Keychron K4 V3 vs K5 V2Compact or Low-Profile
Choose the K4 V3 for a more compact layout and larger battery, or the K5 QMK V2 for a full-size layout with low-profile keys.
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5.0 (4)5.0 · 4 reviews
from$94at Keychron
5.0 (6)5.0 · 6 reviews
from$89at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K4 V3
Battery
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% layout is more compact than the K5 QMK V2's 100% layout.
- 4000mAh battery, twice the listed capacity of the K5 QMK V2.
- Hot-swappable version supports almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, according to Keychron.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-SW. 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 offers a slimmer keyboard and key feel than the K4 V3.
- 100% layout provides a full-size arrangement.
- At 732g, it is lighter than the K4 V3.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- Missing ISO-CH. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Pick the K4 V3 if you want a more compact 96% layout, a larger battery, or broader switch options in its hot-swappable version. Choose the K5 QMK V2 if a full-size layout and low-profile typing feel matter more than a smaller footprint or greater battery capacity. Before buying, confirm the selected configuration's hot-swap and foam details, since availability and included features vary by version.
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 V3
Keychron K5 V2
Layout size
96%
100%
Battery
4,000 mAh
2,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Low profile
No
Yes
Case material
Aluminum, Plastic
ABS, Aluminum
Mount style
Tray Mount
PCB Mount
- Keychron K4 V3
- Keychron K5 V2
- Performance
- 8281
- Build quality
- 8780
- Productivity
- 9589
- Customizability
- 9688
- Portability
- 5454
- Connection: Bluetooth, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The K4 V3 edges ahead for desk work, programming, travel dimensions, modding flexibility, and content workflows, mainly through its 96% layout, larger battery, and broader MX-style switch support. The K5 QMK V2 makes a more focused case for users who specifically want a low-profile, full-size keyboard. Gaming is a close call: both list 1000 Hz polling and N-key rollover, but the K5's vendor description gives a lower wireless polling rate. For either board, wired use is the safer choice if polling behavior is a priority.
It's a tie
- Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate, N-key rollover, and wired connectivity.
- The K4 V3 lists MX-style 3-pin and 5-pin hot-swap compatibility, while the K5 hot-swap version is limited to low-profile mechanical switches.
- The K5 vendor description specifies 125 Hz polling in wireless mode, so wired use is the clearer fit when polling rate matters.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K4 V3
4 owner reviews
“I am overall extremely impressed with this keyboard! I upgraded from a Corsair K70 Luxe that I had for many years, and this feels like miles better of an experience. I am impressed how good the Banana switches are, they are a little more tactile than the…”
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 V3 vs K5 V2 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 26 specs differ
Keychron K4 V3
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
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 V3
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH
In stockShips to you
Keychron K5 V2
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
MonacoKeys
ISO-DE
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 K4 V3 vs K5 V2: your questions
The K4 V3 uses a 96% layout and lists a 4000mAh battery, while the K5 QMK V2 uses a 100% layout, low-profile design, and 2000mAh battery. The K4 is the more compact layout choice; the K5 is the slimmer full-size option.
The K4 V3 measures 368.14 x 121.14 mm, while the K5 QMK V2 measures 424 x 119 mm. The K4 is shorter, though its listed width is slightly greater.
The K4 V3 has a listed 4000mAh battery, compared with 2000mAh for the K5 QMK V2. The K5 vendor page also gives an estimated battery life of up to 160 hours, but no equivalent estimate is listed for the K4 V3.
Both product lines offer hot-swappable versions, but the selected configuration matters. Keychron says the K4 V3 hot-swap version supports almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches, while the K5 hot-swap version is for low-profile mechanical switches.
Keychron describes the K5 QMK V2 hot-swap version as compatible with Keychron Milk POM and Gateron or Keychron low-profile mechanical switches. The vendor also says it does not support low-profile optical switches.
Both list QMK support and VIA support. Their vendor descriptions also identify Keychron Launcher as a web app for remapping keys and setting macros.
Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate and N-key rollover. Keychron specifies that the K5 QMK V2 polls at 1000 Hz when wired and 125 Hz wirelessly, so wired mode is the clearer option for gaming when polling rate is a concern.
The K4 V3 vendor specifications identify double-shot PBT keycaps, and its metadata lists PC and PBT keycap materials. The K5 QMK V2 lists shine-through ABS keycaps.
The K5 QMK V2 weighs 732g, while the K4 V3 weighs about 813g. The K5 is the lighter of the two, although the K4 is shorter.
Both list Bluetooth, wireless, and wired connectivity, along with USB-C. Keychron describes Bluetooth 5.2 and connections to up to three devices for each model.
Keychron describes sound-absorbing, IXPE, EPDM, and PET foam for the K4 V3, while the K5 QMK V2 description names IXPE, EPDM, and latex foam. The K4 vendor page says some versions exclude sound-absorbing foam and silicone pad, so check the exact configuration.
Both product listings include Mac and Windows support, and both vendor descriptions mention keycaps for the two operating systems. Their Launcher descriptions also name macOS, Windows, and Linux.
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