VIA, with hot-swappable versions listed.
•The Q1 vendor description specifically identifies VIA remapping and macro customization for its knob option.
•The Q1 supports multiple layout standards, while the S1 is listed as ANSI.

TravelKeychron S1

•The S1 weighs 960 g, compared with 1825 g for the Q1.
•The S1's listed dimensions are 8 x 118 x 310 mm, while the Q1 is listed at 22 x 145 x 328 mm.
•Both are wired-only, so neither offers a wireless connection.

ModdingKeychron Q1

•Both offer hot-swappable versions, but the S1 hot-swap sockets support Gateron low-profile switches only.
•The Q1 vendor describes the keyboard as allowing changes to switches, keycaps, stabilizers, and plate.
•The Q1 offers gasket mounting and QMK/VIA support, while the S1 uses tray mounting and also supports QMK/VIA.

Content CreationKeychron Q1

•The Q1's knob option can be assigned to controls such as zoom, brush size, volume, or video clip selection, according to Keychron.
•Both keyboards support QMK and VIA for key remapping.
•The S1 has multimedia keys, but its vendor description does not identify a dedicated knob.