Keychron K5 Ultra vs K5
Choose the K5 Ultra for 2.4 GHz, 8K polling and broader layout options, or the K5 if an ANSI-only layout meets your needs.
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5.0 (4)5.0 · 4 reviews
from$114at Keychron
4.8 (72)4.8 · 72 reviews
from$74at Keychron
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K5 Ultra
Battery
Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $150.
- 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth and wired connectivity, with 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
- ISO and ANSI layout standards are listed.
- 2600 mAh battery, with the vendor claiming up to 370 hours with the backlight off.
- 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
Build quality in the top 30% of 100% boards under $100.
- Full-size ANSI layout with Bluetooth and wired connectivity.
- Hot-swappable version is listed, with low-profile Gateron mechanical or Keychron optical switch options in the vendor description.
- 2000 mAh battery, with the vendor claiming up to 90 hours with the backlight off.
- 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.
Choose the K5 Ultra if 2.4 GHz, 8000 Hz polling, an integrated knob or ISO layout options matter to your setup. The K5 covers the essentials of a full-size low-profile keyboard with Bluetooth and wired connections, but its listed layout is ANSI-only and it does not include 2.4 GHz. Before buying either model, check that your preferred switches and keycaps are low-profile compatible.
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 Ultra
Keychron K5
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Battery
2,600 mAh
2,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
ABS, Metal, Wood
Aluminum, Plastic
Knob
Yes
No
QMK
Yes
No
The deep option when you want to remap every key
- Keychron K5 Ultra
- Keychron K5
- Performance
- 9163
- Build quality
- 7567
- Productivity
- 9366
- Customizability
- 8969
- Portability
- 5655
- Layout size: 100%
- Hot-swappable
- Low profile
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
What will you mostly use it for?
The K5 Ultra leads in these use cases through its 2.4 GHz connection, higher listed polling rate, knob and broader layout selection. Its customization features make it a more capable option for programming and content workflows, though the two keyboards share low-profile hot-swap limitations. The K5 remains a full-size option with Bluetooth and wired connectivity, but the supplied features give it fewer differentiators here. For travel, the Ultra has a larger listed battery and a lower metadata weight, though both retain a full-size layout.
Pick the Keychron K5 Ultra
- The K5 Ultra supports 8000 Hz polling over wired and 2.4 GHz connections.
- The K5 Ultra includes 2.4 GHz wireless, while the K5 listing specifies Bluetooth and wired connectivity.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K5 Ultra
4 owner reviews
“This keyboard is exactly what I was looking for. Low profile, great switches, not uber gamery. Very happy so far, hopefully it keeps working for a long time.”
Keychron K5
72 owner reviews
“Keyboard arrived in time and in good condition. Very happy with the purchase so far. The board itself is very well built and typing on it is a joy! Ordered 3 more.”
Keychron K5 Ultra vs K5 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 25 specs differ
Keychron K5 Ultra
Keychron K5
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
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 Ultra
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron K5
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 Ultra vs K5: your questions
The K5 Ultra adds 2.4 GHz connectivity, 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, and ISO layout options. The K5 is listed with Bluetooth and wired connectivity and an ANSI layout.
Yes, the K5 Ultra lists 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth and wired connectivity. Its vendor description specifies 8000 Hz polling in 2.4 GHz and wired modes.
The K5's listed connectivity is Bluetooth and wired, and its vendor description specifies Bluetooth and Type-C wired connections. The K5 Ultra is the model in this comparison that lists 2.4 GHz.
The K5 Ultra is listed in ISO and several ISO variants, as well as ANSI. The K5 listing is ANSI-only and specifies that ISO variants are not offered.
No, both keyboards have a compatibility rule requiring low-profile switches and keycaps. Standard MX keycaps will not fit either model.
Both keyboards have north-facing LEDs, and their compatibility rules warn that Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing. Check keycap clearance before purchasing a set.
Hot-swap support is listed for both keyboards. The K5 Ultra vendor description says its switches can be changed without soldering, while the K5 vendor description offers a hot-swappable optical-switch version.
The K5 Ultra vendor description claims up to 370 hours with the backlight off. The K5 vendor description claims up to 90 hours with the backlight off.
The K5 Ultra is listed with PBT keycaps, and its vendor description specifies low-profile double-shot PBT. The K5 is listed with ABS keycaps, described by its vendor as LSA ABS.
Yes, the K5 Ultra vendor description identifies an integrated rotary knob for volume control by default. It also says Keychron Launcher can customize the knob for other commands.
The K5 Ultra is the stronger fit if you want 2.4 GHz wireless or a high listed polling rate. Its vendor description specifies 8000 Hz polling over 2.4 GHz and wired connections, while the K5 listing specifies Bluetooth and wired connectivity.
The K5 Ultra listing includes ISO and named ISO variants such as ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-IT and ISO-PT. The original K5 is listed as ANSI-only.
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