Keychron V5 Max
By Keychron · Mechanical Keyboards · Home & Workspace · More from Keychron
- 96% ANSI layout with knob
- Weight 925 g
- 4000 mAh battery, up to 190 hours
- 1000 Hz polling rate over 2.4 GHz
- Hot-swappable Gateron Jupiter switches, gasket mount
Price not listed
- KeychronView at Keychron
- WalmartView at Walmart
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- MechanicalKeyboards.comView at MechanicalKeyboards.com
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- eBay (used) eBay: used, open-box, refurbishedView at eBay (used)
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Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
Summary
The Keychron V5 Max is a 96% (1800 compact) wireless mechanical keyboard with a rotary knob, hot-swappable Gateron Jupiter switches and QMK/VIA programming, aimed at desk setups that want a near-full-size layout in less space. Check the layout before you buy: the squashed 0 key and the non-standard right Shift, bottom-row and numpad keycaps make fast number entry and aftermarket keycaps harder than on a standard board.
Strengths
- A full-size key count in a 96% body, with a rotary knob most 1800 boards leave out.
- Hot-swappable sockets and QMK/VIA let you change switches and remap keys without soldering.
- Gasket mount, PC plate and stacked foam give a soft, cushioned feel that owners call sturdy with no flex or creaks.
- Triple connectivity, with both a USB-A and a USB-C 2.4 GHz receiver stored in the case.
- Up to 190 hours of wireless use with the backlight off, and about 5 hours to recharge.
- Wirecutter names it its 1800-layout recommendation, and RTINGS recommends it for office, budget gaming and programming.
Weaknesses
- The squashed 0 key on the numpad makes fast number entry awkward.
- Non-standard right Shift, bottom-row and numpad key sizes make aftermarket keycaps hard to fit.
- No wrist rest in the box, and the high OSA profile makes one close to necessary.
- The plastic case feels less premium than the aluminum alternatives Keychron also sells.
- Keychron’s US and regional pages disagree on battery life, listing 190 hours and 225 hours for the same backlight-off condition.
- Isolated owners report a loose, floppy spacebar, and the one-year warranty replaces parts only, not the keyboard.
Verified specifications
| Layout | 96% (1800 compact) with a rotary knob; all the keys of a full-size board in a smaller body. |
|---|---|
| Mount and plate | Gasket mount with a polycarbonate (PC) plate. |
| Case | ABS plastic, carbon black only. |
| Keycaps | Double-shot PBT, OSA profile; Mac and Windows keycaps included. |
| Switches | Gateron Jupiter — Red (linear), Brown (tactile) or Banana (tactile); hot-swappable sockets take 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches. |
| Stabilizers | Screw-in PCB stabilizers, factory-lubed. |
| Backlighting | South-facing RGB. |
| Battery | 4000 mAh rechargeable Li-polymer. |
| Wireless runtime | up to 190 hours with the backlight off on Keychron’s US page, up to 225 hours on the regional pages, and up to 100 hours with RGB at its lowest brightness. |
| Charging | about 5 hours. |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz wireless at 1000 Hz polling, Bluetooth 5.1 to three devices, and USB-C wired. |
| Receivers | USB-A and USB-C 2.4 GHz receivers included, with a magnetic storage slot in the case. |
| Programmable | QMK/VIA and the Keychron Launcher web app. |
| System toggle | Mac/Windows switch on the back. |
| Dimensions | 391.5 × 148.7 × 42.7 mm (15.38 × 5.81 × 1.67 in); front height 21.5 mm without keycaps and 30.8 mm with, back height 29.4 mm and 42.7 mm. |
| Weight | 947 g (33.4 oz) as measured by TechGearLab; 925 g per Keychron’s spec. |
| Typing angles | 3.5°, 7.1° and 9.5°. |
| In the box | keyboard, case, PCB, PC plate, PET foam, case foam, sound-absorbing foam, six sets of stabilizers, PBT double-shot keycaps, Gateron Jupiter switches, Type-C to Type-C cable, Type-A to Type-C adapter, receiver extension adapter, both 2.4 GHz receivers, keycap and switch puller, screwdriver and hex key. |
| Warranty | one year, covering replacement of defective parts only, not the whole keyboard. |
Full research notes and sources
Battery life and wireless
Keychron rates the 4000 mAh battery at up to 190 hours with the backlight off on its US page, while the Canada, UK and Singapore pages list up to 225 hours for the same condition. TechGearLab measured 255 hours with the lights off and 100 hours at the lowest brightness, so treat the headline figure as a floor rather than a guarantee. Charging takes about 5 hours. Over 2.4 GHz the board polls at 1000 Hz; Bluetooth 5.1 holds three devices, and both a USB-A and a USB-C receiver ship in the box with a magnetic slot to park one.
Typing feel and sound
The gasket mount, polycarbonate plate and stacked foam give a soft, cushioned feel that reviewers and owners describe as sturdy, with no flex or creaks. TechGearLab tested the Banana switch at 55.10 gf, with the bump 0.56 mm into the press and actuation at 2.38 mm, and measured typing noise at 47 dBa — loud but satisfying. RTINGS calls the typing quiet and praises the build. A few owners report the spacebar feeling loose and floppy even with the stock keycap, which is worth checking on a unit you can try.
Layout and keycaps
The 96% layout keeps the full number pad but shrinks the 0 key, which TechGearLab found cramped during fast number entry. The right Shift, bottom row and numpad keys are non-standard sizes, so many aftermarket keycap sets will not fit without hunting for extra keys. The OSA-profile PBT keycaps sit high enough that a wrist rest helps, and none is included.
Repairs, upkeep and running costs
The board is built to be worked on: switches pull out of hot-swappable sockets without soldering, the screw-in PCB stabilizers are factory-lubed, and the case opens with the included screwdriver and hex key. Keychron sells replacement parts and tools for the V Max series through its support channels. The one-year warranty covers replacement of defective parts only, not a whole keyboard. Keychron lists the board at $119.99 direct (Keychron, 2026), TechGearLab tested at a $120 list price (TechGearLab, 2025), and Keychron Singapore lists it at $162.00 SGD (Keychron Singapore, 2026).
Which model this is
This page covers the Keychron V5 Max, the 96% (1800 compact) wireless model with a knob, sold fully assembled with Gateron Jupiter switches or as a barebone without switches and keycaps. It is not the wired-only V5, the newer V5 Ultra 8K or V5 8K, or the aluminum-case Q5 Max. The US Amazon variant is ASIN B0CR16D8R2. Match on the V5 Max name and the 96% layout with knob before buying.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- Keychron V5 Max product page
- Keychron V5 Max user guide
- Keychron V5 Max user manual (Manuals+)
- Keychron V5 Max (Canada)
- Keychron V5 Max ISO (UK)
- Keychron V5 Max (Singapore)
- Keychron warranty
Independent reviews:
Owner reports:
