Keychron Q11 vs sam Notfromsam S46 R2Split vs 40%
Choose the Q11 for its split layout and fuller key layout, or the S46 R2 for a smaller 40% build with Bluetooth connectivity.
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4.7 (13)4.7 · 13 reviews
from$184at Keychron
No reviews
from$159at Dangkeebs
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q11
Split
- Split layout can be positioned as two halves or joined with a bridge cable, according to Keychron.
- 1000 Hz polling rate and wired USB-C connectivity.
- QMK and VIA support, plus a programmable knob and multimedia keys.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Get the
sam Notfromsam S46 R2
40%
Build quality in the top 10% of 40% boards under $200.
- Bluetooth and wired connectivity, with a USB-C connection listed.
- Compact 40% layout measuring 264 × 98 × 28 mm.
- Hot-swappable PCB and VIA support.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- Compact layout only. No function row, dedicated arrow keys, or numpad.
Pick the Keychron Q11 if a split design, ISO layout options, or the programmable knob matter more than wireless use and a smaller footprint. Choose the sam Notfromsam S46 R2 if you want a compact 40% kit and Bluetooth connectivity, and are comfortable without a function row, dedicated arrow keys, or numpad.
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 Q11
sam Notfromsam S46 R2
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Ergonomics
Split
Standard
Case material
Aluminum
Aluminum, Brass, Polycarbonate
Mount style
Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Top Mount
Knob
Yes
No
- Keychron Q11
- sam Notfromsam S46 R2
- Performance
- 6762
- Build quality
- 8883
- Productivity
- 9754
- Customizability
- 9879
- Portability
- 7385
- Hot-swappable
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q11 has the edge for gaming, office work, programming, modding, and content creation based on its split layout, listed polling rate, broader layout options, and extra remapping features. The S46 R2 is the more travel-oriented choice because it is smaller and supports Bluetooth. Both offer hot-swappable switches and VIA support, so the choice is less clear if those are your main customization needs. The S46 R2's 40% layout is a substantial trade-off if you rely on dedicated navigation or function keys.
Pick the Keychron Q11
- The Q11 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate, while no polling-rate figure is listed for the S46 R2.
- The Q11 has a split layout that can be positioned in separate halves or joined with a bridge cable, according to Keychron.
Keychron Q11 vs sam Notfromsam S46 R2 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
16 of 25 specs differ
Keychron Q11
sam Notfromsam S46 R2
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
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.
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ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron Q11
- Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic
Out of stockShips to you
- Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
sam Notfromsam S46 R2
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron Q11 vs sam Notfromsam S46 R2: your questions
The S46 R2 is smaller at 264 × 98 × 28 mm and supports Bluetooth as well as wired connectivity. The Q11 is a larger split board and is wired only.
No, the Q11 is listed as wired only, with USB-C connectivity. The vendor description also specifies Type-C wired connection.
Yes, the S46 R2 is listed with Bluetooth and wired connectivity. Its vendor listing describes a Bluetooth hot-swap PCB.
The Q11 is listed with ISO variants including ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, and ISO-UK, as well as ANSI and JIS. The S46 R2 is ANSI-only, with no ISO variants offered.
The S46 R2 is a 40% layout, and its compatibility details say it has no dedicated arrow keys. The vendor description mentions a separated arrow cluster blocker, which does not change that listed limitation.
Yes, both keyboards list hot-swappable switches. Keychron specifies support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches on the Q11.
Yes, both list VIA support. The Q11 also lists QMK support, and Keychron describes remapping and macro features through its Launcher web app.
The Q11 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate, while no polling-rate figure is listed for the S46 R2. Both are wired-capable, but the Q11 is wired only and the S46 R2 also supports Bluetooth.
Yes, the Q11 lists knob support, and Keychron describes its knob as programmable through VIA. Suggested uses include zooming, adjusting brush size, and changing volume.
The S46 R2 vendor listing describes an aluminum top case, a choice of bottom case, a polycarbonate plate, and Poron foam. It also lists a POM plate among the included kit components.
No, Keychron identifies the assembled Q11's double-shot PBT keycaps as not shine-through. Its south-facing RGB is described as intended for use with non-shine-through PBT keycaps.
The Q11's listed layout options include 75% ANSI and ISO variants in the vendor description, although its metadata categorizes the layout size as Other. The S46 R2 is 40% and has no function row according to its compatibility details.
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