The Keychron V1 Bargain

[@BassFury13]

Finally you cover up the rabbit hole of "Custom mecanical keyboard" This Keychron V1 made a huge move on this hobby, one of budget kings at the moment

[@W1th3rrose]

I got a v1 barebones version and got 2 sets of switches. The first one was the akko cream blue tactiles, and the second one (the one I use now) are the akko snow blue greys. I got some matcha green keycaps off of amazon and it sounds really nice. If anyone is just starting out with the hobby, I would recommend a kit like this. Overall, without the lubing equipment, it cost me about 140-150. its a really good deal.

[@13thzephyr]

I'm still using a K8, this V1 75% looks like my next upgrade but not anytime soon. My K8 is still solid for the work and the games that I play.

[@Jezee213]

The Q8 just dropped, its an ortho but it looks super cool.

[@CheeseManFuu]

@@Jezee213 Q8 is alice (elitsts will say "arisu" but at this point who cares), not ortho. As much as I'm not a fan of ortho, Keychron is overdue to make an ortho. Ortho(linear) is everything aligned in a grid, a perfect rectangle, no staggering whatsoever.

[@Jezee213]

@@CheeseManFuu ya like a plank ortholinear

[@sazlefraz]

@@Jezee213 if they make a q8 with the translucent case I'm buying it in ahearbeat lol

[@Jezee213]

@@sazlefraz Ahh I know right! translucent kb cases are so awesome!

[@NickBaysingar]

After building a Q5 for my buddy and handling a few of their other kits, I gotta say that Keychron is a solid option for anyone who wants to dip their toes in to the custom keyboard hobby. They have pretty competitive pricing in my opinion and their boards are rock solid. Hell, their stabilizers even sound great out of the box which is a huge plus for beginners since crappy stabilizers will break an entire build and beginners aren't gonna know how to tune and lube stabilizers. I remember testing the stabilizers on my buddy's Q5 while I was building it and just being like "Huh...these sound almost perfect already."

[@BrilliantBenGaming]

$84 competes directly with the new Corsair tkl 60% and has the arrow keys - this thing is an instant buy for me

[@selectthedead]

Keychron is so much more affordable to Logitech

[@Fredurick]

And it sounds and looks better.

[@selectthedead]

@@Fredurick I finally did the foam and tape mod in my k3 and lubed the switches amazing

[@Lamnsss]

And it sounds and looks and feels and preforms and tastes and smells a lot better

[@selectthedead]

@@Lamnsss Yeah, licking the grease from your last burger or the flakes from your chips of you keyboard is real delicious!! 😍

[@Aimless1337]

And is better

[@Deathsead747]

I low-key preferred the V1's sound profile more than the surprisingly pingy Q1.

[@Futurisu]

Same!

[@zhick666]

yeah, aluminum might look nice and it's good to know that your keyboard would make an adequate makeshift mace in case of a zombie apocalypse, but for sound plastic is honestly just straight up superior.

[@IQDESTRUCTOR]

the q series for all their dampening are horrifically pingy unless you get *really* quiet switches installed and kick out the default stabs. you can flick the q1 anywhere with your fingernail and it sounds like a high-pitched gong

[@placeholder3863]

yeah you need mods for the q1 forcebreak and polyfill is a must

[@AlexanderDiviFilius]

Plastic keyboards tend to sound “better,” provided the plastic is a decent quality. This is why a lot of old 80s and 90s keyboards sound so good, especially with buckling spring or alps SKCM switches in them.

[@tyszq]

In my opinion, this is the best Keychron 75%, or even the best 75% on the market in terms of price/quality ratio. Firstly, I don't care about wireless, as keyboard is a device that is always in exact same place - so why would I pay more for a useless functionality? Secondly, the build is just amazing. This is the lowest profile (of non-low profile) custom mechanical keyboard I could find, so it's extremely comfortable to use. I actually find it better than Q1 V2, which is supposed to be the premium version of V1 and is much more expensive.

[@enielfblerta428]

10000% agreed on the wireless feature! Unless you frequently type while on the go or connect it to your tablet / phone, it makes zero sense to me why you'd pay for that. And also very good info on the height, I was looking for exactly that - a non-low-profile keyboard that's as low as possible. Still not a fan of the angle, I don't know why manufacturers don't just make flat cases with adjustable feet. But anyhow, your comment was my last straw and I just ordered it. It's my first mech!

