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Keychron Q1 vs Keychron S Series
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Keychron Q1
Keychron S Series
Tested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Dec 01, 2023 05:08 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Jun 23, 2023 01:10 PM
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ConnectivityWired
SizeCompact (75%)
MechanicalYes
ConnectivityWired
SizeCompact (75%)
Switch TypeMechanical
Variants
- Q1 (Carbon Black)
- Q1 (Navy Blue)
- Q1 (Space Grey)
- S1 brown (75%)
Our Verdict
Keychron Q1
Keychron S Series
The Keychron Q1 and the Keychron S Series are wired mechanical keyboards. The Keychron Q1 is available in a wider range of colorways and is highly customizable. It includes a toolkit for disassembly and has a hot-swappable PCB compatible with a wide range of Cherry OEM switches. On the other hand, the Keychron S Series are low-profile models, and while they also have a hot-swappable configuration available, they're only compatible with Gateron Low Profile mechanical switches.
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Carbon Black
Q1
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Q1
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Q1
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Finding storeMain Differences forGaming
Gaming
Threshold
Gaming
8.6
8.8
Pre-Travel
2.6 mm
1.7 mm
Latency
7.4
8.6
Full Comparison
Design
Dimensions
Top Picture
Size
Compact (75%)
Compact (75%)
Height
1.7" (4.4 cm)
0.9" (2.3 cm)
Width
12.9" (32.7 cm)
12.2" (31.0 cm)
Depth
5.7" (14.5 cm)
4.7" (11.9 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
N/A
N/A
Weight
3.62 lbs (1.642 kg)
2.05 lbs (0.930 kg)
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
Build Quality Close Up
Keycap Material
ABS
PBT
Ergonomics
6.0
7.0
Side Picture
Curved/Angled
Straight
No
Split Keyboard
No
Key Alignment
Staggered
Minimum Incline
5.2°
3°
Medium Incline
N/A
N/A
Maximum Incline
N/A
6°
Home Row Height
21.5 mm (0.8")
Wrist Rest
No
Hardware Customizability
7.5
Customizability Overview
Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers
Mixed
Stabilizer Fixation
Plate-Mounted
Spacebar Stabilizer Size
6.25u
Size Of Right Mod Keys
1u
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes
Switch Stem Shape
Low Profile Cherry MX Style
Switch PCB Socket
Non-Cherry Pinout
North-Facing Cherry MX Interference
No
Backlight Features
9.6
10
Backlighting Picture
Brightness Max
Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Brightness Min
White Shot
RGB
Yes
Per-Key Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Effects
Yes
Yes
Software Controllable
Yes
Yes
Color
RGB
Color Mixing
Poor
Backlight Clarity
4.0
White Shot
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
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
Macro Keys And Programming
4.0
Dedicated Macro Keys Count
0
Onboard Macro Programming
No
Macro Programming With Software
Yes
Extra Features
Extra Features
Media Keys
Hot Keys
Non-Dedicated
Trackpad / Trackball
No
No
Scroll Wheel
No
No
Control Knob
No
USB Passthrough
No
No
Numpad
No
No
Windows Key Lock
No
No
Lock Indicator
No Indicator
Caps Lock
Macro Programmable Keys
All
In The Box
Bundle Picture
Typing Experience
Switches
Wobble Video
Switch Name
Gateron Phantom Brown
Gateron Low Profile Brown
Switch Type
Mechanical
Feel
Tactile
Tactile
Keystrokes
Key Switch Actuation Graph
Key Switches
Gateron Phantom Brown
Gateron Low Profile Brown
Mechanical
Yes
Feel
Tactile
Tactile
Operating Force
49 gf
55 gf
Actuation Force
39 gf
50 gf
Pre-Travel
2.6 mm
1.7 mm
Total Travel
4.0 mm
2.7 mm
Typing Quality
8.5
8.0
Typing Noise
10
7.8
Typing Sample
Average Loudness
51.2 dBA
High Pitch Clicks
No
Noise
Very Quiet
Latency
7.4
8.6
Latency Video
Latency Wired
11.1 ms
6.6 ms
Latency Receiver
N/A
N/A
Latency Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
Software and Operating System
Configuration Software
Software Picture
Software Tour
Software Name
VIA
VIA
Software Windows Compatible
Yes
Yes
Software macOS Compatible
Yes
Yes
Onboard Memory
Yes
Yes
Profiles
6+
6+
Account Required
No
Cloud Sync
No
Macro Programming
Software
Ease Of Use
Easy
Computer Compatibility
8.2
10
Windows
Full
Fully Compatible
macOS
Full
Fully Compatible
Linux (Ubuntu 22)
Full
Fully Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Android
No
Not Compatible
iOS
No
Not Compatible
iPadOS
No
Not Compatible
Wireless Mobile Compatibility
0.0
Android
No
Not Compatible
iOS
No
Not Compatible
iPadOS
No
Not Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Not Compatible
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Carbon Black
Q1
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Q1
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Q1
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Keychron Q1
Keychron S Series
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Keychron Q1 vs Keychron S Series: Main Discussion
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