Keychron Q1 Max review - Tickles the brain just right

Mechanical keyboards are having a bit of a moment at the moment (my own collection is growing at an alarming rate), and while Keychron’s Q1 Max is a hefty one, it’s easily up there with my favourites around.

With plenty of customisation, the kind of key travel and sound that ASMR dreams are made of, and great battery life, it’s a great option for newcomers to mechanical keyboards or anyone looking to enjoy a little luxury under their digits.

Big and beautiful

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My prior Keychron keyboard is the K2, which is a pretty lightweight board you could feasibly take with you from home to your office and back again.

The Q1 Max couldn’t be more different, though. Its hefty aluminium chassis makes it the kind of keyboard that doubles as an offensive weapon if you’re that way inclined (please don’t hit anyone with this thing) but it does provide a fantastic base to type on.

That does mean there are no extendable feet underneath,  though, so the tilt of the keyboard is what it is - there’s no way to adjust it. Still, that’s about the only thing you can’t change.

As with any Keychron board, you can take it apart and reassemble it with your chosen keycaps, plate, and more.

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As for me, I’m not planning to do that - mainly because the Q1 Max Keychron sent over has a really nice off-white colour that gives it a retro vibe, with green keys strewn across the board.

On the top-right, there’s a volume knob, too, with increments that are satisfying while turning, and an instant mute when it’s pushed down.

ASMR heaven

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Keychron has made great-feeling keyboards for years now, but the Q1 Max might be its dreamiest yet.

The decent key travel, some softer (but still responsive) switches, and that sturdy metal base makes it feel, and sound, great. It just itches the brain in the perfect spot, sounding like a keyboard from a classic 90s hacker movie.

What you wouldn’t have found back in those halcyon days, however, was under-key lighting. It’s not going to be to everyone’s tastes, but I found it quite tasteful since it doesn’t shine through the keys themselves.

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It can be customised using the new Launcher tool which runs from a browser window, as can keybindings and macros. It's a little more fiddly than a software suite like Logitech G Hub, but it’s also much more flexible since you can use it wherever you’re connected.

With Mac and Windows compatibility, and both dongle and Bluetooth connection options, the Q1 Max is plenty flexible. I’ve been switching between my MacBook Air and my Windows PC, and while the keys feel great, I find myself falling back to something like the Logitech PRO X 60 for gaming.

For getting work done, though, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as the Q1 Max, with swappable keycaps between the two platforms included, as well as a tool to pluck them out and switch them easily.

The Verdict

It’s heavy and it's pricey, but the Keychron Q1 Max is a highly customisable keyboard that offers a premium typing experience and some of the most satisfying keystrokes in the business.

Its open-source nature may not interest everyone, but it’s a beautiful board that’s earned a spot in my rotation.

4.5/5

Review unit provided by the manufacturer. GGRecon uses affiliate links, if you purchase any products from our links we may earn a commission.