Keychron J2 HE vs V38K or TKL Layout?
Choose the J2 HE for magnetic switches and 8000 Hz polling, or the V3 for a TKL layout, programmable knob, and broader mechanical-switch customization.
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1.0 (2)1.0 · 2 reviews
from$99at Keychron
4.9 (17)4.9 · 17 reviews
from$54at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron J2 HE
Hall effect
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.
- 75% ANSI layout with a listed weight of 780 g.
- Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation points.
- 8000 Hz polling rate, with polling settings configurable in Keychron Launcher.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron V3
Knob
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $100.
- 80% TKL layout with a programmable rotary knob on the described assembled knob version.
- QMK and VIA support, plus Launcher remapping and macros.
- Hot-swap support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Pick the Keychron J2 HE if adjustable-actuation magnetic switches, 8000 Hz polling, and a lighter, smaller board are your priorities. Choose the Keychron V3 if you want a TKL layout, programmable knob, QMK and VIA support, or broader MX switch-swapping options. Both are wired and customizable, but their switch technologies and layouts make the choice clear.
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 J2 HE
Keychron V3
Layout size
75%
80%
Hall effect (magnetic)
Yes
No
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Case material
Plastic
ABS, Plastic
Mount style
Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Knob
No
Yes
- Keychron J2 HE
- Keychron V3
- Performance
- 8991
- Build quality
- 8388
- Productivity
- 8798
- Customizability
- 8998
- Portability
- 6158
- Connection: Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The J2 HE takes the gaming and travel picks on its magnetic switches, high polling rate, smaller layout, and lower listed weight. The V3 is the more flexible choice for programming and modding, with QMK, VIA, a knob, and broader mechanical-switch support. It also gets the office and content creation picks for its TKL layout and programmable encoder. Both remain wired keyboards, and the better fit depends on whether compact magnetic-switch features or layout and customization matter more.
Pick the Keychron J2 HE
- The J2 HE uses Hall Effect magnetic switches and lists an 8000 Hz polling rate.
- Its adjustable-actuation switches and polling settings are configurable through Keychron Launcher.
- The V3 lists a 1000 Hz polling rate in its vendor description.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron J2 HE
2 owner reviews
“Worked perfectly, best keyboard I've ever owned. For one hour. After that all RGB turned off, and the main function of the keyboard (Typing), no longer works. I can't type with it, the web launcher doesn't detect it either, just don't waste your money.”
Keychron V3
17 owner reviews
“Mainly bought this keyboard for the russian layout, despite this I prefer it over my steelseries apex pro, its nice feel and sounds nice”
Keychron J2 HE vs V3 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 27 specs differ
Keychron J2 HE
Keychron V3
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
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 J2 HE
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
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.
Keychron J2 HE vs V3: your questions
The J2 HE is the more gaming-focused option on paper, with Hall Effect magnetic switches and an 8000 Hz polling rate. The V3 vendor description lists 1000 Hz polling and Keychron K Pro mechanical switches.
The J2 HE lists an 8000 Hz polling rate. Its vendor description says Launcher can switch between 1000 Hz, 4000 Hz, and 8000 Hz.
The vendor describes an assembled V3 knob version with an aluminum rotary encoder. It can be assigned favorite keys and macros through VIA.
Yes, the J2 HE is described as hot-swappable with compatible Hall Effect magnetic switches. Its vendor description does not claim support for the V3's 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
The V3 supports hot-swappable 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches. The vendor says its sockets are mounted on the PCB, so switches can be changed without soldering.
The J2 HE has a 75% layout, while the V3 is an 80% TKL keyboard. Their listed dimensions also show the V3 is longer, at 367 mm, compared with 332 mm for the J2 HE.
The J2 HE is listed at 780 g, while the V3 is listed at 1360 g in the comparison specifications. Both are wired-only keyboards.
Yes, the V3 lists QMK and VIA support, and its vendor description also covers remapping and macros through Keychron Launcher. The J2 HE lists QMK and VIA in its comparison specifications, while its vendor description details Launcher configuration.
Both keyboards have RGB lighting. The J2 HE uses north-facing RGB, while the V3 uses south-facing RGB and is described with non-shine-through PBT keycaps.
Both keyboards are listed as wired-only. Their vendor descriptions specify Type-C connectivity.
The V3 may suit buyers who want an 80% TKL layout, QMK and VIA support, and hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches. The J2 HE is a smaller 75% board with magnetic switches and Launcher-based configuration.
The V3 vendor description says the fully assembled version includes Mac and Windows keycaps and a system toggle. It also describes saving separate layouts for the two systems.
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