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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 10, 2026

Keychron V1 Ultra vs V5 Ultra75% or Numpad

Choose the V5 Ultra for its numpad, or the V1 Ultra for a narrower, lighter 75% layout.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron V1 Ultra

Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.

If you want

  • 75% layout with a narrower body than the V5 Ultra.
  • Weighs 770 g, less than the V5 Ultra.
  • Supports ISO-DE and ISO-FR layouts.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • No numpad.

Get the

Keychron V5 Ultra

Build quality in the top 15% of 96% boards under $150.

If you want

  • 96% layout includes a numpad in a compact full-size arrangement.
  • Lists linear, tactile, and clicky switch types.
  • Hot-swappable switches, QMK and VIA support, and a gasket mount.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • Missing ISO-DE, ISO-FR. 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.

Bottom line

Pick the Keychron V5 Ultra if you use a numpad and want a compact full-size layout. Choose the V1 Ultra if desk space, lower weight, or ISO-DE and ISO-FR layout options matter more. Their wireless connections, 8000 Hz wired and 2.4 GHz polling, and hot-swap features are otherwise closely matched.

What actually differs

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 V1 Ultra

Keychron V5 Ultra

  • Layout size

    75%

    96%

  • Case material

    ABS, Plastic

    ABS, Metal, Plastic

  • Switch options

    Linear, Tactile

    Clicky, Linear, Tactile

  • Weight

    770 g

    983 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

  • Layout standard

    ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR

    ANSI, ISO, ISO-ES

    ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron V1 Ultra
  • Keychron V5 Ultra
Performance
91
91
Build quality
84
83
Productivity
98
98
Customizability
94
94
Portability
79
56

What they share

  • Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Battery: 4,000 mAh
  • Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
  • Mount style: Gasket Mount
  • Knob
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The V5 Ultra has the clearest advantage for office work and content workflows that benefit from a numpad. The V1 Ultra is the more travel-friendly option because it is lighter and narrower. Gaming and modding are close calls, with the main distinction being layout and the V5 Ultra's additional listed clicky switch type. For programming, choose based on whether regional layouts or a numpad matter more to you.

For gaming

It's a tie

  • Both list 8000 Hz polling over wired and 2.4 GHz connections.
  • Both offer N-key rollover, gasket mounts, and hot-swappable switches.
  • The V1 Ultra is narrower, while the V5 Ultra includes a numpad.

From real owners

What owners say

Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.

Keychron V1 Ultra

5.0

1 owner reviews

Praise
“Keychron has the best keyboard for keyboard enthusiasts. This is my 3rd and I have no notes. Exactly what I wanted, versatility, thockiness, and portability.”
CamilleVerified buyer· via Keychron

Keychron V5 Ultra

4.5

2 owner reviews

Praise
“I gave it four stars for build quality, but knocked one for the massive height of this thing. I sent it back. It had great feel to it, but again, it was just way too tall. Noise level was a bit on the mid level, not bad. In the end I ended up with a 60…”
jungmen· via Keychron

Full specs

Keychron V1 Ultra vs V5 Ultra specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

6 of 27 specs differ

Keychron V1 Ultra

Keychron V5 Ultra

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
96%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR
ANSI, ISO, ISO-ES

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

8,000 Hz
8,000 Hz

Battery

4,000 mAh
4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS, Plastic
ABS, Metal, Plastic

Plate material

Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate

Keycaps

PBT
PBT

Weight

770 g
983 g

Dimensions

29 x 329 x 149 mm
30 x 392 x 149 mm

Typing angle

4°
4°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2026
2026

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

Keychron V1 Ultra

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Keychron V5 Ultra

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-ES

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Where to buy

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.

FAQ

Keychron V1 Ultra vs V5 Ultra: your questions

The V1 Ultra is a 75% keyboard without a numpad, while the V5 Ultra is a 96% compact full-size keyboard with a numpad. The V1 Ultra is also narrower and lighter.

Yes, the V5 Ultra's 96% layout includes a numpad. Its layout is compact, so it does not have the gaps of a full-size board.

Yes. The V1 Ultra measures 29 x 329 x 149 mm, while the V5 Ultra measures 30 x 392 x 149 mm. The V1 Ultra is also lighter at 770 g versus 983 g.

Both list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity. Keychron's product descriptions specify Bluetooth 5.3 for both models.

Both list 8000 Hz polling over wired and 2.4 GHz connections. Their vendor descriptions specify 125 Hz polling over Bluetooth.

Yes, both models are hot-swappable. Keychron says their switches can be changed without soldering and supports 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.

The listed switch types for the V1 Ultra are linear and tactile. The V5 Ultra also lists clicky switches, and Keychron's product pages offer Silk POM Red, Brown, and Banana options.

Both models list QMK and VIA support in their features. Keychron's vendor descriptions also identify ZMK firmware and the Keychron Launcher web app for remapping and macros.

The V1 Ultra is the lighter, narrower choice, weighing 770 g compared with 983 g for the V5 Ultra. Both offer Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connections.

Both have south-facing LEDs, and their compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends can stay dark. Some sculpted keycaps may also clip the LED.

The V1 Ultra lists both ISO-DE and ISO-FR layouts. Those layouts are not listed for the V5 Ultra.

Both models list a 4000 mAh battery. Keychron describes up to 660 hours of use with the backlight off for each keyboard.

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