Keychron Q13 Ultra vs Q14 ProPerformance vs Southpaw Layout
The Q13 Ultra wins on raw performance with its 8K polling rate and 2.4 GHz connectivity, while the Q14 Pro offers a unique southpaw numpad layout and deeper firmware customization for a lower price.
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5.0 (4)5.0 · 4 reviews
from$249at MK
4.3 (6)4.3 · 6 reviews
from$167at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q13 Ultra
Performance
Build quality in the top 35% of 96% boards under $300.
- 8K polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, per the manufacturer, reduces input lag for competitive gaming
- 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity provides a stable, low-latency connection not available on the Q14 Pro
- 660-hour battery life with backlight off, according to the vendor, is more than double the Q14 Pro's 300-hour estimate
- 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 Q14 Pro
Southpaw Layout
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $200.
- Southpaw (left-positioned numpad) design, as described by the vendor, keeps the mouse closer for right-handed users
- QMK/VIA support allows full key remapping, macro creation, and layer customization without a web browser
- Lower price than the Q13 Ultra, with both fully assembled and barebones options available
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Choose the Keychron Q13 Ultra if you demand the lowest possible wireless latency for gaming and need maximum battery life for travel. Its 8K polling rate and 2.4 GHz connectivity are unmatched in this comparison. Opt for the Keychron Q14 Pro if you work with numbers all day and want to keep your mouse closer to the keyboard, or if you prefer the flexibility of QMK/VIA firmware at a lower price. The southpaw layout is a genuine productivity advantage for data-heavy roles, but it comes at the cost of wireless gaming performance.
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 Ultra
Keychron Q14 Pro
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Ergonomics
Alice
Southpaw, Alice
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Weight
2,440 g
2,395 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
QMK
No
Yes
The deep option when you want to remap every key
- Keychron Q13 Ultra
- Keychron Q14 Pro
- Performance
- 8982
- Build quality
- 7489
- Productivity
- 94100
- Customizability
- 7798
- Portability
- 5555
- Layout size: 96%
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Case material: Aluminum
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Mount style: Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q13 Ultra dominates in gaming and travel use cases, where its 8K polling rate, 2.4 GHz wireless, and longer battery life make a measurable difference. The Q14 Pro leads in office and programming thanks to its southpaw layout and QMK/VIA firmware, which allow for deep customization and ergonomic mouse placement. Modders may prefer the Q13 Ultra for its more extensive factory sound dampening, while content creators can use either board effectively given their identical 96% Alice layout with a knob. The choice largely comes down to whether you prioritize competitive latency or a unique southpaw numpad experience.
Pick the Keychron Q13 Ultra
- 8K polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz mode, according to the manufacturer, provides the lowest input lag for competitive gaming
- Includes 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity for a stable low-latency connection not found on the Q14 Pro
- ZMK firmware with a 1MB flash chip supports Snap Action and advanced macros
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron Q13 Ultra
4 owner reviews
“Absolutely brilliant keyboard, if your looking for a full alice keeb, with a solid frame, that looks and feels well built, this is the one for you, already pulled out all the original keycaps and switches, to truly make it a one of one”
Keychron Q14 Pro
6 owner reviews
“This is my second Alice layout keyboard and is my daily driver. The ergonomics are great, and the build is solid. The south paw layout is exactly what I've been looking for in a keyboard. There are lots of customization options but the prebuilt straight out…”
Keychron Q13 Ultra vs Q14 Pro specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 27 specs differ
Keychron Q13 Ultra
Keychron Q14 Pro
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 Q13 Ultra
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron Q14 Pro
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
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 Q13 Ultra vs Q14 Pro: your questions
The primary difference is the numpad position. The Q13 Ultra has a standard numpad on the right side, while the Q14 Pro features a southpaw (left-positioned) numpad. Additionally, the Q13 Ultra supports 8K polling with 2.4 GHz wireless, whereas the Q14 Pro uses QMK/VIA firmware and tops out at 1000 Hz wired.
The Q13 Ultra is better for gaming because it offers an 8K polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes, according to the manufacturer. The Q14 Pro is limited to 1000 Hz wired and 90 Hz wireless, which introduces noticeable latency in fast-paced titles.
Yes, the Q14 Pro fully supports both QMK and VIA, as stated on the vendor page. This allows you to remap any key, create custom macros, and adjust lighting directly through the Keychron Launcher web app or by flashing firmware manually.
The Q13 Ultra uses ZMK firmware and is programmable through the Keychron Launcher web app, which requires a browser (Chrome, Opera, or Edge) and a wired connection. There is no downloadable software, so you don't need to install anything, but you do need internet access for configuration.
The Q13 Ultra has a significantly longer battery life, rated at up to 660 hours with backlight off per the vendor. The Q14 Pro is rated at up to 300 hours under the same conditions. Both have a 4000mAh battery.
The southpaw layout positions the numpad on the left side, which can benefit left-handed users who prefer a mouse on the left. However, as noted in customer reviews, the numpad keys are not mirrored, so left-handed users may still need to adjust finger placement.
Yes, both the Q13 Ultra and Q14 Pro support hot-swapping switches. According to their respective vendor pages, they are compatible with most 3-pin and 5-pin MX style switches, including Cherry, Gateron, and Kailh.
Both keyboards come with a system toggle for Mac and Windows and include an additional set of keycaps for each OS. The vendor pages confirm compatibility with macOS, Windows, and Linux.
The Q14 Pro is slightly lighter at 2395g compared to the Q13 Ultra at 2440g, but both are heavy for a full metal keyboard. Neither is truly portable for daily travel, but the Q13 Ultra's longer battery life makes it more practical for occasional use away from a desk.
Only the Q14 Pro is available as a barebones kit (without switches and keycaps), per the vendor page. The Q13 Ultra is sold only as a fully assembled keyboard with Keychron Silk POM switches and KSA double-shot PBT keycaps.
Both keyboards ship with KSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps, as stated in their respective specifications. The keycaps are oil-resistant and durable, but they are not shine-through, so RGB lighting is only visible around the edges of the caps.
The Q13 Ultra has more extensive sound dampening, including IXPE foam, PET film, latex bottom pad, and bottom case acoustic foam, according to the vendor. The Q14 Pro has sound dampening and bottom case acoustic foam, but fewer layers overall.
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