Keychron Q1 HE vs Varmilo Muse65 HEWireless vs Wired Hall Effect
Choose the Keychron Q1 HE for wireless flexibility and a more flexible gasket mount, or the Varmilo Muse65 HE for a dedicated wired setup with a compact 65% form factor.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
4.9 (21)4.9 · 21 reviews
from$160at Input Gear
No reviews
from$119at Varmilo
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q1 HE
Wireless
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Offers triple connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired USB-C.
- Features a gasket mount design with a double-gasket structure and silicone sound dampening pads.
- Supports open-source QMK and VIA firmware for deep customization.
- 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
Varmilo Muse65 HE
Wired Hall Effect
Build quality in the top 45% of 65% boards under $150.
- More compact and portable 65% layout with smaller dimensions (312 x 112 mm).
- Lighter weight at 1200 grams.
- Features a fully CNC metal case according to the vendor description.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
Your primary need dictates the choice. If you require wireless connectivity for a clean desk or multi-device workflow, and prefer a more flexible typing feel from a gasket mount, the Keychron Q1 HE is the clear option. If you prioritize a compact, stationary setup for gaming or travel, and prefer a wired connection for maximum polling rate, the Varmilo Muse65 HE is a compelling choice. Both deliver the core benefits of hall effect technology.
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
Varmilo Muse65 HE
Layout size
75%
65%
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
Aluminum
Aluminum, Metal
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile
Clicky, Magnetic
Mount style
Gasket Mount, PCB Mount
Plate Mount, Tray Mount
- Keychron Q1 HE
- Varmilo Muse65 HE
- Performance
- 10096
- Build quality
- 9268
- Productivity
- 9769
- Customizability
- 10060
- Portability
- 8173
- Hall effect (magnetic)
- Rapid trigger
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron Q1 HE wins in most productivity-focused categories like Office, Programming, and Content Creation due to its wireless connectivity, 75% layout, and extensive firmware support. The Varmilo Muse65 HE takes the lead for Travel due to its smaller, lighter form factor. For Gaming, the boards are evenly matched on core hall effect features, leaving the choice to layout and connectivity preference. Modders will prefer the Q1 HE for its gasket mount and open-source firmware.
It's a tie
- Both keyboards feature hall effect magnetic switches with rapid trigger support.
- Both support adjustable actuation points for precise key tuning.
- The Keychron Q1 HE offers a 1000Hz wireless polling rate, while the Varmilo Muse65 HE has an 8000Hz wired polling rate.
- Both support dynamic keystroke (DKS) for multiple actions per key press.
Keychron Q1 HE vs Varmilo Muse65 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
19 of 29 specs differ
Keychron Q1 HE
Varmilo Muse65 HE
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
Varmilo Muse65 HE
Listed on the product, not split by store: ISO-SW.
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 Varmilo Muse65 HE: your questions
Only the Keychron Q1 HE offers wireless connectivity. It supports both Bluetooth 5.2 and a 2.4 GHz wireless connection with a 1000Hz polling rate. The Varmilo Muse65 HE is a wired-only keyboard.
The Keychron Q1 HE uses a 75% layout, which includes a column of function keys and a navigation cluster. The Varmilo Muse65 HE uses a more compact 65% layout, which removes the function row and places navigation keys on a secondary layer.
No, compatibility is limited. The Keychron Q1 HE vendor states it is compatible exclusively with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches sold by Keychron. The Varmilo Muse65 HE listing shows compatibility with Gateron Magnetic White, Magnetic Jade Pro, and TTC King of Magnetic RGB switches.
Yes, both the Keychron Q1 HE and Varmilo Muse65 HE support rapid trigger mode and allow you to adjust the actuation point of their magnetic switches. The Keychron allows adjustment from 0.2 to 3.8 mm, while Varmilo's driver supports customization with a minimum accuracy of 0.02mm.
The Keychron Q1 HE supports open-source QMK and VIA firmware, which is widely used for deep key remapping and macro creation. The Varmilo Muse65 HE uses a proprietary HE Driver with a graphical interface, theme-specific UIs, and support for custom layers, but some user reviews note software limitations compared to other options.
The Keychron Q1 HE uses a gasket mount with a double-gasket design and silicone pads, which typically provides a softer, more cushioned typing feel with better sound dampening. The Varmilo Muse65 HE uses a tray mount, which is a more traditional, rigid mounting style. Varmilo's vendor description mentions using silicone padding to help produce a gasket-mount-like sound consistency.
The Varmilo Muse65 HE is more portable. It is significantly smaller (312 x 112 mm vs 328 x 145 mm) and lighter (1200g vs 4000g) than the Keychron Q1 HE. The 65% layout also saves space in a bag.
Yes, both keyboards are listed as compatible with macOS and Windows systems. The Keychron Q1 HE includes specific Mac and Windows keycaps and a system toggle switch.
The Keychron Q1 HE comes with OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps. The Varmilo Muse65 HE comes with Cherry profile PBT dye-sublimated keycaps, with designs that match its various themed editions.
For the Keychron Q1 HE, the fully assembled version includes the keyboard, keycaps, Gateron magnetic switches, a Type-C cable, and a Type-A adapter. The Varmilo Muse65 HE includes the keyboard, a manual, a cable, and a key/switch puller.
The Varmilo Muse65 HE lists an 8000Hz polling rate for its wired connection. The Keychron Q1 HE offers a 1000Hz polling rate in both its wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes, with a 90Hz rate in Bluetooth mode.
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.