Keychron B36 vs K5 Max
Choose the B36 for quieter typing and lower weight, or the K5 Max for hot-swappable switches, QMK support, and a larger battery.
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4.7 (6)4.7 · 6 reviews
from$39at MK
4.1 (16)4.1 · 16 reviews
from$94at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron B36
Build quality in the bottom 25% of 100% boards under $100.
- Full-size ANSI layout with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections.
- Vendor describes quiet scissor-switch typing and pre-lubed keys.
- Vendor lists up to 320 hours of wireless use from its 800 mAh battery.
- Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Get the
Keychron K5 Max
Hot-swappable
Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $100.
- Hot-swappable low-profile mechanical switches, with Gateron and Keychron low-profile switch compatibility specified by the vendor.
- QMK and VIA support, with vendor-listed key remapping and macros.
- N-key rollover is listed for wireless and wired modes.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
Pick the B36 if you prioritize its quiet scissor typing, lower weight, and longer vendor-listed wireless runtime. Choose the K5 Max if you want hot-swappable switches, QMK and VIA customization, N-key rollover, or an ISO layout. Both support three connection modes and list a 1000 Hz polling rate.
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 B36
Keychron K5 Max
Hot-swappable
No
Yes
Switch changes without soldering
Battery
800 mAh
2,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
ABS, Plastic
ABS, Aluminum
Weight
650 g
720 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
QMK
No
Yes
The deep option when you want to remap every key
- Keychron B36
- Keychron K5 Max
- Performance
- 5481
- Build quality
- 4781
- Productivity
- 8088
- Customizability
- 5488
- Portability
- 5353
- Layout size: 100%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Low profile
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The B36 is a more fitting office and travel option if quiet scissor typing, lower weight, and the vendor-listed wireless runtime matter most. The K5 Max leads for gaming, programming, modding, and content creation through its N-key rollover, switch hot-swap, QMK and VIA support, and PBT keycaps. Both share full-size layouts, tri-mode connectivity, and a listed 1000 Hz polling rate. Buyers who need an ISO layout should choose the K5 Max.
Pick the Keychron K5 Max
- Both keyboards list a 1000 Hz polling rate, but the K5 Max also has N-key rollover in wireless and wired modes.
- The K5 Max uses low-profile Gateron mechanical switches, with linear, tactile, and clicky options listed.
- The B36 vendor describes its scissor mechanism and pre-lubed keys as quiet typing features.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron B36
6 owner reviews
“The battery life easily lasts weeks for me. Bluetooth and 2.4GHz both feel stable, and the adjustable angles help reduce wrist strain.”
Keychron K5 Max
16 owner reviews
“This is by far the best keyboard I've ever had. I did my research with AI defined the one I should get. I'm glad I did this first! I type about a hundred words a minute and do a lot of document creation as well as coding. This keyboard keeps up with me in the…”
“The printing quality of the Hungarian keycaps is very poor. The stroke thickness of the letters varies even within a single keycap—one letter is thick while another is thin. They look ugly. Also, on the internet the "esc" key appears orange, but in reality it…”
Keychron B36 vs K5 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
13 of 26 specs differ
Keychron B36
Keychron K5 Max
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
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 B36
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron K5 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK
In stockDoes not ship to you
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.
Keychron B36 vs K5 Max: your questions
The B36 uses a scissor mechanism and is described by Keychron as a quiet-typing keyboard. The K5 Max uses low-profile Gateron mechanical switches and adds hot-swap capability, QMK and VIA support, and N-key rollover.
The K5 Max is listed as hot-swappable, and Keychron describes switch replacement without soldering. Its vendor notes compatibility with Gateron and Keychron low-profile mechanical switches.
The B36's compatibility rules say its switches are soldered. Swapping them requires soldering, unlike the hot-swappable K5 Max.
Keychron lists up to 320 hours of wireless use for the B36 and up to 95 hours for the K5 Max. The B36 has an 800 mAh battery, while the K5 Max has a 2000 mAh battery.
Both list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired connectivity. The K5 Max vendor description says Bluetooth can connect to up to three devices, while the B36 description identifies Bluetooth 5.2.
Keychron specifically describes the B36's scissor mechanism and pre-lubed keys as quiet typing features. The K5 Max vendor description mentions IXPE and latex foam for acoustic and typing benefits, but does not describe it as a silent keyboard.
Yes, the K5 Max lists N-key rollover for both wireless and wired modes. The B36 vendor specifications state that it does not support N-key rollover.
No, both keyboards are limited to low-profile switches and keycaps, and their compatibility rules say standard MX keycaps will not fit. The K5 Max vendor specifies low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps.
No, the B36 is listed as ANSI, and its compatibility rules say ISO variants are not offered. The K5 Max lists ANSI as well as ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-UK, and ISO layouts.
The K5 Max is the stronger fit for users who want QMK and VIA support, plus vendor-listed key remapping and macros. The B36 offers Keychron Launcher remapping, but its switches are soldered.
Yes, both are listed as 100% keyboards. The K5 Max vendor specifies 108 keys, and the B36 vendor also lists 108 keys.
The B36 is listed at 650 g, while the K5 Max weighs 720 g. That makes the B36 the lighter option of the two.
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