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Tech head-to-head

Keychron Q1vsLogitech MX Mechanical

Keychron Q1 edges Logitech MX Mechanical, 8.4 to 8.0. The 5 axes split 4-1, widest on Performance at 1.0.

Keychron Q1

Keychron

8.4

A gasket-mounted aluminum board with QMK firmware, sold assembled instead of as a kit.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

Logitech MX Mechanical

Logitech

8.0

Mechanical switches inside an office keyboard, with Logitech's multi-device pairing intact.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

Where they diverge

The widest gap is Performance, Keychron Q1 ahead 8.8 to 7.8. They come closest on Value, 7.6 to 7.4. Left of center is Keychron Q1, right is Logitech MX Mechanical.

Keychron Q1 versus Logitech MX Mechanical — axis scores out of 10Horizontal bar chart of editorial scores out of 10 across 5 axes. Bars for Keychron Q1 run left from the axis labels, bars for Logitech MX Mechanical run right. Keychron Q1: Performance 8.8, Value 7.6, Durability 9.0, Ease of use 7.8, Design 8.8. Logitech MX Mechanical: Performance 7.8, Value 7.4, Durability 8.2, Ease of use 8.8, Design 7.8.Keychron Q1 (left)Logitech MX Mechanical (right)PerformanceKeychron Q1 — Performance 8.8 out of 108.8Logitech MX Mechanical — Performance 7.8 out of 107.8ValueKeychron Q1 — Value 7.6 out of 107.6Logitech MX Mechanical — Value 7.4 out of 107.4DurabilityKeychron Q1 — Durability 9.0 out of 109.0Logitech MX Mechanical — Durability 8.2 out of 108.2Ease of useKeychron Q1 — Ease of use 7.8 out of 107.8Logitech MX Mechanical — Ease of use 8.8 out of 108.8DesignKeychron Q1 — Design 8.8 out of 108.8Logitech MX Mechanical — Design 7.8 out of 107.8Editorial score out of 10 — higher is better

Which one to pick

Take the Keychron Q1

Leads on Performance, Value, Durability and Design.

  • You want to remap every key without vendor software running in the background
  • Typing feel is worth more to you than portability
  • You expect to swap switches rather than replace the board

Take the Logitech MX Mechanical

Leads on Ease of use.

  • Three machines on one desk and one keyboard between them
  • You want mechanical feel without mechanical height
  • Backlighting that reacts to your hands approaching

What each one gets wrong

Keychron Q1

  • You need it to travel — this is close to two kilograms
  • Wired-only, or the wireless variant premium, is a problem

Logitech MX Mechanical

  • You intend to change switches later — these are soldered
  • You want the deep travel of a full-height board

Specs, side by side

SpecKeychron Q1Logitech MX Mechanical
Layout75 percentFull size or 75 percent Mini
CaseCNC aluminum—
SwitchesHot-swappableLow-profile, not hot-swappable
FirmwareQMK and VIA—
Connection—Bluetooth and Logi Bolt
Battery—Backlight off extends it dramatically

Rankings they both appear in

Questions

Keychron Q1 or Logitech MX Mechanical — which should I buy?
Keychron Q1 leads on Performance, Value, Durability and Design. If Ease of use matters more to you, take the Logitech MX Mechanical instead.
Is 0.4 a real difference?
Barely. Keychron Q1 averages 8.4 and Logitech MX Mechanical averages 8.0, and the total is the plain average of 5 axes, so 0.4 is what one axis moving 2.0 looks like after averaging. The axis split, 4-1, tells you more.
Which of our lists do both of these appear in?
Keychron Q1 sits at #3 in "Layout is the guess no keyboard lets you take back", Logitech MX Mechanical at #4. They also share 1 other list on the site.