Scored using Keyboards Methodology v1.0
Keyboards Methodology v1.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are evaluated mathematically under Frontumo Keyboards Methodology v1.0 using verified laboratory benchmarks, technical specifications, and authentic consumer ratings with 0% commercial bias.
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Keychron Q1 Max QMK VIA Wireless Review | 64 Data compared

Avg. price:~£240Layout size:75%Connection type:USB / 2.4GHz / BluetoothSwitch type:mechanicalPolling rate:1000 Hz

Keychron Q1 Max QMK VIA Wireless Review: Compare 64 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Keyboards category and whether it is worth buying.

7.1

Overall score

Score
7.1/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of the keyboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference to identify the best keyboards on the market.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

80%

6.9

Technical score

20%

8.1

User score

â–²Better than 54% of keyboards
6.9

Technical score

Technical score
6.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Keyboards category across these key areas: Switches, Design, Connectivity & Power, Features, Materials.
When it matters
When you want to compare keyboards based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

34%

8.3

Connectivity & Power

28%

3.3

Switches

20%

10

Materials

12%

6.8

Features

6%

5.2

Design

â–²Better than 50% of keyboards
8.1

User score

User score
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the keyboard.
When it matters
When you want to understand how a keyboard performs in daily use or gaming and how reliable it is in terms of typing feel, noise level, comfort, and long-term durability.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

8.8

User ratings

30%

6.7

Number of reviews

Based on 218 buyer reviews from online shops.
How we calculate this
User ratings – average star rating across all shop listings, weighted by how many reviews each has, on a 1–10 scale.
Number of reviews – how many buyer reviews the product has, on a logarithmic scale; the 8% most-reviewed models in the category get 10.
â–²Better than 60% of keyboards
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Best prices

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Best rankings

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of keyboard Keychron Q1 Max QMK VIA Wireless

Technical score
Technical score
6.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Keyboards category across these key areas: Switches, Design, Connectivity & Power, Features, Materials.
When it matters
When you want to compare keyboards based on technical performance and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

34%

8.3

Connectivity & Power

28%

3.3

Switches

20%

10

Materials

12%

6.8

Features

6%

5.2

Design

6.9
User score
User score
8.1/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the keyboard.
When it matters
When you want to understand how a keyboard performs in daily use or gaming and how reliable it is in terms of typing feel, noise level, comfort, and long-term durability.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components

70%

8.8

User ratings

30%

6.7

Number of reviews

Based on 218 buyer reviews from online shops.
How we calculate this
User ratings – average star rating across all shop listings, weighted by how many reviews each has, on a 1–10 scale.
Number of reviews – how many buyer reviews the product has, on a logarithmic scale; the 8% most-reviewed models in the category get 10.
8.1
Popularity
Popularity
6.7/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the keyboard.
When it matters
When you prefer a keyboard that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Popularity:
Keychron Q1 Max QMK VIA Wireless has a popularity score of 6.7 points, which is higher than that of 55.2% of products in this category.
6.7
Value for money
Value for money
7.8/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the keyboard's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a keyboard that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components:

