This article covers Keychron V1 有線カスタムメカニカルキーボードノブバージョン 75%レイアウト QMK in practical, decision-oriented detail.
Overview
The Keychron V1 knob version is an 81-key, 75% wired mechanical keyboard with a rotary knob. The short verdict: it is for people willing to give up wireless in exchange for full keymap freedom and easy switch swapping.
If you dislike a cable crossing your desk, or if you use a numeric keypad daily, this board is the wrong starting point.
The configuration is a straightforward custom-keyboard entry package. Switches are Keychron K Pro Brown (tactile), keycaps are double-shot PBT in the OSA profile, lighting is south-facing RGB, and connection is USB-C wired only.
Hot-swap sockets accept 3-pin and 5-pin MX-compatible switches, so no soldering is required. QMK and VIA support means layers, macros, and key positions are all yours to rebuild.
Amazon.co.jp shows 57 reviews averaging 4.7 out of 5 (94% positive, captured 2026-09-09).
That is a solid score, but 57 is a small sample, so it should not be the deciding factor on its own.
What the 75% Layout and Knob Actually Change
A 75% layout keeps the F1–F12 row and the arrow keys while squeezing the width below a tenkeyless board. Here that lands at 81 keys.
The difference from TKL shows up on the right side: Home, End, PageUp, and PageDown move into a single vertical column or onto an Fn layer instead of a separate island.
The practical consequence is that a key now sits directly right of Backspace. Coming from a full-size or TKL board, you will mis-hit that neighbor for the first few days.
The upside is that you can map that column to Delete or Home and cut finger travel — and QMK/VIA is exactly what makes that adjustment possible.
The knob is typically assigned to volume by default. Whether a specific rotate/press action can be remapped depends on your VIA version and firmware combination, so if you are buying specifically for knob macros, confirm current support in Keychron's official documentation first.
Tab switching and backlight brightness are the assignments that pay off most.
Compatibility Guide
Supported systems are macOS, Windows, and Linux. A toggle switch on the keyboard changes OS mode, swapping the Command/Option and Win/Alt ordering at the hardware level.
The bundled keycap set includes both Mac and Windows modifiers, so legends and behavior can be kept in sync. VIA is available for every platform and runs in a browser for live edits.
Physical size is 32.8 × 14.9 × 2.6 cm.
Note that the 14.9 cm depth is roughly the same as a TKL board — the space savings are horizontal only, which benefits anyone who wants more mouse room on the right.
Before buying, measure whether you have around 30 cm of front-to-back desk space once a palm rest sits in front of the board.
Switch compatibility is defined by the 3-pin/5-pin MX socket. Gateron and Cherry MX-style stems, including 5-pin plate-mount legs, drop straight in.
Optical and low-profile switches will not fit, as their housings are different. Always check pin alignment visually and insert vertically; forcing a bent pin damages the socket.
Keycaps are double-shot PBT in the OSA profile, a medium-high spherical-top shape. You can swap to Cherry or OEM profile sets, but 75% boards vary in right Shift and bottom-row widths, so verify the set includes the sizes you need (a 1.75u right Shift, for example).
South-facing RGB is a real advantage here: shorter Cherry-profile caps are far less likely to foul the LEDs.
Connectivity is USB-C wired only — no Bluetooth, no 2.4 GHz dongle.
Also, KVM switches and underpowered USB hubs can make VIA detection and firmware flashing unreliable. Connect directly to a motherboard port when rewriting the keymap.
Product Info
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of keys | 81 |
| Layout | 75% |
| Switch | Keychron K Pro Brown (tactile) |
| Hot-swappable | Yes (3-pin / 5-pin MX compatible) |
| Keycap material | Double-shot PBT |
| Keycap profile | OSA |
| Backlight | South-facing RGB |
| Connectivity | USB-C wired |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 32.8 × 14.9 × 2.6 cm |
| Compatible OS | macOS, Windows, Linux |
Three rows drive the purchase decision: the socket standard (MX only), the keycap material (PBT resists shine far better than ABS over years of use), and the wired-only connection. K Pro Brown is tactile, with a bump partway through the press; if you prefer linear smoothness, plan on swapping switches from day one — which is precisely why hot-swap matters.
On price, the Amazon.co.jp listing showed ¥24,017 as captured on 2026-09-09.
That is a point-in-time figure and moves with sales, exchange rates, and seller changes. Note also that this listing is sold and shipped by KING TRADING SHOP, a third party rather than the manufacturer, so it may sit above the going rate from Keychron's own store or domestic distribution.
The V1 belongs to the mid-entry tier of custom keyboards, so compare current prices across several channels before ordering. The eBay entry lists individual seller offers rather than a fixed price.
