Epomaker QK81 vs Keychron K5 SE
Epomaker QK81 is the cheaper pick at $62.99, roughly 26% under Keychron K5 SE ($84.99). Keychron K5 SE offers more keys for full-layout workflows, while Epomaker QK81 trims the footprint. The right pick comes down to which spec trade-offs fit your build — the pick-if grid below breaks that out in detail.
Detailed comparison
Spec-by-spec breakdown — differences highlighted in cyan.
| Spec | Epomaker QK81 | Keychron K5 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Epomaker QK81 | Keychron K5 SE |
| Brand | EPOMAKER | Keychron |
| Price range | $62.99 | $84.99 |
| Community score | — | — |
| Form factor | 75% | Full-size (100%) |
| Key count | 81 | 104 |
| Hot-swap | Yes | Yes |
| Supported switch pins | 3, 5 | 3, 5 |
| Case material | ABS | — |
| Plate material | Polycarbonate | — |
| Mounting style | Gasket mount | — |
| Connectivity | Wired USB-C, Bluetooth (5.0+), 2.4GHz wireless (dongle) | Wired USB-C, Bluetooth (5.0+) |
| RGB lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Layouts supported | — | ISO DE |
| QMK support | Yes | — |
| VIA support | Yes | — |
| Weight (g) | 860 | — |
| Polling rate (Hz) | 1000 | — |
Name
- Epomaker QK81
- Epomaker QK81
- Keychron K5 SE
- Keychron K5 SE
Brand
- Epomaker QK81
- EPOMAKER
- Keychron K5 SE
- Keychron
Price range
- Epomaker QK81
- $62.99
- Keychron K5 SE
- $84.99
Community score
Form factor
- Keychron K5 SE
- Full-size (100%)
Key count
Hot-swap
Supported switch pins
- Epomaker QK81
- 3, 5
- Keychron K5 SE
- 3, 5
Case material
Plate material
- Epomaker QK81
- Polycarbonate
Mounting style
- Epomaker QK81
- Gasket mount
Connectivity
- Epomaker QK81
- Wired USB-C, Bluetooth (5.0+), 2.4GHz wireless (dongle)
- Keychron K5 SE
- Wired USB-C, Bluetooth (5.0+)
RGB lighting
Layouts supported
- Keychron K5 SE
- ISO DE
QMK support
VIA support
Weight (g)
Polling rate (Hz)
- Epomaker QK81
- 1000
Which should you buy?
Epomaker QK81 is the cheaper pick at $62.99, roughly 26% under Keychron K5 SE ($84.99). Keychron K5 SE offers more keys for full-layout workflows, while Epomaker QK81 trims the footprint. The right pick comes down to which spec trade-offs fit your build — the pick-if grid below breaks that out in detail.
Pick Epomaker QK81 if
From $62.99
- You want a 75% layout
- You're on a tighter budget
Pick Keychron K5 SE if
From $84.99
- You want a full-size (100%) layout
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