Keychron K17 Max vs K5 Pro96% vs 100% Low Profile

The Keychron K17 Max includes 2.4 GHz wireless with a 1000 Hz polling rate. The Keychron K5 Pro does not have 2.4 GHz connectivity and only offers Bluetooth and wired connections with a 1000 Hz polling rate on wired mode.

Yes, both the K17 Max and K5 Pro include keycaps for both macOS and Windows and offer keymap configuration for each OS via the Keychron Launcher web app. They also support switching between operating systems without changing keycaps.

Both keyboards use low profile double-shot PBT keycaps and are compatible with low profile keycap sets from Keychron, such as the LSA Dye-Sub PBT Full Set. Standard full-height keycaps are not compatible due to the low profile switch design.

Yes, both the K17 Max and K5 Pro support QMK firmware and the Keychron Launcher web app for key remapping, macros, and shortcuts. The K5 Pro also supports VIA according to its product page, though some user reviews mention issues with VIA compatibility on that model.

The K5 Pro is favored by users for office work due to its full-size layout with a numpad and positive reviews from software engineers and audio professionals. The K17 Max offers quieter sound dampening foam, which may also be beneficial in shared office spaces.

Both keyboards offer hot-swappable versions on the RGB backlight models, allowing you to swap Gateron low profile mechanical switches without soldering. The white backlight versions are not hot-swappable. Both are compatible only with Gateron or Keychron low profile mechanical switches.

The K17 Max is better for gaming because it includes 2.4 GHz wireless with a 1000 Hz polling rate, which is not available on the K5 Pro. It also has interior IXPE acoustic foam and latex foam for quieter, more responsive keystrokes.

The K17 Max weighs 750 grams and the K5 Pro weighs 720 grams, so the difference is minimal. Both are relatively lightweight for mechanical keyboards thanks to their low profile design.

The K17 Max is available in ANSI and ISO layouts with German and UK options. The K5 Pro offers a much wider range of ISO layouts including German, Nordic, UK, French, Spanish, Swiss, Japanese, and more, plus ANSI.

Yes, both keyboards offer a choice between white backlight and RGB backlight versions. The RGB versions include more than 22 types of RGB backlight settings, and the white versions have 14 types of backlight settings.

The K5 Pro is better for data entry due to its full-size 100% layout with a dedicated numpad. The K17 Max has a 96% layout that omits the numpad to save desk space, which may slow down number-heavy tasks.

The K17 Max uses a PCB mount design, while the K5 Pro uses a tray mount design. PCB mount is generally considered more rigid and is preferred for modding, though both keyboards offer good build quality in their respective price ranges.