Keychron Q5 vs Keydous NJ98
Get the Keychron Q5 for QMK/VIA customization, a 1000 Hz polling rate, and ISO layouts; choose the Keydous NJ98 for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, an 8000mAh battery, and a display.
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4.8 (17)4.8 · 17 reviews
from$119at Keychron
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from$109at Mechkeys
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q5
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $150.
- QMK and VIA support for key remapping and macros.
- 1000 Hz polling rate and wired-only connectivity.
- Available in multiple ISO layouts, including UK, German, and Nordic.
- 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
Keydous NJ98
Build quality in the top 10% of 98% boards under $150.
- Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, alongside wired use.
- 8000mAh battery and a display.
- Listed weight of 1400g.
- 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.
Choose the Keychron Q5 for its QMK/VIA support, 1000 Hz polling rate, and multiple ISO layouts. Choose the Keydous NJ98 if you want Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless, an 8000mAh battery, and a display. Both provide a compact full-size layout with a numpad, but neither has the wider spacing of a full-size board.
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
Keydous NJ98
Layout size
96%
98%
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
Aluminum
Aluminum, Brass, Steel
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear
Display
None
Yes
A case display rather than a typing feature
- Keychron Q5
- Keydous NJ98
- Performance
- 7251
- Build quality
- 8977
- Productivity
- 9784
- Customizability
- 9884
- Portability
- 4665
- Hot-swappable
- Knob
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The Q5 takes the edge for gaming, programming, modding, and content creation, with its listed polling rate, QMK/VIA support, and ISO choices. The NJ98 is the more travel-oriented option in this pair, combining a lower listed weight with wireless connectivity. Its wireless modes, battery, and display also make it a strong office pick for buyers who want those features. Both retain a compact full-size layout with a numpad.
Pick the Keychron Q5
- The Q5 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate.
- Its wired-only connection avoids choosing between wired and wireless modes.
Keychron Q5 vs Keydous NJ98 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 26 specs differ
Keychron Q5
Keydous NJ98
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
Mac & Windows
Released
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron Q5
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Keydous NJ98
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron Q5 vs Keydous NJ98: your questions
The Keydous NJ98 supports Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, as well as wired connectivity. The Keychron Q5 is listed as wired only.
The Keychron Q5 is listed with a 1000 Hz polling rate. No polling rate is listed for the Keydous NJ98.
The Keychron Q5 is available in ISO variants including UK, German, Nordic, French, Swiss, and Spanish. The Keydous NJ98 is listed as ANSI, with no ISO layouts offered.
Yes, the Keydous NJ98 is listed with a display screen. The Keychron Q5 is listed without a screen.
The Keychron Q5 supports QMK and VIA, and its vendor description says these can be used for remapping, macros, and shortcuts. The Keydous NJ98 listing does not specify QMK or VIA support.
Both keyboards are listed as hot-swappable. The Keychron Q5 vendor description specifies support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
The Keydous NJ98 is listed at 1400g, while the Keychron Q5 is listed at 2310g. The NJ98 is the lighter option based on those listed weights.
The Q5 has a programmable knob that can be customized through VIA. Keychron gives examples including zooming, adjusting brush size, and selecting video clips or photos.
The Keydous NJ98 is listed with an 8000mAh battery. The Keychron Q5 is wired only and has no battery listed.
Both the Q5's 96% layout and the NJ98's 98% layout are described as compact full-size layouts with a numpad. Their compatibility notes caution that these compact layouts do not have the gaps of a full-size board.
The Q5 vendor description specifies ABS backlight shine-through keycaps for the fully assembled ISO version. Its south-facing LEDs may leave shine-through legends dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
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