Keychron K5 Max vs K5 SEQMK Customization vs Budget Low-Profile
Choose the K5 Max for advanced firmware customization and a 2.4GHz connection, or the K5 SE for a more affordable entry into low-profile typing.
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4.1 · 16 reviews
from$94at Keychron
4.4 · 34 reviews
from$59at Keychron
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K5 Max
QMK Customization
Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $100.
- Supports QMK and VIA firmware for deep key remapping and macro programming.
- Features a 2.4GHz wireless connection with a specified 1000 Hz polling rate.
- Includes double-shot PBT keycaps for better long-term durability.
- 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
Keychron K5 SE
Budget Low-Profile
Build quality in the top 30% of 100% boards under $100.
- Generally available at a lower price than the K5 Max.
- Offers a hot-swappable version compatible with both low-profile Gateron mechanical and Keychron optical switches.
- Constructed with a reinforced aluminum top case for structural rigidity.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Select the Keychron K5 Max if your priority is extensive customization through QMK/VIA, a reliable 2.4GHz connection for gaming, or a build with more modding-friendly materials like PBT keycaps and internal foam. Opt for the Keychron K5 SE if you want the essential low-profile mechanical experience with hot-swap capability at a more accessible price, and can forgo advanced programmability and the 2.4GHz dongle.
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 K5 Max
Keychron K5 SE
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
ABS, Aluminum
Aluminum, Plastic
Mount style
PCB Mount, Plate Mount
Tray Mount
QMK
Yes
No
The deep option when you want to remap every key
VIA
Yes
No
GUI remapping without compiling firmware
- Keychron K5 Max
- Keychron K5 SE
- Performance
- 8163
- Build quality
- 8167
- Productivity
- 8967
- Customizability
- 8869
- Portability
- 5355
- Layout size: 100%
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 2,000 mAh
- Low profile
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
What will you mostly use it for?
The K5 Max is the clear choice for gaming, programming, modding, and content creation due to its high-polling-rate 2.4GHz mode, QMK/VIA programmability, and more advanced internal construction. For general office use or travel, both keyboards are functionally similar, making the K5 SE a viable cost-saving option. The K5 SE's primary advantage is its lower price point for core low-profile functionality.
Pick the Keychron K5 Max
- The K5 Max offers a 1000 Hz polling rate in its 2.4GHz and wired modes, which the K5 SE's listing does not specify.
- The K5 Max's manufacturer description highlights its 1000 Hz polling rate for competitive gaming, while no such claim is made for the K5 SE.
- The K5 Max includes interior IXPE and latex foam for acoustic dampening, which may provide a more focused sound profile.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K5 Max
16 owner reviews
“This is by far the best keyboard I've ever had. I did my research with AI defined the one I should get. I'm glad I did this first! I type about a hundred words a minute and do a lot of document creation as well as coding. This keyboard keeps up with me in the…”
“The printing quality of the Hungarian keycaps is very poor. The stroke thickness of the letters varies even within a single keycap—one letter is thick while another is thin. They look ugly. Also, on the internet the "esc" key appears orange, but in reality it…”
Keychron K5 SE
34 owner reviews
“This is my favorite keyboard. After assembling my desktop pc, I had always felt a little awkward typing on normal sized mechanical keyboards. This keyboard solved that for me. I currently use mine for my desktop, and on the go with my Steam Deck.”
“Found this keyboard while cleaning out my closet and remembered why it's the worst purchase I've ever made. I used it for barely 2 months in total. First, keys started sticking. There were zero replacement parts on their website, so I contacted Keychron…”
Keychron K5 Max vs K5 SE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
10 of 26 specs differ
Keychron K5 Max
Keychron K5 SE
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
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
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron K5 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron K5 SE
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
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 K5 Max vs K5 SE: your questions
The K5 Max adds advanced QMK and VIA firmware support for key remapping, a 2.4GHz wireless connection with a 1000 Hz polling rate, and double-shot PBT keycaps. The K5 SE is a more basic model that retains the low-profile form and hot-swap options but omits these premium features, often at a lower cost.
No. According to the product specifications, the Keychron K5 SE only supports Bluetooth and wired (USB-C) connectivity. The 2.4GHz wireless mode is exclusive to the K5 Max model.
The K5 SE's product listing does not mention support for QMK, VIA, or any key remapping software. Programmable key layers and macros are a feature specifically highlighted for the K5 Max via the Keychron Launcher web app and QMK.
No. Multiple customer reviews for the K5 Max note that its double-shot PBT keycaps are not shine-through, meaning the backlighting illuminates the gaps between keys rather than the legends themselves.
Both use low-profile switches and have a similar form factor, so the core typing feel may be comparable. The K5 Max may offer a slightly more refined experience due to its included sound-dampening foams and PBT keycaps, but the K5 SE provides the fundamental low-profile mechanical feel at a lower price.
Both the K5 Max and K5 SE offer hot-swappable versions. However, the K5 Max's hot-swap version is only compatible with Gateron or Keychron low-profile mechanical switches. The K5 SE's hot-swap version supports both low-profile Gateron mechanical and Keychron optical switches.
Both keyboards are listed with a 2000mAh rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. The K5 SE vendor page notes up to 90 hours with backlighting off, but specific runtime for the K5 Max is not detailed in the provided information.
Yes. Both the Keychron K5 Max and K5 SE include keycap sets for both macOS and Windows layouts and have a switch to toggle between the operating systems.
The K5 Max uses an ABS and aluminum frame. The K5 SE is constructed with a reinforced aluminum top case and a plastic bottom case, with an added SGCC galvanized steel plate for rigidity according to its description.
The K5 Max vendor description lists more than 22 types of RGB backlight settings. The K5 SE specification notes 18 backlit types. Both offer adjustable RGB lighting.
The K5 Max explicitly states a 1000 Hz polling rate for its 2.4GHz and wired modes. The K5 SE's product listing does not specify a polling rate, so a direct comparison cannot be made.
No. Both keyboards are designed for low-profile switches only. The manufacturer notes for both models state they are not compatible with normal profile MX-style mechanical switches.
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