Logitech MX Mechanical vs Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.]

Which Keyboard Is Better?

Products

Logitech MX Mechanical
Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.]

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Dec 09, 2024 06:10 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Jun 19, 2025 06:45 PM

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  1. Recommended in 2 articles:
  2. Office
  3. Low-Profile

Our Verdict

Logitech MX Mechanical

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

The Logitech MX Mechanical and the Keychron K5 Max are wireless mechanical keyboards with low-profile designs. The Logitech has keycaps with shine-through legends, making them much easier to read in darker rooms. On the other hand, the Keychron has significantly better latency performance for gaming and has expanded wireless versatility with an option for 2.4GHz connectivity, which the Logitech lacks. You can also buy the Keychron with a hot-swappable PCB, an option that isn't available for the Logitech.

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Variants

  • MX Mechanical (Graphite)
  • 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%)

Check Price

Graphite
MX Mechanical
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray - 100%
K5 Max
Amazon.com
Graphite
MX Mechanical
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Gray - 65%
K7 Max
Amazon.com
Graphite
MX Mechanical
SEE PRICE
B&H
Gray - 65% (Alice)
K11 Max
Amazon.com
Graphite
MX Mechanical
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Gray - 75%
K3 Max
Amazon.com
 
Gray - 75% (Alice)
K15 Max
Amazon.com
 
Gray - 80%
K1 Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Gray - 96%
K17 Max
Amazon.com
 
Gray - Numpad 80%
K13 Max
Amazon.com

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.2
8.4

Chord Split 
 

4.2
7.4

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.6
9.1

Multi-Key Latency 
 

6.9
8.6

Data Transmission 
 

5.4
8.2

Backlight Features 
 

8.0
10

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0
4.0

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

1.1" (2.7 cm)
0.9" (2.4 cm)

Width  

17.1" (43.4 cm)
16.5" (42.0 cm)

Depth 
 

5.2" (13.2 cm)
4.7" (12.0 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.82 lbs (0.827 kg)
1.60 lbs (0.727 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Keycap Material  

ABS
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
7.0

Side Picture  

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

3.5°
3.3°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
4.5°

Maximum Incline 
 

6.6°

Home Row Height 
 

23.3 mm (0.9")
20.9 mm (0.8")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

5.7
4.4

Customizability Overview  

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes
No

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted
Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

Non-Customizable Design
6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u
1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Low Profile Cherry MX Style
Low Profile Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered
Soldered

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

8.0
10

Backlighting Picture  

Brightness Max  

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

RGB 
 

No
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0
4.0

White Shot  

Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wireless

Detachable 
 

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

Length  

3.4 ft (1.0 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 
 

4.0
6.7

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
4

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

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
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

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

Typing Noise 
 

8.2
9.4

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

49.1 dBA
41.3 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Kailh Choc V2 Low Profile Brown
Gateron Low-Profile MX 2.0 Mechanical Red

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Linear

Analog 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details
See details

Operating Force 
 

48 gf
48 gf

Actuation Force 
 

46 gf
48 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.4 mm
1.8 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.3 mm
2.9 mm
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.6
9.1

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details
See details

Best Connection 
 

12.4 ms
2.9 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±2.9 ms
±0.5 ms

Wired 
 

N/A
2.9 ms

Receiver 
 

12.4 ms
4.4 ms

Bluetooth 
 

16.4 ms
9.7 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

11.2 ms
1.5 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

6.9
8.6

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details
See details

Connection Evaluated  

Receiver
Receiver

Key Press 
 

15.1 ms
4.5 ms

Key Release 
 

40.4 ms
8.7 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

5.4
8.2

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Connection Evaluated  

Receiver
Receiver

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

143 Hz
1,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

No
Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Chord Split 
 

4.2
7.4

Chord Split Graph  

See details
See details

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

22.1 ms
6.5 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

N/A
17.6 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Logi Options+
VIA

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

No
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
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 & Linux
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

9.2
10

Android 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

iOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Partially Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

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

Check Price

Graphite
MX Mechanical
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gray - 100%
K5 Max
Amazon.com
Graphite
MX Mechanical
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Gray - 65%
K7 Max
Amazon.com
Graphite
MX Mechanical
SEE PRICE
B&H
Gray - 65% (Alice)
K11 Max
Amazon.com
Graphite
MX Mechanical
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Gray - 75%
K3 Max
Amazon.com
 
Gray - 75% (Alice)
K15 Max
Amazon.com
 
Gray - 80%
K1 Max
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Gray - 96%
K17 Max
Amazon.com
 
Gray - Numpad 80%
K13 Max
Amazon.com

Logitech MX Mechanical

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

Comments

  1. Comparison

Logitech MX Mechanical vs Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.]: Main Discussion

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