The M1 V5 is the latest model in the M1 series from MonsGeek, a sub-brand of peripheral manufacturer Akko. It is a customizable, premium mechanical keyboard made of aluminium. The keyboard offers a compact 75% layout and is available both as a barebone version and pre-assembled with five different (interchangeable) Akko key switches, TPU stabilizers and PBT double-shot keycaps. The black pre-assembled MonsGeek M1 V5 in ISO-DE layout is available for our test.
Technical data of the MonsGeek M1 V5
| Switch type |
Mechanical |
| Button switch type | Akko Creamy Cyan (Clicky) |
| Available switch types | Linear, Tactile, Clicky |
| Replaceable switches | yes (hot-swappable), 3-pin and 5-pin |
| Keycaps | PBT Double-Shot |
| Replaceable keycaps | yes |
| Keyboard layout | ISO-DE, 75 % (83 keys) |
| Rollover technology | N-key rollover |
| Illumination | Per-key RGB LEDs |
| Special features | Gasket mounting, pre-mounted TPU stabilizers, programmable rotary control, one hardware profile, VIA support, 15 lighting modes (customizable) |
| Battery capacity | 8,000 mAh |
| Battery life | without RGB: 500 hours, with RGB: 86 hours |
| Connectivity | Wireless (Bluetooth 5.0 and 2.4 GHz RF), USB-C |
| Material | Housing: aluminum, mounting plate: polycarbonate |
| Dimensions: 333 × 146 × 40 mm | 333 × 146 × 40 mm (L x W x H) |
| Weight: 1875 g | 1875 g |
| Color | Housing: black, keycaps: black and silver (other designs available) |
| Scope of delivery | Keyboard, additional switches, additional keycaps, screw-on stabilizers, dongle, USB-C to USB-A spiral cable (1.40 m), switch puller, keycap puller, operating instructions |
| price |
€ 170.87 * |
Scope of delivery
- includes the keyboard, a dongle and a USB-C to USB-A spiral cable
- Additional switches, keycaps, stabilizers and other accessories are included
The MonsGeek M1 V5 comes in a compact black box with mint green and white accents. The name of the keyboard can be found on the front and a drawing on the back. A sticker on the side of the box indicates the installed switches.
The box contains the keyboard and an elongated box containing the other accessories. The other accessories include a dongle, a USB-C to USB-A spiral cable and a user manual. Additional switches, keycaps, screw-on stabilizers, a switch puller and a keycap puller are also included, allowing the keyboard to be customized. The scope of delivery is therefore very comprehensive and offers everything you would expect in this price range.
Design and workmanship of the MonsGeek M1 V5
- Compact 75% keyboard layout with 83 keys and a programmable rotary control
- Key switches and stabilizers are interchangeable
- PBT keycaps, aluminum housing
The MonsGeek M1 V5 has a compact 75% keyboard layout with 83 keys and a programmable rotary control. The keycaps are made of high-quality PBT and are black and silver on our version, which is rather gray, but white keycaps are also included. The lettering on the keys is white, not translucent and uses the double-shot method.
Underneath the keycaps are replaceable Akko key switches, which are mounted on a polycarbonate mounting plate. In our version, Akko Creamy Cyan switches are pre-mounted. The key switches are clicky, blue and translucent and have a light diffuser that diffuses the light evenly, contributing to a brighter and more uniform illumination. The keyboard lighting only shines through between the keys. In addition, there are TPU stabilizers under the larger keys, which contribute to even pressure behaviour. The TPU stabilizers are replaceable, screw-on stabilizers are included. There is also a switch under the Capslock button that allows you to switch between the three connection options.
The housing of the keyboard consists of a black lower part and a black upper part, the lower part is completely covered by the upper part. Both parts are made of high-quality aluminum. Between the two parts, in addition to the mounting plate, there are a number of other plates, e.g. made of PORON foam and silicone, which are intended to contribute to a clear sound and reduce the volume. The USB-C port is located on the back of the housing.
There are four wide rubber pads on the underside of the 1875 g MonsGeek M1 V5 to prevent the keyboard from slipping. The keyboard is tilted, but the tilt angle cannot be adjusted.
