Chilkey ND104 vs Keychron Q5 HEScreen or Hall Effect
Get the Chilkey ND104 for its full-size 106-key layout, built-in screen and 8000mAh battery, or the Keychron Q5 HE for Hall Effect switches, Rapid Trigger and up to 8000 Hz wired polling.
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5.0 (14)5.0 · 14 reviews
from$174at MK
5.0 (3)5.0 · 3 reviews
from$212at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Chilkey ND104
Battery
Build quality in the top 5% of 100% boards under $200.
- Full-size 106-key layout with a numpad and additional F13 key.
- Built-in screen with calculator, clock and dynamic-background modes.
- 8000mAh battery and wireless connections over Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-CH. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Get the
Keychron Q5 HE
Hall effect
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $300.
- Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.1 to 3.35 mm.
- Rapid Trigger, dynamic keystrokes and up to 8000 Hz polling in wired mode.
- QMK support alongside VIA.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Choose the Chilkey ND104 for its 106-key full-size layout, built-in screen and 8000mAh battery, especially if you want wireless use or need ISO-DE or ISO-CH. Choose the Keychron Q5 HE for Hall Effect switches, adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger and up to 8000 Hz polling in wired mode. Its switch system and compact layout are the trade-offs for those gaming-focused controls.
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.
Chilkey ND104
Keychron Q5 HE
Layout size
100%
96%
Hall effect (magnetic)
No
Yes
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
No
Yes
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Battery
8,000 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Max polling rate
1,000 Hz
8,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
- Chilkey ND104
- Keychron Q5 HE
- Performance
- 79100
- Build quality
- 8989
- Productivity
- 9497
- Customizability
- 9095
- Portability
- 6555
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: Aluminum
- Knob
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q5 HE is the clear fit for gaming centered on adjustable magnetic switches and Rapid Trigger. The ND104 is better suited to buyers who want a full-size layout, screen functions and a larger battery. Programming is a close call: both support VIA, while the Q5 HE adds QMK and the ND104 keeps the complete full-size layout. For travel, the ND104's wireless options and larger battery are advantages, though both boards are substantial aluminum designs.
Pick the Keychron Q5 HE
- Hall Effect magnetic switches support adjustable actuation and Rapid Trigger.
- The Q5 HE supports up to 8000 Hz polling in wired mode, while the ND104 lists 1000 Hz.
Chilkey ND104 vs Keychron Q5 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
14 of 28 specs differ
Chilkey ND104
Keychron Q5 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
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
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Chilkey ND104
- Go to Input Gear
Input Gear
ISO-UK
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron Q5 HE
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-CH
In stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-CH
In stockDoes not ship to you
Chilkey ND104 vs Keychron Q5 HE: your questions
The Keychron Q5 HE is the more gaming-focused option, with Hall Effect switches, adjustable actuation and Rapid Trigger. Its listed polling rate reaches 8000 Hz in wired mode, while the ND104 lists 1000 Hz.
Yes, Rapid Trigger is listed as a feature of the Q5 HE. Keychron describes its dynamic rapid trigger as activating or deactivating keys based on how far they travel.
Yes. Keychron lists adjustable actuation points from 0.1 to 3.35 mm, with 0.01 mm sensitivity.
Yes, the ND104 has a built-in screen with calculator, clock and dynamic-background modes. Its module above the numpad can also be configured in different screen, knob and key arrangements.
The Chilkey ND104 is listed as a 100% keyboard and its vendor description specifies 106 keys, including a numpad. The Keychron Q5 HE uses a compact 96% layout that keeps the numpad but not the gaps of a full-size board.
No, the Q5 HE is designed for magnetic switches, and standard MX switches will not fit. Keychron says it supports hot-swapping compatible Lime and Gateron Jade magnetic switches.
The Chilkey ND104 has an 8000mAh battery, compared with the Q5 HE's listed 4000mAh battery. The ND104 vendor description specifies Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connections.
The ND104 does not include ISO-DE or ISO-CH layouts. The Q5 HE is listed with both ISO-DE and ISO-CH layout options.
Its south-facing LEDs leave shine-through legends dark, according to the compatibility details. Some sculpted keycaps can also clip the LED.
Both boards list VIA support, while the Q5 HE also lists QMK support. The ND104 vendor description says it can be programmed with VIA or the Chilkey web driver.
The ND104 has Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless options and an 8000mAh battery. The Q5 HE is listed at 2301g with a 4000mAh battery, so the ND104 has the stronger listed battery and wireless case for portable use.
Both product listings include Mac and Windows support. Keychron also describes a system toggle and included Mac and Windows keycaps for the Q5 HE.
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