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Head to head · Prices checked Oct 28, 2026

Keychron Q1 vs V1 MaxAluminum vs Wireless 75%

Choose the Keychron Q1 for a premium all-metal typing experience with a programmable knob, or the V1 Max for wireless freedom and lighter portability.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron Q1

Aluminum

Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $150.

If you want

  • Full CNC machined 6063 aluminum body with polished, anodized, and sandblasted finish.
  • Double-Gasket Design with silicone pads between top and bottom cases to reduce metal resonance.
  • Programmable knob supports custom key or macro assignment via VIA software.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • Missing ISO-Nordic, ISO-IT, ISO-PT. The other board is sold in those layouts.

Get the

Keychron V1 Max

Wireless 75%

Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Dual wireless connectivity via 2.4 GHz (1000 Hz polling) and Bluetooth 5.1 for flexible setups.
  • Lightweight 770g design with adjustable typing angles (3.5°/7.1°/9.5°) for ergonomic comfort.
  • 4000mAh rechargeable battery offers up to 190 hours of use with backlight off.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Bottom line

If you prioritize a premium typing feel with a solid aluminum chassis and don't mind being tethered to a cable, the Keychron Q1 is the better choice, especially for desk-bound programmers and content creators who will appreciate the programmable knob and double-gasket dampening. If wireless freedom, lighter travel weight, and longer-lasting PBT keycaps are more important, the Keychron V1 Max offers strong value with its 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, though you should be aware of potential long-term reliability concerns noted in reviews.

What actually differs

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 Q1

Keychron V1 Max

  • Connection

    Wired

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Case material

    Aluminum

    ABS, Plastic

  • Weight

    1,825 g

    770 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

  • Layout standard

    ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS

    ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-IT, ISO-Nordic, ISO-PT, ISO-SW, ISO-UK

    ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit

  • Plate material

    Aluminum, Polycarbonate, Steel

    Polycarbonate

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron Q1
  • Keychron V1 Max
Performance
72
83
Build quality
89
86
Productivity
97
97
Customizability
98
98
Portability
65
79

What they share

  • Layout size: 75%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
  • Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
  • Mount style: Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
  • Knob
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

For gaming and travel, the V1 Max wins due to its wireless 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, lower weight, and N-Key Rollover support. Programming and content creation favor the Q1 because of its rigid aluminum build, double-gasket design, and programmable knob. Office and modding duties are evenly matched, as both share gasket mounting, QMK/VIA customization, and hot-swappable sockets. Overall, the choice comes down to whether wireless freedom or premium material quality matters more for your daily use.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron V1 Max

  • 2.4 GHz wireless mode offers a 1000 Hz polling rate for low latency without a cable.
  • Bluetooth 5.1 connects to multiple devices for flexible setups.
  • N-Key Rollover supported in both wireless and wired modes.
  • Lighter 770g weight makes it easier to reposition during gameplay.

From real owners

What owners say

Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.

Keychron Q1

4.9

10 owner reviews

Praise
“Very pretty and good quality, only con is it's kind of pingy but it's easy to mod and fix with some tape, force break mod.”
Nico R.Verified buyer· via Keychron

Keychron V1 Max

4.1

18 owner reviews

Praise
“Feels great, haven't got a new KB since my Novatouch. Great high end features and feel, DSA caps on it feel good.”
Paul B.Verified buyer· via Keychron
Critique
“The dongle does not work after 6 months of using it and they want me to pay to fix it. If you want to buy a keyboard that is good don’t go for keycron”
Anonymous· via Keychron

Full specs

Keychron Q1 vs V1 Max specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

9 of 27 specs differ

Keychron Q1

Keychron V1 Max

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
75%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-IT, ISO-Nordic, ISO-PT, ISO-SW, ISO-UK

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Battery

Wired only
4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
ABS, Plastic

Plate material

Aluminum, Polycarbonate, Steel
Polycarbonate

Keycaps

ABS, PBT
ABS, PBT

Weight

1,825 g
770 g

Dimensions

22 x 145 x 328 mm
22 x 149 x 329 mm

Typing angle

5°
4°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2022
2023

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

Keychron Q1

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW

    In stockShips to you

  • MK

    ISO

    Out of stockShips to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW

    Out of stockDoes not ship to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO

    Out of stockDoes not ship to you

Keychron V1 Max

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW

    Out of stockShips to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-SW, ISO-PT

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Where to buy

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 Q14 stores

FAQ

Keychron Q1 vs V1 Max: your questions

The Keychron Q1 is likely more durable due to its full CNC machined 6063 aluminum body, which resists dents and flex better than ABS plastic. The V1 Max's plastic case is lighter and less prone to scratches but may not withstand heavy impacts as well as the Q1's metal construction.

Yes, the V1 Max supports a 2.4 GHz wireless connection with a 1000 Hz polling rate, which is suitable for competitive gaming. Bluetooth mode offers only 90 Hz polling, so for gaming you should use the 2.4 GHz dongle or a wired connection.

No, the Keychron Q1 is a wired-only keyboard. It connects via USB-C and does not have any Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless capabilities, making it a stationary desk option.

The Keychron Q1 comes with OSA profile ABS backlight shine-through keycaps. The Keychron V1 Max comes with double-shot OSA PBT keycaps that are not shine-through but resist oil and fading better than ABS.

Yes, both keyboards have hot-swappable PCBs that support 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches, so you can change switches without soldering. They also accept switches from brands like Gateron, Cherry MX, and Kailh.

The Keychron Q1 is generally better for programming due to its rigid aluminum body and double-gasket design that reduces resonance for a cleaner typing sound. Both support QMK/VIA for custom macros, but the Q1's additional mass provides more stability during long typing sessions.

The V1 Max has a 4000mAh battery. According to the vendor, wireless working time is up to 190 hours with backlight off and up to 100 hours with RGB at lowest brightness. Charging takes around 5 hours.

Yes, both keyboards use screw-in PCB stabilizers and support third-party options such as Cherry or Durock stabilizers for further customization. The Q1 vendor explicitly states compatibility, while the V1 Max also mentions third-party support.

The Keychron V1 Max is significantly lighter at 770g compared to the Q1's 1825g. Combined with its wireless capability, the V1 Max is much more suitable for travel or carrying between locations.

Yes, the Q1's rotary encoder knob is fully programmable via VIA software. You can assign it to functions like zooming, adjusting brush size, opacity, volume, or custom macros, as noted in the vendor description.

Both keyboards support macOS and Windows with dedicated system toggle switches and included keycaps for each OS. The V1 Max vendor also lists Linux compatibility, while the Q1's vendor mentions Mac and Windows support.

Yes, the V1 Max uses a standard MX stem and supports third-party keycaps. However, the south-facing RGB LEDs may cause interference with Cherry-profile keycaps, but the vendor notes it is free from interference when using OEM or Cherry-profile alternatives.

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