Keychron J5 vs V1 UltraFull-Size vs 75% Gaming Keyboard Showdown

The Keychron V1 Ultra has a significantly faster polling rate. It supports up to 8000 Hz in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes. The Keychron J5 has a 1000 Hz polling rate in its wired and 2.4 GHz modes.

No, the Keychron V1 Ultra does not have a numpad. It is a 75% layout keyboard, which removes the numpad and function key row but retains the arrow keys, navigation cluster, and a column of keys on the right side. The Keychron J5 is a full-size 100% keyboard that includes a dedicated numpad.

Yes, both keyboards offer hot-swappable versions. According to their product listings, you can hot-swap the switches on both models with standard 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches without soldering.

The Keychron V1 Ultra uses a gasket mount design, where the plate is suspended on soft gaskets inside the case to absorb vibrations and create a softer, more consistent typing feel. The Keychron J5 uses a standard mount style, which typically involves a more direct, fixed connection between the plate and the case, resulting in a firmer feel.

They support different firmware. The J5 supports QMK and VIA, which are widely used, open-source firmware for extensive key remapping and macro programming. The V1 Ultra uses ZMK firmware, another open-source firmware known for its efficiency and strong wireless performance, configured through the Keychron Launcher web app.

Yes. The V1 Ultra listing explicitly states it includes keycaps for both Mac and Windows systems and has a system toggle. The J5 vendor description mentions compatibility but does not specify if extra keycaps are included.

The manufacturer claims the Keychron V1 Ultra can last up to 660 hours on a single charge with the RGB backlight turned off, based on its 4000mAh battery. With RGB on at the lowest brightness, the claim is up to 200 hours. The J5 has a 3750mAh battery, but no specific battery life claims are provided in the listing.

The Keychron V1 Ultra comes pre-built with Keychron Silk POM Switches, which are described as pre-lubed and made from POM housing and stem for a smooth feel. The J5 comes with Keychron Super Switches, which have a different mold and structure for light transmittance.

The Keychron V1 Ultra is more portable. It has a compact 75% layout, a specified weight of 770g, and a plastic case. The J5 is a full-size keyboard, which is larger, heavier, and less convenient to transport.

The Keychron V1 Ultra has south-facing RGB LEDs. The Keychron J5 has north-facing RGB LEDs. South-facing LEDs ensure better compatibility with Cherry-profile keycaps to avoid interference, while north-facing LEDs can provide brighter shine-through illumination on the keycap legends.

The Keychron V1 Ultra uses screw-in PCB stabilizers. According to the manufacturer, this screw-in design increases stability and makes them easier to change or upgrade compared to standard clip-in stabilizers. The J5 listing does not specify the type of stabilizers used.