System76 Launch vs Keychron Q1

Which Keyboard Is Better?

Products

System76 Launch
Keychron Q1

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 30, 2025 08:14 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 30, 2025 08:08 PM

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Amazon.com

Our Verdict

System76 Launch

Keychron Q1

The System76 Launch and the Keychron Q1 are two compact, hot-swappable, mechanical keyboards designed for productivity. However, they have very different features. The System76 comes with four additional USB ports and can act as a USB hub, and it uses PBT keycaps instead of ABS. It also has better backlighting and a unique, split spacebar. You can also completely change the layout of the keys to suit your preferences. On the other hand, you can program macros on the Keychron, and its latency is better. Both keyboards are wired-only.

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Variants

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

Check Price

Gray
Launch
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Carbon Black
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Navy Blue
Q1
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
B&H
Space Grey
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
BestBuy.com
 
Gray
Launch
System76
 

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 
 

0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

System76 Launch Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Top Picture Sample

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)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Close Up  

System76 Launch Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

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Keycap Material  

Locked
Locked
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Ergonomics 
 

N/A
N/A

Side Picture  

System76 Launch Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Board Design 
 

Locked
Locked

Minimum Incline 
 

Lock°
Lock°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

Lock°
N/A

Wrist Rest  

Locked
Locked
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Backlighting 
 

N/A
N/A

Backlighting Picture  

System76 Launch Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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White Shot 
 

System76 Launch White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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Brightness Max 
 

System76 Launch Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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Brightness Min 
 

System76 Launch Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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Backlighting  

Locked
Locked

Color 
 

Locked
Locked

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Locked
Locked

Color Mixing 
 

Locked
Locked

Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Programmable 
 

Locked
Locked
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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
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Proprietary Receiver 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

System76 Launch Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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Media Keys 
 

Locked
Locked

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

Locked
Locked

Trackpad / Trackball  

Locked
Locked

Wheel  

Locked
Locked

USB Passthrough 
 

Locked
Locked

Numpad  

Locked
Locked

Windows Key Lock 
 

Locked
Locked

Lock Indicator  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

System76 Launch Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Show Text 
Typing Experience

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

System76 Launch Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Key Switches 
 

Locked
Locked

Mechanical 
 

Locked
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
Show Text 

Typing Quality 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

System76 Launch Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Noise 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Video  

System76 Launch Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Latency Wired 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

N/A
N/A

Software Picture  

System76 Launch Software Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Keychron Q1 Software Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Software Name  

Locked
Locked

Account Required 
 

Locked
Locked

Profiles 
 

Locked
Locked

Onboard Memory 
 

Locked
Locked

Cloud Sync 
 

Locked
Locked

Macro Programming 
 

Locked
Locked

Ease Of Use 
 

Locked
Locked

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Locked
Locked

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

N/A
N/A

Windows  

Locked
Locked

macOS  

Locked
Locked

Linux  

Locked
Locked

Android  

Locked
Locked

iOS  

Locked
Locked

iPadOS  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Check Price

Gray
Launch
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Carbon Black
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Navy Blue
Q1
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
B&H
Space Grey
Q1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray
Launch
BestBuy.com
 
Gray
Launch
System76
 

System76 Launch

Keychron Q1

Comments

  1. Comparison

System76 Launch vs Keychron Q1: Main Discussion

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