Keychron Q5 vs V1 MaxWired or Wireless
Choose the Q5 for its aluminum build and numpad, or the V1 Max for wireless connectivity and a lighter, smaller body.
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4.8 · 17 reviews
from$119at Keychron
4.1 · 18 reviews
from$94at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q5
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $150.
- 96% layout keeps the numpad in a more compact full-size-style arrangement.
- CNC-machined aluminum case and steel plate.
- Double-gasket design includes silicone pads between the case halves to reduce metal resonance.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-FR, ISO-ES, 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.
Get the
Keychron V1 Max
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity, with a 4000 mAh battery.
- 770 g weight and a 75% layout make it lighter and smaller than the Q5.
- Hot-swappable switches, QMK, VIA, and a programmable knob.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Pick the Keychron Q5 if your workflow benefits from a numpad and you want a CNC-machined aluminum case with a steel plate. Choose the Keychron V1 Max if wireless connectivity and lower weight matter more than a numpad or metal case. Both retain hot-swap, QMK/VIA support, and a knob, so layout and connectivity are the clearest deciding factors.
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
Keychron V1 Max
Layout size
96%
75%
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
Aluminum
ABS, Plastic
Weight
2,310 g
770 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-IT, ISO-Nordic, ISO-PT, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
- Keychron Q5
- Keychron V1 Max
- Performance
- 7283
- Build quality
- 8986
- Productivity
- 9797
- Customizability
- 9898
- Portability
- 4679
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Mount style: Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
- Knob
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The V1 Max suits gaming setups where wireless options and a lighter, smaller board matter, while the Q5 is the office pick for buyers who use a numpad. Programming and modding are close calls because both provide similar customization features, with different layouts and case materials. For content creation, the Q5's numpad and aluminum-and-steel construction give it the edge for users who do not need wireless.
Pick the Keychron V1 Max
- The V1 Max supports 2.4 GHz wireless at a listed 1000 Hz polling rate, as well as wired use.
- Its 75% layout is more compact than the Q5's 96% layout.
- Both models have a listed 1000 Hz wired polling rate and hot-swappable switches.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron Q5
17 owner reviews
“I really like this keyboard. I have a couple of Q1s, and I like this layout better. The key caps on the silver gray model look terrific.”
Keychron V1 Max
18 owner reviews
“Feels great, haven't got a new KB since my Novatouch. Great high end features and feel, DSA caps on it feel good.”
“The dongle does not work after 6 months of using it and they want me to pay to fix it. If you want to buy a keyboard that is good don’t go for keycron”
Keychron Q5 vs V1 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
10 of 27 specs differ
Keychron Q5
Keychron V1 Max
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
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 Q5
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V1 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-SW, ISO-PT
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 Q5 vs V1 Max: your questions
The Keychron Q5's 96% layout retains a numpad. The Keychron V1 Max is a 75% layout and has no numpad.
Yes. The V1 Max supports Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, as well as wired connectivity. It has a 4000 mAh battery.
No. The Q5 is listed as wired-only and uses USB-C connectivity. Choose the V1 Max if you want Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz options.
The V1 Max weighs 770 g, while the Q5 weighs 2310 g. The V1 Max is also the smaller layout, at 75% compared with the Q5's 96%.
The Q5 has a CNC-machined aluminum case and a steel plate. The V1 Max uses an ABS plastic case and a polycarbonate plate.
Both keyboards are hot-swappable, so switches can be changed without soldering. Their vendor descriptions list support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches.
Both models list QMK and VIA support, and their vendor descriptions also identify Keychron Launcher for remapping and macros. The Q5 is wired-only, while the V1 Max can connect wirelessly or by cable.
The V1 Max offers 2.4 GHz wireless at a listed 1000 Hz polling rate, alongside its compact 75% layout. The Q5 also lists a 1000 Hz polling rate for its wired connection and retains a numpad in its 96% layout.
The Q5's vendor listing describes ABS backlight shine-through keycaps. The V1 Max comes with double-shot PBT keycaps that the vendor identifies as not shine-through.
Both are offered in several ISO layouts. The V1 Max's listed standards include ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-IT, while the Q5's listed standards omit those layouts; the Q5 vendor page separately describes French and Spanish versions.
The V1 Max is the more travel-oriented option based on its 770 g weight, 75% layout, and Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity. The Q5 weighs 2310 g and is wired-only.
Both list knob support, and the vendor descriptions call the knob programmable. Keychron describes uses such as adjusting volume or selecting video clips and photos for the Q5.
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