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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 11, 2026

Ajazz AK820 Max vs GravaStar Mercury K1Screen vs Battery & Build

Choose the Ajazz AK820 Max for its screen and Hall effect switches at a lower cost, or the GravaStar Mercury K1 for its premium aluminum build and double the battery life.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Ajazz AK820 Max

Screen

Build quality in the top 45% of 75% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Includes a TFT screen for displaying system information or custom graphics.
  • Features Hall effect magnetic switches for potential customization and consistency.
  • Comprehensive sound dampening with silicone, cotton, and IXPE foam layers.

Rules this board out

  • Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.

Get the

GravaStar Mercury K1

Battery & Build

Build quality in the top 50% of 75% boards under $150.

If you want

  • Constructed with an aluminum alloy case for a premium, durable feel.
  • Massive 8000mAh battery capacity for extended wireless use.
  • Features a POM plate, which can provide a distinctive sound signature.

Bottom line

Your budget and priority features dictate the choice here. The Ajazz AK820 Max delivers exceptional value, packing a screen, knob, Hall effect switches, and advanced sound foam into a lighter, more affordable package. The GravaStar Mercury K1 is an investment in premium materials, offering an aluminum chassis and a battery that doubles the competition's capacity, but you pay more and forgo some interactive features.

What actually differs

The differences that matter

Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.

Ajazz AK820 Max

GravaStar Mercury K1

  • Hall effect (magnetic)

    Yes

    No

    Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing

  • Battery

    4,000 mAh

    8,000 mAh

    A larger battery means fewer cables during the day

  • Case material

    ABS, PBT

    Aluminum

  • Switch options

    Linear, Magnetic

    Linear

  • Knob

    Yes

    No

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Ajazz AK820 Max
  • GravaStar Mercury K1
Performance
75
65
Build quality
69
67
Productivity
85
67
Customizability
75
63
Portability
81
92

What they share

  • Layout size: 75%
  • Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Mount style: Gasket Mount
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Ajazz AK820 Max wins in more categories, particularly for gaming, travel, modding, and content creation, thanks to its Hall effect switches, screen, knob, and detailed sound dampening. The GravaStar Mercury K1 is the clear choice for office use where its massive battery and aluminum build are major assets. For programming, it's a tie, as both layouts are identical and hot-swappable, leaving the choice to preference for a screen versus a POM plate.

For gaming

Pick the Ajazz AK820 Max

  • Includes Hall effect magnetic switches, which are known for adjustable actuation and consistency.
  • Features N-key rollover for simultaneous key presses.
  • South-facing RGB lighting is compatible with more keycap profiles.

Full specs

Ajazz AK820 Max vs GravaStar Mercury K1 specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

10 of 21 specs differ

Ajazz AK820 Max

GravaStar Mercury K1

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear, Magnetic
Linear

Hall effect (magnetic)

Yes
No

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
No

Layout

Layout size

75%
75%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
No

Display

TFT
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Battery

4,000 mAh
8,000 mAhBetter

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS, PBT
Aluminum

Plate material

FR4
POM

Keycaps

PBT
—

Weight

850 g
1,080 g

Dimensions

20 x 333 x 143 mm
46 x 343 x 156 mm

Backlight

RGB
RGB

Firmware & software

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2024
2024

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

FAQ

Ajazz AK820 Max vs GravaStar Mercury K1: your questions

The GravaStar Mercury K1 has a significantly larger 8000mAh battery compared to the Ajazz AK820 Max's 4000mAh battery. This suggests the GravaStar will last much longer on a single charge during wireless use.

Yes, the Ajazz AK820 Max supports Hall effect magnetic switches. The manufacturer's specifications list this as a feature, and the product is described as hot-swappable, allowing for their installation.

Yes. The product metadata and vendor description confirm the GravaStar Mercury K1's case is made of aluminum alloy, which contributes to its heavier weight of 1080g and premium feel.

Both have gasket mounts for a softer feel, but they use different materials for sound. The Ajazz uses an FR4 plate and includes multiple foam layers (silicone, cotton, IXPE) for dampening. The GravaStar uses a POM plate, which is known for a deeper, more muted sound profile.

Yes, both the Ajazz AK820 Max and the GravaStar Mercury K1 feature hot-swappable PCBs. This allows you to easily change between compatible mechanical switches without soldering.

According to the vendor page, the Ajazz AK820 Max includes the keyboard itself, a user manual, a Type-C cable, and a keycap puller.

No. Based on the provided specifications and description, the GravaStar Mercury K1 does not include a control knob or any form of screen. The Ajazz AK820 Max includes both a knob and a TFT screen.

One user review on the vendor page reported noticeable input lag in wireless mode during gaming, which was resolved when switching to wired mode. The vendor's response suggested trying the 2.4GHz mode for better stability over Bluetooth.

The Ajazz AK820 Max is more portable. It is lighter (850g vs 1080g) and has slightly smaller dimensions (333 x 145 mm vs 343 x 156 mm), making it easier to carry in a bag.

Yes. Both the Ajazz AK820 Max and GravaStar Mercury K1 list Mac and Windows support in their extra features. The Ajazz vendor page explicitly lists support for Windows, Mac, and Android.

Both have RGB lighting. The Ajazz AK820 Max features south-facing RGB LEDs, which prevent interference with some keycap profiles. The GravaStar Mercury K1 vendor description highlights a unique 'three-sided streamer' lighting effect.

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