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Head to head · Prices checked Oct 28, 2026

Keychron Q1 V1 vs V1 UltraWired vs Wireless 75%

Choose the Q1 V1 for its solid aluminum chassis and superior build, or the V1 Ultra for its 8K wireless performance and extreme portability.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron Q1 V1

Wired

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

If you want

  • Full CNC machined 6063 aluminum body for a premium, sturdy feel.
  • Gasket mount design with up to 2.5mm of flex for a bouncy typing experience.
  • Includes both aluminum and steel plate options for sound customization.

Rules this board out

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

Get the

Keychron V1 Ultra

Wireless 75%

Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Up to 8000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz modes for low latency.
  • Multiple connectivity options: 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, and wired Type-C.
  • Lightweight at 770g for easy portability and travel.

Rules this board out

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

Bottom line

Your choice comes down to whether you prioritize a solid, premium typing feel or wireless performance and portability. The Keychron Q1 V1 is the better fit for a permanent desk setup where build quality and modding potential are key. The Keychron V1 Ultra is the smarter pick if you need a low-latency wireless keyboard for gaming or often switch between workstations.

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 V1

Keychron V1 Ultra

  • 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

  • Case material

    Aluminum

    ABS, Plastic

  • Switch options

    Clicky, Linear, Tactile

    Linear, Tactile

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount, Plate Mount

    Gasket Mount

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron Q1 V1
  • Keychron V1 Ultra
Performance
72
91
Build quality
90
84
Productivity
98
98
Customizability
99
94
Portability
63
79

What they share

  • Layout size: 75%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Knob
  • QMK
  • VIA
  • Sound dampening
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The V1 Ultra wins for gaming, office, travel, and content creation due to its 8K wireless polling, long battery life, and light weight. The Q1 V1 takes the lead for programming and modding, where its premium aluminum build, gasket flex, and proven modding community are more valuable. The Q1 V1's desk-bound weight is a drawback for travel, while the V1 Ultra's plastic construction lacks the heft that some typists prefer.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron V1 Ultra

  • Supports up to 8000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz modes for lower input lag.
  • Offers 2.4 GHz and wired connectivity, both providing ultra-responsive performance for competitive gaming.
  • N-Key Rollover (NKRO) support in both wireless and wired modes.

From real owners

What owners say

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

Keychron Q1 V1

4.8

734 owner reviews

Praise
“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.”
Glenn C.Verified buyer· via Keychron

Keychron V1 Ultra

5.0

1 owner reviews

Praise
“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.”
CamilleVerified buyer· via Keychron

Full specs

Keychron Q1 V1 vs V1 Ultra specs

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

13 of 27 specs differ

Keychron Q1 V1

Keychron V1 Ultra

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
75%

Layout standard

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

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
8,000 HzBetter

Battery

Wired only
4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
ABS, Plastic

Plate material

Aluminum, Steel
Polycarbonate

Keycaps

ABS, PBT
PBT

Weight

1,700 g
770 g

Dimensions

22 x 145 x 328 mm
29 x 329 x 149 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

2023
2026

For EU buyers

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 V1 Ultra

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES

    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.

FAQ

Keychron Q1 V1 vs V1 Ultra: your questions

The V1 Ultra is better for gaming thanks to its 8000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes, which provides lower input lag. It also supports N-Key Rollover (NKRO) in both wireless and wired connections for reliable key presses during fast gameplay.

Yes, both keyboards feature hot-swappable sockets that support 3-pin and 5-pin MX style switches. The Q1 V1 comes with OSA double-shot PBT keycaps, while the V1 Ultra also uses OSA double-shot PBT keycaps. Note that some Q1 V1 users have reported compatibility issues with XDA and MT3 keycap profiles.

The Q1 V1 has a full CNC machined 6063 aluminum body that is polished, anodized, and sandblasted, giving it a premium, heavy feel. The V1 Ultra uses a lightweight, rigid polymer (ABS plastic) case for better portability and a dampened typing experience, but it lacks the heft of the aluminum chassis.

Yes, the V1 Ultra supports 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3, and wired Type-C connections. This allows you to connect to up to three devices via Bluetooth and enjoy a high-speed 2.4 GHz connection for gaming or low-latency tasks.

The Q1 V1 has more modding potential due to its all-metal construction and the availability of both aluminum and steel plate options. There is a large community of users who have performed force break, tape, and polyfill mods on the Q1 V1. The V1 Ultra has fewer documented mods and only comes with a PC plate.

The Q1 V1 is significantly heavier, weighing 1700g ± 10g fully assembled. The V1 Ultra is much lighter at 770g ± 10g, making it more suitable for travel or moving between desks.

The Q1 V1 comes with Keychron K Pro switches (Red, Brown) or Gateron Phantom switches (Yellow, Silver). The V1 Ultra comes with pre-lubed Keychron Silk POM Switches (Red, Brown, Banana), which are made from a POM housing and stem for durability.

No, the Keychron Q1 V1 is a wired-only keyboard that connects via Type-C. It does not have any wireless capability. For a wireless option, you would need the Keychron V1 Ultra, which supports 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired modes.

The V1 Ultra has a 4000mAh rechargeable battery that can last up to 660 hours with the backlight turned off. With RGB on at the lowest brightness, it lasts up to 200 hours. The keyboard can also be used while charging.

The V1 Ultra is far more portable due to its plastic construction and weight of only 770g, compared to the Q1 V1's 1700g aluminum body. The V1 Ultra's wireless capabilities also remove the need for a cable, making it easier to pack and use on the go.

The Q1 V1 supports QMK and VIA firmware for deep key remapping and macros. The V1 Ultra uses ZMK firmware, which also allows for extensive customization through the Keychron Launcher web app, including per-key RGB and Mix RGB lighting.

The V1 Ultra supports a polling rate of up to 8000 Hz in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes. It can also be set to 2000 Hz or 1000 Hz. This is significantly higher than the Q1 V1's 1000 Hz polling rate.

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