Keychron V4 vs V5 Max60% vs 96% Layout & Wireless Choice
Choose the V4 for a compact, wired, and more affordable build, or the V5 Max for a full layout with wireless connectivity and a gasket-mounted typing feel.
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5.0 (14)5.0 · 14 reviews
from$39at Keychron
4.8 (5)4.8 · 5 reviews
from$99at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V4
60%
Build quality in the top 5% of 60% boards under $50.
- Extremely compact 60% layout saves substantial desk space.
- Lower starting price point for an entry into custom keyboards.
- Includes sound-dampening foam and screw-in stabilizers in its tray-mount design.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- Compact layout only. No function row, dedicated arrow keys, or numpad.
Get the
Keychron V5 Max
96% Layout & Wireless Choice
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $100.
- Tri-mode connectivity with Bluetooth 5.1, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired operation.
- 96% compact layout includes a number pad and arrow keys without a full-size footprint.
- Gasket mount design with a polycarbonate plate for a softer typing feel and reduced acoustic resonance.
- 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.
Your primary need dictates the choice. If a tiny footprint, lower cost, and simple wired operation are paramount, the Keychron V4 is an excellent, highly customizable starter board. If you require a number pad, value wireless freedom to switch between devices, and prefer the typing feel of a gasket mount, the V5 Max is worth the extra investment for its full feature set.
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 Max
Layout size
60%
96%
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Mount style
Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Weight
730 g
925 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-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
- Keychron V4
- Keychron V5 Max
- Performance
- 6883
- Build quality
- 8786
- Productivity
- 9597
- Customizability
- 9898
- Portability
- 7553
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The V5 Max is the clear choice for office work and content creation due to its number pad and wireless features. It also has a slight edge for gaming with its versatile layout. The V4 dominates for travel due to its small size and lighter weight. For programming and modding, the decision is a tie, hinging on whether you prioritize a compact desk footprint or immediate access to arrow keys and a number pad.
Pick the Keychron V5 Max
- The V5 Max offers a 1000 Hz polling rate in both its 2.4 GHz wireless and wired modes for low latency.
- Its 96% layout includes dedicated arrow keys and a number pad useful for macros or in-game commands.
- The gasket mount design with a polycarbonate plate may provide a softer, more consistent typing feel during long sessions.
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 Max
5 owner reviews
“The keys feel smooth and easy as you type. It's probably the best keyboard I've used. I've had a number of mechanical keyboards, but, none of them can compare to the v5 max. The feel of the thing while typing, is hard to not constantly repeat.”
Keychron V4 vs V5 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 27 specs differ
Keychron V4
Keychron V5 Max
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 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 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips 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 Max: your questions
The core difference is size and connectivity. The V4 is a 60% wired-only keyboard, while the V5 Max is a larger 96% layout keyboard with tri-mode wireless (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and wired) connectivity and a gasket mount design.
Yes. The Keychron V5 Max offers a 1000 Hz polling rate in its 2.4 GHz wireless mode, which the manufacturer states makes latency hardly noticeable in competitive games. Its Bluetooth mode operates at 90 Hz, which is better suited for general use.
Yes. Both the Keychron V4 and V5 Max feature hot-swappable PCBs that support both 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, allowing you to change switches without soldering.
It depends on your preference. The V5 Max offers dedicated arrow keys and a number pad in a compact form. The V4 frees up desk space but requires using keyboard layers for arrows and function keys. Both support QMK/VIA for deep customization.
According to Keychron, the fully assembled versions of both keyboards include double-shot PBT keycaps with an OSA profile, which has an OEM height and SA-like spherical shape. These are not shine-through keycaps.
The V4 uses a tray mount, where the plate is screwed directly into the case bottom. The V5 Max uses a gasket mount, where the plate is suspended on rubber or silicone gaskets. Gasket mounts are generally associated with a softer, more consistent typing feel and reduced case resonance.
No. The Keychron V4 is a wired-only mechanical keyboard with a USB Type-C connection. It does not have Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless capabilities.
Keychron lists the V5 Max's 4000mAh battery as providing up to 190 hours of wireless working time with the backlight off, and up to 100 hours at the lowest RGB brightness, based on lab tests.
Yes. Both the Keychron V4 and V5 Max support open-source QMK firmware and the VIA configuration software, allowing for extensive key remapping, macro creation, and layer customization.
The Keychron V4 is significantly more portable. It is a 60% size keyboard measuring 304mm in length and weighing 730g. The V5 Max is a 96% keyboard measuring 392mm and weighing 925g, making it larger and heavier.
Yes. Both keyboards include a system toggle switch and an additional set of keycaps for both macOS and Windows, allowing you to switch between the operating systems seamlessly.
The fully assembled Keychron V4 comes with Keychron's own pre-lubed K Pro switches (Red, Blue, or Brown). The fully assembled V5 Max comes with Gateron Jupiter switches (Red, Brown, or Banana), which also feature a pre-lubed design and an LED diffuser.
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