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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] vs Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.]

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.]
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.]

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Apr 24, 2025 01:33 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Apr 08, 2025 04:33 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Picture
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Picture
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Mechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWireless
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Switch Type
Mechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Office

Variants

  • K5 Max (Gray - 100%)
  • K7 Max (Gray - 65%)
  • K11 Max (Gray - 65% (Alice))
  • K3 Max (Gray - 75%)
  • K15 Max (Gray - 75% (Alice))
  • K1 Max (Gray - 80%)
  • K17 Max (Gray - 96%)
  • K13 Max (Gray - Numpad 80%)
  • K4 Max (Fully Assembled/RGB Backlight)
  • K10 Max (Black - Fully Assembled)
  • K2 Max (Black - Fully Assembled)
  • K2 Max (Black - Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable))
  • K10 Max (Black/Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable))
  • K8 Max (Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/RGB Backlight)
  • K4 Max (Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/RGB Backlight)
  • K8 Max (Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/RGB Backlight Aluminum Frame)
  • K4 Max (Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/White Backlight)
  • K8 Max (Fully Assembled/RGB Backlight)
  • K8 Max (Fully Assembled/RGB Backlight Aluminum Frame)
  • K4 Max (Fully Assembled/White Backlight)
  • K10 Max (White - Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable))
  • K2 Max (White - Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable))

Review

See Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Review
See Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Review
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Our Verdict

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.]

Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.]

The Keychron K5 Max is a low-profile model, while the Keychron K8 Max is a standard-profile model, but they both belong to the same lineup. There are a few other minor differences: the K5 Max has somewhat better latency performance, likely due to its matrix design or firmware implementation. It's also compatible with VIA software as well as Keychron's new web-based software. Comparatively, the K8 Max is only compatible with Keychron's web-based software and is somewhat louder to type on, but it also delivers a slightly improved typing quality with better-tuned stabilizers.

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Check Price

Gray - 100%
K5 Max
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Fully Assembled/RGB Backlight
K4 Max
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Gray - 65%
K7 Max
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Black - Fully Assembled
K10 Max
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Gray - 65% (Alice)
K11 Max
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Black - Fully Assembled
K2 Max
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Gray - 75%
K3 Max
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Black - Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)
K2 Max
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Gray - 75% (Alice)
K15 Max
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Black/Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)
K10 Max
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Gray - 80%
K1 Max
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Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/RGB Backlight
K8 Max
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Gray - 96%
K17 Max
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Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/RGB Backlight
K4 Max
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Gray - Numpad 80%
K13 Max
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Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/RGB Backlight Aluminum Frame
K8 Max
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Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/White Backlight
K4 Max
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Fully Assembled/RGB Backlight
K8 Max
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Fully Assembled/RGB Backlight Aluminum Frame
K8 Max
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Fully Assembled/White Backlight
K4 Max
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White - Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)
K10 Max
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White - Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)
K2 Max
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.4
8.3

Chord Split 
 

7.4
9.0

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Top Picture
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
TenKeyLess (80%)

Height 
 

0.9" (2.4 cm)
1.7" (4.3 cm)

Width  

16.5" (42.0 cm)
14.1" (35.8 cm)

Depth 
 

4.7" (12.0 cm)
5.1" (13.0 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.60 lbs (0.727 kg)
2.89 lbs (1.311 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Build Quality Close Up
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
6.0

Side Picture  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Side Picture
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

3.3°
3.8°

Medium Incline 
 

4.5°
7.5°

Maximum Incline 
 

6.6°
10.8°

Home Row Height 
 

20.9 mm (0.8")
35.5 mm (1.4")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

4.4
10

Customizability Overview  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Customizability Overview
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

No
Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted
Screw-in

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u
6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u
1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Low Profile Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered
5-pin Cherry

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Backlighting Picture
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Brightness Max
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Brightness Min
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

4.0
4.0

White Shot  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] White Shot
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wireless

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

3.9 ft (1.2 m)
3.9 ft (1.2 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

10
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
3

Proprietary Receiver 
 

Yes
Yes

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
Rechargeable
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

6.7
4.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

4
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Extra Features
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Bundle Picture
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

9.4
7.4

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

41.3 dBA
52.9 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Gateron Low-Profile MX 2.0 Mechanical Red
Keychron Super Red

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Analog 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

48 gf
41 gf

Actuation Force 
 

48 gf
41 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.8 mm
1.7 mm

Total Travel 
 

2.9 mm
4.0 mm
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.1
8.6

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

2.9 ms
7.0 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.5 ms
±0.6 ms

Wired 
 

2.9 ms
7.0 ms

Receiver 
 

4.4 ms
8.5 ms

Bluetooth 
 

9.7 ms
13.2 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

1.5 ms
5.4 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.6
8.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Receiver
Receiver

Key Press 
 

4.5 ms
8.6 ms

Key Release 
 

8.7 ms
15.6 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

8.2
8.2

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Multi-Key Raw USB
Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.] Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Receiver
Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes
Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Chord Split 
 

7.4
9.0

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

6.5 ms
2.9 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

17.6 ms
6.3 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

VIA
Keychron Launcher

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
No Profile
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
10

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

10
10

Android 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

iOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Android, iPhone & iPad
Android, iPhone & iPad
Show Text 

Check Price

Gray - 100%
K5 Max
Searching
Finding store
Fully Assembled/RGB Backlight
K4 Max
Searching
Finding store
Gray - 65%
K7 Max
Searching
Finding store
Black - Fully Assembled
K10 Max
Searching
Finding store
Gray - 65% (Alice)
K11 Max
Searching
Finding store
Black - Fully Assembled
K2 Max
Searching
Finding store
Gray - 75%
K3 Max
Searching
Finding store
Black - Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)
K2 Max
Searching
Finding store
Gray - 75% (Alice)
K15 Max
Searching
Finding store
Black/Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)
K10 Max
Searching
Finding store
Gray - 80%
K1 Max
Searching
Finding store
Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/RGB Backlight
K8 Max
Searching
Finding store
Gray - 96%
K17 Max
Searching
Finding store
Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/RGB Backlight
K4 Max
Searching
Finding store
Gray - Numpad 80%
K13 Max
Searching
Finding store
Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/RGB Backlight Aluminum Frame
K8 Max
Searching
Finding store
 
Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)/White Backlight
K4 Max
Searching
Finding store
 
Fully Assembled/RGB Backlight
K8 Max
Searching
Finding store
 
Fully Assembled/RGB Backlight Aluminum Frame
K8 Max
Searching
Finding store
 
Fully Assembled/White Backlight
K4 Max
Searching
Finding store
 
White - Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)
K10 Max
Searching
Finding store
 
White - Fully Assembled (Hot-Swappable)
K2 Max
Searching
Finding store
Back to Top

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.]

Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.]

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 27 days ago

Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] vs Keychron K8 Max [K2 Max, K10 Max, etc.]: Main Discussion

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