Jamesdonkey A3 3.0 vs A3QMK or Barebones Build
Get the A3 3.0 for QMK programming, TTC Iron V2 switches and its 3750mAh battery; choose the A3 for its DIY barebones option, screw-in stabilizers and smaller listed dimensions.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Jamesdonkey A3 3.0
Battery
Build quality in the bottom 40% of 75% boards under $100.
- QMK support, with vendor-described key programming through a web-based driver.
- 3750mAh battery and vendor-described five-layer sound-absorbing padding.
- TTC Iron V2 switches and 22 built-in RGB effects, as specified by the vendor.
Get the
Jamesdonkey A3
Screw-in stabilizers
Build quality in the bottom 50% of 75% boards under $100.
- DIY kit or barebones option for buyers who want to build around a keyboard kit.
- Screw-in stabilizers and listed clicky, linear and tactile switch types.
- Listed dimensions of 40 × 136 × 321 mm and a listed weight of 1000g.
Choose the A3 3.0 for QMK programming, TTC Iron V2 switches, a larger battery and its vendor-described five-layer sound padding. Choose the A3 if you want a barebones build option, screw-in stabilizers or its smaller listed dimensions.
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.
Jamesdonkey A3 3.0
Jamesdonkey A3
Battery
3,750 mAh
3,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
QMK
Yes
No
The deep option when you want to remap every key
Screw-in stabilizers
No
Yes
Easier to tune than the plate-mount stabs you get prebuilt
N-key rollover
No
Yes
Released
2024
2022
- Jamesdonkey A3 3.0
- Jamesdonkey A3
- Performance
- 5360
- Build quality
- 6065
- Productivity
- 8091
- Customizability
- 8285
- Portability
- 7679
- Layout size: 75%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
- Knob
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The A3 3.0 is the clearer fit for programming and for buyers who value its specified switch model, QMK support and lighting effects. The A3’s smaller listed dimensions, known weight and barebones option give it an edge for compactness and hands-on building. Office use also leans toward the A3 3.0 based on its larger battery and QMK support. Both offer a 75% layout, hot-swap sockets and a multimedia knob, so those shared features do not decide the comparison.
Pick the Jamesdonkey A3 3.0
- The A3 3.0 vendor description specifies TTC Iron V2 switches and a 1–2ms response time.
- The A3 lists N-Key Rollover, while the A3 3.0 description specifies full-key conflict-free operation.
Jamesdonkey A3 3.0 vs A3 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
7 of 24 specs differ
Jamesdonkey A3 3.0
Jamesdonkey A3
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
QMK
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
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Jamesdonkey A3 3.0 vs A3: your questions
The A3 3.0 adds QMK support, has a 3750mAh battery and is described by its vendor as having five layers of sound-absorbing padding. The A3 is listed with a DIY kit or barebones option and screw-in stabilizers.
Yes, QMK support is listed for the A3 3.0. Its vendor describes a web-based driver for programming keys and says it supports Windows, Mac and Linux.
QMK support is not listed for the A3. Its vendor listing does describe the keyboard as programmable on all keys, but does not identify QMK.
The A3 3.0 has a listed 3750mAh battery, while the A3 has a listed 3000mAh battery. The A3 vendor description claims up to three to four weeks with the backlight off.
Both keyboards are listed as hot-swappable. The A3 vendor specifies support for 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches.
The A3 3.0 vendor description identifies TTC Iron V2 switches. It also describes their POM shells and gives switch specifications, including a 42gf trigger force and 1.4mm trigger distance.
The A3 metadata lists clicky, linear and tactile switch types. Its vendor page also names Gateron options, including Silver Linea and White Linear.
The A3 has the smaller listed dimensions at 40 × 136 × 321 mm. The A3 3.0 is listed at 42 × 148 × 329 mm.
The A3 is listed at 1000g. No weight is listed for the A3 3.0, so the available specifications do not establish a weight comparison.
Both list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired connectivity. The A3 vendor page identifies its wired connection as USB Type-C.
The A3 is explicitly listed with a DIY kit or barebones option and has screw-in stabilizers. The A3 3.0 is listed as pre-built.
Both are listed with RGB lighting. The A3 3.0 vendor description specifies 22 built-in lighting effects.
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