Keychron Q1 V1 vs Q1 HEMagnetic Switches vs. Value
Choose the Q1 V1 for a proven, lower-price aluminum build with traditional switches, or the Q1 HE for cutting-edge magnetic actuation and wireless connectivity.
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4.8 (734)4.8 · 734 reviews
from$85at Keychron
4.9 (21)4.9 · 21 reviews
from$160at Input Gear
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q1 V1
Magnetic Switches
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- Lower price entry point for a premium 75% aluminum keyboard.
- Standard hot-swap PCB supports a wide variety of 3- and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
- Proven design with over 1100 user reviews and a 4.55/5 rating.
- 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.
Get the
Keychron Q1 HE
Value
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Cutting-edge Hall Effect magnetic switches with rapid trigger and adjustable actuation (0.2-3.8 mm).
- Tri-mode wireless with Bluetooth 5.2 and 2.4 GHz (up to 8000 Hz polling rate).
- Built-in 4000 mAh battery for up to 100 hours of wireless use.
- 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.
The decision hinges on your priority for switch technology and connectivity. If you need the fastest possible gaming performance with features like rapid trigger and adjustable actuation, the Q1 HE is the future-focused choice. However, if you prefer a broader ecosystem of traditional switches, a lower price, and a proven platform for deep customization and modding, the Q1 V1 remains an excellent and more versatile value. Gamers and wireless users should lean toward the HE; everyone else can save money with the V1.
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 V1
Keychron Q1 HE
Hall effect (magnetic)
No
Yes
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
No
Yes
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Max polling rate
1,000 Hz
8,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile
- Keychron Q1 V1
- Keychron Q1 HE
- Performance
- 72100
- Build quality
- 9092
- Productivity
- 9897
- Customizability
- 98100
- Portability
- 6381
- Layout size: 75%
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: Aluminum
- Knob
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
For gaming, the Q1 HE is the clear winner thanks to its magnetic switches and rapid trigger technology. The Q1 V1 is still a solid choice for programmers and modders due to its lower price, extensive MX switch compatibility, and mature community support. In office and content creation, the choice is a tie, with the Q1 HE offering wireless flexibility and the Q1 V1 offering a better value for a wired desk setup. For travel, the Q1 HE's wireless modes make it the only practical option.
Pick the Keychron Q1 HE
- Hall Effect switches with rapid trigger for faster response in FPS games.
- Adjustable actuation points from 0.2 mm to 3.8 mm for customized trigger depth.
- 4-in-1 action keys allowing multiple commands from one keypress based on travel depth.
- Up to 8000 Hz polling rate and dedicated 2.4 GHz wireless for low latency.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
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 Q1 HE
21 owner reviews
“Love this keyboard. Wooting was my first choice but they don’t have wireless and with this version having TMR sensors and Wireless capability it’s my new Keyboard for work.”
“I love this thing. I wish there were these changes: Cable mode was switch in position closest to the outer edge of keyboard. Extra usb-c which is another port, I'd like to plug my 2fa device in there. Sort out why the programmer doesn't work under arch linux…”
Keychron Q1 V1 vs Q1 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
13 of 29 specs differ
Keychron Q1 V1
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 Q1 V1
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
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 Q1 V1 vs Q1 HE: your questions
No, the Q1 HE is not compatible with standard MX mechanical switches. It is designed exclusively for Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Switches. The vendor states it does not support other magnetic switches such as the Gateron Magnetic Jade or KS-20.
The Q1 HE costs more and is worth it if you prioritize gaming performance and wireless connectivity. It offers magnetic switches with rapid trigger and adjustable actuation, plus Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz modes. The Q1 V1 is a better value for wired desk use and traditional switch collecting.
Yes, the Q1 V1 fully supports QMK and VIA software. This allows you to remap keys, create macros, and customize the rotary encoder. The vendor confirms it can be programmed using the Keychron Launcher web app via a wired connection.
The Q1 HE offers a higher maximum polling rate. Its metadata lists up to 8000 Hz, while the Q1 V1 is limited to 1000 Hz. Both keyboards have a 1000 Hz polling rate in their standard wired modes, but the HE has the potential for faster input in competitive scenarios.
Yes, both are hot-swappable, but with different limitations. The Q1 V1 supports any 3-pin or 5-pin MX mechanical switch. The Q1 HE is also hot-swappable but only compatible with its specific Gateron Double-Rail magnetic switches sold on the Keychron website.
Yes, the Q1 HE includes a 4000 mAh rechargeable li-polymer battery. According to the vendor, it can achieve up to 100 hours of wireless working time with the backlight turned off. The Q1 V1 does not have a battery and is wired only.
Both keyboards ship with OSA (OEM Spherical Angled) profile double-shot PBT keycaps. The vendor description for the Q1 V1 specifies they are 'not shine-through.' The Q1 HE also uses OSA double-shot PBT keycaps. Both include additional Mac and Windows keycaps.
The Q1 V1 is generally better for modding due to its lower cost and broader switch compatibility. It supports thousands of traditional MX switches and aftermarket parts. The Q1 HE's magnetic switch platform is proprietary, limiting switch mods to only Gateron Double-Rail models.
The Q1 V1 has a fixed typing angle of 5 degrees. The Q1 HE's metadata lists multiple angles (5, 6, and 7 degrees), but user reviews note it does not come with adjustable legs. The angle may be set by the design of the case or optional feet not included in the box.
Yes, the Q1 V1 is designed for both macOS and Windows. It includes a system toggle switch on the keyboard to switch between layouts and comes with additional keycaps for both operating systems. The Q1 HE also includes this feature, as stated in its vendor description.
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