Keychron Q5 Max vs Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2
Get the Keychron Q5 Max for QMK/VIA remapping and its PC plate, or the Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2 for its interactive display, touch bar, and 8000 Hz polling rate.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q5 Max
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $300.
- QMK and VIA support for key remapping and macros.
- Polycarbonate plate and screw-in PCB stabilizers.
- Listed in ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, and ISO-SW layouts.
- 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
Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2
Battery
Build quality in the top 10% of 98% boards under $200.
- Interactive display supports custom GIF animations and images, with a touch bar for volume control.
- 8000mAh battery and an included carrying case.
- 8000 Hz polling rate.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Choose the Keychron Q5 Max if you want QMK/VIA customization, a polycarbonate plate, screw-in stabilizers, or its additional listed ISO layouts. Choose the Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2 if its interactive display, volume touch bar, 8000mAh battery, or 8000 Hz polling rate better fits your priorities.
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
Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2
Layout size
96%
98%
Battery
4,000 mAh
8,000 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
Case material
Aluminum
Aluminum, Steel
Mount style
Gasket Mount, PCB Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount
- Keychron Q5 Max
- Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2
- Performance
- 8186
- Build quality
- 9177
- Productivity
- 9784
- Customizability
- 9874
- Portability
- 5565
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The QK100 Mk2 has the clearer gaming advantage on its listed polling rate, while the Q5 Max offers more explicit key-remapping options for programming. The Q5 Max also has the edge for buyers who want its listed regional layouts or a PC plate for customization. The QK100 Mk2's larger battery and included carrying case make it the more travel-oriented choice of these two. Its interactive display and volume touch bar give it the more distinctive content-control features.
Pick the Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2
- The QK100 Mk2 lists an 8000 Hz polling rate, compared with 1000 Hz for the Q5 Max.
- The Q5 Max vendor lists 1000 Hz for 2.4 GHz and wired modes, and 90 Hz for Bluetooth, so its mode matters when comparing polling rates.
Keychron Q5 Max vs Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
17 of 27 specs differ
Keychron Q5 Max
Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2
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
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.
Keychron Q5 Max
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2
- Go to MonacoKeys
MonacoKeys
ISO-DE
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron Q5 Max vs Qwertykeys QK100 Mk2: your questions
The QK100 Mk2 lists an 8000 Hz polling rate, while the Q5 Max lists 1000 Hz. Keychron specifies 1000 Hz for wired and 2.4 GHz modes and 90 Hz for Bluetooth.
Yes, the Q5 Max metadata lists both QMK and VIA support. Keychron describes using QMK and its Launcher web app for remapping keys, macros, and shortcuts.
Yes, its vendor description lists an interactive display that supports custom GIF animations and images. It also describes a dot-matrix display and physical buttons for controlling the display features.
The QK100 Mk2 has an 8000mAh battery, while the Q5 Max has a 4000mAh battery. Battery capacity alone does not establish how long either keyboard will run in a particular setup.
Both models list hot-swap support. Keychron says the Q5 Max accepts most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.
The Q5 Max is the more explicit fit for users seeking QMK and VIA support, which Keychron describes for remapping keys, macros, and shortcuts. The QK100 Mk2 is listed as programmable with an in-house web driver.
Both keyboards list south-facing RGB. Their compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends may stay dark and that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
The Q5 Max is listed with ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, and ISO-SW options that are not listed for the QK100 Mk2. The QK100 Mk2 metadata lists ANSI, ISO-DE, and ISO.
The Q5 Max has a polycarbonate plate, while the QK100 Mk2 has a polypropylene plate in its vendor description. This is a concrete construction difference for buyers comparing their customization preferences.
Yes, the QK100 Mk2 vendor listing includes a carrying case. The Q5 Max vendor description does not list one among the included items.
The QK100 Mk2 has a touch bar above the numpad for controlling volume. The Q5 Max metadata lists a knob, but does not specify that it controls volume.
Both have a numpad, and both are described in their compatibility notes as compact full-size layouts without the gaps of a full-size board. The Q5 Max is listed as 96%, while the QK100 Mk2 is listed as 98% and 100%.
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