Keychron Q1 V2 SE vs V1 MaxAluminum or Wireless
Choose the Q1 V2 SE for its aluminum case and steel plate, or the V1 Max for wireless connectivity and a lighter ABS build.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q1 V2 SE
Build quality in the top 15% of 75% boards under $200.
- Aluminum case paired with a steel plate.
- Hot-swap sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin switches, according to the vendor.
- QMK and VIA support, plus a knob and multimedia keys.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Get the
Keychron V1 Max
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity.
- A 4000 mAh battery, with vendor-listed wireless use up to 190 hours with backlighting off.
- Gasket mount and polycarbonate plate, with sound-absorbing foam described by Keychron.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Choose the Q1 V2 SE if an aluminum case and steel plate are your priorities and wired use suits your setup. Pick the V1 Max if you want Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz, a lower listed price range, and the option of an ISO layout or barebones build. Both offer hot-swapping, QMK/VIA, a knob, and sound-dampening features, so those shared capabilities need not decide the purchase.
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 V2 SE
Keychron V1 Max
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
Aluminum
ABS, Plastic
Mount style
Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Layout standard
ANSI
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
Plate material
Steel
Polycarbonate
- Keychron Q1 V2 SE
- Keychron V1 Max
- Performance
- 7383
- Build quality
- 8486
- Productivity
- 9897
- Customizability
- 9498
- Portability
- 6879
- Layout size: 75%
- Hot-swappable
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The V1 Max has the clearer advantage for wireless gaming and mobile use, thanks to its 2.4 GHz connection, Bluetooth, and battery. The Q1 V2 SE is the fit for buyers who specifically want an aluminum case and steel plate. Programming and modding are close because both boards support hot-swapping and QMK/VIA, though the V1 Max adds ISO layout choices and a barebones version. For office and content work, the shared 75% layout, knob, and multimedia keys make the decision depend more on wired versus wireless use and preferred construction.
Pick the Keychron V1 Max
- The V1 Max supports 2.4 GHz wireless and lists a 1000 Hz polling rate for that mode.
- The Q1 V2 SE is wired only.
- Both have hot-swappable switches and south-facing RGB.
Keychron Q1 V2 SE 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 V2 SE
Keychron V1 Max
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
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron Q1 V2 SE
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron V1 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-SW, ISO-PT
In stockDoes not ship 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.
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Keychron Q1 V2 SE vs V1 Max: your questions
No. Its listed connectivity is wired only, using USB-C. For Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless, consider the Keychron V1 Max.
Yes. Keychron lists both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz, as well as wired connectivity. Its vendor page specifies a 1000 Hz polling rate for 2.4 GHz and wired modes, and 90 Hz for Bluetooth.
The Keychron Q1 V2 SE has an aluminum case and steel plate. The V1 Max uses an ABS plastic case and polycarbonate plate.
Yes, both keyboards are listed as hot-swappable. Their vendor descriptions say the sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
Yes. The Q1 V2 SE and V1 Max both list QMK and VIA support. Keychron also describes its Launcher web app for remapping keys and creating macros on the V1 Max.
The V1 Max is listed with a gasket mount and polycarbonate plate. The Q1 V2 SE is listed as plate-mounted and includes case gaskets among its sound-dampening components.
The Q1 V2 SE is listed with an ANSI layout. The V1 Max is available in ANSI and multiple ISO variants, including UK, German, Nordic, Swiss, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
Keychron lists up to 190 hours with backlighting off and up to 100 hours with RGB at the lowest brightness. The keyboard has a 4000 mAh battery, and the vendor notes that actual use can vary.
The V1 Max has a listed weight of 770 g and offers wireless connections, making it the more travel-flexible option. The Q1 V2 SE is wired only, and its weight is not specified here.
Both list south-facing RGB lighting. The V1 Max vendor says its PBT keycaps are not shine-through, so the lighting is not designed to pass through the legends.
Yes. Keychron lists a barebones version, which does not include keycaps or switches. The Q1 V2 SE is listed as prebuilt, not barebones.
The Q1 V2 SE has a steel plate. The V1 Max uses a polycarbonate plate, which Keychron describes as part of its gasket-mounted design.
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