Now that I’ve adapted to a hybrid work schedule—splitting my time between a home office and company campus—I’ve had to set up two full workstations. That means equipping two of everything, so I can remain effective in both settings. For me, the most crucial part of my setup is the keyboard. Over the years, I’ve become quite the mechanical keyboard connoisseur and have grown accustomed to a certain level of quality. So, when a new wireless mechanical keyboard from Keychron came up for review, my interest was piqued.
Not being familiar with Keychron as a brand, I was initially prepared to be underwhelmed by their V1 Max wireless keyboard. However, after spending time using it, I’ve become a huge fan. The Keychron V1 Max, for my needs, is the perfect keyboard. From the great design to the quality switch feel and the affordable cost of $94.00, the V1 Max has everything I’ve been looking for in a workstation keyboard.
What is it?
The Keychron V1 Max is a customizable 75% layout wireless mechanical keyboard. It comes with hot-swappable Gateron Jupiter switches and includes a dampening pad inside the case to enhance acoustics. The V1 Max is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, offering RGB LED backlighting, adjustable angles, and the flexibility to connect via a USB-C cable, 2.4GHz, or Bluetooth.
The V1 Max ships in a sturdy black box with stylish colored foil type and an illustration of the keyboard on the cover.
Inside the box, the keyboard is packed safely in custom-cut foam.
What’s in the box?
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V1 Max Wireless Keyboard
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Windows and Alt key replacements
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USB-C to USB-C Cable
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USB-A to USB-C Adapter
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2.4Ghz Receiver Extension Adapter
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USB-A 2.4GHz Receiver
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USB-C 2.4GHz Receiver
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Keycap Puller / Switch Puller
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Keyboard Brush
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Screwdriver
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Hex Key
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Replacement case screws
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Hardware specs
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Keyboard Model: V1 Max Wireless Keyboard
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Width: 148.7mm (5.86in)
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Length: 328.5mm (12.93in)
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Front Height: 21.5mm (0.85in) (without keycaps)
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Back Height: 29.4mm (1.16in) (without keycaps)
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Feet Height: 2mm (0.08in)
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Feet Angles: 3.5° / 7.1° / 9.5°
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Weight: 770g ± 10g (1.7lb ± 0.02lb)
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Body Material: ABS Plastic
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Plate Material: PC (Polycarbonate)
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Polling Rate: 1000 Hz (2.4GHz and wired) / 90Hz (Bluetooth mode)
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Mount Style: Gasket Mount Design
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Bluetooth Device Name: Keychron V1 Max
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Battery: 4000mAh Rechargeable li-polymer battery
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Wireless Working Time (Backlit off): Up to 225 hours
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Wireless Working Time (RGB): Up to 100 hours (Lowest brightness)
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Charging Time: Around 5 hours
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Bluetooth Version: 5.1
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Compatible System: Windows/macOS/Linux
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N-Key Rollover (NKRO): Yes for both wireless and wired modes
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Hot-swappable: Yes. Compatible with most of the 3 pin & 5 pin MX mechanical switches
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Keycaps: Double-shot PBT keycaps, not shine-through, OSA Profile (OEM height, SA shape)
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MCU: ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit STM32F402 (256KB Flash)
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Switches: Gateron Jupiter
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Backlight: South-facing RGB LED
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Stabilizer: Screw-in PCB stabs
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Charging Port: USB-C
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Cable: USB-C, USB-A to USB-C adapter
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Operating Environment: -10℃ to 50℃ (-14°F to 122°F)
Design and features
It’s clear that a lot of thoroughness went into designing and building the Keychron V1 Max.
From the choice of keycaps to the sound-absorbing foam, every design choice is deliberate and effective. The keyboard is also fully customizable, including keycaps, switches, gasket, plate, and case foam.
The body of the Keychron V1 Max is made of plastic instead of metal, as is the interior plate, and that’s the only real issue I have with the keyboard’s design. A metal plate would have added more stability, as would a metal case, but at the cost of weight.
The plastic is textured and has a nice feel to it, but a metallic body would have significantly enhanced the durability of the V1 Max as well.
I love the colors and curves of the double-shot OSA PBT keycaps; the gray and black keys work well together with the red highlights.
The keyboard is hot-swappable, supporting 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
The Gateron Jupiter switches used in the V1 Max feel great and have good responsiveness. The keyboard has south-facing RGB LED lights which add both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality. Users can customize the lighting to suit their preferences.
