GamesRadar+ Verdict
The Keychron M5 is a particularly well-priced vertical gaming mouse.
I broke my hand about ten years ago, and my wrist has never been quite right since.
I was skeptical when the Keychron M5 showed up at my door, though cautiously optimistic.
In some sessions it even presented more problems than it solved.
The wider base and increased pressure on the base of my thumb?
That took a little longer.
This isn’t a magical win for ergonomics - instead, its design places pressure ondifferentplaces around the hand.
It’s the role that my thumb has to play that trips me up the most.
The actual chassis isn’t decked out with anything particularly special.
This is a cheaper-feeling plastic build with a hollow air to it and a non-descript all-black aesthetic.
That smooth material also gets a little clammy during longer sessions.
Creaks are audible when the sides are pushed, though the plastic base never flexes.
I’ll forgive a basic design if the features are all there.
It functions beautifully as an additional accessory in sniper situations in particular.
I can keep my main scroll locked to my weapon wheel while scope-zooming on the other.
That’s really the only time I found myself using it.
This is a simple interface that hides its in-depth features behind a basic coat of paint.
DPI is adjustable in increments of 100, all along a sliding scale.
Interestingly, the polling rate gets the same treatment.
All of those configs are saved directly onto the mouse so it’s truly a set-and-forget experience.
Connection
For a cheaper gaming mouse, the Keychron M5 certainly outdoes itself in its wireless connections.
Still, it’s handy to have in your back pocket when picking up a cheaper gaming mouse.
Unfortunately, that 2.4GHz connection wasn’t the most reliable in my testing.
This was persistent even with every other receiver and Bluetooth signal removed from the setup.
Battery
This is an insane battery life.
I normally charge all my gaming mice to 100% before running their batteries fully down.
It’s been two weeks of normal play and I’m still at 45%.
Keychron estimates that its rodent has 140 hours to live, and based on my usage that feels conservative.
If you keep to higher polling rates you’re going to see a significant drop in battery life.
Sensor
A Pixart PAW 3950 sensor keeps everything rolling here.
That’s a slightly boosted version of the sensor I was expecting from a $69.99 gadget.
The 3950 can run at up to 30,000 DPI with a 750 IPS tracking speed.
There are other benefits present here that are impressive for the price.
It’s also a more efficient sensor overall, which helps ensure that robust battery life as well.
Everything ran smoothly in the Keychron M5.
My wilder panic-sweeps in Apex Legends felt 1:1 with the mouse’s actual position, even at high speeds.
I like the heavier feel in this iteration, though.
The angle of the main clicks means they could easily be accidentally pressed if a shorter.
However, considering the size and shape, these feel like well-tuned switches overall.
Should you buy the Keychron M5?
I also stress-tested the mouse in Apex Legends and CS2.
For more information onhow we test gaming mice, check out the fullGamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.
