What to check before buying
- Stem type: the Q1 Pro uses standard MX-style switches, so any MX-compatible set works. Low-profile sets (Choc or LP) do not.
- 75% coverage: you need a set that covers a 75% board: 1.75u right Shift and the column of nav keys. Most "full kit" or "tenkeyless plus" sets include these.
- Knob clearance: the knob version leaves the top-right key out; no special cap needed.
Sets people commonly use
Popular choices are Keychron's own OSA and Cherry-profile double-shot PBT sets, plus third-party Cherry-profile sets from the usual keycap makers. If you type in a Nordic or other ISO layout, check that the set explicitly lists ISO support: the Q1 Pro is sold in both ANSI and ISO, and the ISO Enter and short left Shift need their own caps.
One thing that trips people up
South-facing sockets on the Q1 Pro mean Cherry-profile caps do not interfere with the switch housing, which is the usual worry on north-facing boards. So Cherry profile is safe here.
Shine-through legends and the south-facing catch
The Q1 Pro's LEDs sit on the south side of each switch, the side facing you. Shine-through legends usually sit on the top half of the cap, so on this board they light unevenly compared with a north-facing keyboard: you get a glow at the front edge and dimmer legends. Owners who care about backlit legends either pick sets with legends printed low on the cap face or simply run opaque PBT and treat the lighting as underglow. Neither is wrong; just know which look you are buying before paying for a shine-through set that will not shine the way the product photos suggest.
Ordering mistakes owners keep repeating
- Buying a TKL-only kit. Standard tenkeyless kits assume a 2.75u right Shift; the Q1 Pro needs 1.75u, so you end up one odd cap short in a very visible row.
- Mixing ANSI and ISO. The board is sold in both; an ANSI set leaves an ISO board with a bare Enter and left Shift.
- Assuming the knob needs a cap. It does not; the knob replaces the key entirely, so kit images showing a full corner can confuse.
- Trusting the title over the kit image. Listings say 75% compatible loosely; the picture of included sizes is the only reliable source.
OSA stock caps versus aftermarket: what changes
The stock OSA caps are double-shot PBT with a spherical top and a height between OEM and SA. Owners who swap to Cherry profile report a lower, faster feel and a slightly sharper sound; moving to full SA goes the other way, taller and more sculpted. The material change matters less here than on cheaper boards because the stock caps are already decent PBT, so a swap on the Q1 Pro is mostly about profile and looks rather than a quality jump. If you are unsure, buy one inexpensive Cherry-profile set before committing to a premium one; profile preference is personal and hard to predict from photos.