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Head to head · Prices checked Oct 21, 2026

Keychron Q1 HE vs Q1 V2 SEMagnetic vs Mechanical 75%

The Q1 HE wins for gaming and wireless flexibility; the Q1 V2 SE is the choice if you want standard mechanical switches and a wider keycap ecosystem.

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron Q1 HE

Magnetic

If you want

  • Magnetic Gateron Double-Rail switches with adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 3.8 mm and rapid trigger.
  • Tri-mode wireless: Bluetooth 5.2, 2.4 GHz, and wired with 1000 Hz polling.
  • Double-gasket design for reduced resonance and flexible sound tuning.

And can live with

  • Only compatible with Gateron Double-Rail magnetic switches, limiting switch choice.
  • No keyboard legs, as noted by a customer reviewer.
  • Heavier than some portable alternatives at around 1735 g.

Get the

Keychron Q1 V2 SE

Mechanical 75%

If you want

  • Steel plate offers a firm, consistent typing foundation.
  • Extra sound absorption foam for a quieter typing experience.
  • Hotswap sockets support both 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches for wide compatibility.

And can live with

  • Wired only, no wireless connectivity option.
  • Only available in ANSI layout, limiting regional keycap sets.
  • No reviews available to validate long-term performance.

Bottom line

If you prioritize gaming performance and wireless freedom, the Keychron Q1 HE is the clear choice with its magnetic switches and 2.4 GHz connectivity. For a quieter, more traditional typing experience with a steel plate and standard mechanical switch support, the Q1 V2 SE is a solid alternative. Your decision hinges on whether you need the advanced gaming features and portability of HE or the broader mechanical ecosystem of V2 SE.

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 HE

Keychron Q1 V2 SE

  • Hall effect (magnetic)

    Yes

    No

  • Rapid trigger

    Yes

    No

  • Connection

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wired

  • Switch options

    Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile

    Clicky, Linear, Tactile

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount, PCB Mount

    Plate Mount

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron Q1 HE
  • Keychron Q1 V2 SE
Performance
100
73
Build quality
90
84
Productivity
97
98
Customizability
98
94
Portability
81
68

What they share

  • Layout size: 75%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Case material: Aluminum
  • Knob
  • QMK
  • VIA
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Q1 HE leads in Gaming due to its magnetic switches and 2.4 GHz polling, and in Travel thanks to Bluetooth and a large battery. The Q1 V2 SE takes Office for its sound damping and rigid steel plate. Programming and Content Creation are ties because both keyboards share QMK/VIA support, a knob, and system toggle. Modding favors the Q1 HE for its barebone option and double-gasket design.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron Q1 HE

  • Hall effect switches with dynamic rapid trigger and adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 3.8 mm.
  • Supports 2.4 GHz wireless with 1000 Hz polling rate.
  • TMR sensors for precise input detection down to 0.1 mm sensitivity.

From real owners

What owners say

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

Keychron Q1 HE

4.8

20 owner reviews

Praise
“Neither big legs nor small legs. No legs at all 🤣 For me, this is not what I've expected from keychron, because every keyboard has legs.”
YurkoVerified buyer· via Keychron
Critique
“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…”
Mawlzz· via Keychron

Keychron Q1 V2 SE

No owner reviews collected yet.

Full specs

Keychron Q1 HE vs Q1 V2 SE specs

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

8 of 29 specs differ

Keychron Q1 HE

Keychron Q1 V2 SE

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hall effect (magnetic)

Yes
No

Rapid trigger

Yes
No

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount, PCB 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-IT, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

8,000 Hz
—

Battery

4,000 mAh
Wired only

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum, Polycarbonate
Steel

Keycaps

ABS, PBT
—

Weight

4,000 g
—

Dimensions

23 x 145 x 328 mm
—

Typing angle

5°, 6°, 7°
—

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
No

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2023
2023

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

  • Input GearDE

    In stock
    $160Visit
  • MKUS

    In stock
    $180Visit
  • Keychron (DE)DE

    In stock
    $212Visit
  • KeychronHK

    In stock
    $219Visit
  • AmazonGlobal

    Check price
    ~$169Visit
  • MKUS

    Out of stock
    $169Visit

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FAQ

Keychron Q1 HE vs Q1 V2 SE: your questions

The Q1 HE uses Gateron Double-Rail magnetic switches with adjustable actuation and rapid trigger, while the Q1 V2 SE uses standard mechanical switches. The Q1 HE also supports wireless connectivity, whereas the V2 SE is wired only.

No, the Q1 HE is only compatible with Gateron Double-Rail magnetic switches. Standard MX-style mechanical switches will not work due to the Hall effect sensor design.

Yes, according to the vendor description, the Q1 V2 SE is fully programmable with QMK and VIA for key remapping, macros, and shortcuts.

The Q1 HE has a 2.4 GHz wireless mode with 1000 Hz polling and Bluetooth 5.2 for connecting up to three devices. The Q1 V2 SE does not offer any wireless connectivity.

Yes, the Q1 HE comes with a system toggle and includes both Mac and Windows keycaps. It can store separate layouts for each operating system.

The adjustable actuation points range from 0.2 mm to 3.8 mm with 0.1 mm sensitivity increments, as stated on the Keychron product page.

Yes, the vendor description highlights that version 2 includes extra sound absorption foam and case gaskets to reduce noise.

No, the Q1 HE comes with OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps that are not shine-through. The south-facing RGB lights are designed to illuminate the board from the typist's angle.

The Q1 HE weighs about 1735 g in its fully assembled version. The Q1 V2 SE is estimated by a customer review to be pushing 4 pounds (around 1800 g), making them fairly similar.

No, the Q1 V2 SE uses standard mechanical switches with fixed actuation points. Actuation adjustment is a feature exclusive to the magnetic switches on the Q1 HE.

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