Keychron K1 V6 vs K3 Ultra
Choose the K1 V6 for its 80% layout and QMK firmware, or the K3 Ultra for its smaller 75% layout, 2.4 GHz connection, and longer stated battery life.
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5.0 (4)5.0 · 4 reviews
from$74at Keychron
4.3 (9)4.3 · 9 reviews
from$109at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K1 V6
Build quality in the top 20% of 80% boards under $100.
- 80% layout with dedicated multimedia keys.
- QMK firmware and Keychron Launcher support key remapping and macros.
- Hot-swappable version is available, and the keyboard lists N-key rollover in wired and wireless modes.
- 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
Battery
Build quality in the top 30% of 75% boards under $150.
- Compact 75% layout with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity.
- 8000 Hz polling is listed for wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
- 2600 mAh battery with up to 550 hours listed with backlighting off.
- 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 K1 V6 if you want an 80% layout, QMK, multimedia keys, and shine-through keycaps. Choose the K3 Ultra if a 75% footprint, 2.4 GHz connectivity, higher stated polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, or its longer stated battery life matters more. The K3 Ultra's review feedback includes key-registration complaints, so weigh those reports alongside its connectivity and battery advantages.
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 V6
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
ABS, Wood
- Keychron K1 V6
- Keychron K3 Ultra
- Performance
- 8186
- Build quality
- 7875
- Productivity
- 8089
- Customizability
- 8886
- Portability
- 7382
- Hot-swappable
- Low profile
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
- VIA
- Plate material: Aluminum
What will you mostly use it for?
The K3 Ultra has the edge for gaming on paper, with higher stated polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, and for travel, thanks to its smaller footprint and longer listed battery life. The K1 V6 is a more natural fit when an 80% layout, QMK, or dedicated multimedia keys matter. Office and modding needs are more evenly matched, since both are hot-swappable and configurable, but their layout, firmware, and acoustic details differ. For content creation, the K1 V6's larger layout and multimedia keys make it a sensible pick.
Pick the Keychron K3 Ultra
- The K3 Ultra supports 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes; the K1 V6 lists 1000 Hz wired polling.
- The K3 Ultra adds 2.4 GHz wireless, while the K1 V6 offers Bluetooth and wired connectivity.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K1 V6
4 owner reviews
“Love it! My first mechanical, now typing is a beautiful experience, I enjoy coming back to the keyboard! Remapped with Makros, so I have my apps at the fingertip. I am experiencing some minor bugs like "Enter"-key "stuck", meaning the keyboard typed enter…”
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 V6 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 V6
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 V6
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW
Out of 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.
Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Keychron K1 V6 vs K3 Ultra: your questions
The K1 V6 has an 80% layout and QMK firmware, while the K3 Ultra has a 75% layout and ZMK firmware. The K3 Ultra also adds 2.4 GHz connectivity and lists up to 550 hours of battery life with backlighting off.
Yes, the K3 Ultra supports 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired connections. Its vendor specifications list 8000 Hz polling for 2.4 GHz and wired modes.
The K1 V6 lists Bluetooth and wired connectivity, but not 2.4 GHz. Its listed polling rate is 1000 Hz in wired mode.
The K3 Ultra lists up to 550 hours with backlighting off, from a 2600 mAh battery. The K1 V6 has a 2000 mAh battery, and Keychron's vendor description states up to 160 hours.
Both product listings include hot-swappable switches. The K1 V6 vendor notes that hot-swapping is limited to the hot-swappable version and compatible low-profile mechanical switches.
The K1 V6 uses QMK firmware, while the K3 Ultra uses ZMK. Both vendor descriptions say Keychron Launcher can be used for key remapping and macros.
The K3 Ultra uses a 75% layout, compared with the K1 V6's 80% layout. The K3 Ultra's listed dimensions are 320.62 x 126 mm; the K1 V6 is listed as 346 x 119 mm.
The K1 V6 uses shine-through ABS keycaps, so its backlighting can shine through the legends. The K3 Ultra has non-shine-through double-shot PBT keycaps.
The K1 V6 lists multimedia keys, including 12 multimedia keys in Keychron's vendor specifications. The K3 Ultra's listed features do not include dedicated multimedia keys.
The K3 Ultra lists an aluminum-and-wood body, an anodized aluminum alloy plate, and double-shot PBT keycaps. Its vendor description also names IXPE and EPDM acoustic foam.
Both product listings include Mac and Windows support, and both vendor descriptions also mention Linux. Keychron says the K3 Ultra includes Mac and Windows keycaps.
Some K3 Ultra customer reviews report missed or duplicated keypresses, while other reviewers describe satisfactory everyday use. These are individual experiences, so consider the review feedback if consistent key registration is a priority.
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