Head-to-head · Best Premium Mechanical Keyboards

Keychron Q1 vs NuPhy Air75 V2

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Keychron Q1 and NuPhy Air75 V2 score essentially the same (4.2 vs 4.2). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Ranked #2 in Best Premium Mechanical Keyboards

Keychron Q1

4.2

$169as of Apr 17

The Keychron Q1 is a premium 75% mechanical keyboard that delivers excellent build quality and customization options. With its CNC aluminum case, gasket mount design, and QMK/VIA support, it's ideal for enthusiasts who want a high-quality typing experience. The main drawbacks are its weight, price, and the fact that stabilizers may need work out of the box.

Strengths

— Premium aluminum CNC-milled case with excellent build quality
— Hot-swappable PCB compatible with most mechanical switches
— Gasket-mounted design for soft, satisfying typing feel

Watch-outs

— Heavy and bulky - not ideal for portable use
— Expensive compared to plastic alternatives
— Barebones version requires own switches/keycaps

$169 · Buy at keychron.com Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Premium Mechanical Keyboards

NuPhy Air75 V2

4.2

$120

The NuPhy Air75 V2 is the portability pick of this lineup: a low-profile 75% wireless board with an aluminum top plate and tri-mode connectivity that punches above its price. Creative Bloq rated it 8/10, praising key travel that is 'ample and tactile,' while How-To Geek gave it 7/10 and highlighted 'great build quality and excellent-feeling keycaps' with a satisfying low-profile feel. VIA/QMK support keeps it fully programmable. The main caveats are a known macOS freezing bug and the smaller low-profile parts ecosystem.

Strengths

— Slim low-profile design with an aluminum top plate that feels premium yet stays travel-friendly
— Tri-mode connectivity: 1 ms 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 for multiple devices, and USB-C wired
— VIA/QMK support for browser-based remapping without installing software

Watch-outs

— A known macOS bug can cause the keyboard to freeze and stop responding intermittently
— Low-profile switch and keycap ecosystem is smaller than full-height boards
— Plastic bottom case feels less substantial than all-metal rivals

$120 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Keychron Q1

The Keychron Q1 covers the same wired 75% aluminum gasket-mount territory as the Glorious GMMK Pro but can be bought fully assembled, making it the easier first board. It trades the wireless connectivity of its sibling the Keychron Q3 Max for a lower price, lacks the analog Hall-effect rapid-trigger switches of the Wooting 60HE+, and is dramatically heavier and bulkier than the travel-friendly NuPhy Air75 V2.

NuPhy Air75 V2

The NuPhy Air75 V2 is the only low-profile, travel-oriented board in this group. It shares the 75% layout of the Glorious GMMK Pro and Keychron Q1 and the wireless tri-mode of the Keychron Q3 Max, but trades their thick aluminum cases for a slim, light body you can actually carry. It lacks the analog Hall-effect gaming switches of the Wooting 60HE+, prioritizing comfortable, portable typing over competitive latency.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Keychron Q1	NuPhy Air75 V2
Layout	75% (gasket-mounted)	75% (low-profile)
Case Material	CNC-machined aluminum	—
Mounting	Double-gasket mount	—
Switches	Hot-swap (5-pin)	Gateron low-profile, hot-swap
Connectivity	USB-C wired	2.4 GHz (1 ms) / Bluetooth 5.0 / USB-C
Firmware	QMK/VIA	QMK/VIA
Lighting	South-facing RGB	—
Weight	3.7 lb (1.7 kg)	—
Top Plate	—	Aluminum
Key Travel	—	3.2 mm
Keycaps	—	Double-shot PBT
Feet	—	Two-stage adjustable

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