Keychron K5 SE vs MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA
MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA is the cheaper pick at $25.11, roughly 70% under Keychron K5 SE ($84.99). Keychron K5 SE offers more keys for full-layout workflows, while MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA 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 | Keychron K5 SE | MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Keychron K5 SE | MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA |
| Brand | Keychron | MonsGeek |
| Price range | $84.99 | $25.11 – $149.99 |
| Community score | — | — |
| Form factor | Full-size (100%) | 75% |
| Key count | 104 | 83 |
| Hot-swap | Yes | Yes |
| Supported switch pins | 3, 5 | 3, 5 |
| Case material | — | — |
| Plate material | — | Polycarbonate |
| Mounting style | — | Gasket mount |
| Connectivity | Wired USB-C, Bluetooth (5.0+) | Wired USB-C, Bluetooth (5.0+), 2.4GHz wireless (dongle) |
| RGB lighting | Yes | Yes |
| Layouts supported | ISO DE | ANSI, ISO UK, ISO DE, ISO Nordic |
| QMK support | — | No |
| VIA support | — | Yes |
| Weight (g) | — | 1600 |
| Polling rate (Hz) | — | 1000 |
Name
- Keychron K5 SE
- Keychron K5 SE
- MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA
- MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA
Brand
- Keychron K5 SE
- Keychron
- MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA
- MonsGeek
Price range
- Keychron K5 SE
- $84.99
- MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA
- $25.11 – $149.99
Community score
Form factor
- Keychron K5 SE
- Full-size (100%)
Key count
Hot-swap
Supported switch pins
- Keychron K5 SE
- 3, 5
Case material
Plate material
- MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA
- Polycarbonate
Mounting style
- MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA
- Gasket mount
Connectivity
- Keychron K5 SE
- Wired USB-C, Bluetooth (5.0+)
- MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA
- Wired USB-C, Bluetooth (5.0+), 2.4GHz wireless (dongle)
RGB lighting
Layouts supported
- Keychron K5 SE
- ISO DE
- MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA
- ANSI, ISO UK, ISO DE, ISO Nordic
QMK support
VIA support
Weight (g)
Polling rate (Hz)
Which should you buy?
MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA is the cheaper pick at $25.11, roughly 70% under Keychron K5 SE ($84.99). Keychron K5 SE offers more keys for full-layout workflows, while MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA 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 Keychron K5 SE if
From $84.99
- You want a full-size (100%) layout
Pick MonsGeek M1 V5 VIA if
From $25.11
- You want a 75% layout
- You're on a tighter budget
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