Keychron Q5 vs V5 UltraWired vs Wireless 96%
Choose the Q5 for its full aluminum build and double-gasket design if you want a heavy desk piece, or the V5 Ultra for wireless freedom and 8K polling at a lighter weight.
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4.8 (17)4.8 · 17 reviews
from$119at Keychron
3.0 (1)3.0 · 1 reviews
from$119at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q5
Wired
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $150.
- Full CNC machined aluminum body with double-gasket design for a premium, solid feel.
- Comprehensive ISO layout support including UK, German, Swiss, Nordic, French, and Spanish.
- Available as a barebones DIY kit for those who want to fully customize their build from the ground up.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-ES. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Get the
Keychron V5 Ultra
Wireless 96%
Build quality in the top 15% of 96% boards under $150.
- Tri-mode wireless with Bluetooth 5.3 and 2.4 GHz for flexible connection options.
- 8K polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz modes, offering extremely low input latency for competitive gaming.
- Lightweight polymer body at 983g makes it highly portable and easy to transport.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Choose the Keychron Q5 if you want a hefty, tactile desk anchor with full aluminum craftsmanship and QMK firmware for deep customization. Choose the Keychron V5 Ultra if you want a lightweight, wireless powerhouse with bleeding-edge 8K polling for competitive play. Your primary decision is between a premium wired experience and a high-performance wireless one.
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 V5 Ultra
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Max polling rate
1,000 Hz
8,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
Aluminum
ABS, Metal, Plastic
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount
Weight
2,310 g
983 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron Q5
- Keychron V5 Ultra
- Performance
- 7291
- Build quality
- 8983
- Productivity
- 9798
- Customizability
- 9894
- Portability
- 4656
- Layout size: 96%
- Hot-swappable
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The V5 Ultra wins for gaming and travel due to its lighter plastic construction and superior 8K wireless polling. The Q5 wins for modding and programming because of its QMK firmware, aluminum body, and barebones availability. In office and content creation, both keyboards are equally capable, sharing the same layout, Mac/Windows support, and a programmable knob. The decision largely hinges on whether you prioritize portability and top-tier wireless performance or heft and material quality.
Pick the Keychron V5 Ultra
- Supports an 8K polling rate in both 2.4 GHz and wired modes for lower input lag.
- N-Key Rollover is explicitly stated for both wireless and wired connections.
- Weighs only 983g, making it easier to reposition during intense gaming sessions.
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 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 Q5 vs V5 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 27 specs differ
Keychron Q5
Keychron V5 Ultra
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 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.
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 V5 Ultra: your questions
The V5 Ultra is better suited for gaming due to its 8000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz modes, ensuring lower input lag than the Q5's 1000 Hz. It also features N-Key Rollover for both wired and wireless connections, which is a critical feature for competitive gaming.
No, the Keychron Q5 is a wired-only keyboard that connects via USB-C. It does not support Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless connections. In contrast, the V5 Ultra supports Bluetooth 5.3, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections.
The Q5 has a full CNC machined 6063 aluminum body, which contributes to its weight of 2310 grams. The V5 Ultra uses a lightweight polymer (plastic) for both its top and bottom case, resulting in a much lower weight of 983 grams.
Yes, both keyboards support full key remapping. The Q5 uses QMK firmware and the Keychron Launcher web app, while the V5 Ultra uses ZMK firmware and the Keychron Launcher web app. Both allow you to remap keys, create macros, and adjust backlighting.
Yes, both the Q5 and V5 Ultra come with a system toggle and include extra keycaps for both macOS and Windows systems. They are designed to retain compatibility for both platforms, allowing you to save two different layouts on the keyboard.
Both the Keychron Q5 and the Keychron V5 Ultra use screw-in PCB stabilizers. The manufacturer states this design increases stability and makes it easier for changes and upgrades, especially for big keys like the space bar and shift.
The Q5 has a higher build quality due to its full CNC machined 6063 aluminum body and double-gasket design. The V5 Ultra uses a polymer plastic body, which is lighter and more portable but does not match the solid, premium feel of the Q5's metal construction.
Yes, both the Keychron Q5 and the Keychron V5 Ultra feature hot-swappable PCBs. They support both 3-pin and 5-pin MX style mechanical switches, allowing you to change switches without soldering.
Yes, the V5 Ultra has a 4000 mAh rechargeable battery. The manufacturer claims it can last up to 660 hours with the backlight off, or up to 200 hours with RGB on at the lowest brightness. This is based on 5 hours of daily use.
The V5 Ultra includes multiple layers of acoustic foam for sound dampening. The vendor description mentions sound absorbing foam, PET film, EPDM foam, bottom case acoustic foam, and a bottom case PET film, all working together to reduce echo and noise for a cleaner typing sound.
The Keychron Q5 offers significantly more layout variety. It comes in multiple ISO layouts including UK, German, Swiss, Nordic, French, and Spanish. The V5 Ultra is only available in a standard ANSI layout.
The Q5 has a fixed typing angle of approximately 5 degrees. The V5 Ultra has adjustable feet that allow for three different typing angles: 3.5 degrees, 8 degrees, or 10 degrees.
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