Keychron C1

Keychron · TKL · standard height

Keychron C1 mechanical keyboard
Image courtesy of Keychron

The Keychron C1 is a budget wired-only tenkeyless keyboard sold in non-backlit, white-backlight, and RGB trims, with hot-swap sockets only on the hot-swappable variants.

Best for: budget, beginners, office.

Keychron C1 specs

Layout TKL
Height Standard
Connectivity Wired
Hot-swap Yes
Stock switches Gateron G Pro Red, Gateron G Pro Brown, Gateron G Pro Blue
Keycaps ABS shine-through, OEM profile
Case ABS plastic
Mount Tray
Backlight RGB
QMK / VIA No
Battery n/a
Typical price $40
Sound (stock) clacky stock
Released 2020

Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers rather than guesses.

Unverified: specs compiled from manufacturer listings

Stock switches in the database

The Keychron C1 is offered with these switches. Open a switch page for force, travel, materials, and similar alternatives.

Gateron G Pro Red linear · 45g actuation The Gateron G Pro Red is a light pre-lubed 45g linear that ships stock in many Keychron boards and works as a cheap, dependable gaming switch. Gateron G Pro Brown tactile · 55g actuation The Gateron G Pro Brown is a gentle 55g pre-lubed tactile that gives prebuilt keyboards a soft, unobtrusive bump suitable for offices. Gateron G Pro Blue clicky · 60g actuation The Gateron G Pro Blue is a classic click-jacket 60g clicky switch found in many stock Keychron boards, giving an audible click at a budget price.

Where to buy

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Alternatives to the Keychron C1

Keychron C3 Pro TKL · $35 The Keychron C3 Pro is a $35 wired tenkeyless keyboard that brings gasket mounting, sound-dampening foam, and full QMK/VIA support to the entry level, with a red-only backlight and soldered switches on the base model (the newer 8K revision adds RGB and hot-swap). Compare: Keychron C1 vs Keychron C3 Pro · popular
Keychron K8 TKL · $60 The Keychron K8 is a tenkeyless wireless mechanical keyboard for Mac and Windows with white or RGB backlight, sold in soldered Gateron G Pro or hot-swappable mechanical/optical variants. Compare: Keychron C1 vs Keychron K8
Keychron V3 TKL · $60 The Keychron V3 is a wired tenkeyless QMK/VIA custom keyboard with a hot-swappable PCB and double-shot OSA PBT keycaps, serving as the budget plastic counterpart to the aluminum Q3. Compare: Keychron C1 vs Keychron V3

Not sure this is the one?

Answer five questions in KeebScout and it narrows every mechanical board we track to ones that match your use case, size, and budget. Since the Keychron C1 is hot-swap, you can also pick your feel from the switch database and change it any time.

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