Keychron K5 Ultra vs V5 UltraLow Profile or Gasket
Choose the K5 Ultra for a slim low-profile 100% layout and regional ISO options, or the V5 Ultra for a gasket mount, MX-style switch options, and longer battery life.
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5.0 · 4 reviews
from$114at Keychron
3.0 · 1 reviews
from$119at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K5 Ultra
Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $150.
- Full 100% layout with ISO-DE, ISO-FR, and ISO-IT options.
- Low-profile design with low-profile Milk POM switches and double-shot PBT LSA keycaps in Keychron's product description.
- Three connection modes: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired, with 8000 Hz polling listed.
- 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 V5 Ultra
Battery
Build quality in the top 15% of 96% boards under $150.
- Gasket mount with a polycarbonate plate, which Keychron says helps create a softer, quieter typing experience.
- 96% layout retains a numpad in a compact full-size format.
- 4000 mAh battery, with the vendor listing up to 660 hours with backlight off.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-IT. 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.
Pick the Keychron K5 Ultra if you specifically want low-profile typing, a 100% layout, or one of its additional ISO regional variants. Choose the V5 Ultra if you prefer a gasket-mounted MX-style platform, want more switch choices, or value its longer advertised battery life. Check keycap lighting and profile compatibility before buying, especially if you plan to use shine-through legends or sculpted caps.
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 V5 Ultra
Layout size
100%
96%
Battery
2,600 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Low profile
Yes
No
Case material
ABS, Metal, Wood
ABS, Metal, Plastic
Weight
566 g
983 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron K5 Ultra
- Keychron V5 Ultra
- Performance
- 9191
- Build quality
- 7583
- Productivity
- 9398
- Customizability
- 8994
- Portability
- 5656
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The K5 Ultra is the more suitable pick for buyers who prioritize a low-profile typing position, lighter listed weight, or specific ISO regional layouts. The V5 Ultra is better suited to switch experimentation and buyers who value its gasket mount and longer advertised battery life. Gaming is a close call because both share 8000 Hz polling and multiple connection modes. For content creation and extended wireless use, the V5 Ultra's battery specification is the clearer differentiator.
It's a tie
- Both list 8000 Hz polling and wired and 2.4 GHz connectivity.
- The K5 Ultra has a low-profile 100% layout, while the V5 Ultra has a 96% layout and gasket mount.
- Both list hot-swappable switches and N-key rollover.
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 V5 Ultra
1 owner reviews
“Hi Keychron team, I wanted to share some feedback regarding your new Ultra line of keyboards. While the backlighting is present, the legends on most of your keyboards are not properly illuminated. I don’t quite understand the point of this design—these…”
Keychron K5 Ultra vs V5 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
10 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K5 Ultra
Keychron V5 Ultra
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
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 K5 Ultra
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V5 Ultra
Keychron (DE)
ISO-ES
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 K5 Ultra vs V5 Ultra: your questions
The K5 Ultra is a low-profile 100% keyboard, while the V5 Ultra uses a 96% layout with a gasket mount and polycarbonate plate. The V5 Ultra also has a larger battery, while the K5 Ultra is listed at a lower weight.
Yes, the K5 Ultra is listed with a 100% layout. Its low-profile design and availability in several ISO variants distinguish it from the V5 Ultra's compact 96% layout.
Yes, the V5 Ultra's 96% compact full-size layout includes a numpad. Its compatibility notes specify that it does not have the gaps of a conventional full-size board.
Keychron lists up to 370 hours for the K5 Ultra with its backlight off and up to 660 hours for the V5 Ultra with backlight off. Actual usage time depends on conditions, and the V5 Ultra listing also gives a separate RGB-on estimate.
Both models list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity. Their product descriptions identify 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
No. The K5 Ultra's compatibility rules specify low-profile switches and keycaps, and standard MX keycaps will not fit.
Keychron says the V5 Ultra can hot-swap almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches. This differs from the K5 Ultra, which is limited to low-profile switches and keycaps.
The K5 Ultra's listed keycaps are non-shine-through, and its north-facing LEDs have a compatibility warning for Cherry-profile caps. The V5 Ultra's south-facing LEDs have a warning that shine-through legends stay dark.
The K5 Ultra is listed in ISO-DE and ISO-FR, as well as ISO-IT. The V5 Ultra's compatibility rules say those three regional layouts are unavailable.
Yes, the V5 Ultra lists a gasket mount and polycarbonate plate. Keychron says this combination reduces acoustic resonance and gives a softer, quieter typing experience.
The K5 Ultra is listed at 566 g, while the V5 Ultra is listed at 983 g. That makes the K5 Ultra the lighter option by the supplied weight specifications.
Both models list QMK and VIA support in their metadata, and both vendor descriptions identify ZMK firmware with the Keychron Launcher web app for remapping and macros. Keychron says Launcher requires a wired connection for configuration.
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