Keychron Q1 HE vs Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3Gaming Tech vs Compact Style
Choose the Keychron Q1 HE for competitive gaming features, or the Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3 for a more portable, playful design.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
5.0 (20)5.0 · 20 reviews
from$160at Input Gear
4.4 (7)4.4 · 7 reviews
from$245at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q1 HE
Gaming Tech
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Advanced Gateron double-rail magnetic switches with adjustable actuation and rapid trigger.
- High 1000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes.
- Robust 4000mAh battery for longer wireless use.
- 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
Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3
Compact Style
Build quality in the top 45% of 65% boards under $300.
- Unique customizable screen with typing animations and a mini-game.
- More portable due to its 65% size and 1471g weight.
- Comes with a carrying case and extensive accessory kit.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
Your primary need dictates the choice. For competitive gaming where every millisecond and customization level counts, the Keychron Q1 HE's magnetic switch technology is unmatched. If you value a lighter, more portable keyboard with a unique personality and are willing to trade cutting-edge performance for charm and convenience, the Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3 is a compelling option.
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
Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3
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
Battery
4,000 mAh
3,100 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Mount style
Gasket Mount, PCB Mount
Gasket Mount
- Keychron Q1 HE
- Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3
- Performance
- 10065
- Build quality
- 9269
- Productivity
- 9779
- Customizability
- 10071
- Portability
- 8189
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: Aluminum
- Knob
- Display: LED
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron Q1 HE is the clear choice for gaming and programming due to its advanced magnetic switch features and more functional 75% layout. The Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3 wins for travel thanks to its lighter weight and included case. For office use and content creation, the decision is more nuanced, leaning on layout preference versus playful aesthetics. Modders will find more documented internal flexibility with the Q1 HE.
Pick the Keychron Q1 HE
- Features adjustable actuation points from 0.2 to 3.8 mm and rapid trigger technology.
- Offers a 1000 Hz polling rate in its 2.4 GHz and wired modes.
- Supports assigning multiple actions 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
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.”
Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3
7 owner reviews
“The board is really nice quality and visually stunning. I’m a huge fan of retro gaming so this felt like I necessary purchase. It feels nice to type on at the angle and height. This may become my daily driver for the home office.”
“I was really looking forward to the Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3 Prebuilt, but right out of the box, the left control key was completely unresponsive. After doing some of my own troubleshooting, I pulled the switch and found that one of the pins was bent a full 90…”
Keychron Q1 HE vs Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 29 specs differ
Keychron Q1 HE
Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3
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
Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
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 Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3: your questions
The Keychron Q1 HE is designed for competitive gaming. It features magnetic switches with adjustable actuation points, rapid trigger technology, and a 1000 Hz polling rate in its wireless 2.4 GHz mode, which are attributes highlighted for enhancing gameplay responsiveness.
Yes, the QK65 Mk3 features a customizable screen. According to the vendor description, it can display themed typing animations, a mini-game, and supports uploading custom GIFs, with visuals that react to your typing speed.
No. Keychron specifies that the Q1 HE is compatible exclusively with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches sold on their website. It does not support other magnetic switches like the Gateron Magnetic Jade or KS-20 models.
The Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3 is more portable. It is significantly lighter at 1471g compared to the 4000g Q1 HE, has a smaller 65% footprint, and its vendor listing confirms it includes a carrying case.
Yes, both keyboards are listed as compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems. The Q1 HE includes separate keycaps for each OS, while the QK65 Mk3 has a physical knob on the back to switch between Mac and Windows modes.
The Keychron Q1 HE has a single 4000mAh battery, with the manufacturer claiming up to 100 hours of wireless use with backlighting off. The Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3 uses two 3100mAh batteries, but no specific runtime estimates are provided in the available information.
Yes, both keyboards support key remapping. The Keychron Q1 HE uses open-source QMK firmware and the Keychron Launcher web app. The Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3 is programmable using Qwertykey's VIA web configurator.
Both keyboards include sound-dampening features. The Q1 HE uses a double-gasket design with silicone pads and an acoustic pad. The QK65 Mk3 includes a specially-designed bottom case to filter sound, along with tear-notched plate foam, an IXPE sheet, and a PET sheet.
The Keychron Q1 HE pre-built version comes with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches, which are available in linear, tactile, or clicky variants. The pre-built Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3 comes with Keygeek Neo Oat 36g linear switches.
Yes, both keyboards feature hot-swappable PCBs. However, the Q1 HE is only hot-swappable with compatible Gateron double-rail magnetic switches. The QK65 Mk3's hot-swap capability is for standard mechanical switches.
The Keychron Q1 HE uses a 75% layout, which includes arrow keys, a column of function keys, and a few navigation keys. The Qwertykeys QK65 Mk3 is a 65% layout, which has arrow keys but condenses the function row and navigation cluster into layers, resulting in a more compact board.
Not sold on either?
Still torn?
Answer a few quick questions and the keyboard finder ranks 2,000+ boards by how you will actually use yours.