Keychron C1 Pro vs V5TKL or Numpad
Choose the C1 Pro for its 8000 Hz polling and lighter 80% layout, or the V5 for its numpad, media keys, and multiple listed mounting styles.
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4.8 (10)4.8 · 10 reviews
from$50at MK
4.8 (8)4.8 · 8 reviews
from$74at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron C1 Pro
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $100.
- 8000 Hz polling rate, adjustable from 125 Hz to 8000 Hz according to Keychron.
- Three adjustable typing angles, listed as 4.8°, 8.5°, and 10.7° by Keychron.
- Sound-absorbing foam, EPDM foam, and a silicone bottom pad are named in Keychron’s product description.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron V5
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $100.
- A 96% layout with a numpad and multi-media keys.
- DIY kit or barebones option for buyers who want to supply switches or keycaps.
- Steel and polycarbonate plate materials, with tray, plate, and gasket mounting styles listed.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-IT. 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.
Get the C1 Pro for its 8000 Hz polling option, lighter weight, and adjustable typing angles. Choose the V5 if you want the numpad and media keys, or value its listed multi-mount and barebones options. Check regional layout availability before buying either board.
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 C1 Pro
Keychron V5
Layout size
80%
96%
Mount style
Tray Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Weight
830 g
1,170 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-IT
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
Plate material
Plastic
Polycarbonate, Steel
- Keychron C1 Pro
- Keychron V5
- Performance
- 9191
- Build quality
- 8289
- Productivity
- 9898
- Customizability
- 9198
- Portability
- 5745
- Connection: Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
What will you mostly use it for?
The C1 Pro is the clearer fit for buyers prioritizing its listed 8000 Hz polling rate or a lighter, smaller board. The V5 makes more sense for desk work that benefits from a numpad and media keys, and for builders who want the listed mounting and barebones options. Programming is a close call because both support QMK, VIA, and hot-swapping, with layout preference deciding the difference. Regional layout selection may also settle the choice.
Pick the Keychron C1 Pro
- The C1 Pro lists an 8000 Hz polling rate, while the V5’s vendor description says it runs at 1000 Hz out of the box.
- Its 80% layout omits the numpad, leaving a more compact keyboard footprint than the V5’s 96% layout.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron C1 Pro
10 owner reviews
“My son loves it. Upgrade from an implosion cap version. Not used to the US layout but he it learning some python. Might as well use a US Keyboard”
“Looks great and sounds amazing but keys gets stuck/don’t work or double press too often. When I remove the key caps to clean, it still doesn’t fix the problem. Example, my 7 key doesn’t work when pressed and my G key when pressed wrotes two g’s instead of one.”
Keychron V5
8 owner reviews
“In love with it already. Only downside is how long it took to get the keyboard. Other then that its a great product for the price”
Keychron C1 Pro vs V5 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
10 of 26 specs differ
Keychron C1 Pro
Keychron V5
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
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.
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.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron C1 Pro
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-IT
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V5
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron C1 Pro vs V5: your questions
The C1 Pro lists an 8000 Hz polling rate, adjustable from 125 Hz to 8000 Hz in Keychron’s description. The V5 vendor page says its polling rate is 1000 Hz out of the box, so the C1 Pro is the more suitable choice if that listed polling option is a priority.
Yes, the V5 uses a 96% layout with a numpad and function keys. The C1 Pro is an 80% layout and has no numpad.
The C1 Pro weighs 830 g, while the V5 weighs 1170 g. The C1 Pro also has an 80% layout rather than the V5’s 96% layout.
Both are listed as hot-swappable, and their vendor descriptions specify support for 3-pin and 5-pin switches. The C1 Pro description names MX-style switch examples including Cherry, Gateron, Kailh, and Panda.
Both list QMK and VIA support. Their vendor descriptions also describe using Keychron Launcher for remapping keys and setting macros.
The V5 metadata lists tray, plate, and gasket mounting styles. The C1 Pro is listed as tray mount.
The V5 is listed with a DIY kit or barebones option. Keychron says the barebones version does not include keycaps and switches.
The V5 metadata lists steel and polycarbonate plate materials. Keychron’s description of the fully assembled version specifically says it includes a steel plate.
Both are listed with south-facing LEDs, and their vendor descriptions specify non-shine-through PBT keycaps. The compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends may stay dark and that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
The C1 Pro lists ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, and ANSI layouts. The V5 lists ISO, ANSI, ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-SW, so check the exact layout listing if you need a specific regional version.
Both list Mac/Win support and include system toggles in their vendor descriptions. Keychron says the C1 Pro includes customized keycaps for Windows and macOS, and the V5 description also mentions an additional set of system-specific keycaps.
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