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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
    5. Latency
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Keychron C2 vs Keychron C1

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron C2
Keychron C1

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:20 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Apr 15, 2024 12:27 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron C2 Picture
Keychron C1 Picture

Variants

  • C2 (100% - Black)
  • C2 (100% - Gray)
  • C1 (Black)

Our Verdict

Keychron C2

Keychron C1

Both the Keychron C1 and Keychron C2 are nearly identical wired mechanical keyboards. The only discernable difference between the two is that the C1 is a TenKeyLess (80%) layout, while the C2 is a full-sized keyboard.

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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.0
7.1

Backlight Features 
 

6.5
9.5

Single-Key Latency 
 

6.5
7.9

Pre-Travel 
 

2.9 mm
3.0 mm

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
7.8

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron C2 Top Picture
Keychron C1 Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
TenKeyLess (80%)

Height 
 

1.5" (3.9 cm)
1.5" (3.9 cm)

Width  

17.1" (43.4 cm)
14.0" (35.6 cm)

Depth 
 

5.0" (12.8 cm)
5.2" (13.1 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.76 lbs (0.800 kg)
1.54 lbs (0.700 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron C2 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron C1 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.5

Side Picture  

Keychron C2 Side Picture
Keychron C1 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
Straight

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

Medium Incline 
 

Maximum Incline 
 

Home Row Height 
 

30.1 mm (1.2")

Wrist Rest  

No
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0

Customizability Overview  

Keychron C2 Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes

Backlight Features 
 

6.5
9.5

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron C2 Backlighting Picture
Keychron C1 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Keychron C2 Brightness Max
Keychron C1 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Keychron C2 Brightness Min
Keychron C1 Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

Keychron C2 White Shot
Keychron C1 White Shot

RGB 
 

No

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

No
No

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Good
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0

White Shot  

Keychron C2 White Shot
Keychron C1 White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
No Batteries
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

0.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron C2 Extra Features
Keychron C1 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Dedicated
Hot Keys

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps & Num Lock
Caps Lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron C2 Bundle Picture
Keychron C1 Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

7.0
9.0

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

54.6 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Quiet
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Gateron Brown
Gateron Brown

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Brown
Gateron Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

47 gf
49 gf

Actuation Force 
 

40 gf
42 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.9 mm
3.0 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.9 mm
4.2 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

6.5
7.9

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

18.0 ms
8.4 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

6.5
7.9

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

18.0 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±6.6 ms

Wired 
 

18.0 ms
8.4 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

15.4 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.2

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

17.8 ms

Key Release 
 

19.4 ms

Data Transmission 
 

7.2

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Keychron C2 Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

200 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes

Chord Split 
 

4.5

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

18.4 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

42.6 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Keychron C1 Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

Profiles 
 

No Profile
No Profile

Account Required 
 

No Software

Cloud Sync 
 

No

Macro Programming 
 

No

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
7.8

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Full

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Full

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Partial

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

Not Compatible
No

iOS  

Not Compatible
No

iPadOS  

Not Compatible
No
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0

Android 
 

Not Compatible
No

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
No

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
No

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
Show Text 

Keychron C2

Keychron C1

Comments

  1. Comparison

Keychron C2 vs Keychron C1: Main Discussion

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