Keychron Q1 HE vs S1High-End Gaming vs Budget Low-Profile
Choose the Q1 HE for competitive gaming features and wireless flexibility, or the S1 for a more affordable, slim low-profile typing experience.
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4.9 (21)4.9 · 21 reviews
from$160at Input Gear
4.8 (12)4.8 · 12 reviews
from$82at Keychron
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q1 HE
High-End Gaming
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Advanced magnetic switches with adjustable actuation points and rapid trigger.
- Tri-mode connectivity: wired, 2.4GHz wireless, and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Premium all-aluminum body with a double-gasket mount design.
- 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.
Get the
Keychron S1
Budget Low-Profile
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.
- More affordable price point for a full CNC aluminum body.
- Ultra-slim, low-profile design with a light weight of 960g.
- Hot-swappable sockets for Gateron low-profile mechanical switches.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Your budget and primary activity should guide this choice. For competitive gamers and enthusiasts who want cutting-edge magnetic switches, wireless freedom, and a top-tier modding platform, the Keychron Q1 HE is worth the investment. If you need a sleek, well-built low-profile keyboard for typing and general use on a desk, and prefer to keep costs lower, the wired Keychron S1 is an excellent value.
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 S1
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
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Low profile
No
Yes
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
- Keychron Q1 HE
- Keychron S1
- Performance
- 10082
- Build quality
- 9282
- Productivity
- 9780
- Customizability
- 10089
- Portability
- 8165
- Layout size: 75%
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: Aluminum
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q1 HE is the clear choice for gaming and advanced customization, thanks to its magnetic switches and extensive programmability. It also leads for content creation and programming. The S1 wins for travel due to its lighter, slimmer build and is a capable, more affordable option for office use. For modding, the Q1 HE's gasket mount and component options offer a deeper platform.
Pick the Keychron Q1 HE
- The Q1 HE features adjustable actuation points (0.2-3.8mm) and rapid trigger technology for competitive play.
- It offers a 1000Hz polling rate over both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless connections.
- Its magnetic switches and TMR sensors are designed for ultra-low latency and precise input.
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 S1
12 owner reviews
“Got it today, hands on my first mechanical keyboard and feels so good. And a lot of difference in day-to-day way of typing.”
Keychron Q1 HE vs S1 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
19 of 30 specs differ
Keychron Q1 HE
Keychron S1
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
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 S1
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Keychron Q1 HE vs S1: your questions
The Q1 HE is a high-end board featuring wireless connectivity, adjustable magnetic switches, a gasket mount, and advanced gaming features like rapid trigger. The S1 is a wired-only, low-profile keyboard with standard mechanical switches, a tray mount, and a more affordable price point.
Yes. According to Keychron, the Q1 HE offers a 2.4 GHz wireless mode with a 1000Hz polling rate, which is suitable for gaming. It also has a Bluetooth 5.2 mode for multi-device connectivity and a wired USB-C connection.
Yes, but only in the specific hot-swappable version. The vendor description lists a 'Low Profile Gateron Mechanical (Hot-swappable)' option. The PCB only supports Gateron low-profile mechanical switches.
The Q1 HE is compatible exclusively with Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Switches. The manufacturer states it does not support other magnetic switches like the Gateron Magnetic Jade or KS-20 models.
It depends on preference. The Q1 HE offers a customizable typing feel with its magnetic switches and gasket-mounted design. The S1 provides a distinct low-profile typing experience with its slim LSA keycaps and lighter actuation force switches, which some may prefer for long sessions.
Yes, the S1 has north-facing RGB LEDs with up to 22 lighting effects, as per the vendor description. It is also available in a white backlight version.
Yes. Both keyboards support QMK for key remapping and macros. The Q1 HE uses the Keychron Launcher web app, while the S1 is also compatible with the VIA configurator for easier on-the-fly remapping.
The Q1 HE is significantly heavier. The assembled version weighs approximately 1735g, while the S1 weighs about 960g. The Q1 HE's weight comes from its denser materials and internal components like the battery.
The Q1 HE comes with OSA (OEM spherical angled) profile PBT keycaps. The S1 comes with low-profile LSA (low profile spherical-angled) double-shot PBT keycaps. Both include keycaps for Mac and Windows layouts.
Yes. Keychron states the Q1 HE is built with Mac users in mind. It includes a system toggle and dedicated Mac keycaps, allowing you to save separate layouts for macOS and Windows.
The Keychron S1 has a 1000Hz polling rate in its wired USB-C mode, as stated in its specifications.
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