Keychron V1 Max vs Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SECustom vs Compact
Choose the Keychron V1 Max for deep customization and a premium typing experience, or the Redragon CASTOR for a lighter, more affordable portable option.
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4.1 (18)4.1 · 18 reviews
from$94at MK
No reviews
from$62at Redragon
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V1 Max
Custom
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- Extensive customization with QMK/VIA firmware, gasket mount, and hot-swap sockets.
- Wide layout compatibility including multiple ISO and ANSI standards.
- High-capacity 4000mAh battery for long wireless use.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Get the
Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE
Compact
Build quality in the bottom 25% of 65% boards under $100.
- Very lightweight at 470g, enhancing portability.
- More affordable price point.
- Includes a 2-in-1 USB-C/A cable for versatile wired connections.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
For most users seeking a long-term, customizable keyboard for work or play, the Keychron V1 Max is the superior investment. Its build quality, programmability, and layout options justify its higher cost. Only choose the Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE if your primary need is an ultra-portable, budget-conscious wireless keyboard and you are willing to accept significant compromises in features, firmware support, and long-term typing feel.
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
Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE
Layout size
75%
65%
Battery
4,000 mAh
1,600 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
ABS, Plastic
Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Bottom Mount
- Keychron V1 Max
- Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE
- Performance
- 8371
- Build quality
- 8651
- Productivity
- 9749
- Customizability
- 9856
- Portability
- 7983
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron V1 Max is the clear choice for most stationary use cases, winning in gaming, office work, programming, modding, and content creation due to its superior layout flexibility, programmability, and build. Its strengths are in customization and a premium typing feel. The Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE only takes the lead for travel, where its lower weight and more compact 65% form factor are decisive advantages for portability.
Pick the Keychron V1 Max
- The Keychron V1 Max has a specified 1000 Hz polling rate in its 2.4 GHz and wired modes for low latency.
- Its gasket mount and polycarbonate plate design may offer a more consistent, flexible typing feel.
- The 75% layout retains function keys, which are useful for many games.
Keychron V1 Max vs Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
17 of 27 specs differ
Keychron V1 Max
Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE
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
Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
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 V1 Max vs Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE: your questions
The Keychron V1 Max supports open-source QMK and VIA firmware, allowing for deep, community-driven customization of every key and macro. The Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE has its own proprietary software, but the vendor description confirms it supports per-key RGB customization and macros.
Yes, the Keychron V1 Max is explicitly designed for Mac compatibility. It includes a system toggle and an additional set of keycaps for both macOS and Windows. The Redragon's compatibility with Mac-specific key functions is not detailed in the provided specifications.
The Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE is more portable. It is significantly lighter at 470 grams compared to the Keychron's 770 grams, and its 65% layout is more compact than the 75% layout of the V1 Max, saving space in a bag.
The Keychron V1 Max specifies a 1000 Hz polling rate in its 2.4 GHz and wired modes. The polling rate for the Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE is not stated in the provided specifications or vendor description.
The Keychron V1 Max comes with double-shot PBT keycaps in an OSA profile. The Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE comes with ABS keycaps in an OEM profile, according to its vendor specifications.
Yes, both the Keychron V1 Max and the Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE feature hot-swappable PCBs. The Keychron supports both 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches, while Redragon states its socket is compatible with almost all 3-pin and 5-pin switch types.
The Keychron V1 Max has a much larger 4000mAh battery, with the vendor claiming up to 190 hours of use with backlighting off. The Redragon CASTOR has a 1600mAh battery, but no specific runtime estimates are provided for comparison.
The Keychron V1 Max is likely better for a quiet office. It features a gasket mount design, a polycarbonate plate, and sound-dampening foam to reduce acoustic resonance. The Redragon comes with quiet linear switches but uses a standard bottom mount, which may transmit more case noise.
Yes, the Keychron V1 Max is available as a barebones kit, which includes the ABS case, PCB with screw-in stabilizers, and polycarbonate plate, but not the keycaps and switches.
Both keyboards support tri-mode connectivity: USB-C wired, 2.4 GHz wireless, and Bluetooth. The Keychron V1 Max specifies Bluetooth 5.1, while the Redragon CASTOR lists support for BT 3.0/5.0.
No, the provided specifications and vendor description for the Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE do not mention a knob or encoder. Knob support is listed as a feature for the Keychron V1 Max.
The Keychron V1 Max offers extensive layout support, including ANSI and multiple ISO layouts such as UK, German, Nordic, Spanish, and French. The Redragon CASTOR K631 Pro SE is listed with an ANSI/US QWERTY layout only.
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