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  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 K2 (Version 2) vs Keychron Q1

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K2 (Version 2)
Keychron Q1

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 27, 2023 08:47 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Dec 01, 2023 05:08 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K2 (Version 2) Picture
Keychron Q1 Picture

Variants

  • K2 (Version 2) (Dark Gray)
  • Q1 (Carbon Black)
  • Q1 (Navy Blue)
  • Q1 (Space Grey)

Our Verdict

Keychron K2 (Version 2)

Keychron Q1

The Keychron K2 (Version 2) and the Keychron Q1 are both 75% compact boards, but the Q1 is slightly larger due to its more spaced-out navigation keys and function row keys. You can use the K6 wirelessly via Bluetooth and pair it with up to three devices at once. Also, the K2 has more incline settings, and thanks to its Gateron Brown switches' transparent casing, white backlighting looks white, while the Gateron Phantom switches on our Q1 unit have a brown casing, making white lighting look red. On the other hand, the Q1 is hot-swappable, so you can swap out the switches with whatever you prefer, and it comes with customization software to set macros to any key. Also, while we bought the fully-assembled variant, the Q1 has a barebones version.

0 

Check Price

Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Carbon Black
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Navy Blue
Q1
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
B&H
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
BestBuy.com
 

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.7
8.6

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
All

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
9.6

Pre-Travel 
 

2.3 mm
2.6 mm

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Top Picture
Keychron Q1 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (75%)
Compact (75%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.2 cm)
1.7" (4.4 cm)

Width  

12.4" (31.6 cm)
12.9" (32.7 cm)

Depth 
 

5.0" (12.7 cm)
5.7" (14.5 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.74 lbs (0.787 kg)
3.62 lbs (1.642 kg)
Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
9.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Build Quality Close Up
Keychron Q1 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.0

Side Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Side Picture
Keychron Q1 Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

6.5°
5.2°

Medium Incline 
 

8.5°
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
N/A

Wrist Rest  

No
No
Show text

Backlighting 
 

9.1
9.6

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Backlighting Picture
Keychron Q1 Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

Keychron K2 (Version 2) White Shot
Keychron Q1 White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Brightness Max
Keychron Q1 Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Brightness Min
Keychron Q1 Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB
RGB

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

Poor
Poor

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Programmable 
 

No
Yes
Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

3.9 ft (1.2 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C
Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

10
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
No Batteries
Show text

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Extra Features
Keychron Q1 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Hot Keys

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
All

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Wheel  

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
No Indicator
Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Bundle Picture
Keychron Q1 Bundle Picture
Show text
Typing Experience

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Brown
Gateron Phantom Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

44 gf
49 gf

Actuation Force 
 

36 gf
39 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.3 mm
2.6 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.0 mm
4.0 mm
Show text

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.5
Show text

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

Noise 
 

Quiet
Very Quiet
Show text

Latency 
 

7.0
7.4

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

15.7 ms
11.1 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

25.3 ms
N/A
Show text
Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
9.6

Software Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Software Picture
Keychron Q1 Software Picture

Software Name  

No Software
VIA

Account Required 
 

No Software
No

Profiles 
 

No Profile
6+

Onboard Memory 
 

No
Yes

Cloud Sync 
 

No
No

Macro Programming 
 

No
Software

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
Easy

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
Yes
Show text

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

9.2
8.2

Windows  

Full
Full

macOS  

Full
Full

Linux  

Partial
Full

Android  

Full
No

iOS  

Partial
No

iPadOS  

Partial
No
Show text

Check Price

Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Carbon Black
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Navy Blue
Q1
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
B&H
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
BestBuy.com
 

Keychron K2 (Version 2)

Keychron Q1

Comments

  1. Comparison

Keychron K2 (Version 2) vs Keychron Q1: Main Discussion

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