Keychron Q1 vs Drop CTRL

Which Keyboard Is Better?

Products

Keychron Q1
Drop CTRL

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 30, 2025 08:08 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jun 21, 2023 04:06 PM

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Keychron Q1 Picture

Track

Drop CTRL Picture

Track

Our Verdict

Keychron Q1

Drop CTRL

The Keychron Q1 and the Drop CTRL are similar TenKeyLess mechanical keyboards. They're both available in a variety of linear, tactile, or clicky switches, but they're also hot-swappable, so you can install the switches you prefer. The Keychron is a slightly smaller 75% size with spaced-out navigation keys. It has marginally lower latency, and all its keys are macro-programmable using the customization software. On the other hand, the Drop is an 80% sized keyboard with higher quality PBT keycaps. It lacks customization software, but you can adjust bindings and set macros using the QMK firmware tool on Drop's website.

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Variants

  • Q1 (Carbon Black)
  • Q1 (Navy Blue)
  • CTRL (Black)
  • CTRL (Gray)

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Carbon Black
Q1
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Navy Blue
Q1
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Space Grey
Q1
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 
 

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Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron Q1 Top Picture Sample

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Drop CTRL Top Picture Sample

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Size 
 

Locked
Locked

Height 
 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Width  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth 
 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron Q1 Build Quality Close Up Sample

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Drop CTRL Build Quality Close Up Sample

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Keycap Material  

Locked
Locked

Ergonomics 
 

N/A
N/A

Side Picture  

Keychron Q1 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Curved/Angled 
 

Locked
Locked

Split Keyboard 
 

Locked

Key Alignment 
 

Locked

Minimum Incline 
 

Lock°
Lock°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

Lock mm (Lock")

Wrist Rest  

Locked

Hardware Customizability 
 

N/A
N/A

Customizability Overview  

Keychron Q1 Customizability Overview Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Customizability Overview Sample

SAMPLE

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Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Locked

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Locked

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

Locked

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Locked

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Locked

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Locked

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Locked

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Locked

Backlight Features 
 

N/A
N/A

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron Q1 Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Brightness Max  

Keychron Q1 Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Brightness Max Sample

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Backlighting  

Locked
Locked

Brightness Min  

Keychron Q1 Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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White Shot 
 

Keychron Q1 White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL White Shot Sample

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RGB 
 

Locked

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Locked
Locked

Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Software Controllable 
 

Locked
Locked

Color 
 

Locked

Color Mixing 
 

Locked

Backlight Clarity 
 

N/A
N/A

White Shot  

Keychron Q1 White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL White Shot Sample

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Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Locked
Locked

Detachable 
 

Locked
Locked

Length  

Lock ft (Lock m)
Lock ft (Lock m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Locked
Locked

Wireless Versatility 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Proprietary Receiver 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

N/A
N/A

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

Lock

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Locked

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Locked

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron Q1 Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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Media Keys 
 

Locked
Locked

Trackpad / Trackball  

Locked
Locked

Scroll Wheel 
 

Locked
Locked

Control Knob 
 

Locked

USB Passthrough 
 

Locked
Locked

Numpad  

Locked
Locked

Windows Key Lock 
 

Locked
Locked

Lock Indicator  

Locked
Locked

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

Locked

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron Q1 Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Bundle Picture Sample

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Typing Experience

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Keychron Q1 Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Switch Name 
 

Locked
Locked

Switch Type 
 

Locked

Feel 
 

Locked
Locked

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

Keychron Q1 Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Key Switches 
 

Locked
Locked

Mechanical 
 

Locked

Feel 
 

Locked
Locked

Operating Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Actuation Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Pre-Travel 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Total Travel 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Typing Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Typing Noise 
 

N/A
N/A

Typing Sample  

Keychron Q1 Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Average Loudness 
 

Lock dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

Locked

Noise 
 

Locked

Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Video  

Keychron Q1 Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Latency Video Sample

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Latency Wired 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Keychron Q1 Software Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Software Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Software Tour  

Keychron Q1 Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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Drop CTRL Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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Software Name  

Locked
Locked

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Locked
Locked

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Locked
Locked

Onboard Memory 
 

Locked
Locked

Profiles 
 

Locked
Locked

Account Required 
 

Locked

Cloud Sync 
 

Locked

Macro Programming 
 

Locked

Ease Of Use 
 

Locked

Computer Compatibility 
 

N/A
N/A

Windows 
 

Locked
Locked

macOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Locked
Locked

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Locked

Android  

Locked
Locked

iOS  

Locked
Locked

iPadOS  

Locked
Locked

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

N/A
N/A

Android 
 

Locked
Locked

iOS 
 

Locked
Locked

iPadOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Locked

Check Price

Carbon Black
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Navy Blue
Q1
Amazon.com
Space Grey
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 

Keychron Q1

Drop CTRL

Comments

  1. Comparison

Keychron Q1 vs Drop CTRL: Main Discussion

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