![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.]](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/tMO2Tk6W/keychron-q5-max-q1-max-q2-max-etc/design-medium.jpg?format=auto)
The Keychron Q5 Max is a compact 96% model in Keychron's wider Q Max series of wireless mechanical keyboards. These keyboards have solid aluminum cases and double gasket-mounted designs that lend a softer, almost springy typing experience. You can connect them wirelessly via Bluetooth or with their included USB-A or USB-C 2.4 GHz receivers. They're available in various Gateron Jupiter mechanical switch options, and they all have hot-swappable PCBs if you'd like to change the stock switch options. Each keyboard also comes with a small toolkit to help you completely disassemble your keyboard to add, remove, or modify elements yourself.
For more information on other size variants, see the Differences Between Sizes and Variants section.
Our Verdict
The Keychron Q Max keyboards are great for gaming in any genre and at any competitive level. They have amazing build quality and offer excellent all-around performance over a 2.4GHz connection. These keyboards also have full RGB backlighting that you can adjust along with various other settings using the web-based or downloadable configuration software. Just note that the keycaps aren't easy to read in darker rooms as the stock keycaps aren't shine-through, and the LEDs are south-facing.
- Amazing overall build quality.
- Excellent all-around raw performance.
- True 1000Hz polling rate using a wired or 2.4GHz wireless connection.
- Stabilizers are somewhat inconsistent feeling and make occasional rattling noises.
- PCB has south-facing LEDs and stock keycaps don't have shine-through legends, which means key legends are difficult to see in darker rooms.
The Keychron Q Max keyboards are great for office use. They have amazing build quality and double gasket-mounted designs, providing a softer, almost springy typing experience. You can connect them wirelessly with an included 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously. You can also remap keys, change backlighting settings, and create custom profiles using web-based or downloadable configuration software. Typing on these keyboards is also very quiet, thanks to multiple layers of sound-dampening material inside the case. That said, they have a fairly high profile, and we recommend using a wrist rest for the most comfortable experience. Unfortunately, a wrist rest isn't included.
- Amazing overall build quality.
- Connects wirelessly with 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously.
- Quiet typing noise.
- Stabilizers are somewhat inconsistent feeling and make occasional rattling noises.
The Keychron Q Max keyboards are alright for tablet and mobile use. They have amazing build quality, and you can connect them wirelessly to up to three devices simultaneously via Bluetooth. They also provide excellent typing quality and compatibility with major mobile and tablet operating systems. The major downside is only these keyboards' size and extreme weight due to their solid aluminum cases. They're available in several sizes, but even the smaller compact variants are still significantly heavier than dedicated mobile keyboards, so while they're great for use in a static workspace, they're quite unwieldy to carry with you anywhere on the go.
- Amazing overall build quality.
- Connects wirelessly with 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously.
- Quite large and extremely heavy.
The Keychron Q Max keyboards are great for programming. They have amazing build quality and connect wirelessly either with their USB receiver or with up to three devices simultaneously via Bluetooth. They also deliver excellent typing quality but have a fairly tall profile, so we recommend using a wrist rest for the most comfortable typing experience. Unfortunately, a wrist rest isn't included. Most size variants in this series don't have dedicated macro keys, but some do. You can program macros to any key and make other adjustments using the configuration software. These keyboards also have full RGB backlighting and south-facing LEDs for good visibility when seated at your keyboard. The keycap legends aren't easy to read in darker rooms.
- Amazing overall build quality.
- Connects wirelessly with 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously.
- Quiet typing noise.
- Stabilizers are somewhat inconsistent feeling and make occasional rattling noises.
- PCB has south-facing LEDs and stock keycaps don't have shine-through legends, which means key legends are difficult to see in darker rooms.
The Keychron Q Max keyboards are passable for home theater or entertainment setup use. They have amazing build quality and connect wirelessly with either a USB receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously. Unfortunately, while all variants have a dedicated volume knob, there aren't any dedicated media keys (for Windows). Plus, while these keyboards have full RGB backlighting, the keycaps aren't easy to read in the dark.
- Amazing overall build quality.
- Connects wirelessly with 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously.
- PCB has south-facing LEDs and stock keycaps don't have shine-through legends, which means key legends are difficult to see in darker rooms.
- No dedicated media keys (in Windows mode).
- Quite large and extremely heavy.
The Keychron Q Max keyboards provide excellent raw performance, making them well-suited for playing games in any genre. They offer outstanding single-key latency and excellent multi-key latency. Using this keyboard wired or connected wirelessly with an included 2.4 GHz receiver provides an effective update rate of 1000Hz that isn't bottlenecked by other latency elements.
- Excellent all-around raw performance.
- True 1000Hz polling rate using a wired or 2.4GHz wireless connection.
Changelog
- Updated Jan 22, 2026: Our Test Bench 1.4.3 update adds clearer terminology and new measurements to our Keystrokes test group. For more details, see the full changelog.
- Updated Jan 09, 2026: Our 1.4.2 Test Bench Update makes changes to the Hardware Customizability test group. We've created a new Magnetic Switch Compatibility test and renamed our previous PCB Socket test to Mechanical Switch Compatibility. See our full changelog.
- Updated Aug 27, 2024: We've added details for the new Keychron Q13 Max to the Differences Between Variants section.
- Updated Aug 02, 2024: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed NuPhy Halo96/Halo75 V2 in the Backlight Features section of this review.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] series keyboards are available in several colorways and either in a fully assembled configuration with stock Gateron Jupiter switches or in a barebones configuration without switches or keycaps included. We bought and tested the fully assembled Keychron Q5 Max with Gateron Jupiter Banana switches. We typically include a photo of the product's label, but, like other models in Keychron's Q lineups, these keyboards have no visible label.
