Keychron vs Keychron V3Aluminum Case or QMK Support
Choose the Keychron for its aluminum case, or the V3 for its documented QMK/VIA support and broader listed layout range.
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Keychron
No reviews
from$19at Input Gear
4.6 (17)4.6 · 17 reviews
from$54at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron
- Aluminum case material.
- Hot-swappable support.
- Knob support.
- Missing ISO-ES, ISO-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Get the
Keychron V3
QMK
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $100.
- QMK and VIA support, with the vendor describing key remapping and macros.
- Hot-swap support for 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
- Lists a 1000 Hz polling rate, N-key rollover, and wired connectivity.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Choose the Keychron if an aluminum case is your priority and its listed layouts meet your needs. Choose the V3 if you want documented QMK/VIA customization, broader listed layout coverage, or its 80% wired format. For shine-through legends, note the V3's south-facing LED compatibility limitation.
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
Keychron V3
Case material
Aluminum
ABS, Plastic
QMK
No
Yes
The deep option when you want to remap every key
VIA
No
Yes
GUI remapping without compiling firmware
Sound dampening
No
Yes
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-UK
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
- Keychron
- Keychron V3
- Performance
- 4691
- Build quality
- 6689
- Productivity
- 4698
- Customizability
- 6798
- Portability
- 4258
- Hot-swappable
- Knob
What will you mostly use it for?
The V3 has the clearest advantages for gaming, office workflows, programming, modding, and content creation because its connectivity, controls, and customization features are specified. Travel is not a clear win for either board: the V3 is wired and has a stated weight, while the other Keychron has no weight or connectivity details. If the case material is the deciding factor, the aluminum-cased Keychron remains the distinct option.
Pick the Keychron V3
- The V3 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate and wired-only connectivity.
- The V3 supports N-key rollover and hot-swappable switches.
Keychron vs Keychron V3 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 26 specs differ
Keychron
Keychron V3
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron
Input Gear
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR
In stockShips to you
Keychron V3
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
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Keychron vs Keychron V3: your questions
The Keychron lists an aluminum case, while the V3 lists QMK/VIA support, wired connectivity, and an 80% layout. The V3 also has a wider set of listed layout options, including ISO-ES and ISO-SW.
Yes, the V3 lists both QMK and VIA support. Its vendor description says these tools can be used for remapping keys and setting macros.
The Keychron is listed with an aluminum case. The V3 is listed with an ABS plastic case.
The V3 is listed as wired-only, with USB-C connectivity in its product details. No wireless connection is listed for it.
The V3 metadata lists ISO, JIS, ANSI, ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-SW. The separate vendor description covers a Russian-ANSI version, so check the specific listing for its exact layout.
Yes, both ISO-ES and ISO-SW appear in the V3's listed layout options. The other Keychron does not list those two layouts.
The V3 is hot-swappable, and its product details specify support for 3-pin and 5-pin switches. Its listed switch types include linear, tactile, and clicky.
The V3 uses south-facing RGB LEDs. Its compatibility note warns that shine-through legends stay dark and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
The V3 lists knob support, and its vendor description calls the aluminum rotary encoder programmable through VIA. That description says the knob can be assigned favorite keys and macros.
The V3 has more explicitly listed modding options, including hot-swap support, QMK/VIA, and tray, plate, and gasket mount styles. The other Keychron also lists hot-swap support and a DIY kit or barebones option.
The V3 metadata lists steel and polycarbonate plate options, and ABS and PBT keycap materials. The vendor description specifies double-shot PBT keycaps for the version it describes.
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