![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.]](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/53aJ58bV/keychron-v5-max-v1-max-v2-max-etc/design-medium.jpg?format=auto)
The Keychron V5 Max is a compact 96% model in Keychron's wider V Max series of wireless mechanical keyboards. These keyboards have plastic cases and gasket-mounted designs that lend a softer, almost springy typing experience. You can connect them wirelessly with their included USB-A or USB-C 2.4 GHz receivers or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously. They're available with various stock Gateron Jupiter mechanical switch options, and the PCBs are hot-swappable if you'd like to change the switch options yourself. Each keyboard also includes a small toolkit to help you completely disassemble your keyboard to add, remove, or repair elements.
For comparisons between other size variants in the wider V Max series, see the Differences Between Sizes and Variants section below.
Our Verdict
The Keychron V Max keyboards are great for gaming. They have impressive overall build quality and offer excellent raw performance over a 2.4GHz connection, making them suitable for playing games in all genres at a casual or competitive level. These keyboards also have full RGB backlighting and individually-lit keys. 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.
- Impressive build quality.
- Excellent latency performance.
- True 1000Hz polling rate using a wired or 2.4GHz wireless connection.
- PCB has south-facing RGB and stock keycaps don't have shine-through legends, which means key legends are difficult to see in darker rooms.
- Stabilizers make faint, occasional rattling noise.
The Keychron V Max keyboards are great for office use. They offer impressive build quality with a gasket-mount design, 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, and layers of sound-dampening foam are 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.
- Impressive build quality.
- Connects wirelessly with 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously.
- Quiet typing noise.
- Stabilizers make faint, occasional rattling noise.
The Keychron V Max keyboards are adequate for tablet and mobile use. They have impressive build quality and connect wirelessly with up to three devices simultaneously via Bluetooth. They also provide excellent typing quality and have outstanding compatibility with major mobile and tablet operating systems. The major downside is only the size and weight of these keyboards. They're available in several sizes, but even the smaller compact variants are still significantly larger than dedicated mobile keyboards, so they'll be quite unwieldy to carry with you on the go but are well-suited for jumping between hot desks or areas in your home.
- Impressive build quality.
- Connects wirelessly with 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously.
- Quite large and bulky.
The Keychron V Max keyboards are very good for programming. They have impressive 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. That said, you can program macros to any key yourself and make other adjustments using the configuration software. These keyboards also have full RGB backlighting and south-facing LEDs for good visibility when you're seated at your keyboard. Note that the keycap legends aren't easy to read in darker rooms.
- Impressive build quality.
- Connects wirelessly with 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously.
- Quiet typing noise.
- PCB has south-facing RGB and stock keycaps don't have shine-through legends, which means key legends are difficult to see in darker rooms.
- Stabilizers make faint, occasional rattling noise.
The Keychron V Max keyboards are passable for use in a home theater or entertainment setup. They have impressive build quality and connect wirelessly with a USB receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously. Unfortunately, while there's a dedicated volume knob, there aren't any dedicated media keys (for Windows). Additionally, while these keyboards have full RGB backlighting, the keycaps aren't easy to read in the dark.
- Impressive build quality.
- Connects wirelessly with 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices simultaneously.
- PCB has south-facing RGB 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 bulky.
The Keychron V 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 provides an effective update rate of 1000Hz that isn't bottlenecked by other latency elements.
- Excellent latency 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.
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Updated Aug 28, 2025:
Added a reference to our PBT vs ABS keycaps article in the Variants section.
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Updated May 23, 2025:
We've added a link to the NuPhy Kick75 to the Dimensions section.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Keychron V5 Max [Keychron V1 Max, Keychron V2 Max, etc.] series keyboards are only available in a Carbon Black colorway. They come in either fully assembled configurations with various stock Gateron Jupiter switches or a barebones configuration without switches or keycaps included. We bought and tested the fully assembled version of the Keychron V5 Max with Gateron Jupiter Red switches. If you're interested in the barebones option and are looking for more guidance on which keycaps to choose, you can take a look at our ABS vs PBT keycaps article. You can see the label for our unit here.