[@waffle911]

K4 v2 user here. 96% / "1800" layout is ideal for me, and K4 was the only sub-$100 option that had what I was looking for. Now I couldn't live with any other layout!

[@little_forest]

Seems to be a very nice option. And this new switches might be better than the old Gateron that Keychron was shipping with in the past. However, as of right now, it is not available in an ISO layout, so for us in europe the Q1 is still the only similar option. And to be fair, with the most simple mods you can think of, you easily get lost of the metallic ping on the Q1. I simply did the tape mod and put little duck tape stripes between upper and lower parts of the housing, and the ping is basically gone.

[@LETSROCKTA]

It is now I just bought one for me and another one for my son. We both love them:)

[@innovativeadvertising6463]

Hey there, I noticed your comment {{3}}. I understand your concern with the metallic ping issue on the Q1. If you're looking for a solution, have you considered trying the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule? It's a versatile cleaning tool that could help you keep your keyboard and other areas dust-free. Plus, it offers multiple accessories and efficient storage. Let me know if you want more details!

[@Bushidounohana]

Keychron is such a great way in to the mechanical keyboard world. Still loving my wired C1 for productivity. While not as feature rich as the V1, it’s been amazing re-introduction to the mechanical keyboard world (I also own an IBM Model M from an old PS/2 machine decades old now).

[@innovativeadvertising6463]

Hey, I'm glad you're loving Keychron keyboards! If you're looking to optimize your desktop setup, I highly recommend the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule. It's a versatile and powerful tool for maintaining a spotless environment, and its vacuuming and blowing capabilities make it perfect for cleaning your desk and keyboard. Check it out, it's definitely worth considering!

[@MrDespisedIcon]

Would love for you to test the Q1 V2 some time down the line, it's made huge improvements over the original release Q1.

[@calypsoraz4318]

I just got a Keychron Q3 a little over a week ago and I absolutely love this thing. I was previously on an original Corsair K70 and was considering their TKL K70. What a waste that would've been considering this keyboard is the same price and sounds a hundred times better.

[@88Opportunist]

This looks like a fantastic gateway drug into the world of customs. And honestly to me, a guy who isn't into customs, much more appealing than most that I watch videos about even if the sound profile isn't quite as premium perhaps. Well done Keychron.

[@MrSoulnether]

once you start with keebs, its hard to turn back haha. Its a rabbit hole

[@innovativeadvertising6463]

Hey {{3}}, I totally agree with you! The Keychron V1 sounds like a great entry point into the world of custom keyboards. If you're interested in optimizing your setup, have you considered the HOTO Compressed Air Capsule? It's a compact device with powerful vacuuming and blowing capabilities, perfect for keeping your desk and computer clean. You might find it useful!

[@gamingmore3597]

Looks like a great option. Wonder when Keychron will release it in India... 🤔

[@jsuwangsa]

Would be pretty cool if it keep the gasket mount. The Q1 can sound much better if you would do the mods that many others has done the video, and people been saying Q1 V2 version is so much better than the V1 so there's that. Each has their own targer market I guess.

[@sorenjunkers3834]

Q Sounds bad

[@morgan3625]

in the US it's an absolute steal but here in the UK it has massive downgrades. PBT keycaps -> ABS, no options stuck with frosted black and knob version, costs even more

[@BritishEggz]

For anyone thinking of buying this I recommend getting the prebuilt even if your gonna use diff keycaps and switches If your getting into the hobby those extra switches and will come in useful and the keycaps too Plus 10-15 bucks extra for those extras Is a steal compared to trying to buy those items desperately

[@hernandrew]

Great review! Personally, I've been loving my Keychron Q3 (force break mod & Boba U4T switches) and I must agree the OSA doubleshot keycaps are really nice.

[@kod-s]

I decided to buy my first mechanical keyboard. Your review was very helpful! Thank you! I went with V6. I REALLY need numpad for work (try typing dimensions for 8 hours on the top row) and it makes me angry how hard it is to find 100% mechanical keyboard. Keychron is a godsend.

[@TheDeeGeeNL]

I wanted to get the Q6 but i think i'm going to wait for the V6, the Q series with aluminium housing seem to be more pingy, plastic housing doesn't really suffer from that.

[@ErikS-]

I got blue switches on my V-series. I really need this click, since I am so accustomed to it from having it decades (from my IBM keyboard and later cherry keyboard) And I agree... Shipping cost are over-the-top. I paid 17 euro, which is insane for standard shipping.