Material quality and workmanship
The material and workmanship quality of the MonsGeek M1 V5 is very good. Monsgeek relies on high-quality materials, the keyboard appears very stable despite the very simple assembly and disassembly of the individual parts and leaves no room for criticism.
Software and RGB lighting
- QMK and VIA support
- Settings are saved directly on the keyboard
The MonsGeek M1 V5 is supported by the open source firmware QMK and the open source software VIA. The VIA software enables extensive settings that are saved directly on the keypad. The settings include key assignments and secondary assignments as well as the creation of macros. Further information can be found on the Akko website (link to Akko).
The VIA software also allows you to adjust the lighting. The software offers 15 preset effects whose colors, brightness and speed can be adjusted. You can also create your own effects.
Practical test of the MonsGeek M1 V5
- Pleasant typing feel and pleasant sound
- very good battery life
The MonsGeek M1 V5 impresses in the practical test. Compared to smaller keyboard layouts, the compact 75% keyboard layout offers additional function keys and a programmable rotary control and is a hit in both everyday use and gaming. Additional functions are possible via the Fn key, but MonsGeek does not label the secondary assignments on the keycaps.
The design of the keyboard is very appealing and the quality of the materials and workmanship is very good. The keycaps made of high-quality PBT feel very pleasant thanks to the slightly textured surface and are more durable than keycaps made of ABS. The lettering on the keys is always easy to read with the lighting. The illumination is sufficiently bright and, thanks to the light diffuser on the Akko Creamy Cyan switches, appears more uniform than on other keyboards or key switches without a light diffuser.
The Akko Creamy Cyan switches have an actuating force of 50±7 gf, a forward travel of 2 mm and a total travel of 4 mm. The key switches are therefore somewhat heavier than linear key switches and significantly louder. Further information and a sound recording can be found on the Akko website (link to Akko).
Thanks to the pre-lubricated Akko Creamy Cyan switches and the TPU stabilizers, the keys move very smoothly and without much friction. The typing feel is pleasant both in everyday use and in gaming, although smoother key switches may offer slight advantages in gaming. The sound is also very pleasant overall. Interested parties should note, however, that the blue and translucent housing of the Akko Creamy Cyan switches has an effect on the lighting, e.g. white lighting turns blue through the housing.
The many connection options and battery life are also impressive. The MonsGeek M1 V5 can be connected both wirelessly (Bluetooth 5.0 and 2.4 GHz RF) and via USB-C. Minor problems were occasionally encountered with Bluetooth, with the connection taking significantly longer in some cases after the keyboard went into standby mode and the system booted. These problems did not occur with the other connection options. On the other hand, we rated switching between the connection options more negatively, as the switch is located under the Capslock key and is therefore not easily accessible. The battery life is very good with 500 hours without illumination and 86 hours with illumination.
MonsGeek M1 V5 test: Conclusion
The MonsGeek M1 V5 proves to be a very good keyboard overall in the test. We rate the very appealing design, the customizability and the very good material and workmanship quality positively. The Akko Creamy Cyan switches are also very appealing, but in our opinion they do not stand out from many other Clicky switches either positively or negatively. Thanks to the customizability and simple assembly and disassembly, interested parties can replace the keycaps and key switches at any time. Additional keycaps and screw-on stabilizers are included.
In addition, the keyboard offers many connection options, even if there were occasional problems with Bluetooth, and a very long battery life. Our only negative point is the switch under the Capslock key; a switch on the back of the casing would be much easier to reach.
The MonsGeek M1 V5 is currently available for approx. 160 € (as of 21.04.2025). For this price, you get a very good keyboard with many strengths and few weaknesses. Overall, the price-performance ratio is very good.
- Very good material and manufacturing quality
- Very good battery life
- Very extensive scope of delivery
- Switch under the Capslock button
MonsGeek M1 V5
Processing
Equipment
Ergonomics
Software
Price-performance ratio
93/100
With the M1 V5, MonsGeek offers a keyboard with many strengths such as design, customizability, material and manufacturing quality and only a few weaknesses. The price-performance ratio is very good overall.
