Keychron Q1 HE vs Q1 UltraMagnetic vs Mechanical
Choose the Q1 HE for its magnetic switch rapid trigger and adjustable actuation, or the Q1 Ultra for its 8K wireless polling and extended battery life.
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4.9 (21)4.9 · 21 reviews
from$160at Input Gear
5.0 (6)5.0 · 6 reviews
from$229at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q1 HE
Magnetic
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Gateron double-rail magnetic switches with TMR sensors provide rapid trigger and adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 3.8 mm.
- QMK open-source firmware with 256K flash enables deep key remapping, macros, and custom layouts.
- Dual wireless options with Bluetooth 5.2 and 2.4 GHz at 1000 Hz polling rate for flexibility.
- 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.
- Missing ISO-PT. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Get the
Keychron Q1 Ultra
Mechanical
Build quality in the top 35% of 75% boards under $300.
- Ultra-fast 8K polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes for minimal latency.
- Exceptional battery life up to 660 hours with backlight off, reducing recharge frequency.
- Multiple layers of acoustic foam (Sound Absorbing, IXPE, PET, Latex, Bottom Case) for a refined sound.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.
For competitive gamers who want the fastest possible key response, pick the Keychron Q1 HE with its magnetic switches and rapid trigger technology. For professionals seeking a refined typing experience with long battery life and 8K wireless performance, the Keychron Q1 Ultra is the better fit. Modding enthusiasts will prefer the Q1 HE for its QMK firmware and barebone option, while those wanting a quiet, dampened feel should choose the Q1 Ultra.
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 HE
Keychron Q1 Ultra
Hall effect (magnetic)
Yes
No
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
Yes
No
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Mount style
Gasket Mount, PCB Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Display
LED
None
A case display rather than a typing feature
- Keychron Q1 HE
- Keychron Q1 Ultra
- Performance
- 10089
- Build quality
- 9274
- Productivity
- 9790
- Customizability
- 10077
- Portability
- 8183
- Layout size: 75%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Case material: Aluminum
What will you mostly use it for?
In gaming, the Q1 HE wins with its magnetic switch technology and dynamic rapid trigger. For office and programming use, the Q1 Ultra takes the lead due to its longer battery life, acoustic foam layers, and ZMK firmware. The Q1 HE is better for modding due to its QMK support and barebones option, while the Q1 Ultra excels in content creation with 8K wireless performance. Both keyboards perform well for travel, but the Q1 HE's Bluetooth 5.2 and durable build edge ahead.
Pick the Keychron Q1 HE
- Magnetic switches with TMR sensors enable dynamic rapid trigger for faster repeated keystrokes in FPS games.
- Adjustable actuation point from 0.2 to 3.8 mm allows per-key sensitivity tuning for different in-game actions.
- 4-in-1 action keys let you assign multiple commands to a single key based on press depth.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
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 Ultra
6 owner reviews
“An exceptional keyboard in every respect. The sound, the feel of the keys, and the performance are all of the highest quality.”
Keychron Q1 HE vs Q1 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
14 of 29 specs differ
Keychron Q1 HE
Keychron Q1 Ultra
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 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
Keychron Q1 Ultra
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-PT
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 HE vs Q1 Ultra: your questions
Yes, the Q1 Ultra supports an 8K polling rate in both 2.4 GHz and wired modes, providing low latency suitable for competitive gaming. It also offers Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity for casual use. The keyboard can switch between these modes easily using the toggle on the device.
Yes, the Q1 HE features hot-swappable magnetic switches, but it is only compatible with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches. It does not support other magnetic switches like Gateron Magnetic Jade or KS-20, nor any traditional MX mechanical switches. The keyboard comes pre-installed with Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula switches.
The Keychron Q1 Ultra has a significantly longer battery life, offering up to 660 hours with the backlight off and up to 200 hours with RGB at lowest brightness. The Q1 HE offers up to 100 hours with backlight off. Both keyboards have a 4000mAh battery, but the Q1 Ultra's ZMK firmware optimizes power consumption.
Yes, the Q1 HE supports QMK firmware, which allows extensive key remapping, macros, and custom shortcuts. You can use the Keychron Launcher web app to configure these settings, which are saved directly to the keyboard. The 256K flash memory provides flexibility for complex macros.
The Q1 HE comes with OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps that have a spherical shape similar to OEM height. The Q1 Ultra comes with KSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps, which are Keychron's unique spherical-angle profile. Both are oil-resistant and durable, though the Q1 Ultra's KSA profile offers a different typing angle.
Yes, the Q1 Ultra is compatible with Linux as stated in its specifications for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The ZMK firmware and Launcher web app support Linux as well, allowing key remapping and macro customization across all major operating systems.
The Keychron Q1 HE is better for modding due to its QMK open-source firmware and availability as a barebones kit, allowing users to build from scratch. It also features a double-gasket design that can be tuned by adding or removing acoustic pads. However, its switch options are limited to Gateron double-rail magnetic switches.
The Q1 Ultra is only available in the ANSI layout standard, which may not suit users accustomed to ISO or JIS layouts. This limits compatibility with regional keycap sets. In contrast, the Q1 HE offers multiple layout options including ANSI, ISO, and JIS variants.
Yes, the Q1 HE is designed with Mac users in mind but includes a system toggle and additional keycaps for both macOS and Windows. You can save two different layouts on the keyboard, one for each system, making it easy to switch between devices.
The Q1 Ultra supports an 8K (8000 Hz) polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes, with selectable options for 2000 Hz and 1000 Hz as well. This makes it one of the fastest wireless mechanical keyboards for latency-sensitive tasks, with 1MB flash memory for firmware.
Yes, the Q1 HE features south-facing RGB LED lighting that illuminates from the bottom of the switches. This placement is designed to be compatible with Cherry-profile keycaps without interference. The RGB is subtle and can be customized via the Launcher web app.
The Keychron Q1 HE is heavier at 4000g, while the Q1 Ultra weighs 1724g. The Q1 HE's extra weight comes from its aluminum plate and all-metal construction, which provides durability but reduces portability. The Q1 Ultra is lighter due to its PC plate and thinner aluminum design.
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