[@ilickspam]

i don't expect an answer but i wonder why the blue switches cant come pre-lubed.

[@Jezee213]

It's funny how much gaming kb's are now! like Razer, Asus, Corsair etc.... they charge so much for what is essentially just a mid mechanical kb with special software or knobs. Rather than pay $250 for a Logitech low profile board, you can order one of these, or an Anne pro or something then take them apart and lube the switches and stabs put some foam in, I even make custom cases out of wood. You get something that is super unique repairable and feels 100X better than what a stock gaming kb could feel!

[@adhi1150203]

If there is a V1 wireless version it would be a dream come true

[@dogod1237]

I love this board! I just recently purchased the barebones variant and put some Gateron milky brown switches on it, with a haimu pastel sky switch on the space bar, and some replica GMMK keycaps. It has a nice clean sound, much better than the clickiness you get from the K-Pro switches in my opinion, however I did spend 30$ more than the fully built option.

[@Raining_Frazzer]

Nice job! I thinking of doing something similar, but with the Keychron Q1 since that costs $17.00 CAD nowadays

[@jmd1743]

I wish that there was more love for the silent mechanical switches. Something that you could give to your boss and have the crispness instantly click in his head and make him say "Ah, I understand" the moment he types a few letters, and he would then pull out his credit card and order a bunch for the office. You're seeing that with the rise of dual monitors in the workspace. The "crispness" of key presses is what attracts me to mechanical keyboards, I'm just repulsed by how pretentious the whole mechanical keyboard scene can get such as novelty gel key caps. A manufacture needs to come out with cheap mechanical keyboards that use silent switches to bundle with entry level pre-builts.

[@tehMaloWalo]

just buy a barebones and buy silent switches. silent switches arent that big of a market

[@nickel-5]

I use a C1 with gateron browns, and I absolutely love it

[@Hoodstar07]

I had a C1, it was great, realized the V1 existed and opted for that instead.

[@superpandabacon]

Ah, a keyboard video! I've been looking into getting the K4 96% myself (to complement my RK100 I use for work) Please have a video on how to lube switches. Your cinematography and voice over will make learning it really easy. I'm slowly delving into modding my keyboards and already ordered a lube kit. I think this mechanical keyboard hobby's gonna be more satisfying than just gaming.

[@SirD31V1D]

I just got the V3 version which is a TKL 80% and I can say, I don't regret it. It worth every penny I spent on it just 24$ to ship from Hong Kong to US.

[@pamdemonia]

Those keycaps are really nice looking. They remind me of the keys on the old IBM Selectric II typewriter, which is a good thing. Plus double-shot!

[@gamingduckscp]

him: the build quality is super good my experience: the keycaps were really bad and they would constantly break and peices would get into the switches at times causing it to be hard to use at times, some keycaps would also just randomly pop off VERY frequently.

[@jurriaandejongh8677]

That looks dashing! Nice review E, very smooth and pro.

[@nyclurker603]

I recently got this board as replacement for my gaming keyboard that broke. And wow this thing blows about 90% of gaming keyboards out of the water for a much cheaper price. Will be modding it eventually.

[@ToyKeeper]

Lower price, lower profile, lighter weight, less cold in a lap, and less pingy case material? These are great upgrades! I'm probably going to use one of these on the couch... and Keychron's new Q65 at my desk when I'm working. Just give it some nice switches and caps and firmware, and it's just about perfect.

[@electronics-girl]

Those keycaps look amazing! I will definitely think about getting one of these if I ever switch back to using a desktop instead of a laptop as my daily driver. Great review!

[@IntoTheLabyrinth]

Great video for a person like me who is starting to learn the ropes in custom mechanical keyboards. I highly appreciate the simple and direct explanation, not like other keyboard geeks who are so expert they sound snobby, if that makes sense.

[@lykimsour3343]

this is a nice review. May I know if we can charge this with our laptop charger ?

[@rafdes]

There are some sites that sell Keychron (though not this specific model just yet) such as Divinkey, to avoid the crazy S/H fee. Here in the states at least.

[@karimsmires9322]

V1 sounds way better than the Q1. Q1 suffers from reverb from the metals, but the V1 sounds solid.

[@BrawndoQC]

Give me a 2.4 wireless and I'm in. I've a few keychron but I really don't want any more coiled cables on my desk. It's 2022.

[@IronCan88]

Hi, I hope in the future, you can try doing the sound test while the keyboard is on a desk mat. Just so I can be sure whether the sound is from the keyboard or from the table top. Thank you. Very nice clear video and explanation by the way.

