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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 7, 2026

Keychron Q5 Max vs Skyloong GK96 DRUM

Get the Keychron Q5 Max for knob and qmk.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron Q5 Max

Knob

Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $300.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Get the

Skyloong GK96 DRUM

Build quality in the top 45% of 96% boards under $150.

Rules this board out

  • No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.

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.

Keychron Q5 Max

Skyloong GK96 DRUM

  • Connection

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Bluetooth, Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount, PCB Mount, Plate Mount

    Gasket Mount

  • Knob

    Yes

    No

  • QMK

    Yes

    No

    The deep option when you want to remap every key

  • VIA

    Yes

    No

    GUI remapping without compiling firmware

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron Q5 Max
  • Skyloong GK96 DRUM
Performance
81
64
Build quality
91
70
Productivity
97
51
Customizability
98
68
Portability
55
48

What they share

  • Layout size: 96%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Case material: Aluminum
See every spec side by side

Full specs

Keychron Q5 Max vs Skyloong GK96 DRUM specs

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

15 of 27 specs differ

Keychron Q5 Max

Skyloong GK96 DRUM

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
—

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount, PCB Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
No

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
No

Layout

Layout size

96%
96%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
No

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
No

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
—

Battery

4,000 mAh
—

USB-C

Yes
No

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
Aluminum

Plate material

Polycarbonate
—

Keycaps

PBT
ABS, PBT

Weight

2,215 g
—

Dimensions

23 x 145 x 408 mm
—

Typing angle

5°
—

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
No

VIA

Yes
No

N-key rollover

Yes
No

Mac & Windows

Yes
No

Extras

Released

2023
2022

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

Keychron Q5 Max

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW

    In stockShips to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Skyloong GK96 DRUM

No ISO layout at the stores we track.

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.

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