Keychron Q1 Max vs Keychron V1 Max

These two share a layout, a gasket mount, a polycarbonate plate, screw-in stabilisers, 5-pin hot-swap sockets, the same Gateron Jupiter switch options, a knob and wireless with a 4,000 mAh battery. The V1 Max costs half as much at UK list price.

What the extra money buys on the Q1 Max is the case: machined aluminium instead of plastic. That makes it more than twice as heavy (1,724 g against 770 g), with a deeper, more solid sound and no flex. It also comes with KSA-profile keycaps rather than the V1 Max's OSA.

Pick the V1 Max if this is your first good keyboard, or you'd rather spend the difference on switches and keycaps; it gets you most of what makes the Q1 Max pleasant to type on. Pick the Q1 Max if you want a board that feels and sounds like a custom build, stays put on the desk and will take part swaps for years.