Keychron Q1 Max QMK/VIA Wireless Mechanical Keyboard review

The Q1 Max is a 75% wireless mechanical keyboard with a knob. Keychron makes it in ANSI, JIS and ISO, including UK-ISO, so UK buyers can get the layout they type on. The specification centres on a metal case, a gasket mount and open firmware. That makes it a board for people who want to adjust things, not just plug it in.

The case is full aluminium, CNC machined. Inside, the plate is polycarbonate (PC) and the mounting is a gasket design, with several layers of acoustic foam. The keycaps are KSA double-shot PBT. On ANSI and UK versions they are not shine-through.

Owners praise the sturdy build. The same construction comes with a trade-off. The board weighs 1724 g, give or take 10 g, fully assembled, and owners describe it as heavy and thick. If you move your keyboard between desks often, that weight matters. On a fixed desk it matters less.

Keychron offers Gateron Jupiter switches in Red, Brown or Banana. The sockets are hot-swappable, so the switch choice is not permanent. Owner reports praise the typing sound, the acoustics and the feel.

There is one recurring caution. Some owners report stabiliser rattle on the spacebar and backspace. One reviewer saw none, so it looks like a unit-to-unit issue, not a certainty. Buyers who are sensitive to rattle should check the return terms before committing.

This is where the board is strongest on paper. The firmware is QMK with VIA support. Keychron also provides a web app, the Keychron Launcher, for remapping keys and recording macros. It works on macOS, Windows and Linux. Because the remapping runs in a web app and VIA, you don't need a Windows-only utility.

The hot-swap sockets accept both 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches. You can change switches without soldering, and the spec sheet lists no restriction on which MX-style switches fit beyond that pin compatibility.

Keychron has since launched a successor, the Q1 Ultra, with 8K polling and ZMK firmware. If either of those matters to you, look at that model too. The Q1 Max stays on QMK.

The board connects over 2.4GHz, Bluetooth or a wired cable. Bluetooth can hold up to three devices. Polling is 1000Hz on 2.4GHz and wired, but only 90Hz on Bluetooth. Owners report that Bluetooth stutters in crowded wireless environments. For desk use, the 2.4GHz receiver or the cable avoids that limit. Bluetooth is better kept for occasional switching to a second or third device.

The 4000mAh battery is rated for up to 180 hours with the backlight off. The spec sheet gives no runtime with the backlight on, so expect less if you use it.

One owner theme is cost. Reviewers say the price is high and that the board no longer undercuts rivals with the same specification. The case for the Q1 Max rests on the build, the sound and the open firmware, not on being the cheapest option.

With a CNC aluminium case, gasket mount, QMK/VIA and a UK-ISO option, the Q1 Max suits someone who wants a heavy, customisable desk keyboard and will mostly use 2.4GHz or wired. The weight, the Bluetooth polling rate and the reported stabiliser rattle on some units are the points to weigh before buying.