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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 12, 2026

Keychron C3 Pro vs Keycool 87

Get the Keychron C3 Pro for hot-swappable and qmk.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron C3 Pro

Hot-swappable

Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $100.

Rules this board out

  • North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.

Get the

Keycool 87

Build quality in the bottom 15% of 80% boards under $100.

Rules this board out

  • Switches are soldered. Swapping them means soldering.

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.

Keychron C3 Pro

Keycool 87

  • Hot-swappable

    Yes

    No

    Switch changes without soldering

  • Case material

    ABS, Plastic

    ABS

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount

    Plate Mount

  • QMK

    Yes

    No

    The deep option when you want to remap every key

  • VIA

    Yes

    No

    GUI remapping without compiling firmware

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron C3 Pro
  • Keycool 87
Performance
90
75
Build quality
81
47
Productivity
91
58
Customizability
88
61
Portability
58
56

What they share

  • Layout size: 80%
  • Connection: Wired
  • Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
  • Keycaps: ABS, PBT
See every spec side by side

Full specs

Keychron C3 Pro vs Keycool 87 specs

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

10 of 24 specs differ

Keychron C3 Pro

Keycool 87

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
No

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Plate Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
No

Layout

Layout size

80%
80%

Layout standard

ANSI
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Display

None
None

Media keys

No
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

8,000 Hz
—

USB-C

Yes
No

Build & materials

Case material

ABS, Plastic
ABS

Plate material

Plastic, Steel
Plastic

Keycaps

ABS, PBT
ABS, PBT

Weight

912 g
—

Dimensions

21 x 365 x 138 mm
—

Typing angle

4°, 6°
—

Backlight

RGB, north-facing
RGB

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
No

VIA

Yes
No

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2023
2023

Where to buy

Compare prices

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

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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

Keycool 872 stores

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