We expect our results in the table below to apply broadly to all current size variants in this series.
| Name | Size | Color | Connectivity | Assembly Options | Switch Type | Switch Options | Hot-Swappable | Knob | Dedicated Macro Keys |
| Keychron V1 Max | Compact (75%) | Carbon Black | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.1 | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebones | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Keychron V2 Max | Compact (65%) | Carbon Black | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.1 | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebones | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Keychron V3 Max | TKL (80%) | Carbon Black | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.1 | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebones | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Keychron V4 Max | Compact (60%) | Carbon Black | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.1 | Fully Assembled, Barebones | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | Yes | No | 0 |
| Keychron V5 Max | Compact (96%) | Carbon Black | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.1 | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebones | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | Yes | Yes | 0 |
| Keychron V6 Max | Full-size (100%) | Carbon Black | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.1 | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebones | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | Yes | Yes | 4 |
Additional Variants
Models in the table below have Alice or Special Edition layouts, which means their case designs differ significantly from those of the unit we bought and tested. While we expect most of our tests will remain broadly applicable, these additional elements may produce differences in build and typing quality.
| Name | Size & Layout | Color | Connectivity | Assembly Options | Switch Type | Switch Options | Hot-Swappable | Knob | Dedicated Macro Keys |
| Keychron V10 Max | Compact Alice (75%) | Carbon Black | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.1 | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebones | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | Yes | Yes | 5 |
| Keychron V8 Max | Compact Alice (65%) | Carbon Black | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.1 | Fully Assembled Knob, Barebones | Gateron Jupiter | Red, Brown, Banana | Yes | Yes | 0 |
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 V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] are a series of wireless mechanical keyboards. While related to the Keychron V Series keyboards, they include several improvements, namely, wireless connectivity, a new gasket mount system, and additional foam inside the case for improved typing quality and acoustics, as well as screw-in stabilizers and south-facing switches, which provide more options for hardware customizability. Additionally, as with other Keychron lineups carrying the new Max moniker, these keyboards have added 2.4GHz wireless connectivity with an included USB receiver in addition to Bluetooth connectivity.
With these added improvements, the V Max series keyboards now bear a closer resemblance to Keychron's more expensive Keychron Q Pro Series keyboards. The major difference is that the V Max keyboards are positioned as a budget option with cheaper plastic-only cases, while the Q-Series boards have more premium all-aluminum cases.
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 K8 Max are similar wireless mechanical keyboards. While the V5 Max has a plastic case, the K8 Max is available in a full plastic case or a plastic case with an aluminum bracket frame, which contributes a noticeably more durable and premium feel. On the other hand, the V5 Max provides a softer, almost springier-feeling typing experience due to its gasket mount design.
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 V5 and the Keychron V5 Max are both mechanical keyboards with compact 96% layouts. Both keyboards are also part of respective V Series and V Max series of keyboards with various other size variants. The standout difference between the V Series and V Max series is that the V Series boards are comparatively more basic wired-only models. On the other hand, the V Max boards have a more premium gasket-mounted design, layers of acoustic foam inside the case, and wireless connectivity with a 2.4 GHz wireless receiver or Bluetooth.
The Keychron V5 Max and the AULA F99 are wireless mechanical keyboards with gasket mount designs. The Keychron has significantly better build quality and is designed to be easily disassembled. It also offers slightly better raw performance and a much more intuitive and flexible software configuration. Comparatively, the AULA has an even softer-feeling gasket mount, but its software is clunky, and its purchasing experience is much more confusing, with conflicting information, confusing variations, and uncertainty about exactly what components you'll receive.
Test Results
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Top Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/dimensions-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 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 V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Side Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/ergonomics-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Customizability Overview Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/custom-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Backlighting Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/backlight-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Brightness Max Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/brightness-max-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Brightness Min Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/brightness-min-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] White Shot Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/whiteshot-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Extra Features Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/features-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Bundle Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/in-the-box-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Typing Sample Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/typing-sample-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 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 V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Input Linearity Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/keyboard-input-granularity-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Wobble Video Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/wobble-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Single-Key Latency Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/latency-single-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 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 V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Multi-Key Raw USB Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/rollover-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 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 V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Software Tour Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/software-tour-small.jpg?format=auto)