Keychron V1 8K review

The V1 8K is the cheapest way on this list to get the features enthusiasts care about. For $74.99 Keychron gives you a 75% layout with a volume knob, a gasket mount with a PC plate, hot-swappable Keychron Super Switches and OSA double-shot PBT keycaps. It runs QMK firmware, so the Keychron Launcher web app can remap any key and record macros on macOS, Windows or Linux, and it supports N-key rollover. Polling runs at 8000 Hz over the cable, a figure usually found on gaming boards. What you give up for the price is wireless: there is no Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz, so it suits a fixed desk rather than a laptop bag. The body is plastic, and at 995 g it is lighter than the aluminum Q1 Max. For a first mechanical keyboard that you may later fit with different switches, it is hard to beat on price.

Who it is for

Budget buyers who want a desk keyboard they can customize

Price

$74.99 at Keychron's US store when checked.

Regular price $74.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• 75% ANSI layout with a knob
• Wired connection with 8000 Hz polling
• Hot-swappable Keychron Super Switches
• Gasket mount with a PC plate and OSA double-shot PBT keycaps
• QMK firmware with the Keychron Launcher web app on macOS, Windows and Linux

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Cheapest keyboard on this list at $74.99
• Strength: 8000 Hz polling on a budget board
• Strength: Hot-swap sockets and QMK remapping, the same customization tools as pricier Keychron boards
• Weakness: Wired only, no Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz
• Weakness: Plastic body rather than the aluminum of the Q1 Max
• Weakness: No number pad

Key facts

• Layout: 75%, ANSI, with knob
• Connectivity: Wired, 8000 Hz polling
• Switches: Keychron Super Switch, hot-swappable
• Build: Plastic, gasket mount, PC plate
• Weight: 995 g

Where it ranks

Keychron V1 8K is No. 3 in our Best Mechanical Keyboards verdict.