Keychron Q1 HE vs Q2 ProMagnetic vs MX Switches
Get the Q1 HE for magnetic switches, Rapid Trigger and 2.4 GHz wireless; choose the Q2 Pro for broad MX switch compatibility and a smaller, lighter 65% layout.
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5.0 (20)5.0 · 20 reviews
from$160at Input Gear
4.3 (8)4.3 · 8 reviews
from$149at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q1 HE
Magnetic
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger and four-depth action assignments.
- 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity with a listed 1000 Hz polling rate.
- 75% layout with a function row.
- 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.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron Q2 Pro
MX Switches
Build quality in the top 5% of 65% boards under $150.
- Hot-swap support for most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.
- Compact 65% layout and a listed assembled weight of 1489 g.
- The vendor describes assigning creative controls such as zoom and brush size to its knob.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-Nordic, ISO-IT. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
Choose the Q1 HE for magnetic-switch gaming features, 2.4 GHz connectivity and a function row. Choose the Q2 Pro for broad MX switch compatibility, a smaller 65% footprint and a knob the vendor describes for creative controls. Check the listed layout and switch restrictions before ordering either board.
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 Q2 Pro
Layout size
75%
65%
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
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
- Keychron Q1 HE
- Keychron Q2 Pro
- Performance
- 10078
- Build quality
- 9190
- Productivity
- 9795
- Customizability
- 10096
- Portability
- 8189
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Case material: Aluminum
- Knob
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q1 HE has the clearest gaming advantage, with magnetic-switch features and a 2.4 GHz mode. Its function row also makes it the more direct fit for users who want a 75% layout. The Q2 Pro leans toward compact desk setups, broad MX switch swaps and creative workflows that can use its programmable knob. For travel, its smaller layout and vendor-listed Bluetooth battery estimate favor the Q2 Pro, though the supplied weight figures should be checked against the exact configuration.
Pick the Keychron Q1 HE
- Hall Effect switches support adjustable actuation and Dynamic Rapid Trigger.
- The vendor lists 2.4 GHz connectivity with a 1000 Hz polling rate.
- Four actions can be assigned to a key at different press depths.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron Q1 HE
20 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.”
Keychron Q2 Pro
8 owner reviews
“I purchased Q2 keyboard two weeks ago. It was sent from ShenZhen, China by DHL. Be careful you have to pay import custom tax. The keyboard is good quality. I am just surprise, after discount it is the same price as in Amazon. thanks.”
Keychron Q1 HE vs Q2 Pro 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 Q2 Pro
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
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.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron Q1 HE
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
- Go to Input Gear
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron Q2 Pro
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron Q1 HE vs Q2 Pro: your questions
The Q1 HE is the stronger fit if you want Hall Effect switches, adjustable actuation and Rapid Trigger. Keychron also lists 2.4 GHz connectivity at 1000 Hz polling for the Q1 HE.
No, the Q1 HE is limited to Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches, and standard MX switches will not fit. The Q2 Pro supports most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, according to Keychron.
The Q2 Pro is described as supporting MX-style mechanical switches, not magnetic switches. Its vendor listing names compatibility with most 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches.
The Q1 HE is a 75% keyboard, while the Q2 Pro is 65%. The Q2 Pro has no function row or numpad, while the Q1 HE's compatibility notes specify that it has no numpad.
Yes, its listed connections include 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth and wired USB-C. Keychron describes 2.4 GHz operation with 1000 Hz polling.
The Q2 Pro's listed connections are Bluetooth and wired USB-C. Its vendor description discusses Bluetooth connectivity, not a 2.4 GHz mode.
The Q2 Pro offers broader switch choice, with vendor-listed support for most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches. The Q1 HE only accepts Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches.
The Q1 HE's vendor description identifies its PBT keycaps as not shine-through, and the Q2 Pro's assembled KSA PBT keycaps are also described as not shine-through. Both use south-facing LEDs, so shine-through legends stay dark according to their compatibility notes.
The Q2 Pro is listed at 1489 g assembled in its vendor specifications. The Q1 HE metadata lists 4000 g, while its vendor description gives a different assembled weight, so verify the weight for the exact configuration before buying.
Keychron describes the Q2 Pro knob as programmable for actions including selecting video clips, zooming and changing brush size. Its QMK and Launcher support also includes key remapping, macros and shortcuts.
ISO-Nordic and ISO-IT are listed as missing for the Q2 Pro in its compatibility notes. The Q1 HE lists both ISO-Nordic and ISO-IT layout options.
QMK and VIA support are listed for both the Q1 HE and Q2 Pro. Keychron also describes using its Launcher web app to customize keys on each model.
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