Keychron Q1 HE vs Keychron Q2 Max
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| KeychronQ1 HE | KeychronQ2 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | December 2023 | January 2024 |
| Typing | ||
| Layout | Compact | Compact |
| Switches | Magnetic (Hall effect) | Mechanical |
| Backlight | RGB | RGB |
| Keys labelled for | Mac, Windows and more | Mac, Windows and more |
| Touch ID | No | No |
| Switches | Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula switches with a TMR sensor under each key; hot-swappable with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches only; actuation adjustable from 0.2 to 3.8 mm with 0.1 mm sensitivity; screw-in PCB stabilisers | Gateron Jupiter switches (Red, Brown or Banana); hot-swappable; screw-in PCB stabilisers |
| Keycaps | OSA-profile double-shot PBT, not shine-through; keycaps for Windows and macOS | KSA-profile double-shot PBT, not shine-through; keycaps for Mac and Windows |
| Layouts | 75% with a knob; ANSI (keychron.com); UK ISO (keychron.uk); a Japanese JIS version is also sold | 65% with a knob; ANSI (keychron.com); UK ISO (keychron.uk) |
| Backlight | South-facing RGB LEDs | South-facing RGB LEDs |
| Special keys | Programmable rotary knob; Rapid Trigger; four-in-one Dynamic Keystrokes; Mac/Windows system toggle that keeps a separate layout for each; N-key rollover wireless and wired | Programmable rotary knob; N-key rollover wireless and wired |
| Connections and battery | ||
| Connects by | Bluetooth, USB receiver and Cable | Bluetooth, USB receiver and Cable |
| Devices it switches between | 3 | 3 |
| Power | Rechargeable | Rechargeable |
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 100 hours | Up to 180 hours |
| Receiver | 2.4 GHz USB receiver at 1,000 Hz polling; Bluetooth 5.2 at 90 Hz to up to three devices; USB-C wired at 1,000 Hz | 2.4 GHz USB receiver at 1,000 Hz polling; Bluetooth 5.1 at 90 Hz to up to three devices; USB-C wired at 1,000 Hz |
| Battery life detail | 4,000 mAh lithium-polymer battery; up to 100 hours with the backlight off | 4,000 mAh lithium-polymer battery; up to 180 hours with the backlight off and up to 100 hours with RGB at its lowest brightness |
| Charging | USB-C; 1.8 m Type-C cable with a Type-A to Type-C adapter | – |
| Works with | macOS, Windows and Linux | macOS, Windows and Linux |
| Software | QMK firmware; Keychron Launcher web app for actuation, Rapid Trigger, key remapping and macros | QMK firmware with VIA and the Keychron Launcher web app |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 1735 g | 1528 g (better) |
| Size | 327.5 × 145 mm; 22.6 mm high at the front and 35.8 mm at the back without keycaps; 2.4 mm feet; 5.2° typing angle; 1,735 g ± 10 g fully assembled | 327 × 121 mm; 21 mm high at the front and 34.8 mm at the back without keycaps; 2.7 mm feet; 6.5° typing angle; 1,528 g ± 10 g fully assembled |
| Materials | Aluminium body and plate; double-gasket design with silicone pads between the cases; removable acoustic pad | CNC aluminium body; PC plate; double-gasket design; IXPE foam, PET film, latex bottom pad and bottom-case acoustic foam |
| Colours | Carbon Black, Shell White (keychron.com); Carbon Black (keychron.uk UK ISO) | Carbon Black, Shell White (keychron.com); Carbon Black (keychron.uk UK ISO) |
