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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 11, 2026

Chilkey SF60 HE vs Keychron Q3 HECompact vs TKL

Choose the Chilkey SF60 HE for a smaller 60% footprint, or the Keychron Q3 HE for a TKL layout, knob, and more extensive customization.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Chilkey SF60 HE

Compact

Build quality in the top 40% of 60% boards under $200.

If you want

  • Compact 60% ANSI layout with 64 keys, according to Chilkey's product description.
  • Magnetic switches, Rapid Trigger, and an 8000 Hz polling rate.
  • FR4 plate and five-layer acoustic filling are described by the vendor.

Rules this board out

  • Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
  • Compact layout only. No function row, dedicated arrow keys, or numpad.

Get the

Keychron Q3 HE

TKL

Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $300.

If you want

  • 80% TKL layout with a knob, function row, and dedicated arrow keys.
  • Aluminum case and aluminum plate with a gasket mount.
  • Hot-swappable magnetic switches, with Keychron specifying compatible Lime and Gateron Jade switches.

Rules this board out

  • Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • No numpad.

Bottom line

Choose the Chilkey SF60 HE if a compact 60% ANSI board is the deciding factor. Choose the Keychron Q3 HE if you want a TKL layout, knob, additional layout options, and broader customization features. Both provide magnetic switches, Rapid Trigger, and an 8000 Hz polling option, so prioritize the layout and controls you will use every day.

What actually differs

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.

Chilkey SF60 HE

Keychron Q3 HE

  • Layout size

    60%

    80%

  • Connection

    Wired

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Hot-swappable

    No

    Yes

    Switch changes without soldering

  • Case material

    Aluminum

    Aluminum, Metal

  • Switch options

    Magnetic

    Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Chilkey SF60 HE
  • Keychron Q3 HE
Performance
91
100
Build quality
66
88
Productivity
50
97
Customizability
45
98
Portability
66
78

What they share

  • Hall effect (magnetic)
  • Rapid trigger
  • Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
  • Mount style: Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
  • Sound dampening
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Q3 HE takes the lead in gaming features, office use, programming, modding, and content creation, largely through its larger layout and additional controls. The SF60 HE is the more fitting choice when a compact 60% layout is the priority. Both are wired magnetic boards with Rapid Trigger and an 8000 Hz polling option, so the main trade-off is not between basic gaming features. Buyers should also check layout and switch compatibility before choosing.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron Q3 HE

  • Both list an 8000 Hz polling rate and Rapid Trigger.
  • The Q3 HE adds adjustable actuation, Dynamic Keystrokes, Analog Mode, and Last Key Priority.
  • The SF60 HE includes Dynamic Keystroke and Snappy Tappy features, but its metadata lists a 60% layout.

Full specs

Chilkey SF60 HE vs Keychron Q3 HE specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

15 of 29 specs differ

Chilkey SF60 HE

Keychron Q3 HE

Typing & switches

Switch options

Magnetic
Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile

Hall effect (magnetic)

Yes
Yes

Rapid trigger

Yes
Yes

Hot-swappable

No
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

60%
80%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

No
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

8,000 Hz
8,000 Hz

Battery

Wired only
4,000 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Aluminum
Aluminum, Metal

Plate material

FR4
Aluminum

Keycaps

—
PBT

Weight

—
1,775 g

Dimensions

—
23 x 137 x 365 mm

Typing angle

—
5°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

No
Yes

N-key rollover

No
Yes

Mac & Windows

No
Yes

Extras

Released

2026
2024

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

Chilkey SF60 HE

No ISO layout at the stores we track.

Keychron Q3 HE

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW

    Out of stockShips to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

FAQ

Chilkey SF60 HE vs Keychron Q3 HE: your questions

The Chilkey SF60 HE is a 60% keyboard, while the Keychron Q3 HE is an 80% TKL model. The SF60 HE is the more compact choice by layout.

Yes, metadata lists an 8000 Hz polling rate for both models. Keychron describes the Q3 HE 8K as reaching 8000 Hz in wired mode.

Both models are listed as wired-only in their connectivity metadata. The Q3 HE 8K vendor specifications also describe a Type-C wired connection.

No. Both compatibility rule sets specify magnetic switches only and say standard MX switches will not fit.

The Keychron Q3 HE has an 80% TKL layout with a function row and dedicated arrow keys. The Chilkey SF60 HE's 60% layout does not have those dedicated keys.

Yes, the Q3 HE is listed as hot-swappable. Keychron specifies compatible Lime and Gateron Jade magnetic switches, so standard mechanical switches are not supported.

No. Its compatibility rules state that ISO layouts such as ISO-DE and UK are not offered. The Q3 HE metadata lists several ISO variants as well as ANSI.

The Keychron Q3 HE is listed with a knob and multi-media keys. The SF60 HE's listed extra features do not include a knob.

The SF60 HE metadata lists an FR4 plate, and Chilkey's vendor description also names FR4. The Q3 HE metadata and Keychron's product specifications list an aluminum plate.

Both use south-facing RGB LEDs, and both compatibility rule sets warn that shine-through legends stay dark. They also note that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

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