Jamesdonkey A3 3.0 vs R3 HEWireless or Hall Effect
Get the A3 3.0 for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, QMK and a 75% layout; choose the R3 HE for Hall Effect switches, Rapid Trigger and 8,000 Hz polling.
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Jamesdonkey A3 3.0
Knob
Build quality in the bottom 40% of 75% boards under $100.
- Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired connectivity, with a 3750mAh battery.
- QMK support and a vendor-described web-based driver for programming keys.
- 75% layout with a function row and a multimedia knob with volume and mute functions.
- No numpad.
Get the
Jamesdonkey R3 HE
Hall effect
Build quality in the bottom 45% of 65% boards under $150.
- Hall Effect magnetic switches with Rapid Trigger and vendor-stated 0.01 mm accuracy.
- Aluminum case and dye-sublimation PBT plus silk-screen PC dual-tone keycaps.
- Listed 8,000 Hz polling rate and wired-only connectivity for a gaming-focused setup.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
Choose the Jamesdonkey A3 3.0 for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, QMK programming, a function row and its multimedia knob. Choose the Jamesdonkey R3 HE for Hall Effect switches with Rapid Trigger, 8,000 Hz polling and an aluminum case. The A3 3.0 accepts mechanical-switch hot swaps, while the R3 HE is limited to magnetic switches.
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 R3 HE
Layout size
75%
65%
Hall effect (magnetic)
No
Yes
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
No
Yes
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Knob
Yes
No
- Jamesdonkey A3 3.0
- Jamesdonkey R3 HE
- Performance
- 5391
- Build quality
- 6059
- Productivity
- 8054
- Customizability
- 8257
- Portability
- 7666
- Hot-swappable
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The R3 HE is the gaming-focused pick, with magnetic switches, Rapid Trigger and a listed 8,000 Hz polling rate. The A3 3.0 is more adaptable for office work, programming and content creation, thanks to wireless modes, QMK, its function row and multimedia knob. For travel, the A3 3.0’s battery and wireless connectivity are useful, though its larger 75% layout is a trade-off against the R3 HE’s 65% size. Modders who want QMK and mechanical-switch replacement flexibility should lean toward the A3 3.0.
Pick the Jamesdonkey R3 HE
- Hall Effect magnetic switches support Rapid Trigger, with the vendor describing 0.01 mm accuracy.
- The R3 HE lists an 8,000 Hz polling rate, while the A3 3.0 offers Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired connectivity.
Jamesdonkey A3 3.0 vs R3 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 24 specs differ
Jamesdonkey A3 3.0
Jamesdonkey R3 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
Case material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Backlight
QMK
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
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Jamesdonkey A3 3.0 vs R3 HE: your questions
The R3 HE is the more gaming-focused option, with Hall Effect magnetic switches, Rapid Trigger and a listed 8,000 Hz polling rate. The A3 3.0 instead offers Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired connectivity, plus a 75% layout.
Yes, the R3 HE lists Rapid Trigger as a feature, and its vendor description specifies 0.01 mm accuracy. The vendor also describes adjustable trigger response from 0.1 mm to 3.5 mm.
The product specifications list an 8,000 Hz polling rate for the R3 HE. Its vendor description also states support for an 8K polling rate.
Yes, the A3 3.0 supports Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, as well as a wired connection. It has a listed 3750mAh battery.
The R3 HE is listed as wired only. Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless are listed for the A3 3.0 instead.
No, the R3 HE is limited to magnetic switches, and standard MX switches will not fit. Its hot-swap support does not change that switch-socket restriction.
Yes, the A3 3.0 has hot-swappable sockets, and the vendor describes full-key hot-swappable sockets for its mechanical switches. This makes switch replacement possible without relying on the R3 HE’s magnetic-only switch system.
The A3 3.0 lists QMK support, and its vendor describes a web-based QMK driver for programming keys. QMK support is not listed for the R3 HE.
The A3 3.0 is a 75% keyboard, while the R3 HE is 65%. The R3 HE has no function row or numpad, and the A3 3.0 has no numpad.
The A3 3.0 has a multimedia knob that adjusts volume and offers one-click mute, according to the vendor. The A3 3.0 listing also says the knob can be customized using QMK programming software.
Yes, the R3 HE lists an aluminum case, and its vendor describes a CNC-machined, sandblasted and anodized aluminum chassis. The A3 3.0 listing does not specify an aluminum case.
The A3 3.0 is the more flexible option for wireless use because it supports Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz and has a 3750mAh battery. The R3 HE is wired only, though its 65% layout is smaller than the A3 3.0’s 75% layout.
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