Keychron S1 vs V10 MaxMetal or Ergonomic Alice?
Choose the S1 for a premium low-profile metal typing feel, or the V10 Max for wireless flexibility and an ergonomic Alice layout.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
4.8 (12)4.8 · 12 reviews
from$82at Keychron
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
5.0 (2)5.0 · 2 reviews
from$104at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron S1
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.
- Full CNC aluminum body provides a premium, solid build.
- Low-profile design with a front height of only 7.8mm without keycaps.
- 22 types of RGB backlight effects with north-facing LEDs.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
Get the
Keychron V10 Max
Hall effect
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $150.
- Alice layout improves ergonomics and wrist positioning.
- Wireless support includes 2.4 GHz (1000 Hz) and Bluetooth 5.1.
- Gasket mount design with PC plate for a softer, quieter typing feel.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
If you value a solid metal build and a low-profile typing angle, and wire-free operation is not a priority, the Keychron S1 delivers a premium feel in a slim package. However, for most users seeking ergonomic comfort and wireless flexibility, the Keychron V10 Max offers a more versatile experience with its Alice layout, gasket mount, and dual wireless modes.
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 S1
Keychron V10 Max
Hall effect (magnetic)
No
Yes
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Low profile
Yes
No
Ergonomics
Standard
Alice
Case material
Aluminum
ABS, Plastic
- Keychron S1
- Keychron V10 Max
- Performance
- 8286
- Build quality
- 8285
- Productivity
- 80100
- Customizability
- 8998
- Portability
- 6582
- Layout size: 75%
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The V10 Max wins in most use cases thanks to its wireless connectivity, ergonomic Alice layout, and gasket mount design. The S1 ties in programming because both share key remapping and switch hot-swap support. The S1 only comes out ahead for users who prioritize the all-metal low-profile build and are willing to stay wired.
Pick the Keychron V10 Max
- Supports 2.4 GHz wireless with 1000 Hz polling rate for low latency gaming.
- Gasket mount and PC plate provide a softer, quieter typing experience.
- South-facing RGB avoids interference with aftermarket keycaps.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron S1
12 owner reviews
“Got it today, hands on my first mechanical keyboard and feels so good. And a lot of difference in day-to-day way of typing.”
Keychron V10 Max
2 owner reviews
“- Very comfy OSA keycap profile , now my favorite one - Not hard to switch from regular layout to Alice - it took me about a week on keybr.com / monkeytype.com to get to full speed - Fully remapable keys, 5 keys under thumb finger - I've remapped left Space…”
Keychron S1 vs V10 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 29 specs differ
Keychron S1
Keychron V10 Max
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
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
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 S1 vs V10 Max: your questions
The Keychron S1 features a full CNC machined aluminum body with a steel plate, giving it a heavier and more premium feel. The V10 Max uses an ABS plastic housing with a PC plate, which is lighter but also includes sound dampening and a gasket mount for a softer typing experience.
Yes, the V10 Max supports both 2.4 GHz wireless with a 1000 Hz polling rate and Bluetooth 5.1. It also comes with dual Type-C and Type-A receivers stored in a magnetic slot on the keyboard.
No. The Keychron S1 is a wired-only keyboard that connects via USB-C. It does not have any wireless capability.
The V10 Max is designed for ergonomics with its Alice layout that positions your wrists more naturally. The S1 has a standard 75% layout with a low profile and adjustable feet (3 or 6 degrees), but lacks the ergonomic split design.
Yes, both support hot-swappable switches. The S1 is compatible only with Gateron low profile MX switches. The V10 Max supports both 3-pin and 5-pin standard MX switches like Gateron, Cherry MX, and Kailh.
Both keyboards support QMK and VIA for full key remapping and macros. The V10 Max also works with the Keychron Launcher web app for browser-based customization.
The S1 has north-facing RGB LEDs with 22 lighting effects, while the V10 Max uses south-facing RGB LEDs. South-facing RGB is better for aftermarket keycaps as it avoids interference with OEM or Cherry profile sets.
The S1 comes with low profile double-shot PBT LSA (low profile spherical-angled) keycaps that are not shine-through. They include additional keycaps for both Mac and Windows.
The V10 Max comes with double-shot PBT OSA (OEM spherical angled) keycaps that are not shine-through. They have an SA-like shape with OEM height and include Mac and Windows keycaps.
Both are excellent for programming due to QMK/VIA support and hot-swappable switches. The V10 Max offers the Alice layout for ergonomic comfort during long coding sessions, while the S1 provides a standard 75% layout that may be easier to transition to.
The V10 Max has a 4000mAh rechargeable battery. With backlighting off, it can last up to 190 hours in wireless mode, and up to 100 hours at the lowest RGB brightness.
The S1 weighs 960g and the V10 Max weighs 958g, so they are very close in weight. However, the S1's all-metal body gives it a denser feel, while the V10 Max's plastic housing is larger due to the Alice layout.
Not sold on either?
Still torn?
Answer a few quick questions and the keyboard finder ranks 2,000+ boards by how you will actually use yours.