Keychron K4 Ultra vs V5 Max8K vs Gasket Mount
Choose the K4 Ultra for 8000 Hz polling and longer stated battery life, or the V5 Max for its gasket mount, QMK/VIA support, knob, and ISO options.
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5.0 · 2 reviews
from$114at Keychron
4.8 · 5 reviews
from$99at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K4 Ultra
8K
Build quality in the bottom 40% of 96% boards under $150.
- 8000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
- Vendor-stated battery life of up to 600 hours with the backlight off.
- Tri-mode connectivity with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Get the
Keychron V5 Max
Gasket Mount
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $100.
- Gasket mount and polycarbonate plate, with the vendor describing a softer and quieter typing experience.
- QMK and VIA support, plus Keychron Launcher for key remapping and macros.
- The product listing includes ANSI and multiple ISO layout options.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Pick the K4 Ultra if 8000 Hz polling or its stated up-to-600-hour battery life with the backlight off is your main priority. Choose the V5 Max if you value QMK/VIA support, ISO layout availability, a knob, or a lighter board. Both offer hot-swappable switches and tri-mode connectivity, so let those distinguishing features guide the decision.
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 Ultra
Keychron V5 Max
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
ABS
ABS, Plastic
Mount style
Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Knob
No
Yes
Weight
1,241 g
925 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron K4 Ultra
- Keychron V5 Max
- Performance
- 8883
- Build quality
- 6386
- Productivity
- 8797
- Customizability
- 7598
- Portability
- 5753
- Layout size: 96%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The K4 Ultra is the more gaming-focused option on paper, with a higher stated polling rate. The V5 Max leads for office and programming tasks where a knob, ISO layout choices, or QMK/VIA support are priorities. It is also lighter and offers a barebone version for customization. For travel, the V5 Max weighs less, while the K4 Ultra has the longer stated battery life with its backlight off.
Pick the Keychron K4 Ultra
- The K4 Ultra lists an 8000 Hz polling rate for wired and 2.4 GHz use, compared with the V5 Max's 1000 Hz.
- Both keyboards offer 2.4 GHz connectivity, hot-swappable switches, and N-key rollover.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K4 Ultra
2 owner reviews
“Quality keyboard. I just wish the indicator lights for caps lock and num lock was brighter. Even tried increasing it on the software but it isn't enough.”
Keychron V5 Max
5 owner reviews
“The keys feel smooth and easy as you type. It's probably the best keyboard I've used. I've had a number of mechanical keyboards, but, none of them can compare to the v5 max. The feel of the thing while typing, is hard to not constantly repeat.”
Keychron K4 Ultra vs V5 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K4 Ultra
Keychron V5 Max
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
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 K4 Ultra
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron V5 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
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 Ultra vs V5 Max: your questions
The K4 Ultra lists 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, compared with 1000 Hz for the V5 Max. Both offer 2.4 GHz connectivity, hot-swappable switches, and N-key rollover.
The K4 Ultra is listed at 8000 Hz, while the V5 Max is listed at 1000 Hz. The K4 Ultra vendor description specifies 8000 Hz for wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
The K4 Ultra vendor states up to 600 hours with the backlight off. The V5 Max listing states up to 190 hours with the backlight off, and up to 100 hours at the lowest RGB brightness.
Yes, the V5 Max listing includes a knob, and its product options include a fully assembled knob version. The K4 Ultra's listed extra features do not include a knob.
No, the K4 Ultra is listed as ANSI only. The V5 Max listing includes ANSI and several ISO variants, including ISO-UK and ISO-DE.
The V5 Max lists QMK and VIA support, and its vendor description also identifies Keychron Launcher for remapping and macros. The K4 Ultra vendor describes ZMK firmware and Keychron Launcher instead.
Yes, both are listed as hot-swappable. The V5 Max vendor says its sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
The V5 Max is listed at 925 g, while the K4 Ultra is listed at 1241 g. Both are 96% keyboards with a numeric keypad.
Both list Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity, as well as wired use. The K4 Ultra vendor description specifies USB-C wired connectivity.
Both keyboards have south-facing LEDs, and their compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends stay dark. The notes also caution that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LEDs.
The V5 Max is offered in a barebone version and lists QMK and VIA support. Both keyboards are hot-swappable, while the V5 Max vendor specifically describes support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches.
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