Keychron K5 Ultra vs V6 UltraSlim vs Gasket Build
Choose the K5 Ultra for a low-profile, lighter full-size keyboard, or the V6 Ultra for gasket mounting and longer stated battery life.
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5.0 · 4 reviews
from$114at Keychron
5.0 · 6 reviews
from$119at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K5 Ultra
Slim
Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $150.
- Low-profile, 100% layout with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity.
- Aluminum-and-wood body, aluminum plate, and PBT keycaps.
- Hot-swappable switches, with Red, Brown, and Banana Milk POM options described by Keychron.
- 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-UK. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Get the
Keychron V6 Ultra
Gasket Build
Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $150.
- Gasket mount and PC plate, with the vendor describing a softer typing experience.
- Listed 4000 mAh battery, with vendor claims of up to 660 hours with the backlight off.
- Hot-swappable switches, with the vendor specifying support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-IT, ISO-PT. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Pick the K5 Ultra if a low-profile feel, lower listed weight, and aluminum-and-wood construction matter most. Choose the V6 Ultra if you want a gasket mount, PC plate, screw-in stabilizers, or the longer stated battery life. Both provide full-size layouts, knobs, hot-swap support, and 8000 Hz polling over wired and 2.4 GHz connections.
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 V6 Ultra
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
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, Aluminum, Metal, Plastic
Weight
566 g
1,130 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron K5 Ultra
- Keychron V6 Ultra
- Performance
- 9189
- Build quality
- 7577
- Productivity
- 9391
- Customizability
- 8979
- Portability
- 5656
- Layout size: 100%
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The K5 Ultra is the more travel-friendly choice based on its listed weight and low-profile design. Gaming is close on the listed polling rate and key rollover, while each keyboard offers a distinct typing profile. For programming, the K5 Ultra's listed QMK and VIA support may appeal to buyers who prioritize those features, though its vendor description also discusses ZMK and Launcher. Both are capable starting points for office work, modding, and creative workflows, with different construction and customization details to consider.
It's a tie
- Both list 8000 Hz polling over wired and 2.4 GHz connections.
- Both support N-key rollover and hot-swappable switches.
- The K5 Ultra is low profile, while the V6 Ultra has a gasket mount and PC plate, so the typing feel preference is personal.
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 V6 Ultra
6 owner reviews
“This thing is great the backlight is exactly how I want it and I don't got to download an app to change the light the keys are really responsive”
Keychron K5 Ultra vs V6 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K5 Ultra
Keychron V6 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 V6 Ultra
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In 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 K5 Ultra vs V6 Ultra: your questions
The K5 Ultra is a low-profile keyboard with an aluminum-and-wood body and aluminum plate. The V6 Ultra has a gasket mount, PC plate, and standard-height design.
The K5 Ultra is listed at 566 g, while the V6 Ultra is listed at 1130 g. That makes the K5 Ultra the lighter option based on their listed weights.
Keychron claims up to 370 hours for the K5 Ultra and up to 660 hours for the V6 Ultra, both with the backlight off. The V6 Ultra also has a listed 4000 mAh battery, compared with 2600 mAh for the K5 Ultra.
Both support 2.4 GHz wireless and list an 8000 Hz polling rate in that mode. Both also list Bluetooth, though their vendor descriptions specify a 125 Hz polling rate for Bluetooth.
Yes, both are listed as hot-swappable. Keychron says the V6 Ultra supports 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches, while the K5 Ultra vendor description specifically discusses swapping its Milk POM switches.
The K5 Ultra is offered with Keychron Milk POM Red, Brown, or Banana switches. The V6 Ultra is offered with Keychron Silk POM Red, Brown, or Banana switches.
Both list knob support, and the V6 Ultra's assembled configuration is described as including a knob. Keychron says the K5 Ultra knob controls volume by default and can be customized through Launcher.
The V6 Ultra is the model with a gasket mount and PC plate. Keychron describes this combination as reducing acoustic resonance and providing a softer typing experience.
Both vendor descriptions identify ZMK firmware and Keychron Launcher for remapping keys and creating macros. The K5 Ultra's listed features also include QMK and VIA support.
Both list Mac and Windows support, and both vendor descriptions also identify Linux compatibility. The V6 Ultra includes a system toggle and additional Mac and Windows keycaps.
The K5 Ultra is the more practical choice if lower weight and a slim profile are priorities: it is listed at 566 g and described as low profile. The V6 Ultra is listed at 1130 g.
Yes, both have RGB backlighting. The K5 Ultra has north-facing RGB LEDs, while the V6 Ultra has south-facing RGB LEDs.
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