AULA F99 Pro vs Keychron K17 MaxLow-Profile vs Gasket Mount
Choose the Keychron K17 Max for its low-profile design and extensive firmware customizability, or the AULA F99 Pro for its gasket-mounted sound and superior battery life.
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4.7 (41)4.7 · 41 reviews
from$68at Epomaker
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
4.8 (4)4.8 · 4 reviews
from$94at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
AULA F99 Pro
Low-Profile
Build quality in the bottom 50% of 96% boards under $100.
- Exceptionally large 8000mAh battery for extended wireless use.
- Gasket mount structure with five layers of sound-dampening materials for a tuned typing feel and sound.
- Includes a flex-cut PC plate and hot-swappable PCB for a softer typing experience.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Get the
Keychron K17 Max
Gasket Mount
Build quality in the top 20% of 96% boards under $100.
- Ultra-slim low-profile design with an aluminum frame, making it very portable.
- Full support for QMK and VIA open-source firmware for limitless key remapping and macros.
- Officially lists a 1000 Hz polling rate for its 2.4 GHz and wired connections.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
Your primary need dictates the choice. If you value an ultra-thin, travel-friendly keyboard with the deepest level of firmware customization for workflows and gaming, the Keychron K17 Max is the clear selection. If your priority is a keyboard with a premium, acoustically-tuned typing experience and you want to forget about charging for weeks, the AULA F99 Pro is the better option, especially for content creators.
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.
AULA F99 Pro
Keychron K17 Max
Battery
8,000 mAh
2,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Low profile
No
Yes
Case material
ABS
ABS, Aluminum
Switch options
Linear
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Mount style
Gasket Mount
PCB Mount
- AULA F99 Pro
- Keychron K17 Max
- Performance
- 6583
- Build quality
- 6281
- Productivity
- 8393
- Customizability
- 6691
- Portability
- 6353
- Layout size: 96%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Knob
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron K17 Max wins for gaming, programming, travel, and modding, primarily due to its low-latency wireless, QMK support, slim form factor, and open-source firmware. The AULA F99 Pro takes the lead for content creation thanks to its exceptional battery life and focused acoustic design. For general office use, both keyboards are equally capable, offering the core features needed for productivity.
Pick the Keychron K17 Max
- The Keychron K17 Max lists a 1000 Hz polling rate in its 2.4 GHz and wired modes for potentially lower latency.
- Its low-profile switches and keycaps may allow for faster keypress registration due to shorter travel.
- The manufacturer states its 2.4 GHz connection is for 'peak gaming performance'.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
AULA F99 Pro
41 owner reviews
“I got the Aula F99 pro 2 of them and 2 of the Aula black mice. Most amazing keyboard and mouse. I use them with my Galaxy phone with Samsung Dex, as well my gaming pc.”
“JUNK GARBAGE TRASH. What can I say. I cant type on it and I cant use it. TOSSING IT”
Keychron K17 Max
4 owner reviews
“Wish it was metal but i do love the low profile keyboard”
AULA F99 Pro vs Keychron K17 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
13 of 27 specs differ
AULA F99 Pro
Keychron K17 Max
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
AULA F99 Pro
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron K17 Max
Keychron
ISO
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
In stockDoes not ship to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
AULA F99 Pro vs Keychron K17 Max: your questions
The AULA F99 Pro has a substantially larger 8000mAh battery compared to the Keychron K17 Max's 2000mAh battery. Based on the manufacturer's specifications, the F99 Pro will last much longer between charges during wireless use.
Yes. The Keychron K17 Max supports QMK and VIA firmware, which are open-source tools that allow for extensive key remapping, macro creation, and layer programming. You can use the Keychron Launcher web app for configuration.
The AULA F99 Pro uses a gasket mount with a flexible PC plate and multiple foam layers for a softer, more cushioned feel with dampened sound. The Keychron K17 Max uses a low-profile switch design and a PCB mount, resulting in a thinner, crisper typing experience with shorter key travel.
Both keyboards offer hot-swappable versions. The AULA F99 Pro's listing confirms it is hot-swappable. The Keychron K17 Max has a specific 'RGB Backlight (Hot-Swappable)' version, but its manufacturer notes it is only compatible with Gateron or Keychron brand low-profile mechanical switches.
The Keychron K17 Max is likely better for gaming due to its explicitly stated 1000 Hz polling rate in 2.4 GHz and wired modes, which can mean lower latency. Its low-profile design may also allow for faster keypresses. The AULA F99 Pro does not list a specific polling rate.
Yes, both the AULA F99 Pro and the Keychron K17 Max list Mac and Windows support. The Keychron specifically mentions it offers a Mac layout with multimedia key functions while remaining compatible with Windows.
The Keychron K17 Max comes with low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps. The AULA F99 Pro's vendor description lists its keycap profile as Cherry but does not specify the keycap material, which is often ABS on keyboards in its price range.
The Keychron K17 Max is significantly more portable. It is thinner (27mm vs 43mm), lighter (750g vs 1023g), and has a lower-profile design. The AULA F99 Pro is heavier and bulkier, which makes it less ideal for frequent travel.
The AULA F99 Pro features a gasket mount and five layers of sound-improving materials, including sandwich foam, an IXPE switch pad, PET film, bottom foam, and a silicone case pad. The Keychron K17 Max includes interior IXPE acoustic foam and latex foam for sound dampening and switch support.
Yes, the Keychron K17 Max supports a wired USB-C connection in addition to 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth. Using it wired enables the 1000 Hz polling rate and allows you to use the Keychron Launcher for programming.
The Keychron K17 Max's manufacturer claims it has 'more than 22 types of RGB backlight settings'. The AULA F99 Pro also has RGB lighting, but the number of specific effects is not detailed in the provided information.
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