ATK A87 vs Keychron V3Wireless or QMK customization
Choose the ATK A87 for Bluetooth and wireless connectivity, or the Keychron V3 for QMK/VIA customization and more layout options.
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No reviews
from$59at Mechkeys
4.9 (17)4.9 · 17 reviews
from$54at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
ATK A87
Build quality in the bottom 5% of 80% boards under $100.
- Bluetooth, wired, and wireless connectivity options.
- 80% ANSI layout with PBT keycaps and RGB lighting.
- Hot-swappable and listed as pre-built.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Get the
Keychron V3
Knob
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $100.
- QMK and VIA support, with a programmable knob for keys and macros.
- Hot-swappable sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches.
- The listed layout options include ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-SW.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Choose the ATK A87 if Bluetooth or wireless connectivity is essential. For a wired setup, the Keychron V3 offers more ways to customize keys and macros, plus a broader selection of layouts and a programmable knob.
The differences that matter
Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.
ATK A87
Keychron V3
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Knob
No
Yes
QMK
No
Yes
The deep option when you want to remap every key
VIA
No
Yes
GUI remapping without compiling firmware
Sound dampening
No
Yes
- ATK A87
- Keychron V3
- Performance
- 4991
- Build quality
- 3988
- Productivity
- 5198
- Customizability
- 5498
- Portability
- 6458
- Layout size: 80%
- Hot-swappable
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron V3 leads in gaming, office customization, programming, modding, and knob-based content workflows, based on its listed polling rate, QMK/VIA support, and extra controls. The ATK A87 is the travel-oriented pick because it offers Bluetooth and wireless connectivity, unlike the wired-only V3. Buyers who need ISO variants should also favor the V3, while those who prioritize a wireless connection have a clear reason to choose the A87.
Pick the Keychron V3
- The Keychron V3 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate.
- Its hot-swappable sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches, according to Keychron.
- The ATK A87 offers wireless options, but no polling-rate figure is listed.
ATK A87 vs Keychron V3 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
14 of 26 specs differ
ATK A87
Keychron V3
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
ATK A87
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron V3
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
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ATK A87 vs Keychron V3: your questions
Yes. The ATK A87 lists Bluetooth, wireless, and wired connectivity. The Keychron V3 is listed as wired only.
The Keychron V3 is listed as wired only, with USB-C connectivity in its product details. For Bluetooth or wireless use, the ATK A87 is the option in this comparison that lists those connections.
The Keychron V3 lists both QMK and VIA support. Keychron says its Launcher web app can be used for key remapping and macros.
Both keyboards are listed as hot-swappable. Keychron specifies that the V3 supports 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
Yes, the Keychron V3 lists knob support, and Keychron describes a programmable rotary encoder. Its keys and macros can be assigned to the knob through VIA.
The Keychron V3 lists ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-SW options, among others. The ATK A87 has no ISO variants listed, including ISO-DE and ISO-UK.
The Keychron V3 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate, making its wired performance more clearly specified for gaming. The ATK A87 offers wireless connectivity, but its listing does not specify a polling rate.
Both keyboards list RGB lighting. The Keychron V3 uses south-facing RGB LEDs, and its product compatibility note warns that shine-through legends stay dark and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
No. Keychron describes the V3's double-shot PBT keycaps as not shine-through. Its south-facing LEDs therefore do not illuminate shine-through legends.
The V3 lists Mac/Win support, and Keychron says it includes a system toggle and keycaps for both systems. The ATK A87 does not have Mac or Windows support details listed here.
The Keychron V3 has the more extensive listed customization features, including QMK, VIA, a programmable knob, hot-swappable sockets, and screw-in stabilizers. The ATK A87 is also hot-swappable, but its listed feature set does not include QMK or VIA.
Yes. Both are listed as 80% keyboards, a TKL-style layout. The V3 is wired only, while the A87 also lists Bluetooth and wireless connectivity.
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