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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 Q1 vs Keychron V Series

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron Q1
Keychron V Series

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Dec 01, 2023 05:08 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Apr 02, 2024 03:10 PM

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Keychron Q1 Picture
Keychron V Series Picture

Variants

  • Q1 (Carbon Black)
  • Q1 (Navy Blue)
  • Q1 (Space Grey)
  • V6 (100%)
  • V4 (60%)
  • V2 (65%)
  • V8 (65%)
  • V7 (70%)
  • V1 (75%)
  • V10 (75%)
  • V3 (80% TKL)
  • V5 (96%)

Our Verdict

Keychron Q1

Keychron V Series

The Keychron Q Series, which includes the Keychron Q1, is the upgraded version of the Keychron V Series. The Q Series features a better build quality on account of their gasket-mounted design and solid aluminum case. The V Series has a tray mount design and a plastic case. However, the V Series boards have incline feet to adjust the angle during use whereas the Q Series boards have a fixed incline. Otherwise, the two lineups perform similarly and have a similar range of customization.

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Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our keyboards test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
7.3

Pre-Travel 
 

2.6 mm
2.5 mm

Latency 
 

7.4
6.8

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron Q1 Top Picture
Keychron V Series Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (75%)
Compact (75%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.4 cm)
1.4" (3.7 cm)

Width  

12.9" (32.7 cm)
12.9" (32.8 cm)

Depth 
 

5.7" (14.5 cm)
5.9" (14.9 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

3.62 lbs (1.642 kg)
2.33 lbs (1.057 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

9.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron Q1 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron V Series Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
PBT

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

Keychron Q1 Side Picture
Keychron V Series Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

Straight
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

5.2°
3.5°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
9.5°

Home Row Height 
 

29.9 mm (1.2")

Wrist Rest  

No

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

9.8

Customizability Overview  

Keychron V Series Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Screw-in

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

5-pin Cherry

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

No

Backlight Features 
 

9.6
10

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron Q1 Backlighting Picture
Keychron V Series Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Keychron Q1 Brightness Max
Keychron V Series Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Keychron Q1 Brightness Min
Keychron V Series Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

Keychron Q1 White Shot
Keychron V Series White Shot

RGB 
 

Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Poor

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

4.0

White Shot  

Keychron Q1 White Shot
Keychron V Series 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 
 

4.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron Q1 Extra Features
Keychron V Series 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

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron Q1 Bundle Picture
Keychron V Series Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

10
7.8

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

50.8 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Very Quiet

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Gateron Phantom Brown
Keychron K Pro Brown

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No

Show text

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Phantom Brown
Keychron K Pro Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

49 gf
51 gf

Actuation Force 
 

39 gf
42 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.6 mm
2.5 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.0 mm
3.9 mm

Show text

Latency 
 

7.4
6.8

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

11.1 ms
20.0 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.4
6.8

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

20.0 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±4.7 ms

Wired 
 

11.1 ms
20.0 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

17.7 ms

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

19.5 ms

Key Release 
 

21.9 ms

Data Transmission 
 

7.0

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Keychron V Series Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

250 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

No

Chord Split 
 

5.5

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

12.2 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

35.8 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Keychron Q1 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

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

Show text

Keychron Q1

Keychron V Series

Comments

  1. Comparison

Keychron Q1 vs Keychron V Series: Main Discussion

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