[@DrivenKeys]

Thank you for this excellent review. Keychron has really stepped up their game, this is an amazing price for what you get. I'll probably buy their new OSA keycaps for my K2 Hotswap. Now I wish I had waited for the V1, instead of my GMMK Pro, because the heavy aluminum chassis is expensive and just plain ridiculous. I'd also liike to point out that using the led's for subtle backlighting with solid caps is an excellent aesthetic choice. It's not just for see-through. In fact, most see through caps are terrible, and most enthusiasts use the lighting with solid caps, they just need high contrast for darker rooms.

[@MrDutch1e]

Q1 does sound way better than the others in the typing test but the V1 still sounds drastically better than any gaming keyboard. Especially the keys with stabilizers.

[@Arokhantos]

if yet to notice pinging at all but i wear headphones all day, and im more of a soft typer not a agressively hard typer.

[@maximus3294]

@@Arokhantos good point about the headphones but the overall point is that this product is vastly better feature and sound-wise than pretty much any gaming-brand keyboard. if you pick up a >$100 logi, razer, or corsair keyboard, you're paying more for less.

[@ekasism]

The Q1 is a lot more pingy than the V1

[@BokorugroRR]

For us in Europe the best thing is, that it has an ISO variant as well.

[@lss_setr]

bro! The image quality of yours videos is AMAZING

[@vinzaputra]

If it comes in white, I'm sold

[@theUsamatube]

In Hong Kong the whole line of these keywords are available in stores. I got the Q5, when you see these keyboards in person, you will love it

[@tylergates4075]

Are the keycaps grey or blue?

[@joesmith9377]

Would you recommend the tray mounted V1 over a gasket mounted board for someone who wants to type without bottoming out? Cherry brown or clear switches if it matters.

[@cc9409]

What gaming keyboards offer ? the lower quality compared to something like this keychron

[@ScuffyCollects]

Bought the V1 today not really knowing what it was compared to the other keychron keyboards. Now knowing that its the "budget version" of the q1 series, is that something that would be better for me long term? So far I like this but the price point would not be an issue if I decided to get the q1.

[@milenko8bradanov]

Thank you for your reviews !!! I bought a Keychron V1, and as a mechanical keyboard newbie, I am enjoying every bit of it ! It is much better than my former Ducky One 2 TKL, and the typing sound is very satisfying.

[@spikebergmans8039]

i just orderd th keychron v5 a week ago looks like it wil be here tomorrow

[@bladactania]

Think this sounds much better than the q1

[@kaosoft]

Nice video! Ask them to send you the Q8. For some reason the Brown on that one sound better and even more silent than the Red ones.

[@ezralimm]

Important question: Can macros be uploaded to the keyboard? Say can i bind F12 to output a string of text that I use frequently. ... and connect the keyboard to a work computer (with no software installed) and have the macro work?

[@abyshines]

Absolutely well put together video, You are as good as Damitri. Kudos to HC.

[@knotsable]

Is it just me or does the V1 sound better than the Q1?

[@DelfinaZanotto]

Man this reviews are just awesome, thank you!

[@770Prodigy]

Holy shit I just walked in and grabbed one, was recommended since I wasn't picky. They gave me a gem and I didn't even know it.

[@schtormm]

right now it's 89 EUR (knob version) including shipping to the EU, that's cheaper than most good keyboards here

[@KaitenT]

Does the Keychron V1 work on iPad?

[@SC2noHope]

owned Q3 , bought a V1 too , because front height lower and feels better without hand rest

[@advancedmonkey7702]

Been using it for a couple of days so far, the build quality is indeed superb, but the silicon pad makes the sounds muffled. my 2 problems with the board first been the VIA setting is abysmal--- you have ONLY 2 layers! I can't even toggle the windows key on and off as many cheap boards can. and it's very hard to find any double-shot shine-through keycaps for the south-facing PCB.

[@ilickspam]

There's really no way to disable the windows key??

[@advancedmonkey7702]

@@ilickspam No I meant sure you can just disable the windows key in its entirety in the VIA, but you can't toggle it on and off through FN as many other cheap keyboards can.

[@VetBodGaming]

I actually just swapped a few mo0nths ago to the Keychron K1, I don't like wrist rests so I dont like taller keyboards. Only thing I wish I had was a volume knob, everything else is great

[@Kaido128]

still rocking the q1 fully decked out with some mt3 keycaps and some gat black inks and some mods

[@gamingmarcus]

Give me a wireless version with ISO layout and I'm 100% picking one up.