60%

7.1

Overall score

40%

9.3

Price

7.8
Switch type
mechanical
Switch feel
linear / tactile
Switch name
Gateron Jupiter
Actuation force
45 g
Min actuation distance
2 mm
Min actuation distance
2 mm
This keyboard has a minimum actuation distance of 2 mm, which is longer than 66.5% of keyboards and equal to 33.2% of keyboards.
Show more
Keyboard type
mechanical
Layout size
75%
Layout standard
?
N. of keys
81
N. of keys
81
This keyboard has 81 keys, which is fewer than 66.4% of keyboards and equal to 4.4% of keyboards.
Profile
standard
Show more
Connection type
USB / 2.4GHz / Bluetooth
Connection type
USB / 2.4GHz / Bluetooth
This keyboard offers USB / 2.4GHz / Bluetooth connectivity, which is more versatile than 57.3% of keyboards and equal to 42.7% of keyboards.
Multi-device pairing
yes
Multi-device pairing
yes
This keyboard supports multi-device pairing. 4.5% of keyboards support multi-device pairing.
Bluetooth version
5.1
Bluetooth version
5.1
This keyboard uses Bluetooth 5.1, which is newer than 67% of keyboards and equal to 23.5% of keyboards.
Mac compatibility
yes
Mac compatibility
yes
This keyboard is Mac compatible. 58% of keyboards are Mac compatible.
Battery life
180 h
Battery life
180 h
This keyboard lasts 180 h on a charge, which is longer than 49.7% of keyboards and equal to 3.6% of keyboards.
Show more
RGB lighting
yes
RGB lighting
yes
This keyboard has RGB lighting. 12.4% of keyboards have RGB lighting.
Per-key RGB
no
Per-key RGB
no
This keyboard does not have per-key RGB. 72.8% of keyboards offer per-key RGB.
RGB zones
81
RGB zones
81
This keyboard has 81 RGB zones, which is fewer than 52.3% of keyboards and equal to 4.1% of keyboards.
Underglow / side lighting
no
Underglow / side lighting
no
This keyboard does not include underglow lighting. 8% of keyboards include underglow lighting.
Backlight direction
south-facing
Show more
Case material
aluminum
Plate material
polycarbonate
Keycap material
PBT
Keycap profile
OSA
Legend method
double-shot
Legend method
double-shot
This keyboard uses double-shot legends, which are more durable than 25.1% of keyboards and equal to 74.9% of keyboards.
Show more

Keychron Q1 Max QMK VIA Wireless vs the average keyboard

246810TotalDesignConnectivity & PowerSwitchesMaterialsFeatures
  • Works with Mac
    Mac compatibility
    yes
    This keyboard is Mac compatible, the average keyboard is not. 42.3% of keyboards are Mac compatible.
  • Volume control wheel
    Volume wheel
    yes
    This keyboard includes a volume wheel, the average keyboard does not. 38.3% of keyboards include a volume wheel.
  • Supports QMK
    QMK support
    yes
    This keyboard supports QMK, the average keyboard does not. 28.8% of keyboards support QMK.
  • Supports VIA
    VIA support
    yes
    This keyboard supports VIA, the average keyboard does not. 26.3% of keyboards support VIA.
  • Works with Mac
    Mac compatibility
    yes
    This keyboard is Mac compatible, the average keyboard is not. 42.3% of keyboards are Mac compatible.
  • Volume control wheel
    Volume wheel
    yes
    This keyboard includes a volume wheel, the average keyboard does not. 38.3% of keyboards include a volume wheel.
  • Supports QMK
    QMK support
    yes
    This keyboard supports QMK, the average keyboard does not. 28.8% of keyboards support QMK.
  • Supports VIA
    VIA support
    yes
    This keyboard supports VIA, the average keyboard does not. 26.3% of keyboards support VIA.
  • No per-key RGB lighting
    Per-key RGB
    no
    This keyboard does not have per-key RGB, the average keyboard does. 72.5% of keyboards offer per-key RGB.
  • 0.3 mm longer minimum actuation distance
    Min actuation distance
    2 mm
    This keyboard has a longer minimum actuation distance than the average keyboard (2 mm vs 1.7 mm). The average keyboard has a minimum actuation distance of 1.7 mm.
    2 mm vs 1.7 mm
  • 76.3% higher weight
    Weight
    1,724 g
    This keyboard weighs more than the average keyboard (1724 g vs 978 g). The average keyboard weighs 978 g.
    1,724 g vs 978 g
  • 6 fewer keys
    N. of keys
    81
    This keyboard has fewer keys than the average keyboard (81 vs 87). The average keyboard has 87 keys.
    81 vs 87
  • 84.6% more expensive
    Keychron Q1 Max QMK VIA Wireless is more expensive than the average keyboard (£240 vs £130).
    £240 vs £130
  • Older Bluetooth version
    Bluetooth version
    5.1
    This keyboard uses an older Bluetooth version than the average keyboard (5.1 vs 5.2). The average keyboard uses Bluetooth 5.2.
    5.1 vs 5.2
  • 84.6% more expensive
    Keychron Q1 Max QMK VIA Wireless is more expensive than the average keyboard (£240 vs £130).
    £240 vs £130
  • 76.3% higher weight
    Weight
    1,724 g
    This keyboard weighs more than the average keyboard (1724 g vs 978 g). The average keyboard weighs 978 g.
    1,724 g vs 978 g
  • 6 fewer keys
    N. of keys
    81
    This keyboard has fewer keys than the average keyboard (81 vs 87). The average keyboard has 87 keys.
    81 vs 87
  • Older Bluetooth version
    Bluetooth version
    5.1
    This keyboard uses an older Bluetooth version than the average keyboard (5.1 vs 5.2). The average keyboard uses Bluetooth 5.2.
    5.1 vs 5.2
  • 0.3 mm longer minimum actuation distance
    Min actuation distance
    2 mm
    This keyboard has a longer minimum actuation distance than the average keyboard (2 mm vs 1.7 mm). The average keyboard has a minimum actuation distance of 1.7 mm.
    2 mm vs 1.7 mm
  • No per-key RGB lighting
    Per-key RGB
    no
    This keyboard does not have per-key RGB, the average keyboard does. 72.5% of keyboards offer per-key RGB.

