Review: Keychron’s Q5 Max Keyboard Is a Workhorse for Mac Users
Reading Time: 4 minutes The Q5 Max is Keychron’s latest 96% keyboard in their Q-series lineup. The Q5 Max is a QMK/VIA wireless custom mechanical keyboard with a sturdy all-metal case, thick PBT keycaps, plenty of sound-dampening foams, a numberpad, and keycaps labeled for Mac. All this makes it an excellent choice for Mac users at the office.
The Keychron Q5 Max
I have been testing the Keychron Q5 Max for about a month now. I own several other mechanical keyboards, including a V2 from Keychron. I was overall impressed with the Q5 Max–to the point where I have decided to take it to the office to use as my main (keyboard).
Pros and cons summary
The Pros
– Sturdy, heavy aluminum keyboard
– Thick, aesthetically pleasing PBT keycaps and a decent switch selection
– Good Bluetooth connection and battery life
– Included number pad
– Hot-swappable so you can change the switches for a different typing feel and sound
The Cons
– Cost may be more than some want to spend
– Stabilizers may need some tuning if you are sensitive to the sound
Connection types: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless and wired
With this keyboard, you have three different ways you can connect. Most will want to use the Bluetooth connection, as it is easy to set up and good enough for most purposes. For those who need another way to connect, ie. gamers, you can use the keyboard in wired mode or use the 2.4 GHz USB for a 1000 Hz polling rate connection.
This keyboard connects up to three devices via Bluetooth, so you can easily switch between computers or use the keyboard with your iPad or iPhone. I was happy to see that the Bluetooth connection has very little lag. Your first keypress will wake the board, and the following presses will be registered. Also, it doesn’t sleep so quickly that it interrupts your work with having to rewake it.
The sound
For mechanical keyboards, sound is an important factor. Everyone has different preferences for the sound of their boards, and some need to consider whether the sound of their keyboard will annoy those around them.
One of the features of this keyboard is that it is packed with many layers of foam to help dampen sound. In my board, with the Gateron Jupiter Brown switches, the sound level of the board is fairly muted and pleasant and I would say the typing volume is comparable to that of an Apple Magic Keyboard.
The battery
The keychron Q5 Max has a 4000 mAh, which means you won’t need to charge this keyboard too often. If you like the using the RGB backlights, you will definitely need to charge a little more often, depending on which setting you choose and the brightness level. When you do need to charge it, the color-matched braided cable is nice looking and long enough that you can comfortably use your keyboard while charging.
The aesthetics
I was very pleased with the looks of this board. The “Shell White” color is not too blindingly bright, but rather a nice, soft white. I also really like the color of the green accent keycaps. Overall, it has a nice clean look that would go well in many desk setups.
The Q5 Max is also offered in:
- Shell White with white/gray/red side-printed keycaps.
- Carbon Black with white/navy/turquoise keycaps.
- Carbon Black with black/red side-printed keycaps.
- Barebone, Carbon Black or Shell White, with no keycaps or switches included.
The cost
The cost of the Keychron Q5 Max is $219 for the fully-assembled version or $199 for the barebone on Keychron’s website. If you are interested in the Q5 Max but find the price a little high for your taste, take a look at Keychron’s V5 Max. It has many of the same features found in the Q5 Max, but uses an ABS plastic case instead of aluminum and can be purchased for less than half that of the Q5 Max.
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