Keychron R5 vs V5Wireless or VIA Customization
Get the Keychron R5 for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless use with a 4000mAh battery, or the wired Keychron V5 for VIA support, ISO layout choices, and screw-in stabilizers.
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4.8 (8)4.8 · 8 reviews
from$74at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron R5
Build quality in the bottom 50% of 96% boards under $100.
- Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, with a vendor-stated connection limit of up to 3 devices.
- 4000mAh rechargeable battery for wireless operation.
- Vendor-described acoustic foam package with IXPE foam, EPDM foam, silicone bottom pad, and PET film.
- 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.
Get the
Keychron V5
polling rate
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $100.
- VIA support alongside QMK.
- ISO layout choices including ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-SW.
- Knob support, DIY kit/barebones option, and screw-in stabilizers.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Choose the Keychron R5 if wireless connectivity matters, since it adds Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and a 4000mAh battery. Choose the Keychron V5 if you want VIA, ISO layout choices, or listed knob and screw-in stabilizer support. Both have QMK, hot-swap support, and a 96% layout, so those shared features do not decide the comparison.
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 R5
Keychron V5
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
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
ABS
ABS, Plastic
Switch options
Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Mount style
Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
- Keychron R5
- Keychron V5
- Performance
- 7991
- Build quality
- 6389
- Productivity
- 8398
- Customizability
- 7898
- Portability
- 5445
- Layout size: 96%
- Hot-swappable
- QMK
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The R5 is the practical pick for wireless setups and moving between devices, since it includes both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity. The V5 leads for customization and layout flexibility, with VIA support and multiple ISO variants. For gaming, the V5 offers broader switch choices, though both list 1000 Hz polling and the V5's additional 8000 Hz entry has no stated operating condition. Both retain a 96% layout with multimedia keys, QMK support, and hot-swappable switches.
Pick the Keychron V5
- Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate, while the V5 listing also includes an 8000 Hz entry without specifying its conditions.
- The V5 supports clicky switches as well as linear and tactile options; the R5 lists linear and tactile.
- The V5 has VIA support for key customization.
Keychron R5 vs V5 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 27 specs differ
Keychron R5
Keychron V5
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
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 R5
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron V5
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron R5 vs V5: your questions
Yes. The R5 supports Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless as well as wired USB-C, and its vendor description says it can connect wirelessly to up to 3 devices.
No wireless connection is listed for the V5; its connectivity is wired-only. Choose the R5 if Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless is required.
Both are listed as 96% keyboards. The R5 is ANSI-only, while the V5 is listed in ANSI and several ISO variants, including ISO-DE and ISO-UK.
Yes, VIA support is listed for the V5, alongside QMK. The vendor describes using Keychron Launcher to customize keys while the keyboard is connected in wired mode.
Yes. QMK support is listed for the R5, and its vendor description also names Keychron Launcher as a programming option.
The R5 has a listed 4000mAh battery, described by its vendor as rechargeable. The V5 is listed as wired-only and has no battery specification.
Both keyboards are listed as hot-swappable. The V5 vendor description specifies support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
Knob support is listed as an extra feature for the V5, and its vendor listing describes a fully assembled knob version. The R5 listing does not specify knob support.
The V5 vendor describes its double-shot PBT keycaps as not shine-through, and the R5 listing specifies PBT keycaps. Both have south-facing LEDs, for which the compatibility notes caution that shine-through legends stay dark.
Both models have south-facing LEDs. Their compatibility notes warn that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED, and that shine-through legends stay dark.
The V5 is listed with ISO-DE among its layout options. The R5 is ANSI-only, so it does not offer an ISO-DE layout.
The V5 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate and also includes an 8000 Hz entry, but the listing does not specify the conditions for the latter. It supports linear, tactile, and clicky switches, while the R5 lists linear and tactile options.
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