Keychron R5 vs V5 Ultra
Choose the V5 Ultra for its 8000 Hz polling, gasket mount, and broader configuration options, or the R5 for a simpler 96% setup with a 1000 Hz polling rate.
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4.5 (2)4.5 · 2 reviews
from$119at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron R5
Build quality in the bottom 50% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% ANSI layout with multimedia keys.
- Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and USB-C wired connectivity.
- Hot-swappable switches, QMK support, and N-key rollover.
- 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 Ultra
polling rate
Build quality in the top 15% of 96% boards under $150.
- 8000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
- Gasket mount and polycarbonate plate.
- Hot-swappable switches, QMK support, and VIA support.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Choose the Keychron V5 Ultra if you want 8000 Hz polling, a gasket-mounted build, a knob, and VIA support. The Keychron R5 is a reasonable fit if 1000 Hz polling and a plate mount are sufficient and you do not need the V5 Ultra's additional controls. Both retain the 96% layout, three connection options, hot-swap support, and 4000 mAh battery.
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 Ultra
Max polling rate
1,000 Hz
8,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
ABS
ABS, Metal, Plastic
Switch options
Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Mount style
Plate Mount
Gasket Mount
Knob
No
Yes
- Keychron R5
- Keychron V5 Ultra
- Performance
- 7991
- Build quality
- 6383
- Productivity
- 8398
- Customizability
- 7894
- Portability
- 5456
- Layout size: 96%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- QMK
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The V5 Ultra leads in gaming, office, programming, modding, and content creation based on its higher polling rate and added controls and configuration features. Travel is a close call: both provide three connection types and a 4000 mAh battery, but only the V5 Ultra has a listed weight. The R5 remains a capable alternative if its simpler plate-mounted design and 1000 Hz polling rate meet your needs.
Pick the Keychron V5 Ultra
- The V5 Ultra lists an 8000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, compared with the R5's 1000 Hz rate.
- Both keyboards offer 2.4 GHz wireless and N-key rollover.
Keychron R5 vs V5 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 27 specs differ
Keychron R5
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 R5
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
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.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Keychron R5 vs V5 Ultra: your questions
The V5 Ultra has an 8000 Hz polling rate, a gasket mount, a polycarbonate plate, and a knob. The R5 uses a 1000 Hz polling rate and a plate mount.
The Keychron V5 Ultra lists 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes. The Keychron R5 lists 1000 Hz in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
Yes, both list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity. The R5 vendor description also says it can connect to up to three devices wirelessly, and the V5 Ultra vendor page describes Bluetooth connections to three devices.
Yes, both keyboards are listed as hot-swappable. The V5 Ultra vendor page specifically describes compatibility with many 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.
Yes, the V5 Ultra is listed with a knob, and its vendor page identifies the assembled version as a knob model. The R5's listed features do not include a knob.
The V5 Ultra has a gasket mount, polycarbonate plate, screw-in stabilizers, and VIA support, as well as hot-swap support. The R5 is also hot-swappable and supports QMK, but its listed construction uses a plate mount and plastic plate.
Both are listed as 96% keyboards with an ANSI layout. The V5 Ultra also lists ISO and ISO-ES layout options.
Both keyboards list a 4000 mAh battery. The V5 Ultra vendor page states up to 660 hours with the backlight off, while no comparable runtime figure is listed for the R5.
The V5 Ultra is listed at 983 g. The R5 has no listed weight, so the available specifications do not establish which keyboard is lighter.
Both product listings specify Mac and Windows support. The V5 Ultra vendor page also lists Linux compatibility.
Both use PBT keycaps. The R5 vendor describes its keycaps as Cherry profile double-shot PBT, while the V5 Ultra vendor lists OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps.
The R5 vendor names IXPE foam, EPDM foam, a silicone bottom pad, and PET film. The V5 Ultra vendor describes sound-absorbing foam, EPDM foam, and PET film, and its gasket mount and polycarbonate plate are also described as reducing resonance.
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