The Keychron C1 is a good TenKeyLess mechanical keyboard for office use, and it's versatile enough for other uses as well. It has a sturdy-feeling build and a plastic frame that flexes only slightly. None of the keys rattle or wobble, and they're very stable while typing. The unit we tested is hot-swappable and has full RGB lighting with individually-backlit keys. It's also available in a non-hotswappable version or with white backlighting, and each version comes with Gateron Red, Blue, or Brown switches. Our unit has Gateron Browns, which don't take much force to actuate and provide good tactile feedback, although they have a fairly long pre-travel. Unfortunately, there's no companion software for customization.
Our Verdict
The Keychron C1 is satisfactory for gaming use. It has a solid-feeling build and full RGB lighting, but it only has decent latency and alright ergonomics with a tall profile and no included wrist rest. The Gateron Brown switches on our unit don't require much force to actuate and have good tactile feedback, but they have a long pre-travel distance. Unfortunately, there isn't any companion software for setting macros or reprogramming buttons; however, there are onboard lighting presets.
- Impressive build quality.
- Great typing quality.
- Full RGB lighting with individually-backlit keys.
- No companion software and no programmable keys.
- Keyboard has a high profile and lacks an included wrist rest.
- Keys have long pre-travel.
The Keychron C1 isn't suitable for use with mobile devices.
Note: Our testing methodology automatically considers wired-only keyboards unsuitable for mobile and tablet use. That said, this keyboard includes a USB-C to USB-C cable, so we tested it with a compatible iPad and Android device. We found it works with both devices, though some function keys don't work and it drains batteries at an increased rate, especially with backlighting on.
The Keychron C1 is a good keyboard for office use. The Gateron Brown switches on our unit are quiet, don't require much force to actuate, and provide good tactile feedback, although they have a long pre-travel distance. It's fully compatible with Windows and macOS, and the overall build feels sturdy. Unfortunately, the ergonomics are only alright as it has a high profile and doesn't include a wrist rest, so you may experience wrist pain after typing for prolonged periods.
- Impressive build quality.
- Great typing quality.
- Comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-A dongle.
- No companion software and no programmable keys.
- Keyboard has a high profile and lacks an included wrist rest.
The Keychron C1 is a satisfactory keyboard for programming use. It has a sturdy-feeling build, full RGB backlighting, and compatibility with Windows, macOS, and Linux. Unfortunately, the ergonomics are only alright as the keyboard has a high profile and doesn't include a wrist rest. The Gateron Brown switches on our unit provide a great typing quality. However, there's no companion software, so you can't reprogram keys without third-party software, which we don't test.
- Impressive build quality.
- Great typing quality.
- Full RGB lighting with individually-backlit keys.
- Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- No companion software and no programmable keys.
- Keyboard has a high profile and lacks an included wrist rest.
- Wired-only.
The Keychron C1 isn't well suited for entertainment or home theater PC use. While it has a solid-feeling build, good compatibility with major operating systems, and full RGB backlighting, it can't be connected wirelessly. You'll need to sit within cable distance of your entertainment or theater setup. It also lacks a trackpad, so you'll likely need to connect a mouse to navigate menus, although it does have media hotkeys.
- Impressive build quality.
- Great typing quality.
- No companion software and no programmable keys.
- Keyboard has a high profile and lacks an included wrist rest.
- Wired-only.
- Lacks a trackpad for navigating menus.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Keychron C1 we tested is the hot-swappable version with Gateron Brown switches and full RGB backlighting. There's also a non-hot-swappable version, as well as a version with white-only backlighting. All versions are available with either Gateron Brown, Red, or Blue switches. You can see the label for our unit here.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Keychron C1 is a versatile, budget mechanical keyboard that's essentially a Keychron C2, scaled down to a TenKeyLess (80%) layout. It offers compatibility across major operating systems, a sturdy-feeling build quality, and a respectable performance for a variety of uses at a budget price-point. This keyboard is a solid, entry-level choice for those who may be new to mechanical keyboards or for those interested in experimenting with different switches. For more keyboard options, check out our recommendations for the best keyboards, the best mechanical keyboards, or the best keyboards for Mac.
Both the Keychron C1 and Keychron C2 are nearly identical wired mechanical keyboards. The only discernable difference between the two is that the C1 is a TenKeyLess (80%) layout, while the C2 is a full-sized keyboard.
The Keychron K2 (Version 2) and Keychron C1 are mechanical keyboards with similar looks but different sizes and connectivity options. The K2 is a compact (75%) keyboard that connects wirelessly via Bluetooth and can connect with up to three devices, while the C1 is a TenKeyLess wired keyboard. Unfortunately, both keyboards are fairly tall and don't include a wrist rest. That said, we tested each of these Keyboards with Gateron Brown switches that don't require much force to actuate and provide great typing quality with good tactile feedback. They're also both available with linear Gateron red and clicky Gateron Blues, and both have hot-swappable versions available as well.
The Keychron C1 and the Keychron K8 are very similar TenKeyLess mechanical keyboards with a few notable differences. The C1 is a wired keyboard with a full plastic frame and better latency. On the other hand, the K8 connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, and the unit we tested has an aluminum plate, adding to the already solid-feeling build quality. They both have full RGB lighting and are hot-swappable, so you can use switches other than the default Gateron Red, Blue, or Brown switches available to both. The K8 also has an additional hot-swappable version with optical switches.
The Keychron C1 and the Ducky One 2 RGB TKL are both wired mechanical TenKeyLess keyboards. The Keychron is a decent hot-swappable office keyboard available with Gateron Red, Blue, or Brown switches. The Ducky is a very versatile keyboard primarily designed for gaming use and is available in a range of MX Cherry switches and backlighting options. The Ducky has companion software which the Keychron lacks, but it only controls lighting customization. However, the Ducky does support macro programming for any key, though it's done directly onboard.
Test Results
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