Between the Q1 HE and Q1 Max, the Q1 HE comes out ahead in several specs, while the Q1 Max wins on several specs. Overall, the Q1 HE scores 81.1 and the Q1 Max scores 81.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are evenly matched on the broad strokes; the decision sits on which individual spec advantages weigh more for your use.
The Q1 HE does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
The Q1 Max similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable size, hot-swappable, wireless, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Keychron - Q1 HE or Keychron - Q1 Max?
The two products are effectively tied on the current Mars Score.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare the highlighted specifications against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Keychron - Q1 HE if…
Keychron - Q1 HE does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Keychron - Q1 Max if…
Keychron - Q1 Max does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Keychron - Q1 HE wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Keychron - Q1 Max wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Switches
| Spec | Keychron - Q1 HE | Keychron - Q1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Switch type | Hall-effect | Gateron Jupiter |
| Hot-swappable | true | true |
Layout & Build
| Spec | Keychron - Q1 HE | Keychron - Q1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 75% | 75% |
| RGB | true | true |
| Rotary knob | true | true |
| Case material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | Keychron - Q1 HE | Keychron - Q1 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless | true | true |
| 2.4 GHz | true | true |
| Battery | 100 h | 100 h |
| Polling rate | 1000 Hz | 1000 Hz |