Chilkey ND104 vs Keychron V5 MaxAluminum vs Plastic Full-Size
Choose the Chilkey ND104 for a premium aluminum build with a screen, or the Keychron V5 Max for a more affordable plastic build in a compact layout.
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5.0 (14)5.0 · 14 reviews
from$174at MK
4.8 (5)4.8 · 5 reviews
from$99at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Chilkey ND104
Aluminum
Build quality in the top 5% of 100% boards under $200.
- CNC machined 6063 aluminum case for a premium, solid feel.
- Built-in LCD screen with calculator, clock, and customizable background modes.
- Larger 8000mAh total battery capacity for extended wireless use.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Get the
Keychron V5 Max
Plastic Full-Size
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $100.
- More affordable price point for a feature-rich, customizable keyboard.
- Compact 96% layout retains a numpad in a smaller footprint (392mm long).
- Includes both USB-A and USB-C 2.4 GHz receivers with magnetic storage.
- 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.
Select the Chilkey ND104 if your budget allows for a premium aluminum build and you value the unique utility of a built-in screen, longer battery life, and a standard full-size layout. Opt for the Keychron V5 Max if you seek strong value, prefer a space-saving 96% layout, and do not require the extra features of a screen or aluminum construction. Both are excellent, highly customizable boards, making material and layout the defining factors.
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 V5 Max
Layout size
100%
96%
Battery
8,000 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
Aluminum
ABS, Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Silent
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Mount style
Gasket Mount, PCB Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
- Chilkey ND104
- Keychron V5 Max
- Performance
- 7983
- Build quality
- 8986
- Productivity
- 9497
- Customizability
- 9098
- Portability
- 6553
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Knob
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Chilkey ND104 wins for office and content creation due to its screen, massive battery, and full layout. The Keychron V5 Max is better for programming and travel, thanks to its compact 96% form factor and lighter weight. For gaming and modding, both keyboards are equally capable, sharing core performance and customization features. The choice largely comes down to whether you prioritize premium materials and unique features or value and space efficiency.
It's a tie
- Both offer a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes for low latency.
- Both feature N-key rollover for simultaneous key presses.
- The Chilkey ND104 has a larger, potentially more stable aluminum case, while the Keychron V5 Max is lighter.
Chilkey ND104 vs Keychron V5 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
14 of 27 specs differ
Chilkey ND104
Keychron V5 Max
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
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.
Chilkey ND104
Input Gear
ISO-UK
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron V5 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of 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.
Chilkey ND104 vs Keychron V5 Max: your questions
The Chilkey ND104 has a longer potential battery life, as it uses two 4000mAh batteries for a total of 8000mAh. The Keychron V5 Max has a single 4000mAh battery. Actual runtime depends on usage factors like RGB brightness and connection mode.
Yes, both keyboards are compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux. The Keychron V5 Max listing specifically mentions it includes dedicated keycaps for both Mac and Windows systems and has a hardware toggle to switch between them.
Yes. The Chilkey ND104 explicitly lists a silent switch type among its options. The Keychron V5 Max offers tactile, linear, and clicky switches, and Keychron sells separate Silent K Pro switches that are compatible with its hot-swap sockets.
The Chilkey ND104 is a full-size (100%) layout with 106 keys, including a full numpad and navigation cluster with gaps between sections. The Keychron V5 Max is a 96% layout, which compresses the numpad and navigation keys directly against the main alphanumeric cluster to save desk space while keeping most keys.
For pre-built versions, yes. The Chilkey ND104 includes Double Shot PBT keycaps (or MetaPBT for the Shadow Black colorway). The fully assembled Keychron V5 Max includes OSA profile Double-shot PBT keycaps. Both companies also sell barebone versions without keycaps or switches.
Both use gasket mount designs and sound-dampening foam for a softer, quieter typing experience. The Chilkey ND104 uses an FR4 plate and has five foam layers, while the Keychron V5 Max uses a polycarbonate plate. The aluminum case on the ND104 may produce a different sound signature than the plastic case on the V5 Max.
Yes, both keyboards are fully programmable. They support the open-source QMK firmware and the VIA graphical configurator for easy key remapping, layer creation, and macro programming without needing to code.
Yes, the Keychron V5 Max is listed with knob support. The vendor page shows 'Fully Assembled Knob' and 'Barebone Knob' as purchase options, indicating a version with a rotary knob is available.
The Chilkey ND104 has a hidden storage slot for its 2.4 GHz receiver on the underside of the case. The Keychron V5 Max has a magnetic storage slot at the top right corner of the keyboard to hold its included Type-A or Type-C receivers.
The product listings confirm both use screw-in PCB stabilizers but do not specify if they are pre-lubed from the factory. The Keychron V5 Max description states its Gateron Jupiter switches are pre-lubed, but makes no such claim for the stabilizers.
Both have RGB backlighting. The Chilkey ND104 listing mentions 'glare-free RGB backlighting with underglow lighting.' The Keychron V5 Max uses south-facing RGB LEDs, which are designed to prevent interference with certain keycap profiles but may offer different lighting effects.
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