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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. Switches
    2. Keystrokes
    3. Typing Quality
    4. Typing Noise
    5. Latency
  6. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  7. Comments

Keychron Q1 vs Drop CTRL

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron Q1
Drop CTRL

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Dec 01, 2023 05:08 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jun 21, 2023 04:06 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron Q1 Picture
Drop CTRL Picture

Variants

  • Q1 (Carbon Black)
  • Q1 (Navy Blue)
  • Q1 (Space Grey)
  • CTRL (Black)
  • CTRL (Gray)

Our Verdict

Keychron Q1

Drop CTRL

The Keychron Q1 and the Drop CTRL are similar TenKeyLess mechanical keyboards. They're both available in a variety of linear, tactile, or clicky switches, but they're also hot-swappable, so you can install the switches you prefer. The Keychron is a slightly smaller 75% size with spaced-out navigation keys. It has marginally lower latency, and all its keys are macro-programmable using the customization software. On the other hand, the Drop is an 80% sized keyboard with higher quality PBT keycaps. It lacks customization software, but you can adjust bindings and set macros using the QMK firmware tool on Drop's website.

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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
8.4

Pre-Travel 
 

2.6 mm
2.0 mm

Software & Programming 
 

9.6
0.0

Backlighting 
 

9.6
8.5

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron Q1 Top Picture
Drop CTRL Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (75%)
TenKeyLess (80%)

Height 
 

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

Width  

12.9" (32.7 cm)
14.5" (36.9 cm)

Depth 
 

5.7" (14.5 cm)
5.5" (14.0 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

3.62 lbs (1.642 kg)
3.88 lbs (1.758 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

9.0
9.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron Q1 Build Quality Close Up
Drop CTRL Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

Keychron Q1 Side Picture
Drop CTRL Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

Straight
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

5.2°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

34.5 mm (1.4")

Wrist Rest  

No
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

8.5

Customizability Overview  

Drop CTRL 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 
 

Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

3-pin Cherry

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

9.6
8.5

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron Q1 Backlighting Picture
Drop CTRL Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Keychron Q1 Brightness Max
Drop CTRL Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Keychron Q1 Brightness Min
Drop CTRL Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

Keychron Q1 White Shot
Drop CTRL White Shot

RGB 
 

Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
No

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Poor
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

7.0

White Shot  

Keychron Q1 White Shot
Drop CTRL 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)
4.9 ft (1.5 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 Q1 Extra Features
Drop CTRL Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

No Indicator
Caps & Scroll Lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

All
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron Q1 Bundle Picture
Drop CTRL Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Gateron Phantom Brown
Cherry MX Brown

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Phantom Brown
Cherry MX Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

49 gf
52 gf

Actuation Force 
 

39 gf
43 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.6 mm
2.0 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.0 mm
4.1 mm
Show Text 

Typing Quality 
 

8.5
8.5
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

10
7.5

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

52.4 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Very Quiet
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.4
7.2

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

11.1 ms
12.7 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Keychron Q1 Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

VIA
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
No

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
No

Profiles 
 

6+
No Profile

Account Required 
 

No

Cloud Sync 
 

No

Macro Programming 
 

Software

Ease Of Use 
 

Easy
Show Text 

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
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0

Android 
 

No
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

No
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

No
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible

Keychron Q1

Drop CTRL

Comments

  1. Comparison

Keychron Q1 vs Drop CTRL: Main Discussion

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