1.   Try searching by:
    1. Category (Best $100 Headphones, Best 50 Inch TVs, …)
    2. Brand (Sony, Samsung, LG, Bose, …)
    3. Model (S405, QC 35 II, …)
    4. Etc...
Get insider access
Get insider access
Preferred store
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Best
Gaming Keyboards Mechanical Wireless Ergonomic iPad Typing Mac Budget Gaming Programming Budget And Cheap Office Keychron Budget Mechanical Razer Logitech Low-Profile 60% Quiet TKL
Tools
Compare Table Review List Review Index Graph Custom Ratings
Popular
Wooting 80HE NuPhy Field75 HE Logitech MX Keys S Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] NuPhy Air75 V2 [Air60 V2, Air96 V2] Lemokey P1 HE Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] AULA F99/F75 Razer Huntsman Mini Logitech MX Mechanical Corsair K100 AIR Keychron K2 HE Corsair K70 RGB TKL Logitech G515 LIGHTSPEED TKL Logitech G715 ASUS ROG Azoth Logitech G915 X LIGHTSPEED Razer Huntsman V2 Razer Huntsman V3 Pro [Mini, TKL]
257
Keyboards bought and tested
Supported by you via insider access, and when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Driven by data, run by a passionate team of engineers, testers, technical writers, developers, and more.
We are hiring!
  1. Home
  2. Keyboard
  3. Compare
Notice: Like what we do? We're currently hiring a Staff Writer for Computers. Join our team!
  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

REALFORCE R2 vs Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.]

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

REALFORCE R2
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.]

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Aug 08, 2024 12:56 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Apr 08, 2025 01:09 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
REALFORCE R2 Picture
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Electro-Capacitive
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (96%)
Switch Type
Mechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes
  1. Recommended in 5 articles:
  2. Keyboards
  3. Mechanical
  4. Typing
  5. Programming
  6. Keychron

Variants

  • R2 (Black)
  • R2 (Black - TKL)
  • R2 (Ivory)
  • R2 (Ivory - TKL)
  • Q15 Max (Black - Ortholinear)
  • Q6 Max (Carbon Black - 100%)
  • Q2 Max (Carbon Black - 65%)
  • Q8 Max (Carbon Black - 65%/Alice)
  • Q1 Max (Carbon Black - 75%)
  • Q10 Max (Carbon Black - 75%/Alice)
  • Q3 Max (Carbon Black - 80%/TKL)
  • Q5 Max (Carbon Black - 96%)
  • Q14 Max (Carbon Black - 96%/Alice)
  • Q13 Max (Carbon Black - 96%/Alice)
  • Q12 Max (Carbon Black - 96%/Southpaw)
  • Q65 Max (Carbon Black - Special 65%)
  • Q60 Max (Retro - Special 60%)
  • Q6 Max (Shell White - 100%)
  • Q2 Max (Shell White - 65%)
  • Q8 Max (Shell White - 65%/Alice)
  • Q1 Max (Shell White - 75%)
  • Q10 Max (Shell White - 75%/Alice)
  • Q3 Max (Shell White - 80%/TKL)
  • Q5 Max (Shell White - 96%)
  • Q14 Max (Shell White - 96%/Alice)
  • Q13 Max (Shell White - 96%/Alice)
  • Q12 Max (Shell White - 96%/Southpaw)
  • Q65 Max (Shell White - Special 65%)
  • Q15 Max (White - Ortholinear)

Review

See REALFORCE R2 Review
See Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Review
0 
0 

Our Verdict

REALFORCE R2

Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.]

The Keychron Q5 Max is a wireless keyboard with mechanical switches. It has a solid aluminum case and noticeably better overall build quality. It also has significantly better hardware customizability, more robust configuration software, dedicated macro keys, a control knob, and much better raw performance. On the other hand, the REALFORCE R2 offers a similarly excellent typing quality, despite its other shortcomings, due to its unique Topre switches, which are very smooth and have satisfying tactility. The REALFORCE is also significantly quieter to type on.

0 

Check Price

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
SEARCH
B&H
SEARCH
B&H

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

6.3
8.4

Backlight Features 
 

0.0
10

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.3
9.2

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.2
8.7

Build Quality 
 

7.0
8.5

Backlight Clarity 
 

0.0
4.0

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

REALFORCE R2 Top Picture
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Compact (96%)

Height 
 

1.5" (3.7 cm)
2.0" (5.0 cm)

Width  

17.9" (45.5 cm)
16.1" (40.8 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (14.0 cm)
5.7" (14.5 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

2.89 lbs (1.310 kg)
4.86 lbs (2.206 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

7.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

REALFORCE R2 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

REALFORCE R2 Side Picture
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

3.7°
5.2°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

27.7 mm (1.1")
37.6 mm (1.5")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

2.1
9.8

Customizability Overview  

REALFORCE R2 Customizability Overview
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

No
Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Screw-in

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u
6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u
1u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Non-Customizable Design
5-pin Cherry

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

0.0
10

Backlighting Picture  

REALFORCE R2 Backlighting Picture
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

REALFORCE R2 Brightness Max
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Brightness Max

Backlighting  

No
Yes

Brightness Min  

REALFORCE R2 Brightness Min
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Brightness Min

RGB 
 

No
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

No
Yes

Effects 
 

No
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

0.0
4.0

White Shot  

REALFORCE R2 White Shot
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wireless

Detachable 
 

No
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

5.6 ft (1.7 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

No
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
3

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
Yes

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
Rechargeable
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

0.0
6.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
3

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

REALFORCE R2 Extra Features
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No
Yes

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

Yes
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Caps & Num Lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

REALFORCE R2 Bundle Picture
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Key Spacing 
 

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

Typing Noise 
 

9.3
7.5

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

42.2 dBA
52.2 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Topre
Gateron Jupiter Banana

Switch Type 
 

Electro-Capacitive
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

60 gf
55 gf

Actuation Force 
 

51 gf
38 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.3 mm
2.5 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.0 mm
3.2 mm
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.3
9.2

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

14.0 ms
3.2 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±4.8 ms
±0.3 ms

Wired 
 

14.0 ms
3.2 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
4.4 ms

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
9.5 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
1.0 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.2
8.7

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Receiver

Key Press 
 

13.9 ms
4.5 ms

Key Release 
 

30.6 ms
6.7 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

8.2
8.2

Multi-Key Raw USB  

REALFORCE R2 Multi-Key Raw USB
Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Receiver

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
7.8

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

6.0 ms
5.6 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

21.0 ms
13.9 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

RealForce Connect
VIA

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

No
Yes

Profiles 
 

No Profile
6+
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
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0
10

Android 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
Android, iPhone & iPad
Show Text 

Check Price

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
SEARCH
B&H
SEARCH
B&H
Back to Top

REALFORCE R2

Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.]

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

REALFORCE R2 vs Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.]: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

Follow Discussion0 followingSee All Computer Peripherals DiscussionsCopy link
0 
PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones
We make money directly from you via insider access (which gives you access to extra features) and when you buy a product after clicking a link to a retailer. Learn more about how we work.
We buy our own products, just like you, mostly from the United States. When a product is discontinued or no longer popular, we sell the review units locally. You can see what products we currently have for sale here.
© 2025 9298-5266 Quebec Inc. All Rights Reserved. Visit our corporate site.