Keychron V4 Max vs V5Wireless or 96% Layout
Get the V4 Max for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless in a lighter 60% design, or the V5 for its 96% layout with a function row and numpad, plus ISO layout options.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V4 Max
Build quality in the top 10% of 60% boards under $100.
- Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, alongside wired use.
- Gasket mount design with a PC plate and sound-absorbing foam.
- 645 g listed weight in a compact 60% layout.
- 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.
- Compact layout only. No function row, dedicated arrow keys, or numpad.
Get the
Keychron V5
polling rate
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% layout retains function keys and a numpad.
- ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-SW layout options.
- Multimedia keys are included as an extra feature.
- 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.
Choose the V4 Max for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, its lower listed weight, and gasket mount construction with a PC plate and sound-absorbing foam. Choose the V5 for its 96% layout, function keys, numpad, multimedia keys, and range of ISO options. Both retain hot-swap support and QMK/VIA customization, so the decision comes down to wireless compactness or a fuller key layout.
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 V4 Max
Keychron V5
Layout size
60%
96%
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
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Weight
645 g
1,170 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron V4 Max
- Keychron V5
- Performance
- 7891
- Build quality
- 8689
- Productivity
- 9598
- Customizability
- 9698
- Portability
- 8845
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The V4 Max takes the travel and wireless gaming cases, pairing lower listed weight with multiple connection modes. The V5 is a stronger fit when your work benefits from a numpad, function row, multimedia keys, or ISO layout options. Programming and modding are close calls because both boards offer QMK/VIA and hot-swappable switches. Your preferred footprint and connection style matter more than the shared customization features.
Pick the Keychron V4 Max
- The V4 Max supports 2.4 GHz wireless at a listed 1000 Hz polling rate.
- It also supports Bluetooth and wired use, while the V5 is wired only.
Keychron V4 Max vs V5 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
10 of 27 specs differ
Keychron V4 Max
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.
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.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron V4 Max
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 V4 Max vs V5: your questions
Yes. The V4 Max supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity. Its product description also specifies Bluetooth 5.1 and a 1000 Hz polling rate over 2.4 GHz and wired connections.
No, the V5 is listed as wired only, with USB-C connectivity. Choose the V4 Max if Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz operation is important.
The V5 has a 96% layout with a numpad and function keys. The V4 Max is a 60% board and does not include a numpad or function row.
The V4 Max is listed with an ANSI layout and does not offer ISO variants. The V5 lists ISO options including ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-SW.
Yes, both boards are listed as hot-swappable. Their product descriptions say the sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
Both keyboards list QMK and VIA support. Their descriptions also identify QMK-based key remapping, macros, and shortcuts as customization options.
The V4 Max is listed at 645 g, while the V5 is listed at 1170 g. The V4 Max also has a 60% layout, compared with the V5's 96% layout.
Yes, the V4 Max is listed with a gasket mount and a polycarbonate plate. Keychron describes its gasket structure, PC plate, and sound-absorbing foam as part of its typing design.
The product listing identifies the V5 as a tray-mount design. Its metadata also lists tray, plate, and gasket mount styles.
Both are listed with south-facing RGB and non-shine-through PBT keycaps. The compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends stay dark and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LEDs.
The V5 is the more direct fit because its 96% layout includes a numpad. The V4 Max is a 60% layout without a numpad.
Both boards have hot-swappable sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches, so switches can be changed without soldering. The V4 Max assembled version includes Gateron Jupiter switches, while the V5 assembled version includes Keychron K Pro switches.
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