Keychron Q1 Max vs MelGeek O2Modding or Numpad
Get the Keychron Q1 Max for hot-swappable switches, QMK customization, and its 75% layout, or the MelGeek O2 for a low-profile numpad and a lighter 650g body.
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4.9 (21)4.9 · 21 reviews
from$209at MK
No reviews
from$109at MelGeek
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q1 Max
Hot-swappable
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $200.
- Hot-swappable switches, plus QMK and VIA support for customization.
- 75% layout with multiple listed ANSI and ISO variants.
- Dedicated knob, N-key rollover, and a 4000mAh battery.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Get the
MelGeek O2
Build quality in the top 50% of Numpad boards under $150.
- A numpad layout for dedicated numeric entry.
- 650g weight and low-profile MIA PBT keycaps.
- Vendor-listed connection to up to eight devices.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- Numpad only. This is not a full keyboard.
Choose the Keychron Q1 Max if you want a 75% board with hot-swappable switches, QMK/VIA customization, and a knob. Choose the MelGeek O2 if a dedicated numpad, low-profile keys, and a lighter 650g body matter more. The O2's soldered switches and numpad-only form are important constraints, while the Q1 Max does not provide dedicated numpad keys.
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
MelGeek O2
Layout size
75%
Numpad
Hot-swappable
Yes
No
Switch changes without soldering
Battery
4,000 mAh
2,500 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
Aluminum
ABS, Aluminum, Polycarbonate
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount
- Keychron Q1 Max
- MelGeek O2
- Performance
- 8154
- Build quality
- 8965
- Productivity
- 9753
- Customizability
- 9850
- Portability
- 8182
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Sound dampening
- Plate material: Polycarbonate
- Keycaps: PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q1 Max leads for gaming, programming, modding, and content creation, mainly through its rollover support, switch and key customization, and dedicated knob. The O2 is the more practical office choice when a numpad and lower carry weight matter. It also has the travel advantage on listed weight, although the Q1 Max has the larger battery. Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate, so that alone does not separate them.
Pick the Keychron Q1 Max
- The Q1 Max has a 75% layout, while the O2 is a numpad-only board.
- The Q1 Max supports N-key rollover, which the O2 listing marks as unavailable.
- Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate, so that specification does not distinguish them.
Keychron Q1 Max vs MelGeek O2 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
18 of 27 specs differ
Keychron Q1 Max
MelGeek O2
Switch options
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.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron Q1 Max
- Go to Input Gear
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH
Out of stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-CH
In stockDoes not ship to you
MelGeek O2
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron Q1 Max vs MelGeek O2: your questions
The Q1 Max is the more suitable choice based on its 75% layout and N-key rollover support. Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate, so that feature is shared rather than a differentiator.
No. The Q1 Max has a 75% layout, and its compatibility notes specify that it has no numpad. The MelGeek O2 is listed as a numpad layout.
Yes, the O2 is listed as a numpad-only keyboard. Its vendor description also calls it an 83-key layout, while the compatibility information clarifies that it is not a full keyboard.
The Q1 Max is hot-swappable, so its switches can be changed without soldering. The O2 has soldered switches, and replacing them requires soldering.
The Q1 Max has hot-swap support, QMK, and VIA, and Keychron describes options for remapping keys and creating macros. The O2 supports Kailh low-profile mechanical switches only, and its switches are soldered.
The MelGeek O2 weighs 650g, compared with 1724g for the Keychron Q1 Max. The O2 is the lighter option based on the listed weights.
The Q1 Max is a 75% keyboard and is listed with ANSI and multiple ISO standards. The O2 is a numpad-only ANSI layout, rather than a full keyboard.
The O2 is listed as ANSI only, and its compatibility notes say ISO variants such as ISO-DE and UK are not offered. The Q1 Max is listed with ANSI and several ISO layout standards.
The Q1 Max has a 4000mAh battery, while the O2 has a 2500mAh battery. The Q1 Max therefore has the larger listed battery capacity.
Yes, the Q1 Max's listed extra features include knob support, and the vendor sells a fully assembled knob version. The O2's listed features do not include a knob.
Both offer Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections. The O2 vendor says it can connect to up to eight devices, while the Q1 Max vendor specifies Bluetooth connections to three devices.
The Q1 Max uses south-facing LEDs, and its compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends stay dark; some sculpted keycaps can also clip the LED. The O2 has north-facing LEDs, which may interfere with Cherry-profile keycaps.
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