Not sure which keyboard to choose? Try the Keyboard Finder now!

Head to head · Prices checked Nov 10, 2026

Zuoya GMK104 vs Keychron J5

Get the Zuoya GMK104 for knob. Get the Keychron J5 for qmk and via.

KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Zuoya GMK104

Knob

Build quality in the top 35% of 100% boards under $100.

Rules this board out

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

Get the

Keychron J5

QMK

Build quality in the top 20% of 100% boards under $100.

Rules this board out

  • North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.

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.

Zuoya GMK104

Keychron J5

  • Connection

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Knob

    Yes

    No

  • Display

    LCD

    None

    A case display rather than a typing feature

  • QMK

    No

    Yes

    The deep option when you want to remap every key

  • VIA

    No

    Yes

    GUI remapping without compiling firmware

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Zuoya GMK104
  • Keychron J5
Performance
58
82
Build quality
64
71
Productivity
66
89
Customizability
82
88
Portability
49
54

What they share

  • Layout size: 100%
  • Hot-swappable
  • Case material: ABS
  • Sound dampening
See every spec side by side

Full specs

Zuoya GMK104 vs Keychron J5 specs

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

11 of 25 specs differ

Zuoya GMK104

Keychron J5

Typing & switches

Switch options

—
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

100%
100%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
No

Display

LCD
None

Media keys

No
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

—
1,000 Hz

Battery

—
3,750 mAh

USB-C

No
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS
ABS

Plate material

Polycarbonate
Steel

Keycaps

—
PBT

Weight

—
1,100 g

Dimensions

—
35 x 436 x 129 mm

Typing angle

—
2°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, north-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

No
Yes

N-key rollover

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2024
2025

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

Zuoya GMK1042 stores
Keychron J53 stores

Still torn?

Answer a few quick questions and the keyboard finder ranks 2,000+ boards by how you will actually use yours.