Keychron Q5 Max vs Lemokey L3
Choose the Q5 Max for its 96% layout and numpad, or the Lemokey L3 for an 80% layout with a programmable macro column.
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5.0 (4)5.0 · 4 reviews
from$219at MK
4.8 (10)4.8 · 10 reviews
from$194at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q5 Max
Media keys
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $300.
- 96% layout includes a numpad and multi-media keys.
- Aluminum case, polycarbonate plate, and gasket mount.
- Hot-swappable switches with QMK and VIA support.
- 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.
Get the
Keychron Lemokey L3
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $200.
- 80% TKL layout with a dedicated macro column and rotary knob.
- Lighter than the Q5 Max at about 1976 g, with a 401 x 137 mm footprint.
- Aluminum case, polycarbonate plate, gasket mount, and screw-in stabilizers.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Choose the Keychron Q5 Max if you regularly use a numpad or want multi-media keys in a 96% layout. Choose the Lemokey L3 if you prefer an 80% TKL footprint, dedicated macro column, and lower listed weight. Both offer broadly similar wireless, switch-swapping, and remapping features, so let the layout determine your pick.
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
Keychron Lemokey L3
Layout size
96%
80%
Mount style
Gasket Mount, PCB Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount
Weight
2,215 g
1,976 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ANSI, ISO, JIS
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
Media keys
Yes
No
- Keychron Q5 Max
- Keychron Lemokey L3
- Performance
- 8182
- Build quality
- 9188
- Productivity
- 9797
- Customizability
- 9896
- Portability
- 5576
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Case material: Aluminum
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q5 Max is the more suitable pick for office work and content tasks that benefit from a numpad and media keys. The L3 is a stronger fit when a smaller layout and dedicated macro column matter more. Gaming and modding are close because the two share the core wireless, hot-swap, and remapping features. For travel, the L3 is lighter and smaller on paper, but neither keyboard is lightweight.
It's a tie
- Both offer 2.4 GHz wireless and wired modes with a 1000 Hz polling rate.
- Both support N-key rollover in wireless and wired modes.
- Both have hot-swappable switches and south-facing RGB.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron Q5 Max
4 owner reviews
“I don't like writing reviews but I do like reading them lol. What I am trying to say is that don't sleep in this keyboard. I even liked it more than my Lemokey L3. I got the one with the side printed keys and banana switches. This is my 3rd keychron keyboard.”
Keychron Lemokey L3
10 owner reviews
“The Lemokey L3 is a piece of industrial art. Solid build quality. Awesome typing experience. This could very well be the last keyboard I'll buy.”
Keychron Q5 Max vs Lemokey L3 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
6 of 27 specs differ
Keychron Q5 Max
Keychron Lemokey L3
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.
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
Keychron Lemokey L3
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
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.
Keychron Q5 Max vs Lemokey L3: your questions
The Q5 Max uses a 96% layout with a numpad, while the Lemokey L3 is an 80% TKL layout with a dedicated macro column. The Q5 Max also lists multi-media keys.
No numpad is listed for the L3, which has an 80% TKL layout. The Q5 Max has a 96% layout with a numpad.
The Lemokey L3 is listed at 401 x 137 mm, while the Q5 Max measures 408 x 145 mm. The L3 also has the smaller 80% layout.
The Lemokey L3 weighs about 1976 g in its fully assembled version. The Q5 Max is listed at 2215 g for the fully assembled version.
Yes. Both support Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired connectivity.
Yes, both are listed as hot-swappable. Their vendor descriptions say they accept many 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches without soldering.
Both support QMK and VIA, and both vendors describe web-based tools for key remapping and macros. The L3 vendor also describes a dedicated macro column.
Both offer 2.4 GHz and wired modes with a 1000 Hz polling rate, plus N-key rollover in wireless and wired modes. Either is a reasonable fit if those listed features meet your needs; layout is the clearer difference.
Both have south-facing RGB. The L3 vendor specifies 22 types of RGB backlight options, while the Q5 Max vendor also describes 22 settings and a static white option.
The L3 vendor lists up to 200 hours with the backlight off, while the Q5 Max vendor lists up to 180 hours with the backlight off. Actual battery life can vary with use.
The Q5 Max vendor lists KSA double-shot PBT keycaps, with an alternate OSA side-printed option. The L3 comes with Cherry profile double-shot PBT keycaps that are non-shine-through.
Both product listings include Mac and Windows support, and their vendors list compatibility with macOS and Windows. The vendor descriptions also list Linux compatibility for both.
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