Keychron Q14 Pro vs Q15 Max Ortholinear
Choose the Q14 Pro for its southpaw Alice layout with numpad, or the Q15 Max for a compact ortholinear grid and 2.4 GHz connectivity.
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4.3 (6)4.3 · 6 reviews
from$167at Keychron
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from$179at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q14 Pro
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $200.
- Southpaw layout with left-side numpad allows simultaneous mouse and numeric input.
- Alice columnar stagger promotes a more natural typing posture.
- Double-gasket design with PC plate enhances typing feel and reduces metallic resonance.
- 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
Keychron Q15 Max Ortholinear
Build quality in the top 20% of 65% boards under $200.
- Compact 65% ortholinear layout saves desk space and is easy to transport.
- Includes 2.4 GHz wireless in addition to Bluetooth for a more stable connection.
- Premium acoustic foam layers (IXPE, PET, latex) improve typing sound out of the box.
- 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.
- 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
Choose the Keychron Q14 Pro if you need a numpad and prefer an ergonomic Alice layout for all-day typing and data work. Pick the Keychron Q15 Max if space is tight, you travel often, or you want to explore the precision of an ortholinear grid with the convenience of 2.4 GHz wireless. Your layout preference between columnar stagger and a uniform grid is the primary differentiator.
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 Q14 Pro
Keychron Q15 Max Ortholinear
Layout size
96%
65%
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Ergonomics
Southpaw, Alice
Ortholinear
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Linear, Tactile
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Plate Mount
- Keychron Q14 Pro
- Keychron Q15 Max Ortholinear
- Performance
- 8275
- Build quality
- 8979
- Productivity
- 10094
- Customizability
- 9885
- Portability
- 5589
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Case material: Aluminum
- Knob
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q14 Pro wins for office and content creation due to its southpaw numpad and ergonomic Alice layout. The Q15 Max is the better travel companion because of its compact 65% size and 2.4 GHz wireless. For gaming and programming, both keyboards tie as layout preference is the deciding factor. The Q14 Pro also edges ahead for modding thanks to its higher customizability and layout versatility.
It's a tie
- Both provide a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired mode, offering low latency for competitive play.
- The Q14 Pro's Alice layout may feel more natural for WASD due to columnar stagger, but the numpad can interfere with mouse space.
- The Q15 Max's compact ortholinear grid is unusual for gaming and may require adjustment, but its smaller footprint leaves more room for mouse movement.
- Neither keyboard is marketed as a dedicated gaming board, so choice depends on layout preference.
Keychron Q14 Pro vs Q15 Max Ortholinear specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
8 of 27 specs differ
Keychron Q14 Pro
Keychron Q15 Max Ortholinear
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 Q14 Pro
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron Q15 Max Ortholinear
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Keychron Q14 Pro vs Q15 Max Ortholinear: your questions
The Q14 Pro has a 96% Alice layout with a left-handed southpaw numpad and columnar key stagger. The Q15 Max is a compact 65% ortholinear keyboard with all keys in a uniform grid. The Q14 Pro focuses on ergonomic data entry, while the Q15 Max prioritizes a dense, space-saving footprint.
The Q14 Pro is specifically designed with a left-handed southpaw layout, placing the numpad on the left side. This can benefit left-handed users who want to use the numpad with their dominant hand while keeping their right hand on the mouse.
Yes, the Q15 Max supports 2.4 GHz wireless via a USB-A receiver, which is included in the box. This provides a more stable and lower-latency connection than Bluetooth. The Q14 Pro does not offer 2.4 GHz connectivity.
Yes, both the Q14 Pro and Q15 Max support QMK firmware and are compatible with the Keychron Launcher web app for key remapping, macros, and shortcuts. The Q14 Pro specifies VIA support, while the Q15 Max lists QMK and the Web Launcher.
The Q15 Max is described as having premium acoustic foam insulation including IXPE, PET, and latex layers for an improved sound profile. The Q14 Pro uses a double-gasket design to reduce metallic resonance, but the Q15 Max may have an edge in sound dampening due to its multiple foam layers.
Yes, the Q14 Pro's left-sided numpad allows simultaneous use of the numpad and mouse. However, some users report that the southpaw layout can be confusing as it requires retraining finger memory compared to a standard right-side numpad.
The Q15 Max is more portable thanks to its compact 65% size and lighter weight. It also includes 2.4 GHz wireless, which can be more reliable than Bluetooth in public or office environments. The Q14 Pro is heavy and large, making it better suited for a stationary desk setup.
Yes, both the Q14 Pro and Q15 Max support hot-swapping switches. They are compatible with most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, allowing users to change switches without soldering.
The fully assembled Q14 Pro comes with KSA (Keychron Spherical-Angle) double-shot PBT keycaps. These are non-backlight shine-through and are described as oil-resistant and durable. The Q15 Max's keycaps are not specified in the provided data.
The Q14 Pro may be easier to transition to because its Alice layout retains a staggered column arrangement similar to traditional keyboards, just with a more natural angle. The Q15 Max's ortholinear grid is a more radical departure and can take longer to learn.
Yes, the vendor description confirms the Q15 Max uses a flex-cut PCB, which allows the keyboard to flex slightly during typing for a softer feel. This feature is not mentioned in the Q14 Pro's specifications.
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