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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 10, 2026

Keychron Q1 Ultra vs V1Wireless or Wired

Choose the Q1 Ultra for wireless use and an aluminum case, or the V1 for a lighter wired board with QMK support.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron Q1 Ultra

Build quality in the top 35% of 75% boards under $300.

If you want

  • Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity provide more connection choices than the V1.
  • CNC aluminum case, PC plate, and double-gasket design set it apart from the V1's ABS plastic housing and tray mount.
  • The 4000 mAh battery is rated for up to 660 hours with the backlight off.

Rules this board out

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

Get the

Keychron V1

QMK

Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $50.

If you want

  • The 995 g ABS plastic case makes it lighter than the Q1 Ultra.
  • QMK firmware, VIA support in the feature list, and Keychron Launcher provide configuration options.
  • Hot-swappable sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin switches, and the V1 is offered as a barebone kit.

Rules this board out

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

Bottom line

Choose the Keychron Q1 Ultra if wireless connectivity, an aluminum case, and 8000 Hz polling in wired or 2.4 GHz mode are worth the added weight and cost. Pick the V1 if you prefer a lighter wired keyboard with QMK support, a barebone option, and a lower-cost entry into switch and keymap customization.

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 Ultra

Keychron V1

  • Connection

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Case material

    Aluminum

    ABS, Plastic

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount, Plate Mount

    Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount

  • Weight

    1,724 g

    995 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

  • QMK

    No

    Yes

    The deep option when you want to remap every key

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron Q1 Ultra
  • Keychron V1
Performance
89
91
Build quality
74
89
Productivity
90
98
Customizability
77
98
Portability
83
64

What they share

  • Layout size: 75%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
  • Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
  • Knob
  • Sound dampening
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Q1 Ultra has the clearest edge for wireless gaming and office setups, pairing multiple connection modes with an 8000 Hz wired and 2.4 GHz polling rate. The V1 suits buyers who prioritize QMK-based customization, a barebone option, and less weight. Travel is a compromise: the V1 is lighter, but the Q1 Ultra can be used wirelessly. For creative work, both offer a knob and macro customization, with the V1 listing specific creative controls and the Q1 Ultra offering wireless flexibility.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron Q1 Ultra

  • The Q1 Ultra lists 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, while the V1 vendor listing specifies 1000 Hz.
  • The Q1 Ultra supports both wired and wireless connections, while the V1 is wired only.

From real owners

What owners say

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

Keychron Q1 Ultra

5.0

6 owner reviews

Praise
“An exceptional keyboard in every respect. The sound, the feel of the keys, and the performance are all of the highest quality.”
Eduard T.Verified buyer· via Keychron

Keychron V1

4.9

64 owner reviews

Praise
“Even tho I live in the middle of Europe the shipping only took 11 working days. It feels and sounds great to type on. And the opening experience was also great.”
Jitka H.Verified buyer· via Keychron

Full specs

Keychron Q1 Ultra vs V1 specs

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

12 of 27 specs differ

Keychron Q1 Ultra

Keychron V1

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray 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-IT, ISO-PT, JIS
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

8,000 Hz
8,000 Hz

Battery

4,000 mAh
Wired only

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
ABS, Plastic

Plate material

Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate, Steel

Keycaps

PBT
ABS, PBT

Weight

1,724 g
995 g

Dimensions

32 x 328 x 145 mm
18 x 149 x 329 mm

Typing angle

5°
4°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

No
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2026
2022

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

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

Keychron Q1 Ultra

  • Keychron (DE)

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

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Keychron V1

  • Keychron

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

    In stockShips to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES

    In stockDoes not ship to you

  • Keychron (DE)

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

    In stockDoes not ship to you

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.

Keychron V14 stores

FAQ

Keychron Q1 Ultra vs V1: your questions

Yes. It supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections, and its vendor listing specifies Bluetooth 5.3. The Keychron V1 is wired only.

No. The V1 is listed as wired only and connects through USB-C. For Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless use, consider the Q1 Ultra.

The Q1 Ultra lists 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, with 125 Hz over Bluetooth. The V1 vendor specifications list 1000 Hz polling.

The V1 weighs 995 g, compared with 1724 g for the Q1 Ultra. The V1 is the more practical pick if keyboard weight matters when packing or moving it.

Yes. Both are hot-swappable, and their vendor descriptions specify support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches. This allows switch changes without soldering.

Both support switch swaps, but the V1 has QMK firmware, VIA support in its feature list, and a barebone option. The Q1 Ultra uses ZMK and Keychron Launcher for remapping and macros.

The Q1 Ultra has a CNC aluminum case and a PC plate. The V1 uses an ABS plastic case and steel plate, according to the vendor specifications.

Keychron rates the Q1 Ultra for up to 660 hours with the backlight off and up to 200 hours with RGB at its lowest brightness. Battery life varies with backlight use.

Both models are offered with a knob option. Keychron describes the V1 knob as programmable for controls such as zooming, adjusting brush size, and selecting video clips or photos.

Yes. Both use a 75% layout, giving them a similar compact size category. Their connection options, case materials, firmware, and weight differ.

The Q1 Ultra is the stronger fit if you want wireless gaming, since it supports 2.4 GHz and lists 8000 Hz polling in that mode. The V1 is wired only, and its vendor listing specifies 1000 Hz polling.

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