Representative photography — not the exact unit shipped.
Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard
In stock
Custom mechanical keyboard, 75 percent. Case: Full CNC aluminium, gasket mounted.
Direct answer: is the Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard right for you?
QMK firmware is what separates this from an expensive gaming keyboard: the remapping lives on the keyboard, so layers and macros travel to any machine you plug it into with no driver installed.
Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Editorial verdict
Grounded in published specifications
Summary verdict: QMK firmware is what separates this from an expensive gaming keyboard: the remapping lives on the keyboard, so layers and macros travel to any machine you plug it into with no driver installed. The 1.6 kg aluminium case is not portability lost, it is the point -- mass is what produces the low, solid sound these are bought for. Hot-swap sockets mean switches are a preference rather than a permanent decision.
Who should buy this
Anyone who wants to tune switches and layout, and keep that config across machines with no software.
Who should avoid this
Anyone needing a portable or numeric-keypad keyboard.
Key strengths
- QMK and VIA remapping stored on the keyboard, no driver anywhere
- Hot-swappable switches, so no soldering to change feel
- Gasket-mounted CNC aluminium with genuinely good acoustics
Limitations
- 1.6 kg -- this does not leave the desk
- 75 percent layout drops the numeric keypad
- Costs several times a competent membrane keyboard
Technical specifications
- Case
- Full CNC aluminium, gasket mounted
- Brand
- Keychron
- Model
- Q1M-B1
- Sound
- Double gasket mount with internal foam, tuned for a low-pitched sound
- Layout
- 75 percent -- function row and arrows kept, numeric keypad dropped
- Weight
- 1.6 kg
- Battery
- 4000 mAh, about 100 hours without backlight
- Firmware
- QMK and VIA -- fully remappable including layers and macros, stored on the keyboard itself
- Switches
- Hot-swappable, 5-pin, no soldering
- Warranty
- 1 Year Official Brand Warranty
- Form factor
- Custom mechanical keyboard, 75 percent
- Weight note
- 1.6 kg. This is desk furniture, not a portable keyboard
- Connectivity
- 2.4 GHz receiver, Bluetooth to 3 devices, or USB-C
Product overview
QMK firmware is what separates this from an expensive gaming keyboard: the remapping lives on the keyboard, so layers and macros travel to any machine you plug it into with no driver installed. The 1.6 kg aluminium case is not portability lost, it is the point -- mass is what produces the low, solid sound these are bought for. Hot-swap sockets mean switches are a preference rather than a permanent decision.
Key capabilities
- Case: Full CNC aluminium, gasket mounted
- Switches: Hot-swappable, 5-pin, no soldering
- Firmware: QMK and VIA -- fully remappable including layers and macros, stored on the keyboard itself
- Connectivity: 2
Frequently asked questions
Is the Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard worth buying?
QMK firmware is what separates this from an expensive gaming keyboard: the remapping lives on the keyboard, so layers and macros travel to any machine you plug it into with no driver installed.
What is the warranty and return policy for the Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard?
1 Year Official Brand Warranty. Returns: 7 Days Replacement Guarantee.
Who is the Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard best suited for?
Anyone who wants to tune switches and layout, and keep that config across machines with no software.
Who should avoid the Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard?
Anyone needing a portable or numeric-keypad keyboard.
Sample reviews
5 reviewsThese are illustrative, not customer reviews.
DealSurge has not sold this product, so nobody has reviewed it. Each entry below is written from the strengths and drawbacks recorded on this page, to show how reviews would appear — none of it is a real buyer’s experience, and none of it is counted in search results or given to the shopping assistant.
Mean of 5 samples
- 5 ★2
- 4 ★2
- 3 ★0
- 2 ★1
- 1 ★0
- 4 out of 5 stars, in a sample review of Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Four stars, and here is the fifth — 1.6 kg
QMK and VIA remapping stored on the keyboard, no driver anywhere. The one thing to know before ordering: 1.6 kg — this does not leave the desk. To be fair that is written on the product page. I skimmed past it and had to rearrange things afterwards.
Gita B.Sample10 found this helpful - 2 out of 5 stars, in a sample review of Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Not the product’s fault, but be warned
Genuinely my own fault. Posting so somebody else does not repeat it. The listing says who should avoid this: Anyone needing a portable or numeric-keypad keyboard. That was my situation and I ordered anyway. It does what it says on the page — it just was not the thing I needed.
Nikhil S.Sample18 found this helpful - 5 out of 5 stars, in a sample review of Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard
No notes
QMK and VIA remapping stored on the keyboard, no driver anywhere. That was the whole reason I picked this over the cheaper options, and it is exactly as described. Also worth mentioning: Hot-swappable switches, so no soldering to change feel. Nothing has surprised me in most of a year.
Shreya V.Sample5 found this helpful - 5 out of 5 stars, in a sample review of Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Read the fit note, and it was me
The page describes who this is for, and it described me: Anyone who wants to tune switches and layout, and keep that config across machines with no software. On that basis it has been the right call. QMK and VIA remapping stored on the keyboard, no driver anywhere.
Amrita S.Sample5 found this helpful - 4 out of 5 stars, in a sample review of Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Posting after real use, not unboxing
Had this about a month now, so this is not an unboxing opinion. Hot-swappable switches, so no soldering to change feel. Still mildly irritated by one thing: 1.6 kg — this does not leave the desk. Known trade-off rather than a fault, though, and I would buy it again.
Kiran H.Sample1 found this helpful
The research behind this page
Independent guides that work through the numbers on this kind of product.