Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q5 Pro
Knob
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $200.
- ANSI and ISO layout options, including multiple ISO variants in the vendor listing.
- QMK and VIA support, with Keychron Launcher described for key remapping and macros.
- 1000 Hz polling rate listed in the product metadata.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Get the
Neo Neo98
Battery
Build quality in the top 25% of 98% boards under $150.
- Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C connectivity.
- 8000mAh battery listed in the product metadata.
- Vendor describes three assembly choices: poron gasket, silicone gasket, and top mount.
- 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.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Pick the Keychron Q5 Pro if ISO support, a documented 1000 Hz polling rate, or QMK customization is central to your choice. Choose the Neo Neo98 if 2.4 GHz wireless and its larger listed battery matter more, and verify whether your chosen listing includes switches, keycaps, and a plate because the vendor kit description excludes them.
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 Q5 Pro
Neo Neo98
Layout size
96%
98%
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Battery
4,000 mAh
8,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, Top Mount
Knob
Yes
No
- Keychron Q5 Pro
- Neo Neo98
- Performance
- 8268
- Build quality
- 8872
- Productivity
- 9776
- Customizability
- 9656
- Portability
- 5666
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: Aluminum
- Sound dampening
- Keycaps: ABS, PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q5 Pro takes the lead for gaming, office work, programming, modding, and content workflows, mainly because its listed polling rate, layout options, QMK support, and knob are more explicitly documented. The Neo98 is the travel-oriented choice if 2.4 GHz wireless and its larger stated battery matter most. Both include hot-swap support, gasket mounting, and compact full-size layouts. Confirm whether a Neo98 listing is barebones or pre-built, since the vendor description describes a kit without switches, keycaps, or plate.
Pick the Keychron Q5 Pro
- The Q5 Pro lists a 1000 Hz polling rate, while the Neo98 listing does not specify one.
- Both keyboards list hot-swappable switches and N-key rollover.
- The Neo98 adds 2.4 GHz wireless, but the Q5 Pro has the stronger documented wired polling specification.
Keychron Q5 Pro vs Neo Neo98 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
13 of 26 specs differ
Keychron Q5 Pro
Neo Neo98
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
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 Q5 Pro
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Neo Neo98
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.
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Keychron Q5 Pro vs Neo Neo98: your questions
Choose the Q5 Pro for ISO layout options, QMK support, a listed 1000 Hz polling rate, or its knob. Choose the Neo98 if you want 2.4 GHz wireless and the larger listed battery, and check the product version because the vendor description covers a barebones kit.
Yes. The Q5 Pro metadata lists ANSI and ISO, and Keychron's vendor page lists UK, German, Swiss, Nordic, French, and Spanish ISO versions.
The Neo98 metadata lists ANSI only, and its compatibility notes say ISO variants are not offered. Its vendor listing identifies the physical layout as ANSI.
The Neo Neo98 lists Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C connectivity. The Q5 Pro metadata lists Bluetooth, wired, and wireless, while Keychron's vendor description specifies Bluetooth and USB-C wired connections.
The Neo98 lists an 8000mAh battery, compared with 4000mAh for the Q5 Pro. Battery capacity alone does not establish how long either keyboard will last in a particular setup.
The Q5 Pro lists a 1000 Hz polling rate, hot-swappable switches, and N-key rollover. Keychron's vendor description specifies that 1000 Hz applies to wired mode and describes a lower polling rate in wireless mode.
The Neo98 vendor description specifically says it is programmable with VIA. QMK support is not listed for the Neo98, while the Q5 Pro lists both QMK and VIA support.
The Q5 Pro lists hot-swap, QMK, and VIA support, and Keychron describes using its Launcher web app for key remapping and macros. The Neo98 lists hot-swap and VIA, with poron gasket, silicone gasket, and top-mount assembly options.
The Neo98 vendor kit description says it is barebones and does not include switches, keycaps, or a plate. The product metadata also lists a pre-built version, so confirm the contents of the exact listing before buying.
Both list south-facing LEDs, and the compatibility notes for each warn that shine-through legends stay dark and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED. Keychron's vendor description specifies shine-through ABS keycaps for the Q5 Pro, but the Neo98 vendor listing describes its kit as having no LED backlighting.
The Keychron Q5 Pro lists knob support, and Keychron's vendor page describes the Q5 Pro as a layout with a knob. A knob is not listed for the Neo Neo98.
Both are compact full-size layouts with a numpad, according to their compatibility notes. Those notes also clarify that neither layout has the gaps of a conventional full-size board.
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