We expect our results in the table below to apply broadly to all current size variants in this series.
| Name | Size | Color | Assembly Options | Switch Type | Switch Options | Keycap Profile | Knob | Dedicated Macro Keys |
| Keychron Q1 Max | Compact (75%) | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | N/A |
| Keychron Q2 Max | Compact (65%) | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | N/A |
| Keychron Q3 Max | TKL (80%) | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | N/A |
| Keychron Q5 Max | Compact (96%) | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | 3 |
| Keychron Q6 Max | Full-size (100%) | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | 4 |
Additional Variants
Models in the table below have specialized layouts, which means their case designs differ significantly from the unit we bought and tested. While we expect most of our tests will remain broadly applicable, additional elements may produce differences in build and typing quality.
| Name | Size | Color | Assembly Options | Switch Type | Switch Options | Keycap Profile | Knob | Dedicated Macro Keys |
| Keychron Q8 Max | Compact Alice (65%) | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | N/A |
| Keychron Q10 Max | Compact Alice (75%) | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | 5 |
| Keychron Q13 Max | Compact Alice (96%) | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | 4 |
| Keychron Q60 Max | Special (60%) | Retro | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | Cherry | No | N/A |
| Keychron Q65 Max | Special (65%) | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | No | 4 |
| Keychron Q12 Max | Compact (96%) Southpaw | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | 3 |
| Keychron Q14 Max | Compact (96%) Alice, Southpaw | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | 3 |
| Keychron Q15 Max | Compact Ortholinear | Black, White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | XDA | Yes | N/A |
Note: The Keychron Q0 Max below is only a Numpad/macro pad. It's designed to be used alongside a standard keyboard rather than a dedicated keyboard in its own right. The construction methods and connectivity options are the same. We expect the build quality and overall raw performance to be roughly equivalent. This model lacks all the alphanumeric keys of a standard keyboard. Keychron also indicates the Keychron Q0 Max has a significantly smaller 18000 mAh battery that provides up to 50 hours using the lowest brightness settings.
| Name | Size | Color | Assembly Options | Switch Type | Switch Options | Keycap Profile | Knob | Dedicated Macro Keys |
|
Keychron Q0 Max |
Numpad | Carbon Black, Shell White | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebone Knob | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | KSA | Yes | 5 |
If you have a variant within this series that isn't listed in one of the tables above or feel there are other differences or issues to mention regarding variants in our review, reach out to us in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] are a series of wireless mechanical keyboards. Just like the closely related Keychron Q Series and Keychron Q Pro Series, the Q Max boards are situated as Keychron's current flagship models, with solid aluminum cases and double gasket-mount designs.
While the original Q series keyboards are wired-only models, the Q Pro series has added Bluetooth connectivity. The standout difference between the Q Pro series and the new Q Max models is the addition of 2.4 GHz connectivity in addition to Bluetooth, which provides improved wireless performance. The Q Max also has additional layers of acoustic dampening material inside the board, generating a slightly more rounded and less pingy typing noise.
For more recommendations, see our picks for the best keyboards, the best wireless keyboards, and the best mechanical keyboards. For more options from Keychron, see our picks for the best Keychron keyboards.
The Keychron V5 Max and the Keychron Q5 Max are wireless mechanical keyboards with 96% form factors. Each keyboard also belongs to a wider lineup of V Max and Q Max series keyboards, respectively. The major difference between these two lineups is that the V Max series keyboards are a comparatively more budget-oriented offering with plastic-only cases. The Q Max series keyboards have more premium all-aluminum cases, some additional layers of acoustic foam inside the case, and a double-gasket mount rather than a standard gasket-mount design, as found on the V Max series boards.
The Keychron Q1 Max and the Keychron Q1 HE are similar wireless mechanical keyboards. The major difference between the two is that the Q1 HE uses analog Hall effect switches, which allow you to customize the actuation and reset distance of individual switches. Comparatively, the Q1 Max has conventional mechanical switches.
The Keychron Q5 Max and the Keychron K8 Max are related wireless mechanical keyboards with very simillar features. The standout difference is that the Q5 Max has a more premium-feeling all-aluminum chassis and a double-gasket mount design that lends a softer, slightly springy feeling typing experience. Comparatively, the K8 Max is available in a full plastic or plastic and aluminum bracket framed chassis and has a comparatively stiffer tray mount design. That said, it also has better-tuned stabilizers out of the box.
The Keychron Q5 Pro and the Keychron Q5 Max are wireless mechanical keyboards with 96% form factors. Each keyboard belongs to a wider lineup of Q Pro and Q Max keyboards, respectively. The standout difference between these two lineups is that the Q Pro connects wirelessly via Bluetooth while the Q Max connects wirelessly via Bluetooth or a 2.4 GHz receiver, providing better wireless performance. The Q Max also has several more layers of acoustic material inside the case, providing a slightly rounder, less pingy sound profile.
Test Results
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Top Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/dimensions-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Build Quality Close Up Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/build-quality-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Side Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/ergonomics-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Customizability Overview Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/custom-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Backlighting Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/backlight-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Brightness Max Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/brightness-max-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Brightness Min Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/brightness-min-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] White Shot Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/whiteshot-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Extra Features Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/features-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Bundle Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/in-the-box-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Typing Sample Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/typing-sample-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/feel-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Input Linearity Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/keyboard-input-granularity-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Wobble Video Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/wobble-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Single-Key Latency Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/latency-single-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/latency-multi-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Multi-Key Raw USB Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/rollover-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Chord Split Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/keyboard-chordsplit-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
for videos & test results
![Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Software Tour Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/software-tour-small.jpg?format=auto)