Compare
Pick two boards from the directory and see how they differ.
Shaded rows are where they differ.
| Spec |  Keychron Keychron V5 $65–$75 “Wired 96% with a numpad, knob and tray-mounted plastic case” |  Keychron Keychron Q1 Pro $168 “The Honda Civic of custom keyboards” Best Overall |
|---|---|---|
| Price , different | $65–$75 | $168 |
| Size , different | 96% | 75% |
| Type , different | Pre-built | Barebones |
| Connectivity , different | Wired | Wireless + Wired |
| Released , different | 2022 | 2023 |
| Mounting , different | Tray Mount | Gasket |
| Case , different | Plastic | 6063 Aluminum |
| Colors , different | Frosted Black (Translucent), Carbon Black (Non-transparent) | Carbon Black, Shell White, Silver Grey, Navy Blue |
| Weight , different | Not listed | 1.74kg (fully assembled) |
| Dimensions , different | 96% | 327.5 x 145 x 35.8mm |
| Typing angle , different | Not listed | 5.2° |
| Front height , different | Not listed | 22.6mm |
| Switches | Mechanical | Mechanical |
| Profile | Standard | Standard |
| Keycaps , different | Double-shot PBT | Double-shot PBT, KSA profile (fully assembled version) |
| PCB , different | Hot-swap | Hot-swap, South-facing RGB |
| Plates , different | Not listed | PC |
| Battery , different | — | 4000mAh (up to 300h, backlight off) |
| Compatible switches , different | MX-style | MX-style 3-pin and 5-pin |
| Software , different | QMK, Keychron Launcher | QMK, VIA, Keychron Launcher |
| NKRO | Yes | Yes |
| RGB , different | No | Yes |
| Features , different | 96% layout, Wired, Hot-swap, QMK/VIA, Knob | QMK/VIA, Hot-swap, Double Gasket Mount, Aluminum Case, Bluetooth 5.1 + USB-C, South-facing LEDs, Screw-in Stabilizers, 1000Hz Polling (wired) |
| Good for , different | Typists and spreadsheet users who want a numpad in a compact footprint QMK users who want macros on a budget People who want a rotary knob on a wired board | Heavy typists who want a soft, cushioned feel Buyers who want QMK programmability with Bluetooth People who switch between Mac and Windows Anyone who wants to swap switches or tune the build |
| Skip if , different | Anyone who needs wireless People who use PgUp, PgDn and the menu key heavily and do not want to remap Buyers who work in dark rooms and dislike LED glare | Competitive gaming over wireless (90Hz polling) Anyone who needs a portable keyboard Buyers who want 2.4GHz wireless on this model People who prefer a low, flat keycap profile |
| Pros , different | Compact 96% footprint with a numpad, arrows and a rotary knob Hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches QMK with the Launcher web app; an owner got macros with mouse actions working in QMK (Mortensen) South-facing per-key RGB with 22 modes in the v1.1 firmware (Mortensen) Both ANSI and ISO layouts were sold (Keychron) About 1.34 kg in Mortensen's measurement, so it stays put on the desk | Flexible PC plate and gasket mount give a soft, bouncy typing feel (Tom's Guide) Full CNC aluminum case at 1,736 g assembled, so it stays put on the desk Bluetooth 5.1 for up to 3 devices plus USB-C; MakeUseOf found the Bluetooth connection stable QMK firmware with the Keychron Launcher web app for remapping and macros Hot-swap sockets take 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches 4000 mAh battery, rated up to 300 hours with the backlight off; Tom's Guide saw two to three weeks per charge Programmable aluminum knob, plus a system toggle and both Mac and Windows keycaps |
| Cons , different | Wired only The 96% numpad squeezes out dedicated PgUp, PgDn and context-menu keys (Mortensen) South-facing LEDs bleed bright light toward the typist at higher brightness (Mortensen) Owners on Amazon.de criticized the keycap quality (via testberichte.de summary) No easy way to cancel a running QMK macro (Mortensen) | Wireless is Bluetooth only, at 90Hz polling; 1000Hz needs a USB-C cable No 2.4GHz option on the Pro; Keychron lists the Q1 Max for that Heavy for a 75% and not a board to carry around Tom's Guide heard a slightly hollow stock sound and occasional metallic pings Tall KSA keycaps raised mistype rates in Tom's Guide's typing test An r/Keychron owner report describes spacebar rattle from the stock stabilizers Tom's Guide called the $219 assembled price steep at review time (Nov 2024) |
| Research take , different | A capable wired 96% for QMK and macro use, with the usual 96% compromises on page and menu keys. It has been replaced by the V5 8K, V5 Max and V5 Ultra 8K, so check what is actually in stock. | A comfort-first 75% that suits long typing sessions better than gaming or travel. Reviewers rate the build and typing feel highly and mark it down for weight, price and a stock sound that can ping. If you want 2.4GHz or magnetic switches, compare the Q1 Max and Q1 HE before buying. |