Keychron K4 HE vs Q5 ProMagnetic or Gasket 96%?
Choose the K4 HE for its magnetic switches with adjustable actuation and rapid trigger for gaming, or the Q5 Pro for its premium gasket mount and full aluminum build for typing.
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4.0 (11)4.0 · 11 reviews
from$118at MK
5.0 (3)5.0 · 3 reviews
from$159at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K4 HE
Hall effect
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $150.
- Magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 3.8 mm for customizable key response.
- Rapid Trigger and Last Key Priority features for faster and more precise gaming inputs.
- Dynamic Keystrokes allows up to 4 actions per key based on press depth, plus Analog Mode for variable input.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
Get the
Keychron Q5 Pro
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $200.
- Full CNC machined 6063 aluminum body provides a premium, sturdy, and vibration-resistant typing platform.
- Double-gasket design with a flexible PC plate delivers a cushioned and refined typing feel.
- Available as a barebones kit, allowing complete customization of switches and keycaps from the start.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic. The other board is sold in those layouts.
For gamers, the Keychron K4 HE is the clear choice because its magnetic switches offer features like adjustable actuation and rapid trigger that directly improve competitive performance. For typists, programmers, and users who prioritize build quality and a customizable experience, the Keychron Q5 Pro's full aluminum body, double-gasket design, and barebones option make it a more refined and flexible platform. Your decision should hinge on whether magnetic switch advantages or premium mechanical construction matters more to your daily use.
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 K4 HE
Keychron Q5 Pro
Hall effect (magnetic)
Yes
No
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
Yes
No
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired, 2.4 GHz
Bluetooth, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic, Wood
Aluminum
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Keychron K4 HE
- Keychron Q5 Pro
- Performance
- 9282
- Build quality
- 8788
- Productivity
- 9497
- Customizability
- 8996
- Portability
- 5656
- Layout size: 96%
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The K4 HE wins for gaming due to its magnetic switch features like rapid trigger, adjustable actuation, and analog mode. For office work, both keyboards are evenly matched with their 96% layout, triple-device Bluetooth, and Mac/Win support. The Q5 Pro takes the lead for programming and content creation, where its double-gasket design and programmable knob enhance comfort and workflow. Modders will prefer the Q5 Pro for its barebones option and compatibility with standard MX switches. The lighter weight and 2.4 GHz connectivity of the K4 HE make it the better travel companion.
Pick the Keychron K4 HE
- Magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 3.8 mm for customized response.
- Rapid Trigger and Last Key Priority (LKP) for faster, more precise keystrokes in competitive titles.
- Dynamic Keystrokes (DKS) allows up to 4 distinct actions per key based on press depth.
- Analog Mode provides controller-like variable input for racing and simulation games.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K4 HE
11 owner reviews
“So far it have met my expectations for the use i wanted it for, had a small hic up the first day i started ysing it but got easily resolved with the provided user manual”
“The keyboard is smooth to the touch, and has the nice feel. For me, it's almost an ideal keyboard but the one thing that gets me and it's a hard issue is that when connected, it takes away input from my controller when I game, especially for live service…”
Keychron Q5 Pro
3 owner reviews
“"This keyboard is heavier than a gaming laptop, which makes it sturdy and stable. Typing on it feels smooth and effortless, especially with the red switches, which I'm very satisfied with. The delivery time to Thailand was surprisingly quick."”
Keychron K4 HE vs Q5 Pro specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K4 HE
Keychron Q5 Pro
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
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 K4 HE
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-CH
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron Q5 Pro
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
Out of 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 K4 HE vs Q5 Pro: your questions
The K4 HE is better for gaming because its Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches support adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 3.8 mm, rapid trigger, and Last Key Priority. These features allow for faster and more precise key responses compared to the Q5 Pro's standard mechanical switches.
No, the K4 HE is only compatible with Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches sold on the Keychron website. It does not support other magnetic switches like the Gateron Magnetic Jade or standard mechanical switches.
No, the Q5 Pro supports Bluetooth and Type-C wired connections only. The K4 HE includes both 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth wireless options.
The Q5 Pro has a better build quality with a full CNC machined 6063 aluminum body that undergoes 24 manufacturing stages. The K4 HE uses an aluminum and wood frame (Special Edition) or aluminum frame (Standard Edition) with an ABS plastic bottom case.
Yes, the Q5 Pro is available in a 'Barebone Knob' version that does not include keycaps or switches, allowing you to customize your own. The K4 HE is only sold as a pre-built keyboard.
Yes, both the K4 HE and Q5 Pro come with a system toggle and an additional set of customized keycaps for both macOS and Windows. They can each save two different layouts, one for each system.
Both the Keychron K4 HE and the Keychron Q5 Pro have a 4000 mAh rechargeable li-polymer battery.
The K4 HE is lighter at about 1090 g compared to the Q5 Pro at about 2310 g. Also, the K4 HE offers 2.4 GHz wireless, making it more convenient for travel where low-latency connection is needed without cables.
Yes, both keyboards support the open-source QMK firmware and can be customized using the Keychron Launcher web app for key remapping, macros, and backlight adjustments.
The K4 HE uses plate-mounted stabilizers, while the Q5 Pro uses PCB-mounted screw-in stabilizers. Both are described as screw-in stabilizers in their extra features metadata.
Both have RGB backlighting with 22+ modes, but they differ in LED placement. The K4 HE has north-facing RGB LEDs, which may be brighter with certain keycaps, while the Q5 Pro has south-facing RGB LEDs that are often preferred for avoiding keycap interference.
Yes, the K4 HE features an Analog Mode that detects how far each key is pressed, translating it into variable inputs. This enables more nuanced control in racing games, sports simulations, and other titles that benefit from pressure-sensitive input.
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