Keychron V1 Max vs V8 Max75% or Alice Layout
Choose the V1 Max for a conventional 75% layout and ISO availability, or the V8 Max for its 65% Alice layout and dual 2.4 GHz receivers.
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4.1 (18)4.1 · 18 reviews
from$94at MK
4.7 (6)4.7 · 6 reviews
from$99at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V1 Max
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- 75% layout with a function row and listed ANSI and ISO variants.
- Supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections.
- Hot-swappable sockets, with QMK and VIA support.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron V8 Max
Build quality in the top 10% of 65% boards under $100.
- 65% Alice layout for buyers seeking an ergonomic split-key arrangement.
- Includes Type-C and Type-A 2.4 GHz receivers, with a magnetic storage slot described by Keychron.
- Hot-swappable sockets, with QMK and VIA support.
- 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.
Pick the V1 Max if you want a conventional 75% board with a function row or need one of its listed ISO layouts. Choose the V8 Max if you prefer the Alice arrangement and value its lighter weight and included receiver options. Both provide hot-swapping, QMK and VIA support, and the same listed battery capacity and polling rate.
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 V1 Max
Keychron V8 Max
Layout size
75%
65%
Ergonomics
Standard
Alice
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount
Weight
770 g
745 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-IT, ISO-Nordic, ISO-PT, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ANSI
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
- Keychron V1 Max
- Keychron V8 Max
- Performance
- 8378
- Build quality
- 8686
- Productivity
- 9798
- Customizability
- 9896
- Portability
- 7988
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
What will you mostly use it for?
The V1 Max is the more straightforward fit for buyers who want a conventional 75% layout, function row, or ISO option. The V8 Max is the alternative for an Alice layout and a slightly lighter board, with dual receiver types for 2.4 GHz use. Their listed core customization and connectivity features are closely matched, making layout the central choice for programming, office work, and gaming. For travel, the V8 Max's lighter weight and smaller layout give it a modest edge.
It's a tie
- Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate and N-key rollover.
- Both offer 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired connectivity.
- The V1 Max has a 75% layout, while the V8 Max has a 65% Alice layout, so preference for the key arrangement may decide.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron V1 Max
18 owner reviews
“Feels great, haven't got a new KB since my Novatouch. Great high end features and feel, DSA caps on it feel good.”
“The dongle does not work after 6 months of using it and they want me to pay to fix it. If you want to buy a keyboard that is good don’t go for keycron”
Keychron V8 Max
6 owner reviews
“This board adds great wireless connectivity options to the already great V8. I love that the case includes slots for storing the wireless adapters. My only complaint is that the way that the gasket mounting is implemented results in a lot of flex in the four…”
Keychron V1 Max vs V8 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 27 specs differ
Keychron V1 Max
Keychron V8 Max
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 V1 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-SW, ISO-PT
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V8 Max
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 V1 Max vs V8 Max: your questions
The V1 Max is a 75% keyboard, while the V8 Max is a 65% Alice-layout keyboard. The V1 Max also lists ISO variants, while the V8 Max is ANSI only.
No. Its 65% layout is listed as having no function row or numpad. The V1 Max's 75% layout is the option between these two if you want a function row.
Yes. The V1 Max is listed with several ISO options, including German, UK, Nordic, Swiss, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. The V8 Max is listed as ANSI only.
Yes, both models are listed as hot-swappable and support QMK and VIA. Keychron says their sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches.
Both list a 4000 mAh battery. Keychron describes up to 190 hours with the backlight off for each, while actual use may vary.
The V8 Max is lighter, listed at 745 g compared with 770 g for the V1 Max. Both are wireless-capable keyboards with a 4000 mAh battery.
Both support Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, as well as wired connectivity. The V8 Max vendor description also specifies Type-C and Type-A 2.4 GHz receivers.
Both list QMK and VIA support, plus hot-swappable switches. Keychron describes using its Launcher web app for remapping keys and setting macros.
The V8 Max is the Alice-layout model, with a 65% arrangement. The V1 Max uses a conventional 75% layout instead.
Both have south-facing RGB LEDs, and both compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends stay dark. Some sculpted keycaps may also clip the LEDs.
Neither has a numpad. The V1 Max's compatibility note identifies its layout-size limit, and the V8 Max is a 65% layout with no numpad or function row.
Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate and N-key rollover, along with wired and wireless connectivity. Choose based on layout preference, the V1 Max is 75%, while the V8 Max is a 65% Alice layout.
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