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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 10, 2026

Keychron Q13 Pro vs MCHOSE UT98Ergonomic vs Silent Typing

Choose the Keychron Q13 Pro for a premium, ergonomic typing project, or the MCHOSE UT98 for a quieter, more portable experience with longer battery life.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron Q13 Pro

Ergonomic

Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $200.

If you want

  • Full CNC-machined aluminum case for a premium, solid feel.
  • Open-source QMK and VIA firmware support for extensive key remapping.
  • Unique 96% Alice layout designed for ergonomic typing comfort.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.

Get the

MCHOSE UT98

Silent Typing

Build quality in the top 50% of 98% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Explicitly designed as a silent mechanical keyboard with focused switch options.
  • Large 10000mAh battery capacity for extended wireless use.
  • Lighter weight (1250g) and includes a 2.4 GHz wireless dongle for a stable connection.

Rules this board out

  • 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.
  • Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.

Bottom line

Your primary need dictates the choice. For a long-term, ergonomic typing project with unmatched customization via QMK/VIA and a premium metal build, the Keychron Q13 Pro Alice is worth the investment. If you need a quieter, more portable keyboard for office or travel with outstanding battery life and a standard layout, the MCHOSE UT98 is the more practical and cost-effective option.

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 Q13 Pro

MCHOSE UT98

  • Layout size

    96%

    98%

  • Connection

    Bluetooth, Wired

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Battery

    4,000 mAh

    10,000 mAh

    A larger battery means fewer cables during the day

  • Ergonomics

    Alice

    Standard

  • Switch options

    Clicky, Linear, Tactile

    Linear

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron Q13 Pro
  • MCHOSE UT98
Performance
82
78
Build quality
88
62
Productivity
100
83
Customizability
96
66
Portability
57
63

What they share

  • Hot-swappable
  • Mount style: Gasket Mount
  • Knob
  • Sound dampening
  • Plate material: Polycarbonate
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Keychron Q13 Pro Alice is the clear choice for modding and programming due to its open-source firmware and ergonomic design. For office use and travel, the MCHOSE UT98 wins with its focus on silent operation, lighter weight, and larger battery. Gamers will prefer the Keychron for its higher polling rate, while content creators have a split decision based on whether they value deep customization or quiet switches more.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron Q13 Pro

  • The Keychron Q13 Pro has a specified 1000 Hz polling rate in wired mode for lower latency.
  • Its listed N-key rollover ensures all key presses are registered simultaneously.
  • The vendor description notes the latency is hardly noticeable in competitive games.

Full specs

Keychron Q13 Pro vs MCHOSE UT98 specs

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

13 of 26 specs differ

Keychron Q13 Pro

MCHOSE UT98

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Linear

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
No

Layout

Layout size

96%
98%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO
ANSI

Ergonomics

Alice
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
—

Battery

4,000 mAh
10,000 mAhBetter

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
—

Plate material

Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate

Keycaps

PBT
—

Weight

2,392 g
1,250 g

Dimensions

32 x 157 x 447 mm
43 x 402 x 147 mm

Typing angle

5°
19°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
No

VIA

Yes
No

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2023
2025

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

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

Keychron Q13 Pro

  • Keychron

    ISO

    Out of stockShips to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO

    Out of stockDoes not ship to you

MCHOSE UT98

No ISO layout at the stores we track.

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.

MCHOSE UT982 stores

FAQ

Keychron Q13 Pro vs MCHOSE UT98: your questions

The Keychron Q13 Pro is specifically designed with an Alice layout, which splits the keyboard to promote a more natural hand and wrist posture. User reviews mention it helps reduce hand pain during long typing sessions. The MCHOSE UT98 has a standard layout but a steeper 19-degree typing angle, which may also offer some ergonomic benefit.

Yes, the MCHOSE UT98 supports N-key rollover and has a 2.4 GHz wireless mode for a stable connection. However, its vendor description does not specify a polling rate, while the Keychron Q13 Pro explicitly lists a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired mode, which is a common metric for gaming performance.

Yes. The Keychron Q13 Pro supports both QMK and VIA firmware. According to the manufacturer, this allows for endless key remapping, macros, and shortcuts. You can customize it through the Keychron Launcher web app or directly via QMK.

The MCHOSE UT98 has a very large 10000mAh battery. While the exact runtime is not specified, a larger capacity typically translates to longer use between charges compared to the Keychron's 4000mAh battery, especially with RGB lighting off.

The MCHOSE UT98 is explicitly marketed as a silent mechanical keyboard and includes five layers of sound-dampening foam. The Keychron Q13 Pro uses a double-gasket design and sound dampening to reduce noise, but its focus is on acoustic tuning rather than achieving near-silent operation.

Yes, both the Keychron Q13 Pro and MCHOSE UT98 list compatibility with macOS and Windows. The Keychron includes an additional set of keycaps for Mac, and the MCHOSE listing mentions dedicated Mac keycaps are included.

Yes, both keyboards are hot-swappable. The Keychron Q13 Pro is compatible with most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches. The MCHOSE UT98 is also hot-swappable, but its product description does not specify the exact pin compatibility.

The Keychron Q13 Pro uses Keychron's own KSA (Keychron Spherical-Angle) profile double-shot PBT keycaps. The MCHOSE UT98 uses Cherry profile keycaps, which are a more common and lower profile.

No, for both keyboards. The Keychron Q13 Pro uses non-shine-through PBT keycaps. The MCHOSE UT98 vendor description explicitly states its keycaps are non-shine-through, so the backlight will shine around the keys, not through the characters.

According to its specifications, the MCHOSE UT98 package includes the keyboard, a user guide, a Type-C cable, a keycap puller, two spare switches, a dust cover, and five additional keycaps.

Yes. The Keychron Q13 Pro is offered in a 'Barebone' configuration, which includes the keyboard PCB, the aluminum case, and the PC plate, but does not include keycaps or switches.

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