My favorite part of the V1 Max is the clickable volume knob in the upper-right corner. The grippy texture of the knob helps it stand out, and the switch has a nice clicky feel.
On the back of the V1 Max is the single USB-C port used for charging and connecting it to a computer. There’s also a small LED power indicator and two switches.
The labels for the switches are very difficult to read, which is my second gripe. The switch in the center is to change between Windows and Mac modes. The other switch is for choosing whether to connect via 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, or USB-C. The ability to connect via a USB-C cable, 2.4GHz wireless, or Bluetooth ensures compatibility with a wide range of devices, providing flexibility for different work setups.
The V1 Max comes with two different 2.4Ghz dongles, which are stored in two slots on the back of the keyboard.
There’s both a USB-C and a USB-A dongle for connecting to different computers.
The underside of the V1 Max has four wide rubber feet, two-position flip-up back legs, and access to the case screws.
I find that extending the flip-up legs fully on the V1 Max provides the ideal angle for my typing style.
Removing the spacebar keycap will reveal the reset button on the left side of the spacebar switch on the PCB. You can use this reset button to restore the V1 Max to factory settings or to update the firmware.
The V1 Max comes with a few tools including a brush, screwdriver, hex key, and Keycap/Switch Puller.
The USB-C cable for the V1 Max has a braided sleeve and is about one meter long.
Also included is a USB-A to USB-C adapter and a 2.4GHz receiver extension adapter for use with the USB-C cable.
Keychron supplies Mac- and Windows-specific keys along with black Enter and Option keys if the red ones aren’t to your liking.
Setup
Setting up the Keychron V1 Max Wireless Keyboard is a straightforward process, once you charge the 4000mAh battery.
Next, you need to decide whether you want to connect via USB-C cable, 2.4GHz wireless, or Bluetooth. After deciding on connectivity and selecting the right option with the switch on the back, use the adjacent switch to choose between Windows or Mac mode based on your operating system. You can also save two different layouts on the keyboard, one for each system.
The V1 Max has full QMK and VIA support, so you can custom program and remap the keys. VIA is an app that can easily configure keyboard keys that have the open-source QMK firmware. Not being familiar with VIA, I nevertheless found it very easy to access and use with the V1 Max. The open-source firmware of the V1 Max not only allows for different keyboard layouts, but also shortcuts, backlight effects, and knob customization.
With power and connectivity figured out, the V1 Max is ready for gaming, office work, programming, and any other keyboard task.
Performance
I really enjoy working with the V1 Max, especially now that I’ve memorized the keyboard shortcuts. Using combinations of keys with the Function Key, the user can change settings on the fly, such as turning WiFi on or off, Bluetooth pairing, and changing the backlight pattern.
The V1 Max has an impressive amount of RGB patterns, and being able to change them up on the fly is a nice feature. The colors are vibrant and vivid, and even though the keycaps aren’t shine-through, visibility isn’t an issue. The backlighting also has different brightness levels and typical modes, such as breathing, reactive, and rainbow.
The V1 Max has a great typing experience, thanks to the gasket mount design and the hot-swappable switches. The gasket mount reduces the vibration and provides a more consistent feel across the keys. The hot-swappable switches let you choose your preferred switch type and feel, and they are easy to replace without soldering. You can always swap in other MX-compatible switches, such as Cherry, Kailh, or Zealios.
Overall, I love my V1 Max. The sound-dampening foam inside the case reduces typing noise and makes the keyboard suitable for quiet environments like my on-campus workspace. The switches are smooth and responsive, and the keycaps are comfortable and durable. The backlighting is bright and customizable, and the knob can be programmed to control different functions, such as volume, media, or mouse. The V1 Max is a versatile and powerful keyboard that can handle any task I throw at it.
Pros
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Great aesthetic and design
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Keys have a perfect feel and sound
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Works out of the box and includes various adapters and connection options
Cons
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Switch labels are difficult to read
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Plastic body not as sturdy as a metallic one would be
Final thoughts
The Keychron V1 Max has quickly become my favorite keyboard, wireless or otherwise. The build quality, battery life, and functionality of the V1 Max make it perfect as my on-campus work keyboard. Overall, the V1 Max’s features, such as multiple connection options, superb-feeling switches, and customizable keycaps, put it ahead of its competitors. With Keychron’s brand quality and a price of $94.00, the V1 Max is very affordable compared to similarly featured keyboards and well worth the price.
Price: $94.00
Where to buy: Keychron
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Keychron.
RATING: 4 stars