Keychron V1 Wired Custom Mechanical Keyboard Barebone Knob, 75% Layout QMK/VIA Programmable Macro with Hot-swappable Support Compatible with Mac Windows Linux (Frosted Black - Translucent)

I bought this thing a few months ago, and I've been letting it settle into my setup so I could properly write a review. To get to the point; it's fantastic. For one, it was incredibly easy to put together. The gold screws are high quality and seem pretty strip-resistant (thank god they're not Phillips-head)! It was fairly easy to tape-mod (but it will take a little elbow grease) and put in the switches. The smokey-black plastic is a lot nicer looking than the machined metal from the more-expensive version, frankly. Plus, it won't be cold to the touch like metal keyboards often are. It hasn't scratched very much either, not noticeably. Even though I don't use remapping software I'm glad it's easy to setup and use for those who do (I tested it for a bit before removing it). Overall, I'm incredibly happy with this. I got it on sale, but I think it's worth the full price.For the curious, my semi-budget build:Keychron V1. Duh.- Akko CS Lavenders (Lubed) for most of the keys; a few of the modifiers have some Glorious Pandas (un-lubed) from a sample pack.- DROP DCX 9009 keycaps (love the retro look on these).- generic blue painter's tape for the tempest mod. I put two layers.The stabilizers are stock from this board; I don't think you really need to change them out.

Really good base for modding. Not much needs done though, there is a large slab of (strangely really good smelling) padding under the board, so no need to add more. South facing led and 5 hole let's you add a large variety of switches. Pre lubed stabilizers. The only thing I really did was the tape mod. It sounds, feels, and looks amazing.

No real complaints and am loving the board. Base for my first custom keyboard, was super easy to setup and use, frame is plastic and pretty solid/weighty. Knob feels pretty good IMO worth the extra 10$ for convenience as a volume knob, but you can totally skip it. Just want to let people who bought the board know that the provided USB cable might stop working as a data cable after a few days (only power), no clue why but obviously any old usb data cable will replace it fine. So far so good!

This board is an excellent quality for its price range. I love having South facing sockets and screw in stabilizers. For the same price as some of my less quality boards. I love the way this board sounds. I like my akko jelly black switches for this board. This board sounds amazing and deep with xda profile keybcaps. I wanted to use cherry profile caps since It has South facing sockets. It still sounds great, its a little higher pitched with cherry caps though.

Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of cheap fully built keyboards that can easily give this one a run for its money, but for anyone wanting to get into the hobby and build and customize their own keyboard while also having the software customization provided by QMK/VIA, this still can't be beat. It's easy to access, comes with decently lubed stabs, and looks pretty good all things considered. It's a fun keyboard to work on and learn with especially if you're getting into the custom keyboard hobby.

Keychron has really outdone themselves with the V1. This board is packed with features I would expect to pay double for, while still being based on their excellent Q1 design. I'm not sure that I was expecting much since I also have a Q1 that I am very happy with, but I was surprised at the build quality and sound. Other than being tray mount there are no downsides here and at this price I haven't seen another board that can beat it. I wish this board had been out when I first started in the keyboard hobby. I was in the market for a board that I wouldn't mind traveling with and I've definitely found it.

Built my dream keeb with this. The knob is smooth, the layout is compact but practical, and it works great with VIA software.✅ Pros: Hot-swappable, customizable, Mac/Windows friendly❌ Cons: No switches included (barebone)💡 Tip: Get lubed switches and keycaps separately — the translucent case really shines with RGB.

I love that the barebones option is affordably priced, despite the recent price increase.South facing LEDs are a plus and the build quality is superb. It's not as heavy as other custom boards but there is a bit of heft to it, specifically for the polycarbonate version. I paired these with the Akko Matcha Green switches and I love how they sound and feel.I would note that VIA software with this board is a bit finicky but past that, it works well. Everytime i want to change a setting, I need to re-upload the JSON file for the board to VIA. This isn't a deal breaker for me but rather a very minor inconvenience.Hopefully Keychron can sort out those issues with VIA in the future. Nonetheless I would recommend this board if you're shopping for a 75% board.