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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 2, 2026

Redragon HORUS K618 HE vs Keychron K3 V3

Choose the Redragon for Hall Effect switches, Rapid Trigger, and 8000Hz polling, or the Keychron for wireless flexibility and a compact, customizable layout.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Redragon HORUS K618 HE

Hall effect

If you want

  • Hall Effect magnetic switches with Rapid Trigger.
  • 8000 Hz polling rate and N-Key Rollover.
  • Metal case and wired USB-C connectivity.

Rules this board out

  • Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
  • Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
  • No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.

Get the

Keychron K3 V3

Hot-swappable

Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.

If you want

  • 75% layout with ANSI and multiple ISO layout options.
  • Bluetooth and wired connectivity, with a 1550mAh battery.
  • QMK and VIA support, plus a hot-swappable option.

Rules this board out

  • Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
  • North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.

Bottom line

Pick the Redragon HORUS K618 HE if wired gaming is the priority and its magnetic switches, Rapid Trigger, and 8000Hz polling match your needs. Choose the Keychron K3 V3 for a smaller wireless setup, broader layout choices, and QMK or hot-swap customization. Before buying the K3 V3, check the exact variant, since hot-swapping is offered only on a specified version.

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.

Redragon HORUS K618 HE

Keychron K3 V3

  • Hall effect (magnetic)

    Yes

    No

    Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing

  • Rapid trigger

    Yes

    No

    Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing

  • Connection

    Wired

    Bluetooth, Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Hot-swappable

    No

    Yes

    Switch changes without soldering

  • Max polling rate

    8,000 Hz

    1,000 Hz

    Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Redragon HORUS K618 HE
  • Keychron K3 V3
Performance
96
82
Build quality
43
83
Productivity
49
80
Customizability
48
89
Portability
42
77

What they share

  • Low profile
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The K618 HE takes the gaming edge on paper, with magnetic Hall Effect switches, Rapid Trigger, and a higher listed polling rate. The K3 V3 is the more adaptable daily-use choice, winning office, programming, travel, and content-creation scenarios through its smaller layout, wireless connectivity, and software customization. Modders should favor the K3 V3, while keeping its low-profile switch and keycap constraints in mind. The K618 HE remains the more specialized pick for buyers prioritizing wired play and rapid actuation.

For gaming

Pick the Redragon HORUS K618 HE

  • The K618 HE uses Hall Effect magnetic switches and supports Rapid Trigger.
  • Its listed polling rate is 8000 Hz, compared with the K3 V3's 1000 Hz in wired mode.
  • The Redragon vendor describes adjustable actuation profiles from 0.1 mm to 2.8 mm.

Full specs

Redragon HORUS K618 HE vs Keychron K3 V3 specs

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

17 of 28 specs differ

Redragon HORUS K618 HE

Keychron K3 V3

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear, Magnetic
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hall effect (magnetic)

Yes
No

Rapid trigger

Yes
No

Hot-swappable

No
Yes

Mount style

—
PCB Mount, Plate Mount, Top Mount

Low profile

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

—
75%

Layout standard

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

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
No

Display

None
None

Media keys

No
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Bluetooth, Wired

Max polling rate

8,000 HzBetter
1,000 Hz

Battery

Wired only
1,550 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Metal
ABS, Aluminum

Plate material

—
Aluminum

Keycaps

—
ABS, PBT

Weight

655 g
540 g

Dimensions

22 x 438 x 148 mm
19 x 306 x 116 mm

Typing angle

—
3°

Backlight

RGB
RGB, north-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

No
Yes

VIA

No
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
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.

Redragon HORUS K618 HE

No ISO layout at the stores we track.

Keychron K3 V3

  • Keychron

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

    In 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

Redragon HORUS K618 HE vs Keychron K3 V3: your questions

The K618 HE is the more gaming-focused option, with Hall Effect magnetic switches, Rapid Trigger, and a listed 8000Hz polling rate. The K3 V3 supports wired gaming at 1000Hz, according to its product specifications.

Yes, Rapid Trigger is listed as a feature of the K618 HE. Redragon also describes adjustable actuation profiles from 0.1 mm to 2.8 mm.

Yes, the K3 V3 supports Bluetooth as well as a wired connection. Its listed battery capacity is 1550mAh.

The K3 V3 is listed at 1000Hz polling in wired mode. Its vendor description separately gives 90Hz in wireless mode.

No, both keyboards have low-profile switch requirements, and the K618 HE specifically requires magnetic switches. The K3 V3 hot-swappable version supports compatible low-profile mechanical switches rather than standard MX switches.

The compatibility rules for both keyboards specify low-profile keycaps, so standard MX keycaps will not fit. The K3 V3 also has north-facing LEDs, which may interfere with Cherry-profile keycaps.

A hot-swappable version is available, but the vendor says this applies to the RGB Backlight Hot-Swappable version. Its compatible switches are Keychron Milk POM or specified Gateron and Keychron low-profile mechanical switches.

The Keychron K3 V3 is smaller, with listed dimensions of 306 x 116 mm and a 75% layout. The K618 HE is listed at 438 x 148 mm and has a 104-key layout in Redragon's description.

The Keychron K3 V3 weighs 540 g, while the Redragon K618 HE weighs 655 g. The Keychron is also shorter and narrower according to their listed dimensions.

The K3 V3 metadata lists both QMK support and VIA support. Keychron describes using its Launcher web app for remapping keys and setting up macros.

No, the K618 HE compatibility rules list ANSI only, with no ISO layout variants. The Keychron K3 V3 is listed in ANSI and several ISO options, including UK and German.

The K3 V3 is the more travel-friendly option based on its smaller dimensions, lower weight, Bluetooth connection, and 1550mAh battery. The K618 HE is wired only and has a larger listed footprint.

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