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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 12, 2026

Keychron Q1 Pro vs V1 MaxAluminum or Lighter Build

Get the Q1 Pro for its aluminum case and double-gasket construction, or the V1 Max for its lighter ABS build and listed ISO-Nordic, ISO-IT, and ISO-PT layouts.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron Q1 Pro

Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $150.

If you want

  • CNC-machined aluminum case.
  • Double-gasket design with silicone pads between the top and bottom case.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • Missing ISO-Nordic, ISO-IT, ISO-PT. The other board is sold in those layouts.

Get the

Keychron V1 Max

Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Listed in ISO-Nordic, ISO-IT, and ISO-PT layouts.
  • ABS plastic case and 770g listed weight make this the lighter of the two.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Bottom line

Choose the Q1 Pro if its aluminum case, double-gasket construction, and described rotary-encoder commands matter most. Choose the V1 Max if you want a much lighter listed weight or need ISO-Nordic, ISO-IT, or ISO-PT. Both retain the same broad 75% layout, wireless options, hot-swap support, and QMK/VIA features.

What actually differs

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 Pro

Keychron V1 Max

  • Connection

    Bluetooth, Wired, 2.4 GHz

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Case material

    Aluminum

    ABS, Plastic

  • Weight

    1,825 g

    770 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

  • Layout standard

    ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-SW, ISO-UK

    ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-IT, ISO-Nordic, ISO-PT, ISO-SW, ISO-UK

    ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit

  • Dimensions

    23 x 145 x 328 mm

    22 x 149 x 329 mm

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron Q1 Pro
  • Keychron V1 Max
Performance
82
83
Build quality
89
86
Productivity
98
97
Customizability
98
98
Portability
82
78

What they share

  • Layout size: 75%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Battery: 4,000 mAh
  • Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
  • Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
  • Mount style: Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The gaming choice is close because both list the same polling rate, 2.4 GHz connection, and core rollover feature. The V1 Max is the more practical pick for carrying or for buyers needing one of its additional listed ISO layouts. The Q1 Pro’s metal construction and double-gasket design favor buyers focused on its case and build details. For creative controls, its vendor specifically describes using the rotary encoder for tasks such as adjusting brush size or selecting media.

For gaming

It's a tie

  • Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity.
  • Both have 75% layouts, N-Key Rollover, and south-facing RGB.

From real owners

What owners say

Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.

Keychron Q1 Pro

5.0

15 owner reviews

Praise
“The Q1 Pro is the second keyboard I bought from Keychron. The basic materials are very good and she looks amazing. The only thing that is not perfect is the sound. I think she will be perfect with a simple adaption of foam and lubed switches. But the Q1 is…”
Yonatan S.Verified buyer· via Keychron

Keychron V1 Max

4.9

14 owner reviews

Praise
“Feels great, haven't got a new KB since my Novatouch. Great high end features and feel, DSA caps on it feel good.”
Paul B.Verified buyer· via Keychron

Full specs

Keychron Q1 Pro vs V1 Max specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

6 of 27 specs differ

Keychron Q1 Pro

Keychron V1 Max

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
75%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-IT, ISO-Nordic, ISO-PT, ISO-SW, ISO-UK

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, Wired, 2.4 GHz
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Battery

4,000 mAh
4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
ABS, Plastic

Plate material

Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate

Keycaps

ABS, PBT
ABS, PBT

Weight

1,825 g
770 g

Dimensions

23 x 145 x 328 mm
22 x 149 x 329 mm

Typing angle

5°
4°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2023
2023

Where to buy

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.

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

Keychron Q1 Pro

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW

    In stockShips to you

    Go to Keychron
  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW

    Out of stockDoes not ship to you

    Go to Keychron (DE)

Keychron V1 Max

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW

    Out of stockShips to you

    Go to Keychron
  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-SW, ISO-PT

    In stockDoes not ship to you

    Go to Keychron (DE)

FAQ

Keychron Q1 Pro vs V1 Max: your questions

The Q1 Pro has an aluminum case and a double-gasket design. The V1 Max has an ABS plastic case, weighs 770g, and lists ISO-Nordic, ISO-IT, and ISO-PT layouts.

The V1 Max is listed at 770g, while the Q1 Pro is listed at 1825g. The V1 Max is the lighter choice if you expect to move your keyboard often.

Yes. Its case material is listed as aluminum, and Keychron describes it as CNC-machined aluminum. The V1 Max is listed with an ABS plastic case.

The V1 Max lists ISO-Nordic, ISO-IT, and ISO-PT, which are not listed for the Q1 Pro. Check the exact layout option before buying, since availability can vary by configuration.

Both list hot-swappable support. Keychron says their sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.

Both list QMK and VIA support. Keychron also describes using its Launcher web app to customize keys on either model.

Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, so those listed features do not distinguish them. The V1 Max vendor specifies 1000 Hz for 2.4 GHz and wired modes, while the Q1 Pro metadata lists 1000 Hz without separating connection modes.

Both list Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity as well as wired use. Each also has a listed 4000mAh battery.

The Q1 Pro vendor describes its KSA PBT keycaps as not shine-through, and the V1 Max vendor describes its PBT keycaps as not shine-through. Both have south-facing RGB, so buyers seeking shine-through legends should account for the stated LED and keycap limitations.

Both list hot-swappable switches, QMK/VIA support, and DIY kit or barebones availability. The Q1 Pro vendor also describes its components as easy to assemble and highlights a double-gasket design.

Keychron says the Q1 Pro’s programmable rotary encoder can be assigned to commands such as zooming, adjusting brush size, or selecting video clips and photos. Both boards list knob support, but those specific creative examples are described for the Q1 Pro.

Both list Mac/Windows support, and each vendor describes a system toggle and keycaps for macOS and Windows. The metadata also lists Linux support in the vendor specifications for each model.

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