In the box: USB-C cable, keycap puller, switch puller, and an extra keycap set, with a one-year warranty.
How It Compares
Among custom-leaning keyboards, three axes decide the pick: connection type, keymap freedom, and extra input hardware. This board is wired, QMK/VIA-capable, and knob-equipped.
If wireless is a requirement, wireless boards like the K75 Lite, the YUNZII B98 PRO QMK (knob plus firmware freedom), or the EPOMAKER X AULA F75 MAX with its TFT screen and knob are the ones to weigh against it.
If raw actuation speed for gaming is the priority, magnetic Hall-effect boards with rapid trigger are a different category entirely. Something like the MCHOSE Ace 68 gives adjustable actuation points but no MX switch swapping.
The Keychron V1's value is not competitive latency; it is the room to tune feel and layout to your own hands. Buying it for speed is the most common way to end up disappointed.
Best Use Cases
- First-time custom keyboard buyers: hot-swap sockets let you try tactile, linear, and clicky switches without soldering — the lowest-cost way to learn what you actually like.
- Programmers and writers: QMK/VIA layers and macros keep symbol entry and cursor movement on the home row, and the 75% right-hand column can be rebuilt to your workflow.
- People who switch between Mac and Windows: the OS toggle and dual modifier keycaps keep legends and behavior aligned.
- People with narrow desks: you keep the arrow keys and F row while freeing horizontal space for the mouse.
- Not for: numeric keypad users, anyone who needs wireless, and anyone who wants a finished product with no tinkering.
Before You Buy
The most common miscalculation is assuming wired will be fine. There is no Bluetooth and no 2.4 GHz receiver, and the cable will always cross your desk.
If you plan to move the board between a tablet, a living-room setup, and a PC, rule it out now — there is no way to add wireless later.
Height is the second issue. A 2.6 cm body is not slim, and typing at that angle bends the wrist back.
Budget for a palm rest at purchase time rather than after; "taller than I expected" is the standard first complaint from people moving off low-profile boards.
Watch the price and the seller. The captured Amazon.co.jp price of ¥24,017 (2026-09-09) comes from a third-party seller, not the manufacturer.
In the collected data, the field labeled "Amazon US" also carries the same yen figure and the same product page, so it is useless as an overseas price reference. When comparing prices, verify that the currency and the channel are genuinely different.
Listing details themselves can disagree with reality. Amazon product pages sometimes carry manufacturer names, model numbers, or accessory lists that do not match the physical item.
With this model, the knob and non-knob versions, plus different switch types (Brown, Red, Blue) and frame options, appear as variations on the same page — an easy place to pick the wrong one. Before checkout, confirm from both the title and the product image that a knob is present and that the selected switch is the one you want.
Layout deserves a mention too. Keychron's V series is primarily US ANSI, so if you are shopping with a Japanese JIS layout in mind, the Enter key shape and the missing conversion keys will surprise you.
Japanese input works fine through OS settings or VIA remapping, but the printed legends will not match a JIS expectation. Check the layout in the listing images.
Finally, read the rating carefully. 4.7 across 57 reviews (94% positive, captured 2026-09-09) is good, but it lacks the statistical weight of a product with tens of thousands of reviews.
Unit-to-unit variation — stabilizer rattle in particular — gets buried in an average that small. Assume some chance of variance and plan to check the board thoroughly while the one-year warranty still applies.
FAQ
Q. Can it be used wirelessly? A.
No. It is USB-C wired only, with no Bluetooth and no dongle.
Look at other Keychron series or third-party wireless boards if that is a requirement.
Q. Can I install my own switches? A.
Yes, any 3-pin or 5-pin MX-compatible switch, no soldering needed. Optical and low-profile switches will not fit.
Q. Will third-party keycaps fit? A.
Generally yes for MX-stem sets, but 75% boards often need specific right Shift and bottom-row widths, so confirm the set includes them. Stock caps are double-shot PBT in the OSA profile.
Q. Does it behave correctly on macOS? A.
Flip the hardware toggle to macOS mode and the Command/Option order follows Mac convention. Swap in the bundled Mac keycaps to match the legends.
Q. Is VIA hard to use? A.
No command-line work is involved — you click a key and assign it in the browser. Just connect directly to a PC port rather than through a KVM or hub so the connection does not drop mid-write.
Q. Is it quiet? A.
K Pro Brown is tactile, so the press is more defined than a linear switch. If silence is the priority, plan on silent switches — which hot-swap makes easy to do later.
Product Disclosure (Amazon)
- Manufacturer: Keychron
- Seller: KING TRADING SHOP
- Fulfilled by: KING TRADING SHOP
- ASIN: B09NLW7TYS
- Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.