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

T
trustedreviews.com
05/02/2024
Summary of the review
X
xda-developers.com
17/03/2024
Summary of the review
A
appleinsider.com
13/03/2024
Summary of the review
K
kitguru.net
05/07/2024
Summary of the review
R
rtings.com
13/03/2024
Summary of the review
F
forbes.com
18/02/2024
Summary of the review
L
lesnumeriques.com
11/02/2026
Summary of the review
S
smartworld.it
04/08/2025
Summary of the review

Third-party reviews

Based on 218 buyer reviews from online shops.
Reviews last updated: June 2026 · How we calculate this

What we like about Keychron Q1 Max QMK VIA Wireless

  • Excellent build quality with a solid, premium CNC-machined aluminum body
  • Smooth and satisfying typing experience provided by pre-lubed Gateron Jupiter switches
  • Versatile triple-mode connectivity including 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.1, and USB-C wired
  • Deep, 'thocky' sound profile thanks to a double-gasket design and multiple layers of acoustic foam
  • Extensive customisation via QMK/VIA and the user-friendly Keychron Launcher web app
  • Includes hot-swappable sockets for easy 3-pin or 5-pin switch changes without soldering
  • Reliable 1,000 Hz polling rate on 2.4 GHz and wired modes for low-latency gaming

What we don't like about Keychron Q1 Max QMK VIA Wireless

  • High price point compared to entry-level mechanical keyboards
  • Stock screw-in stabilizers have been described by some users as poor quality or 'rattly'
  • High keyboard profile may require an additional wrist rest for long-term comfort
  • Learning QMK/VIA for complex custom layers can be challenging for beginners
  • Lack of visible indicator for Caps Lock due to south-facing LEDs and non-shine-through keycaps
  • Support from Keychron can be difficult to navigate according to some community feedback

Verdict

The Keychron Q1 Max is a premium 75% layout wireless mechanical keyboard featuring a robust CNC-machined 6063 aluminum body and a double-gasket mount design for a flexible, cushioned typing experience. It offers versatile tri-mode connectivity via 2.4 GHz (1000 Hz polling rate), Bluetooth 5.1 (up to three devices), and USB-C, powered by an ARM Cortex-M4 MCU with QMK/VIA support for extensive key remapping and macros. Key specs include hot-swappable Gateron Jupiter switches, south-facing RGB, screw-in PCB stabilizers, KSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps, and a 4,000 mAh battery. Main pros include its exceptional build quality, advanced multi-layer acoustic foam for a refined 'thocky' sound, and a customizable programmable knob. However, notable cons include its significant weight (approx. 1.7kg) which limits portability, lack of adjustable feet, and reports of occasionally over-lubed stabilizers.

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