Keychron Q1 Max vs Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Choose the Q1 Max for an aluminum 75% build and broad MX switch compatibility, or the Minilo98 Pro for a lighter board with a numpad and silent switches.
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4.9 (21)4.9 · 21 reviews
from$209at MK
No reviews
from$155at Varmilo
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q1 Max
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- CNC-machined aluminum case, PC plate, and double-gasket construction.
- Hot-swappable support for common 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.
- QMK and VIA support, with vendor-described remapping, macros, and shortcuts.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Hall effect
Build quality in the top 5% of 98% boards under $200.
- 98% layout includes a numpad while keeping a compact full-size format.
- Listed weight is 1000 g, lighter than the Q1 Max.
- Listed with silent switches and hot-swappable support.
- 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.
- Missing ISO-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Pick the Keychron Q1 Max if you want an aluminum 75% keyboard and the flexibility to use common MX-style switches. Choose the Varmilo Minilo98 Pro if a numpad, listed silent switches, and lower weight matter more. Check the Minilo98 Pro's magnetic-switch restriction before buying replacement switches.
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 Max
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Layout size
75%
98%
Hall effect (magnetic)
No
Yes
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Case material
Aluminum
Copper, Metal, Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Silent
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount
- Keychron Q1 Max
- Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
- Performance
- 8185
- Build quality
- 8981
- Productivity
- 9788
- Customizability
- 9889
- Portability
- 8155
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The Minilo98 Pro is the more natural fit for buyers who want silent switches, a numpad, and lower weight. The Q1 Max pulls ahead for switch experimentation and buyers who want an aluminum construction with a 75% layout. Both have the same listed polling rate for 2.4 GHz and wired connections, and both support QMK/VIA. For travel, the Minilo98 Pro's lower weight is a notable advantage, though both offer wireless connectivity.
Pick the Keychron Q1 Max
- Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate for 2.4 GHz and wired use, so the listed polling rate does not distinguish them.
- The Q1 Max supports linear, tactile, and clicky switch types, while the Minilo98 Pro is listed with silent switches.
- The Q1 Max's compatibility rules allow 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches, useful if you want a wider switch choice.
Keychron Q1 Max vs Varmilo Minilo98 Pro specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 28 specs differ
Keychron Q1 Max
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
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 Max
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-CH
In stockDoes not ship to you
Varmilo Minilo98 Pro
Varmilo
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In stockShips to you
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 Max vs Varmilo Minilo98 Pro: your questions
The Q1 Max suits buyers who want an aluminum 75% keyboard and common MX-style switch compatibility. The Minilo98 Pro is a better match if you want a numpad, silent switches, and a lighter listed weight.
No, the Q1 Max has a 75% layout and its compatibility rules specify that it has no numpad. The Minilo98 Pro's 98% layout includes one.
Yes, the Minilo98 Pro has a compact full-size layout with a numpad. Its compatibility notes clarify that it does not have the gaps of a standard full-size board.
No, the Minilo98 Pro is listed as supporting magnetic switches only, and standard MX switches will not fit. The Q1 Max, by contrast, supports common 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches.
Keychron says the Q1 Max accepts almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches. The product listing also describes linear, tactile, and clicky switch options.
The Minilo98 Pro is listed with silent switches, making it the clearer choice if quiet switches are your priority. The Q1 Max offers linear, tactile, and clicky options and includes acoustic foam layers, but its listing does not identify its switches as silent.
Yes, both list Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, as well as wired use. Each also has a listed 4000 mAh battery.
The Minilo98 Pro has a listed weight of 1000 g, compared with 1724 g for the Q1 Max. Both support wireless connectivity, so the Minilo98 Pro has the weight advantage between the two.
Both product listings include QMK and VIA support. Keychron also describes using its Launcher web app with the Q1 Max for key remapping and macros.
Both are listed with south-facing RGB, and their compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends stay dark. The Q1 Max's standard KSA keycaps are described as not shine-through, with a separate side-printed shine-through option also described by Keychron.
The Minilo98 Pro lists ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-IT, which are listed as missing for the Q1 Max. The Q1 Max offers ISO layouts including UK, German, Nordic, and Swiss.
The main difference is the layout and switch fit: the Q1 Max is a 75% aluminum board with common MX-style switch compatibility, while the Minilo98 Pro is a compact 98% board with a numpad and magnetic switches only. The Minilo98 Pro is also lighter, while the Q1 Max has a CNC-machined aluminum body.
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