KeychronV5 Max Custom Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with Number Pad, 96% Layout QMK/VIA 2.4 GHz/Bluetooth 5.1/Wired, RGB Backlit Hot-Swappable Gateron Banana Switch for Mac Windows Linux

I think the V5 is an affordable option for anyone needing a new keyboard. It has tri-mode connection feature and hot-swappable switches along with QMK available directly thru your browser! No downloading questionable software to set your macros, rgb and other bindings of your preference. It is safer and more convenient for the end user. The RGB is not very bright with the key caps installed by default, but you can simply replace them to get the shine thru you like. So gamers and rgb lovers have lots of ways to customize this keyboard. If you are not into the flashy rgb then you can always turn it off.I chose the linear red switches and they are very smooth and somewhat quiet too which does help in settings where quiet is wanted or necessary. I will swap them out though as I always want the ultra silent switches because any type noise from typing, be it the switches or key caps, I will not be happy. It just is how I like my experience, ultra silent always.Trying the different modes, it was great, although I tested bluetooth I never use it but it did connect and work, but lag is there as expected, not horrible but it is there. The 2.4 Ghz was flawless and I noticed no lag that would be noticeable or cause dissatisfaction. Of course the wired was just fine and it charged the keyboard quickly. There is a switch to choose between win/mac too and I use Win 11 and had no issues from the moment I tested it.Other things that stand out are the flip up feet, the gasket mount and included foams which work very well for flex action and sound dampening. The frame is plastic but it is not junk plastic and I feel it is going to hold up for a long while, I don't see it failing just because of the plastic, unless you are trying to break it. I think you'd find it difficult even trying to break this Keychron intentionally.So would I recommend this V5 Max? Without a doubt! It is totally worth the price with the all the features. 100% I'd buy it again and again, either for a backup or a gift.Do I wish it was all aluminum? Maybe and maybe not. I have 2 Azoth TKL keyboards from Asus, and I love them both but if they weren't aluminum it would not really bother me that much. So having an aluminum Keychron is something I would love but it's not in my budget. Maybe someday I'll afford the top of the line Keychrons but...I'm happy with the V5 Max in all it's plastic glory. Oh, almost forgot to mention, there's a knob which you can use for volume and mute. It may be programmable to use for other bindings but I like it for volume and quick muting. I can't forget to point out that it has south facing RGB which will make a lot of people happy.So what do I not like about the V5 Max? The OSA profile key caps, but they're easily replaced! So, this is my review of the Keychron V5 Max and I hope it helps others decide if it is the right keyboard for them.

I have tried many keyboards, I took a chance and got this. I just plugged it in. The switches are buttery smooth, the lighting effects are great. The keyboard looks, good, feels well built, the volume knob is great. First impression: Excellent. It's going to take me awhile to figure out the finer aspects, but I like it better than the Logitech MX which was my last favorite keyboard. You can swap everything on this, so I think maybe keycaps that the light can shine through, software to better control the lighting, but that is all superficial. I'm already in love. I use this as a Home entertainment keyboard in my living room. Not to heavy to use on the couch, but fee;s solid. Comes with all you need for any set up. Thumbs up.

I just bought the M4 Mac Mini a couple of months ago, and I was in the market for a new keyboard to go along with it and figured that going with a hot-swappable mechanical keyboard would be good for repairability and future customization. The build quality feels sturdy, and I don’t feel particularly bothered that the body is made of plastic instead of metal. The keycaps are well made, and the mechanical switch feel is leagues better than any other keyboard I’ve used. I went with the brown switches to get more tactile feedback, and while I haven’t tried any other switches and as such don’t have a good frame of reference, they do feel pretty good to type on. I have no trouble using the keyboard over bluetooth, and it has very good standby battery life. While the backlight doesn’t have any label shine through, it is rather bright and is easy to program. The keyboard software is easy to use and rather robust, and I was easily able to map the F4 key to open Raycast instead of the launchpad, and after a bit of fiddling (mostly due to my own inexperience) turn the knob into a sleep button. The macro layer support also let me turn the home/end keys into dual use pg up/pg down keys, which mitigated their physical absence on the board. One gripe i have is that the board indicates that caps lock is enabled by switching the light behind the key to white, which is very hard to see from behind the left shift key, especially when I’m using a lighter backlight color. Overall I am very satisfied, and this is a very good value for a wireless mechanical board with a numpad.