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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 7, 2026

Keychron Q4 vs V4 MaxWired Metal vs Wireless 60%

Choose the Q4 for a premium metal typing experience, or the V4 Max if wireless freedom and a lighter build are your priorities.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron Q4

Wired Metal

Build quality in the top 5% of 60% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Full CNC machined aluminum case offers a premium, solid feel.
  • Double gasket design with silicone pads reduces metallic resonance for a quieter sound.
  • Steel plate provides a stiff, stable typing platform.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Get the

Keychron V4 Max

Wireless 60%

Build quality in the top 10% of 60% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Wireless support with 2.4 GHz (1000 Hz polling) and Bluetooth 5.1 for three device connections.
  • Lightweight at 645g with a 4000mAh battery for extended wireless use.
  • Gasket mount with PC plate offers a softer, quieter typing feel.

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.

Bottom line

If you prioritize a premium, heavy-duty typing experience with a metal body and don't mind a wired connection, the Keychron Q4 is the better choice. If you need wireless flexibility for gaming or travel and value a lighter, softer typing feel, the Keychron V4 Max offers more practical features. Choose based on whether a solid desk anchor or a mobile companion suits your daily setup.

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 Q4

Keychron V4 Max

  • Connection

    Wired

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Case material

    Aluminum

    ABS, Plastic

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount, Plate Mount

    Gasket Mount

  • Weight

    1,500 g

    645 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

  • Layout standard

    ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS

    ANSI

    ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron Q4
  • Keychron V4 Max
Performance
66
79
Build quality
90
86
Productivity
95
95
Customizability
98
96
Portability
70
88

What they share

  • Layout size: 60%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
  • Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
  • Knob
  • QMK
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Keychron V4 Max takes the lead for Gaming, Office, and Travel thanks to its wireless versatility, lighter weight, and low-latency 2.4 GHz connection. The Q4 wins for Programming and Modding, where its dense aluminum build and double gasket design provide a more premium, stable, and quiet typing foundation. For Content Creation, the two keyboards are tied because both offer full QMK/VIA programmability and hot-swappable switches, making them equally adaptable for creative workflows.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron V4 Max

  • Supports 2.4 GHz wireless with 1000 Hz polling rate for low-latency play.
  • Bluetooth 5.1 allows connection to multiple devices for flexible gaming setups.
  • N-Key Rollover (NKRO) in both wireless and wired modes prevents ghosting.

Full specs

Keychron Q4 vs V4 Max specs

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

12 of 27 specs differ

Keychron Q4

Keychron V4 Max

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

60%
60%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
No

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Battery

Wired only
4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
ABS, Plastic

Plate material

Steel
Polycarbonate, Steel

Keycaps

ABS, PBT
PBT

Weight

1,500 g
645 g

Dimensions

20 x 121 x 303 mm
28 x 123 x 305 mm

Typing angle

7°
4°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2022
2024

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

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

Keychron Q4

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW

    In stockShips to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Keychron V4 Max

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.

Keychron Q44 stores

FAQ

Keychron Q4 vs V4 Max: your questions

The Keychron V4 Max is better for wireless gaming because it supports 2.4 GHz wireless with a 1000 Hz polling rate and Bluetooth 5.1. It also features N-Key Rollover to prevent ghosting. The Q4 is wired-only with 1000 Hz polling, making it suitable for wired gaming but less flexible.

Yes, both keyboards support QMK and VIA firmware, allowing full key remapping, macro creation, and shortcut customization. You can use the Keychron Launcher web app to adjust settings. Both offer hot-swappable PCBs for easy switch changes.

The Q4 has a full CNC machined aluminum case with a double gasket design, providing a dense, premium feel. The V4 Max uses an ABS plastic case with a standard gasket mount and PC plate, which is lighter and softer but less robust. The Q4 weighs 1500g, while the V4 Max weighs 645g.

Yes, the Q4 is suitable for programming due to its QMK/VIA support for custom key layers and macros. Its solid aluminum build and double gasket design offer consistent, quiet typing. The 60% layout may require adjustment for users who rely on dedicated arrow keys or function rows.

The V4 Max has a 4000mAh rechargeable battery. With backlighting off, it can last up to 190 hours, and with RGB at lowest brightness, up to 100 hours. Charging takes around 5 hours. The Q4 has no battery as it is wired-only.

The Keychron V4 Max is lighter at 645g, making it more portable than the Q4 which weighs 1500g. The V4 Max also offers wireless connectivity, eliminating cable hassle during travel. Its compact 60% layout fits easily into bags.

Yes, both keyboards have hot-swappable PCBs that support 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches. Both use south-facing RGB LEDs that do not interfere with OEM or Cherry-profile keycaps. The Q4 has a steel plate, while the V4 Max uses a PC plate, affecting switch feel.

The Q4 features a double gasket design with silicone pads between the top and bottom cases to reduce metallic resonance. The V4 Max uses a standard gasket mount with sound-absorbing foam and a PC plate for a softer, quieter sound. Both are designed to reduce noise but achieve it differently.

The Keychron Q4 is available in multiple ISO layouts including UK, German, Nordic, Swiss, French, and Spanish, as well as ANSI. The V4 Max is only offered in ANSI layout. If you need a specific ISO layout, the Q4 is the clear choice.

The Q4 has a fixed typing angle of 7 degrees (6.5 degrees per vendor specs). The V4 Max offers adjustable angles of 3.5, 8, and 11 degrees via its feet, providing more ergonomic flexibility. Both come with OSA profile PBT keycaps.

The Keychron Q4 has customer reviews with a 4.75/5 rating from 18 reviews, indicating strong satisfaction. The V4 Max has no reviews available yet, so real-world feedback is not available. This may influence buyers who rely on community experience.

Yes, the V4 Max supports Bluetooth 5.1, allowing you to connect to up to three devices such as a computer, phone, and tablet. It also has a 2.4 GHz wireless option for a single low-latency connection. The Q4 only supports wired USB-C connectivity.

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