Keychron K4 Max vs K5 V22.4GHz or Low Profile
Choose the Keychron K4 Max for 2.4 GHz wireless, PBT keycaps, and MX-style switch flexibility, or the Keychron K5 V2 for a low-profile 100% layout, broader ISO options, and a lighter 732g build.
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5.0 (1)5.0 · 1 reviews
from$99at Keychron
5.0 (6)5.0 · 6 reviews
from$89at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K4 Max
Battery
Build quality in the top 20% of 96% boards under $100.
- 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity alongside Bluetooth and wired modes.
- PBT keycaps and a 4000mAh battery.
- Hot-swap support for almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches, according to Keychron.
- 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.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Get the
Keychron K5 V2
Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $100.
- Low-profile design with a 100% layout.
- Listed ISO variants include ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, and ISO-UK.
- Aluminum is listed alongside ABS for the case material, and the board weighs 732g.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
Get the K4 Max if 2.4 GHz wireless, PBT keycaps, and broad MX-style switch swapping are priorities. Choose the K5 V2 if you want its low-profile 100% layout, broader listed ISO selection, and lighter build. The K5 V2 requires low-profile switches and keycaps, while the K4 Max's south-facing LEDs may affect some sculpted keycap choices.
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 Max
Keychron K5 V2
Layout size
96%
100%
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Battery
4,000 mAh
2,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Low profile
No
Yes
Case material
ABS
ABS, Aluminum
- Keychron K4 Max
- Keychron K5 V2
- Performance
- 8282
- Build quality
- 8080
- Productivity
- 8989
- Customizability
- 9288
- Portability
- 5154
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Mount style: PCB Mount
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The K4 Max has the clearer edge for gaming and switch-focused customization, mainly due to its 2.4 GHz connection and broader MX-style hot-swap support. The K5 V2 is a more practical fit for buyers who want a full-size layout, listed regional ISO variants, or a lighter low-profile board. Office preference depends on whether compactness or a conventional full-size arrangement matters more. For content creation, the shared remapping and media features leave the choice to layout and connection preference.
Pick the Keychron K4 Max
- The K4 Max supports 2.4 GHz wireless, which the K5 V2 connectivity listing does not include.
- Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate, while the K4 Max metadata does not limit that figure to wired use.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K4 Max
1 owner reviews
Keychron K5 V2
6 owner reviews
“Genuinely happy with the keyboard. Had a low-profile one from another brand that has been used for 12+ years, and it degraded over time. This K5 feels very good. Still have to get used to the distance between the "primary," arrows, and numpad blocks, but…”
Keychron K4 Max vs K5 V2 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
13 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K4 Max
Keychron K5 V2
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
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 K4 Max
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
Keychron K5 V2
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
- Go to MonacoKeys
MonacoKeys
ISO-DE
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron K4 Max vs K5 V2: your questions
The K4 Max is a 96% board with 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired connectivity. The K5 V2 is a low-profile 100% board with Bluetooth and wired connectivity.
The K5 V2's listed connectivity is Bluetooth, wired, and wireless, and its vendor description specifies Bluetooth and wired connections. It does not list 2.4 GHz, which is explicitly listed for the K4 Max.
The K5 V2 weighs 732g, while the K4 Max weighs 1290g. The K5 V2 is also described by Keychron as ultra-slim.
No. The K5 V2 compatibility details specify low-profile keycaps, and standard MX keycaps will not fit. The K4 Max uses PBT keycaps and its vendor describes compatibility with Cherry-profile alternatives.
The K5 V2 has a 100% layout. The K4 Max uses a compact 96% layout, which includes a numpad but not the gaps of a full-size board.
The K5 V2 lists ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, and ISO-UK options. The K4 Max compatibility details exclude ISO-DE, ISO-UK, and ISO-Nordic.
Yes, the K4 Max is listed as hot-swappable. Keychron says it accepts almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches without soldering.
Hot-swap capability is listed for the K5 V2, but Keychron describes it as an option and limits it to low-profile 2.0 mechanical switches. The K5 V2 compatibility details also require low-profile switches.
The K4 Max is a stronger fit if you want 2.4 GHz wireless, which is explicitly listed for that board. Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate, although Keychron's K5 V2 description specifies that rate for wired mode.
Both keyboards list QMK and VIA support. Their vendor descriptions also describe QMK customization through the Keychron Launcher web app.
The K4 Max is listed with PBT keycaps, and Keychron describes them as double-shot PBT OSA keycaps. The K5 V2 is listed with ABS keycaps.
The K4 Max vendor description says its south-facing RGB avoids interference with Cherry-profile alternatives, though its compatibility details warn that some sculpted keycaps may clip the LED. The K5 V2 has north-facing LEDs, and its compatibility details warn that Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
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