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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 10, 2026

Nuphy Halo75 V2 vs Keychron V5 MaxCompact vs Full Layout Choice

Choose the Nuphy Halo75 V2 for a premium, compact build with extensive lighting, or the Keychron V5 Max for a full-size layout and greater modding flexibility in a plastic case.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Nuphy Halo75 V2

Compact

Build quality in the top 15% of 75% boards under $150.

If you want

  • Aluminum top case construction for a premium feel.
  • Extensive, multi-zone RGB lighting system with a translucent bottom case and side light columns.
  • Includes a 6-piece sound mod stack (plate foam, switch pad, sound damper, PCB foam, bottom silicone) out of the box.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
  • No numpad.

Get the

Keychron V5 Max

Full Layout Choice

Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $100.

If you want

  • 96% layout provides a numpad and arrow keys in a compact form factor.
  • Available as a fully assembled or barebones kit for customization.
  • Includes a control knob and dedicated multimedia keys.

Rules this board out

  • 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.

Bottom line

Your primary need dictates the choice. If you require a numpad, knob, or deep customization from a barebones start, the Keychron V5 Max is the more functional and flexible tool. If you prefer a smaller, premium-feeling keyboard with standout aesthetics and a refined out-of-the-box sound, the Nuphy Halo75 V2 is the better option. Consider your desk space and whether you value build material over layout utility.

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.

Nuphy Halo75 V2

Keychron V5 Max

  • Layout size

    75%

    96%

  • Case material

    ABS, Aluminum

    ABS, Plastic

  • Switch options

    Mechanical

    Clicky, Linear, Tactile

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount

    Gasket Mount, Plate Mount

  • Knob

    No

    Yes

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Nuphy Halo75 V2
  • Keychron V5 Max
Performance
79
83
Build quality
81
86
Productivity
88
97
Customizability
89
98
Portability
81
53

What they share

  • Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Battery: 4,000 mAh
  • Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
  • QMK
  • VIA
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Keychron V5 Max is the clear choice for office work and content creation due to its numpad, knob, and multimedia keys. It also leads in modding with its barebones option and screw-in stabilizers. The Nuphy Halo75 V2 wins for portability thanks to its more compact 75% form factor. For gaming and programming, both keyboards are equally capable, offering the core high-performance features most users need.

For gaming

It's a tie

  • Both offer a 1000Hz polling rate in 2.4GHz and wired modes for low latency.
  • Both are hot-swappable, allowing for switch customization to personal preference.
  • Both feature N-key rollover for simultaneous key presses.

Full specs

Nuphy Halo75 V2 vs Keychron V5 Max specs

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

13 of 27 specs differ

Nuphy Halo75 V2

Keychron V5 Max

Typing & switches

Switch options

Mechanical
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
96%

Layout standard

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

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Battery

4,000 mAh
4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS, Aluminum
ABS, Plastic

Plate material

POM
Polycarbonate

Keycaps

PBT
ABS, PBT

Weight

1,020 g
925 g

Dimensions

33 x 320 x 135 mm
22 x 149 x 392 mm

Typing angle

9°
4°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2024
2023

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

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

Nuphy Halo75 V2

No ISO layout at the stores we track.

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

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.

FAQ

Nuphy Halo75 V2 vs Keychron V5 Max: your questions

The Keychron V5 Max features a 96% layout, which includes a full numpad integrated next to the main alphanumeric cluster. The Nuphy Halo75 V2 is a 75% layout and does not have a numpad.

Yes, both the Nuphy Halo75 V2 and Keychron V5 Max offer tri-mode connectivity. This includes 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and wired USB-C connections.

Yes, both keyboards are hot-swappable. They support most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, allowing you to change switches without soldering.

Both are compatible with macOS. The Nuphy Halo75 V2 vendor page highlights a dedicated OS switch for Mac-specific function keys. The Keychron V5 Max includes an additional set of keycaps for macOS and a system toggle.

The Nuphy Halo75 V2 uses an aluminum top case with an ABS bottom. The Keychron V5 Max case is constructed entirely from ABS plastic, as stated in its specifications.

The Nuphy Halo75 V2 emphasizes its lighting system, mentioning over 40 backlight modes, side 'Halo' light columns, a translucent bottom case, and support for SignalRGB. The Keychron V5 Max features south-facing RGB but its description does not specify the number of lighting modes.

Yes, both keyboards support the open-source QMK and VIA firmware. This allows for extensive key remapping, macro creation, and layer customization directly through a browser-based interface.

Neither keyboard includes a wrist rest in the standard box. However, Nuphy sells matching twotone acrylic and wooden wrist rests separately. Keychron also offers resin and silicone palm rests for purchase.

The Keychron V5 Max uses screw-in PCB stabilizers. The Nuphy Halo75 V2 uses plate-mounted stabilizers, according to its technical specifications.

The Nuphy Halo75 V2 is more portable due to its smaller 75% layout, measuring 320mm in length. The Keychron V5 Max is 392mm long to accommodate its 96% layout with a numpad.

The Keychron V5 Max vendor description explicitly states its double-shot PBT keycaps are not shine-through. The Nuphy Halo75 V2 offers optional 'Canopus shine-through' keycaps for purchase, and its mSA keycaps have illuminated homing bars.

Yes, according to its product listing, the Keychron V5 Max is available in a 'Barebone Knob' version, which does not include keycaps or switches.

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