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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

System76 Launch vs Keychron Q1

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

System76 Launch
Keychron Q1

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 06, 2022 08:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Dec 01, 2023 05:08 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
System76 Launch Picture
Keychron Q1 Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
Compact (75%)
Mechanical
Yes
ConnectivityWired
Size
Compact (75%)
Mechanical
Yes

Variants

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

Review

See System76 Launch Review
See Keychron Q1 Review
0 
2 

Our Verdict

System76 Launch

Keychron Q1

The System76 Launch and the Keychron Q1 are two compact, hot-swappable, mechanical keyboards designed for productivity. However, they have very different features. The System76 comes with four additional USB ports and can act as a USB hub, and it uses PBT keycaps instead of ABS. It also has better backlighting and a unique, split spacebar. You can also completely change the layout of the keys to suit your preferences. On the other hand, you can program macros on the Keychron, and its latency is better. Both keyboards are wired-only.

0 

Check Price

Gray
Launch
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Carbon Black
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Navy Blue
Q1
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
SEARCH
B&H
Space Grey
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.9
8.6

Operating Force 
 

70 gf
49 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.7 mm
2.6 mm

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
All

Software & Programming 
 

7.6
9.6

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

System76 Launch Top Picture
Keychron Q1 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (75%)
Compact (75%)

Height 
 

1.2" (3.1 cm)
1.7" (4.4 cm)

Width  

12.2" (31.0 cm)
12.9" (32.7 cm)

Depth 
 

5.3" (13.6 cm)
5.7" (14.5 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

2.18 lbs (0.988 kg)
3.62 lbs (1.642 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

9.0
9.0

Build Quality Close Up  

System76 Launch Build Quality Close Up
Keychron Q1 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.0

Side Picture  

System76 Launch Side Picture
Keychron Q1 Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

0°
5.2°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

4°
N/A

Wrist Rest  

No
No
Show Text 

Backlighting 
 

9.9
9.6

Backlighting Picture  

System76 Launch Backlighting Picture
Keychron Q1 Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

System76 Launch White Shot
Keychron Q1 White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

System76 Launch Brightness Max
Keychron Q1 Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

System76 Launch Brightness Min
Keychron Q1 Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB
RGB

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

Good
Poor

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Programmable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

4.9 ft (1.5 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 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

System76 Launch 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 
 

Yes
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

No Indicator
No Indicator
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

System76 Launch 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 
 

Kailh Box Royal
Gateron Phantom Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

70 gf
49 gf

Actuation Force 
 

43 gf
39 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.7 mm
2.6 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.7 mm
4.0 mm
Show Text 

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.5
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

Noise 
 

Loud
Very Quiet
Show Text 

Latency 
 

6.9
7.4

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

16.8 ms
11.1 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

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

Software & Programming 
 

7.6
9.6

Software Picture  

System76 Launch Software Picture
Keychron Q1 Software Picture

Software Name  

System76 Keyboard Configurator
VIA

Account Required 
 

No
No

Profiles 
 

6+
6+

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Cloud Sync 
 

No
No

Macro Programming 
 

No
Software

Ease Of Use 
 

Easy
Easy

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

8.2
8.2

Windows  

Full
Full

macOS  

Full
Full

Linux  

Full
Full

Android  

No
No

iOS  

No
No

iPadOS  

No
No
Show Text 

Check Price

Gray
Launch
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Carbon Black
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Navy Blue
Q1
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
SEARCH
B&H
Space Grey
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 
Back to Top

System76 Launch

Keychron Q1

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

System76 Launch vs Keychron Q1: Main Discussion

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