Keychron K1 Pro vs K3 Ultra80% vs 75% Low Profile
Pick the K3 Ultra for 2.4 GHz, 8000 Hz polling and a wood and metal frame, or the K1 Pro for a wider 80% TKL layout with a broader ISO and JIS layout list.
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5.0 (5)5.0 · 5 reviews
from$67at Keychron
4.3 (9)4.3 · 9 reviews
from$109at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K1 Pro
80%
Build quality in the top 15% of 80% boards under $100.
- 80% TKL layout with 87 keys and 12 multimedia keys.
- QMK firmware with the Keychron Launcher web app for remapping and macros.
- Wide layout coverage including ANSI, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-UK, JIS, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-SW.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron K3 Ultra
75% Low Profile
Build quality in the top 30% of 75% boards under $150.
- 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, with Bluetooth 5.2 also available.
- 2600 mAh battery rated for up to 550 hours with the backlight off.
- Wood and metal frame with an anodized aluminum alloy plate.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Choose the K3 Ultra if 2.4 GHz, 8000 Hz polling, a 75% footprint, and the wood and metal frame matter more than layout width. Choose the K1 Pro if you want an 80% TKL layout with a full ISO and JIS layout list and QMK support, and you are comfortable with Bluetooth-only wireless. Read the K3 Ultra reviews on key registration before committing, since that is the main reported risk.
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 K1 Pro
Keychron K3 Ultra
Layout size
80%
75%
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Battery
2,000 mAh
2,600 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Max polling rate
1,000 Hz
8,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic
ABS, Wood
- Keychron K1 Pro
- Keychron K3 Ultra
- Performance
- 8186
- Build quality
- 8075
- Productivity
- 7989
- Customizability
- 8886
- Portability
- 7382
- Hot-swappable
- Low profile
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The K3 Ultra takes gaming, travel, modding, and content creation on the strength of 2.4 GHz, 8000 Hz polling, a smaller footprint, a larger battery, and multi-layer acoustic foam. The K1 Pro wins office and programming because its 80% TKL layout keeps the function row and navigation keys, and its QMK and Launcher support is well documented. Layout coverage also favors the K1 Pro, which lists ISO, JIS, and ANSI variants, while the K3 Ultra lists ANSI and ISO. Buyers should weigh the K3 Ultra's stronger wireless specification against the registration complaints in its user reviews.
Pick the Keychron K3 Ultra
- The K3 Ultra lists 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, while the K1 Pro lists 1000 Hz wired and 90 Hz wireless.
- The K3 Ultra adds a 2.4 GHz connection alongside Bluetooth and wired, giving a low-latency wireless option the K1 Pro does not list.
- Both list N-key rollover for wireless and wired modes, so the differentiator is polling rate and 2.4 GHz support.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K1 Pro
5 owner reviews
“I realy like this keyboard. I feel is harder to make typos compared to the K3 v2. I decided to go with the K1 Pro instead of the K3 Pro and it's going to to take time to adjust to the new layout, but the feeling and shape of the keys is definitely better.”
Keychron K3 Ultra
9 owner reviews
“Portable, match my minimalist setup, great feeling, high quality, durable”
“Meh. I dont like the wood grain and they make it difficult to return or exchange”
Keychron K1 Pro vs K3 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 26 specs differ
Keychron K1 Pro
Keychron K3 Ultra
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
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 K1 Pro
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron K3 Ultra
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
In 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 K1 Pro vs K3 Ultra: your questions
The K1 Pro is an 80% TKL board with QMK firmware, Bluetooth only wireless, and a 1000 Hz wired polling rate. The K3 Ultra is a 75% board with ZMK firmware, 2.4 GHz plus Bluetooth 5.2, and 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes. The choice comes down to layout width versus wireless performance.
Keychron lists 8000 Hz polling for the K3 Ultra in both wired and 2.4 GHz modes, with Bluetooth listed at 125 Hz. The 8K rate is enabled through the ZMK firmware and the ARM MCU with 1 MB of flash. Bluetooth mode does not run at 8000 Hz.
The K1 Pro uses an 80% TKL layout with 87 keys, QMK firmware, and the Keychron Launcher web app for key remapping and macros. Keychron states it works with macOS, Windows, and Linux. One reviewer specifically describes using it for daily programming with a macOS layout that also suits Linux machines.
The K3 Ultra is the smaller board at 320.62 x 126.00 mm and 566 g, against 346 x 119 mm and 580 g for the K1 Pro. It also has a larger 2600 mAh battery rated for up to 550 hours with the backlight off. Keychron sells a travel pouch sized for the K3 family as an add-on.
Yes, both list hot-swappable designs, though the K1 Pro's hot-swap option is tied to the hot-swappable Low Profile Gateron Mechanical variant. Keychron notes the K1 Pro is compatible with Gateron low-profile mechanical switches only, since QMK does not support low-profile optical switches. The K3 Ultra uses Keychron Milk POM switches in Red, Brown, or Banana.
Keychron lists IXPE acoustic foam, EPDM foam, latex sound-absorbing foam, and bottom case acoustic foam in the K3 Ultra. These layers are intended to dampen echo, reduce hollow sounds, and cushion the typing feel. The K1 Pro does not list acoustic foam layers.
Keychron rates the K3 Ultra's 2600 mAh battery at up to 550 hours with the backlight off. The K1 Pro carries a 2000 mAh battery, and Keychron's low-profile series comparison lists the K Pro class at up to 100 hours. The K3 Ultra has the larger cell and the longer rated runtime.
Keychron states the K3 Ultra works with macOS, Windows, and Linux, and includes Mac and Windows keycaps for switching between systems. Remapping and macros run through the Keychron Launcher web app with ZMK firmware. The K1 Pro offers the same three-system support with QMK firmware.
Several user reviews on the Keychron listing report missed keystrokes and double registrations. One reviewer traced their issue to a 50 ms keystroke delay default in the Keychron Launcher and lowered it to 10 ms. Another reviewer said the 8K polling rate did not feel like an improvement over prior 1K Keychron boards.
The K1 Pro lists ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-UK, JIS, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, and ISO-SW variants. The K3 Ultra lists ANSI and ISO, with color options including ISO-German, ISO-UK, and ISO-Nordic. Buyers who need JIS or a specific ISO language layout should check the K1 Pro first.
Keychron lists QMK firmware on the K1 Pro and ZMK firmware on the K3 Ultra. Both pair with the Keychron Launcher web app for key remapping, macros, and shortcuts. The K3 Ultra's ZMK firmware is what enables its 8000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
The K3 Ultra lists 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, plus a 2.4 GHz connection the K1 Pro does not offer. The K1 Pro lists 1000 Hz wired polling and 90 Hz wireless over Bluetooth. Both include N-key rollover in wireless and wired modes, so polling rate and 2.4 GHz support are the deciding factors.
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