Keychron Q1 Max

The Q1 Max is the tri-mode version of the Keychron Q1: an aluminum 75% with a PC plate, gasket mount, hot-swap sockets, QMK/VIA, a knob, Bluetooth for up to three devices and a 2.4 GHz receiver with 1000 Hz polling. Keychron lists 1,724 g, a 4000 mAh battery rated up to 180 hours and a 145 x 327.5 mm footprint. Pre-assembled boards use Gateron Jupiter Red, Brown or Banana switches and KSA double-shot PBT keycaps.

XDA Developers called it built like a tank that will not move on the desk and praised the Jupiter switches with the included PBT keycaps. AppleInsider credited the layers of foam for a pleasantly muffled sound with no resonance and gave it 4.5 out of 5, while noting there are no adjustable feet, the angle is fixed at 5.2 degrees and the thick body wants a wrist rest. AppleInsider also cited about 180 hours without backlight and roughly 100 hours at the lowest brightness. Wirecutter did not pick it for its compact-keyboard guide, citing tall keycaps, a steep case slope that cannot be adjusted and a higher price than its upgrade pick.

Keychron's Q Max boards use the dongle or cable for the 1000 Hz rate; Tom's Guide lists 90 Hz over Bluetooth for the sibling Q1 HE, so Bluetooth is not the mode for games.