[@henrischmidt7786]

Ansi is better tho

[@IQDESTRUCTOR]

eyeing this up as a forever home for a set of prevail epsilons, as long as it feels and sounds better than the k2

[@DunkSouth]

Very informative, thanks!

[@DarkShadowC83]

Here in Europe the price goes up a bit, but still looks like a good option. Nice video.

[@Jukeboxchigg]

If they added a Bluetooth connection, it would be perfect for me. Just for convenience to switch to my work laptop

[@michaelcarganilla2276]

Great review! This is the first video I watched on this channel and halfway through watching, I hit the subscribe button! Cheers!

[@javier_i]

Waiting for your review of the new wooting keyboard!

[@kungfukenny9300]

I am on the fence. Eversince I got the Logitech G305 (G304 in Asia) I was convinced all my peripherals will be from Logitech. But then this keychron is recent than the G513(almost 5 years old) and priced better too.

[@PaladinOfHope]

I would love to have a custom keyboard but i want a fullsize mechanical with Swiss ISO layout. Next to impossible to find something like that it seems. Usually because of the keycaps.

[@riggedgame1189]

I saw some nordic layout keycaps on kbdfans recently. I can't post the link because youtube won't let me but on their website they're labelled as 'Nordic layout pbt keycaps'. Would those be what you're looking for? I can't speak on the quality of the keycaps cuz I haven't used them but kbdfans is a reliable vendor.

[@Ciz4Crummy]

I hope you plan on reviewing the Keychron Q8 alice layout keyboard.

[@kjel_me]

is it great for an iPad too? i’m looking for a mechanical keyboard for my iPad

[@H_azzard]

im still using an origional razer blackwidow chroma, and so I'm due an upgrade soon I feel. I think ill be going with the v2 of this keyboard (the slightly smaller form factor version)

[@kingj282]

Really informative and well made video!

[@zip006]

Not sure if you could hit the space bar harder if you tried during the typing tests

[@robincobbler5873]

Hi, what type of palm rest did you get for your V1? If you could send the model and size, that would be very helpful !

[@ems6165]

Great review. I have the k6 and k4 which are great, but I've been wanting that QMK/via software option. I am planning to buy the V2 65% when it comes out later this month.

[@allthatplus]

I saw those hands and knew it was E. That completion says it all!!!!

[@lunar5368]

It is a crazy update for me because my keyboard i have right now is not lubbed are blue switches (they are very loud) and the quality is not the best but i paid 30 - 40 euros for it and it is good for 40 euro but i dont like the price for the shipping for the keychron i dont know should i get it ?

[@aspectedits01]

Really good review! - I sure will recommend you guys to my friends

[@pectoralismajor1097]

Got my hands on 2 of these yesterday during the Black Friday sale. I guess that was my luck quota for this year.

[@LushUrban89]

How long is the cable? I bought the Keychron V3 and it's very similar, but I'm worried that the cable is a bit short

[@leviathanpriim3951]

$84(after $10 discount)+shipping and 75% of options are out of stock

[@k4ii03]

do you think this keyboard can clack?

[@tryfergoodra552]

in pure gaming performance and comfort how is this complete package custom vs major brands like razer , steelseries , corsair etc..

[@willn8664]

Is it waterproof/spill proof?

[@dheerdivecha837]

Whats the name of the white PC case in the background

[@surajhm]

That metal pinging on q1 ... I guess it needs some modding

[@Jezee213]

I was thinking the exact same thing, just needs some bending so its level and lube!

[@stenvandermeer5893]

I live in europe and it is 101$ (with shipping) is it worth it to buy the v1?

[@bigppman47]

is the only difference between v1 and v3 the form factor or is there something else

[@buildyourcomputer]

That's pretty cool that a mechanical keyboard has a wheel. Can you program what the wheel does?

[@PyroBlock]

Thats a nice 2nd gen camaro sitting on your desk

[@mattg8888]

just bought one for 84EUR with the knob new. That is pretty cheap for a decent mechanical keyboard

[@hyprjay]

nvr noticed the ping so much from the Q1 till ur comparison. v1 sounds goods tho

[@rowanlovesmusic]

Being a piano player I love pressing buttons & keys and I've been considering buying the V1 as my first mech keyboard, I just wish they had European layouts for the keycaps...