Keychron K1 V5 vs K3 MaxTKL or 75% Layout?
Choose the K1 V5 for its 80% layout and larger battery, or the K3 Max for 2.4 GHz wireless, a more compact layout, and QMK/VIA customization.
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4.8 (1,458)4.8 · 1,458 reviews
from$54at Keychron
4.3 (15)4.3 · 15 reviews
from$89at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K1 V5
Battery
Build quality in the top 40% of 80% boards under $100.
- 80% layout provides a larger format than the K3 Max's 75% layout.
- 2000mAh battery capacity is greater than the K3 Max's 1550mAh.
- Hot-swappable switches are listed as an extra feature.
- 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.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron K3 Max
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- 75% layout and listed 306 x 116 mm dimensions make it the more compact option.
- Supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections, with 1000 Hz polling listed.
- QMK and VIA support, plus Keychron Launcher remapping and macros.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No numpad.
Choose the K1 V5 if you want an 80% layout and a larger 2000mAh battery. Pick the K3 Max if you prefer a more compact 75% board, need 2.4 GHz wireless, or want its listed QMK/VIA and Launcher customization. For switch changes on the K3 Max, check that the selected version is hot-swappable and that your switches are compatible.
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 K1 V5
Keychron K3 Max
Layout size
80%
75%
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Battery
2,000 mAh
1,550 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
Aluminum, Plastic
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic, Wood
Mount style
Tray Mount
Plate Mount
- Keychron K1 V5
- Keychron K3 Max
- Performance
- 6381
- Build quality
- 6786
- Productivity
- 6794
- Customizability
- 7091
- Portability
- 7477
- Hot-swappable
- Low profile
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
What will you mostly use it for?
The K3 Max leads in gaming, programming, travel, modding, and content creation, largely because it combines 2.4 GHz wireless with QMK/VIA customization and a compact layout. Its lower listed weight also favors carrying it, though the K1 V5 has the larger battery capacity. For office use, the K3 Max's smaller footprint and listed sound dampening are useful differentiators. The K1 V5 remains a reasonable choice if you prefer an 80% layout or prioritize battery capacity.
Pick the Keychron K3 Max
- The K3 Max supports 2.4 GHz wireless and lists a 1000 Hz polling rate for that mode.
- The K3 Max includes N-key rollover in both wireless and wired modes.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K1 V5
1,458 owner reviews
“Cant beat this keyboard. Everything I wanted for a great price. Great for Mac and just as good as any keyboard for PC. I use ti for my work pc and personal Mac.”
Keychron K3 Max
15 owner reviews
“Noce keyboard, i appreciate the level of customization QMK provides. One thing was little disappointing - the tactile feeling comparing to K3. Other than that its very good kb!”
“I sold my k3 pro and got this. The one I got drops connection intermittently or doesn't type or respond right away. It sounds nice, but stiff reds are not as pleasant to type on as previous keyboards reds. I really thought I ordered hotswap RGB max but seems…”
Keychron K1 V5 vs K3 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
13 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K1 V5
Keychron K3 Max
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
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 K1 V5
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron K3 Max
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Keychron K1 V5 vs K3 Max: your questions
The K1 V5 has an 80% layout and a 2000mAh battery. The K3 Max has a smaller 75% layout, a 1550mAh battery, 2.4 GHz wireless, and listed QMK/VIA support.
Yes, the K3 Max supports 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired connections. Its listing specifies a 1000 Hz polling rate for 2.4 GHz and wired modes.
The K1 V5 is listed with Bluetooth and wired connectivity. Its listed connections do not include 2.4 GHz.
The K1 V5 has the larger stated battery capacity at 2000mAh, compared with 1550mAh for the K3 Max. Capacity alone does not establish comparative runtime, and the K1 V5 vendor description gives an estimated runtime while the K3 Max vendor page also gives one.
Hot-swapping is listed for the K3 Max, but Keychron describes it as optional for certain versions. The hot-swappable version is described as compatible with Gateron and Keychron low-profile mechanical switches.
QMK and VIA are listed for the K3 Max, but not among the K1 V5's extra features. The K1 V5 vendor page also includes information about a newer K1 version, so those details should not be treated as K1 V5 features.
The K3 Max is the more compact model, with a 75% layout and listed dimensions of 306 x 116 mm. The K1 V5 has an 80% layout and vendor-listed dimensions of 355 x 120 mm.
The K3 Max is listed at 580g, while the K1 V5 vendor description gives a weight of about 650g. The K3 Max also has the smaller 75% layout.
RGB is listed for both keyboards, and the K1 V5 vendor description specifies adjustable four-level RGB backlighting. The K3 Max vendor page lists 22 types of RGB backlight options.
The K3 Max is listed with low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps. Keychron describes these as non-shine-through PBT, while the K1 V5 metadata lists ABS keycaps.
The K3 Max is the more directly supported choice for macro customization because its listing names QMK, VIA, and Keychron Launcher remapping and macros. The K1 V5's listed features do not include those customization tools.
Hot-swapping is listed for both, but available versions matter. Keychron describes the K3 Max hot-swap option as supporting Gateron and Keychron low-profile mechanical switches.
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