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Head-to-head · Best 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.

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The short answer

Keychron Q1 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.9 vs 4.1). Keychron Q1 is best for: Buyers who want a premium wired 75% aluminum board that works out of the box. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Keychron Q1
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Mechanical Keyboards
Keychron Q1
1 source$70as of Oct 11

A 75% layout in a CNC aluminum case, the Keychron Q1 pairs gasket mounting with QMK/VIA support, and the typing experience is what keeps enthusiasts buying it. Build quality and customization are the strong suits. Weight and price are the arguments against, and the 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, per The Verge
  • — QMK/VIA support for deep customization, according to The Verge
Watch-outs
  • — Heavy and bulky - not ideal for portable use
  • — Barebones version requires own switches/keycaps
$70 · Buy at keychron.comFull review →
NuPhy Air75 V2
Ranked #6 in Best Mechanical Keyboards
NuPhy Air75 V2
4 sources$99.95as of Jun 7

Low-profile done properly is the NuPhy Air75 V2's pitch, with solid build quality and wireless flexibility behind it. Tom's Hardware praised the comfortable key switches and premium materials liked the ergonomics and customizable lighting. Reviewers also flagged the limited switch options and the higher cost. Typists who want a quiet, comfortable board will be happy; anyone who prefers tactile or clicky switches should look elsewhere.

Strengths
  • — Excellent build quality with a solid aluminum frame and premium materials
  • — Wireless connectivity with 2.4GHz and Bluetooth support for versatile use
  • — Customizable RGB lighting with software control for personalization
Watch-outs
  • — Limited key switch options may not suit all typing preferences
$99.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull 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 uses low-profile switches and weighs 598g, against 1.7 kg for the Keychron Q1 Max and 2.1 kg for the Keychron Q1 HE, two other 75% boards. Like both it connects over 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, and it matches the Q1 Max's 4,000 mAh battery capacity. Its switch options are limited, where the Drop CTRL has hot-swap sockets that take a wide variety of switches.

Specs side-by-side

SpecKeychron Q1NuPhy Air75 V2
Layout75% (gasket-mounted)—
Case MaterialCNC-machined aluminum—
MountingDouble-gasket mount—
SwitchesHot-swap (5-pin)—
ConnectivityUSB-C wired2.4GHz, Bluetooth
FirmwareQMK/VIA—
Weight3.7 lb598g
Polling Rate8000 Hz—
SoftwareQMK Launcher—
Top PlateFull Metal—
Dimensions145 mm W x 327.5 mm L x 21.6 mm H12.46"L x 5.22"W x 0.53"H
FeetTwo-stage adjustable—
Form Factor—75%
Switch Type—Low-profile mechanical
Backlight—RGB customizable
Build Material—Aluminum frame
Battery—4000mAh
Keycaps—Double-shot PBT
← See the full ranking of best mechanical keyboards