Keychron V4 vs V560% vs 96% Layout Face-Off
Choose the Keychron V4 if you want a compact, portable 60% board; choose the V5 if you need a numpad and full-size layout.
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5.0 · 14 reviews
from$39at Keychron
4.8 · 8 reviews
from$74at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V4
60%
Build quality in the top 5% of 60% boards under $50.
- Compact 60% layout saves desk space and is easy to transport
- Lightweight at 730g for the fully assembled version
- Includes an acoustic silicone pad for sound dampening out of the box
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- Compact layout only. No function row, dedicated arrow keys, or numpad.
Get the
Keychron V5
96% Layout Face-Off
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% layout with numpad and function row improves workflow for data and editing tasks
- Offers a gasket mount option for a softer typing feel with polycarbonate plate
- Supports optional 8000 Hz polling rate for competitive gaming
- 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 Keychron V4 if you prioritize a compact, travel-friendly board with the same great customization and sound dampening as its larger sibling. Choose the Keychron V5 if you need a numpad, function row, and optional gasket or 8000 Hz polling for gaming or productivity. Both offer exceptional value with QMK and VIA support.
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
Keychron V5
Layout size
60%
96%
Max polling rate
1,000 Hz
8,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Mount style
Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Weight
730 g
1,170 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, JIS
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
- Keychron V4
- Keychron V5
- Performance
- 6891
- Build quality
- 8789
- Productivity
- 9598
- Customizability
- 9898
- Portability
- 7545
- Connection: Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron V5 wins in gaming due to its optional 8000 Hz polling and gasket mount, as well as for office and content creation tasks that benefit from a full numpad and knob. For programming and modding, the keyboards tie because both share the same core firmware, switch support, and customization features. The V4 is the clear choice for travel, where its compact 60% form factor and lighter weight are key advantages.
Pick the Keychron V5
- Specs list an 8000 Hz polling rate option for faster input
- Gasket mount design provides a softer, more responsive typing feel
- Larger layout with numpad and function row for game-specific bindings
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron V4
14 owner reviews
“Definitely the best 80 dollar keyboard out right now. Very well lubed and stabbed are tooned well. Unfortunately can't get via to work (VIA isn't accepting the json file)”
Keychron V5
8 owner reviews
“In love with it already. Only downside is how long it took to get the keyboard. Other then that its a great product for the price”
Keychron V4 vs V5 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
8 of 26 specs differ
Keychron V4
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
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 V4
Keychron
ISO-DE
In stockShips to you
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V5
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
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.
Keychron V4 vs V5: your questions
Yes, both the Keychron V4 and V5 support QMK and VIA firmware. You can remap keys, create macros, and adjust lighting using the Keychron Launcher web app in a Chrome, Opera, or Edge browser while connected via a wired connection.
Yes, both keyboards have hot-swappable PCBs that support 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches. This allows you to change switches without soldering, making them ideal for customizing your typing feel.
Both keyboards use screw-in PCB stabilizers for improved stability and reduced wobble on keys like the space bar, shift, enter, and backspace. They also support third-party screw-in stabilizers for further customization.
Yes, both feature south-facing RGB LED lighting. The south-facing design prevents interference when using OEM or Cherry-profile keycaps and improves backlight visibility from the typist's angle.
The Keychron V4 is much better for travel due to its compact 60% layout and lighter weight of 730g. The V5 is larger and heavier at 1170g, making it less portable.
Yes, the Keychron V5 is available in versions with a knob, including fully assembled knob and barebone knob variants. The V4 supports knob support in its feature list, but the vendor description does not explicitly confirm a knob variant for the V4.
Both keyboards come with Keychron K Pro switches in Red (linear), Blue (clicky), and Brown (tactile) options. The vendor descriptions note that the clicky switches are not pre-lubed, while the linear and tactile ones are factory pre-lubed.
Yes, both keyboards come with a system toggle and a set of customized keycaps for both macOS and Windows. You can save two different layouts, one for each operating system.
Both include double-shot OSA PBT keycaps that are not shine-through. The OSA profile has an OEM height with an SA-like spherical shape, providing oil resistance and durable legends.
The Keychron V4 has a standard 1000 Hz polling rate. The Keychron V5 supports both 1000 Hz and an optional 8000 Hz polling rate for reduced input latency.
The Keychron V4 is a 60% layout, while the V5 is a 96% layout (1800 compact design). Both support ISO and ANSI standards, with various regional layouts including UK, German, Nordic, Swiss, French, and Spanish.
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