Full Specifications
| Layout | 75% |
| Vendor | Keychron |
| Mount Style | Gasket Mount |
| PCB | Hotswap, South-facing, QMK/VIA |
| Connectivity | Wired (USB-C) |
| Hotswap | Yes (3-pin/5-pin) |
| RGB | South-facing RGB |
| Firmware | QMK/VIA |
| Stock Status | In Stock |
| Price | $89 |
| Last Verified | Jul 26, 2026 |
Editorial Review
The V1 is Keychron's entry point into the custom keyboard hobby, and it remains one of the best-value first builds available. For $89 you get a full gasket-mount aluminum-top case, a hotswap south-facing PCB, and full QMK/VIA support — features that cost significantly more on most other brands' entry-level boards.
The 75% layout keeps the full function row while staying meaningfully more compact than a TKL, and the optional rotary knob variant adds a physical volume/media control without needing a firmware update to remap it. Stock switches (typically Keychron's own K Pro line) are serviceable but most buyers hotswap in Gateron Yellows or Boba U4s within the first week.
Because it's wired-only, the V1 sacrifices the wireless convenience of the Pro/Max lines, but that keeps the price down and the latency at zero — a reasonable tradeoff for a board most people will use as a desktop daily driver rather than carry between locations.
At $89, the V1 is the cheapest 75% board KeebTracker tracks and one of only two sub-$100 boards on the entire list alongside the KBD67 Lite R4 ($79, 65%) and NK65 Entry Edition ($79, 65%) — making it the default recommendation specifically for buyers who want a 75% layout (full function row, more compact than TKL) without stepping up to the GMMK Pro's $149 or Mode Tempo's $175.
Against the GMMK Pro, the V1 gives up the rotary knob and some exterior heft but matches the core hotswap-gasket-QMK/VIA formula at a significantly lower price — a fair trade for buyers who don't specifically want a knob.
Bottom line: the wired-only limitation is the honest tradeoff for the price, and most buyers who choose the V1 as a first build end up hotswapping the stock switches within the first week regardless — budget for that when comparing total cost against pricier boards that ship with switches you might actually keep.
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Build Quality & Value for Money
At $89, the V1's aluminum-top gasket-mount case is the standout value proposition — most boards under $100 use plastic tops or tray mount exclusively, so getting a real gasket-cushioned keystroke at this price is unusual. The case isn't as dense or as tightly toleranced as boutique 75% boards costing $150-200 more, but the fundamentals (gasket mount, hotswap, QMK/VIA) are all genuinely present rather than watered down for the price point.
South-facing RGB and the 3-pin/5-pin hotswap PCB match the spec sheet of boards costing significantly more, which is the practical reason the V1 gets recommended as a first build so consistently — a buyer isn't giving up remapping flexibility or switch compatibility to save money here, only exterior finish quality and the wireless option available on Keychron's pricier K Pro and Q Pro lines.
Because stock switches are serviceable rather than a highlight, the realistic total cost of a V1 build includes budgeting for a switch swap within the first few weeks — Gateron Yellows or Boba U4s are common upgrades buyers hotswap in immediately. That's not unique to the V1, but it's worth factoring into any direct price comparison against a board that ships with switches most buyers would actually keep.
Wired-only connectivity keeps the price down and removes any wireless latency or pairing considerations entirely — a reasonable simplification for a board most owners will use as a stationary desktop daily driver rather than something they move between rooms or devices regularly. For a buyer's very first mechanical keyboard specifically, that simplicity is arguably a feature rather than a limitation — one fewer setup step, one fewer thing that can go wrong, and one fewer decision to make before the switches and keycaps become the real focus.