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  1. Home
  2. Keyboard
  3. Compare
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Backlighting
    5. Cable & Connector
    6. Wireless Versatility
    7. Extra Features
    8. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Keystrokes
    2. Typing Quality
    3. Typing Noise
    4. Latency
  6. Software and Operating System
    1. Software & Programming
    2. Keyboard Compatibility
  7. Comments

Keychron K1 vs Keychron K4

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K1
Keychron K4

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 20, 2022 09:27 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 15, 2023 09:40 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K1 Picture
Keychron K4 Picture
ConnectivityWireless
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Mechanical
Yes
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (96%)
Mechanical
Yes

Variants

  • K1 (Black)
  • K1 (Light Gray)
  • K4 (Black)

Review

See Keychron K1 review

See Keychron K4 review

0
0

Our Verdict

Keychron K1

Keychron K4

The Keychron K4 is better than the Keychron K1 for most uses, but you should get the K1 if you prefer low profile switches and RGB backlighting. If you prefer having a Numpad, you should go with the K4. Also, the K4 has a much lower latency over both wired and Bluetooth connections, and it doesn't have any function issues with Windows or macOS like we had on the K1.

0

Check Price

Black
K1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K4
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Light Gray
K1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K4
SEARCH
Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
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Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
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Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
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Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
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Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
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Black
K4
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Amazon.com

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.0
7.7

Operating Force 
 

40 gf
58 gf

Windows  

Partial
Full

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K1 Top Picture
Keychron K4 Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
Compact (96%)

Height 
 

0.9" (2.3 cm)
1.5" (3.7 cm)

Width  

14.0" (35.6 cm)
14.6" (37.1 cm)

Depth 
 

4.8" (12.1 cm)
4.9" (12.5 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.40 lbs (0.636 kg)
1.69 lbs (0.765 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K1 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron K4 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
6.5

Side Picture  

Keychron K1 Side Picture
Keychron K4 Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

2.5°
0°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
8°

Wrist Rest  

No
No

Show text

Backlighting 
 

9.5
8.9

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K1 Backlighting Picture
Keychron K4 Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

Keychron K1 White Shot
Keychron K4 White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

Keychron K1 Brightness Max
Keychron K4 Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

Keychron K1 Brightness Min
Keychron K4 Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB
White

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

Good
White Only

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Programmable 
 

No
No

Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wireless

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

5.0 ft (1.5 m)
3.8 ft (1.2 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C

Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

10
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
3

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
Rechargeable

Show text

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K1 Extra Features
Keychron K4 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Hot Keys

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
No

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Wheel  

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

No Indicator
No Indicator

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K1 Bundle Picture
Keychron K4 Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Low Profile Red
LK Optical Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Linear
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

40 gf
58 gf

Actuation Force 
 

40 gf
57 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.4 mm
1.9 mm

Total Travel 
 

2.7 mm
4.0 mm

Show text

Typing Quality 
 

7.0
8.0

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

Noise 
 

Quiet
Quiet

Show text

Latency 
 

7.1
7.4

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

13.6 ms
11.1 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

43.4 ms
23.3 ms

Show text

Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
0.0

Software Picture  

Keychron K1 Software Picture
Keychron K4 Software Picture

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Account Required 
 

No Software
No Software

Profiles 
 

No Profile
No Profile

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

Cloud Sync 
 

No
No

Macro Programming 
 

No
No

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Show text

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

7.9
9.1

Windows  

Partial
Full

macOS  

Partial
Full

Linux  

Partial
Partial

Android  

Partial
Partial

iOS  

Partial
Partial

iPadOS  

Partial
Partial

Show text

Check Price

Black
K1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K4
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Light Gray
K1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K4
SEARCH
Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
SEARCH
Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
SEARCH
Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
SEARCH
Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
SEARCH
Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
SEARCH
Amazon.com
 
Black
K4
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Back to Top

Keychron K1

Keychron K4

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Keychron K1 vs Keychron K4: Main Discussion

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