Keychron K1 SE V5 vs K380% vs 75% Low-Profile Keyboard Comparison
Choose the K1 SE V5 for a larger layout and bigger battery, or the K3 for a more compact size and extra accessories.
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4.8 (166)4.8 · 166 reviews
from$59at Keychron
No reviews
from$105at Keychron (DE)
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K1 SE V5
80%
Build quality in the top 40% of 80% boards under $100.
- Larger 2000mAh rechargeable battery for extended wireless use.
- 80% layout retains more keys than a 75% board.
- Vendor claims a reinforced aluminum top case with a steel plate for structure.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps 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 K3
75% Low-Profile Keyboard Comparison
Build quality in the bottom 40% of 75% boards under $150.
- More compact 75% layout for a smaller desk footprint.
- Includes 17 extra keycaps, a keycap puller, a switch puller, and a dust cover.
- Vendor describes it as ultra-slim and lightweight with a streamlined aluminum body.
- 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.
Select the Keychron K1 SE V5 if you value a larger key layout and longer battery life for extended typing sessions. Opt for the Keychron K3 if your priority is a more portable, compact keyboard that comes with useful modding accessories like extra keycaps and a dust cover right out of the box.
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 SE V5
Keychron K3
Layout size
80%
75%
Battery
2,000 mAh
1,550 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
Aluminum, Plastic
ABS, Aluminum
Mount style
Tray Mount
Plate Mount
Layout standard
ANSI, JIS
ANSI, ISO, ISO-FR
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
- Keychron K1 SE V5
- Keychron K3
- Performance
- 6364
- Build quality
- 6761
- Productivity
- 6766
- Customizability
- 7068
- Portability
- 7480
- Connection: Bluetooth, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Low profile
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
What will you mostly use it for?
The K1 SE V5 wins for programming and content creation due to its larger layout and battery. The K3 is the better choice for travel and modding, thanks to its compact form factor and included accessories like extra keycaps and a dust cover. For gaming and office use, the keyboards are closely matched, sharing core wireless and compatibility features.
It's a tie
- Both offer low-profile switches with linear, tactile, and clicky options.
- Both support a wired USB-C connection for a stable link.
- The K1 SE V5 vendor page mentions 0.2 ms ultra-low latency for its optical switches, a claim not made for the K3.
Keychron K1 SE V5 vs K3 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
7 of 19 specs differ
Keychron K1 SE V5
Keychron K3
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Media keys
Connection
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Typing angle
Backlight
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron K1 SE V5
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron K3
Keychron (DE)
ISO-FR
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 SE V5 vs K3: your questions
The Keychron K1 SE V5 uses an 80% layout, while the K3 uses a more compact 75% layout. This means the K3 has a smaller footprint, but the K1 SE V5 retains a few more keys, typically around the navigation cluster.
The Keychron K1 SE V5 has a larger 2000mAh battery, while the K3 has a 1550mAh battery. According to their vendor pages, lab tests show the K1 SE V5 can last up to 190 hours with backlight off, compared to up to 34 hours for the K3 at lowest brightness. Actual results will vary with use.
Both keyboards offer hot-swappable versions, but for different switches. The K1 SE V5 offers hot-swappable versions for low-profile Keychron Optical switches and low-profile Gateron Mechanical switches. The K3 vendor page specifies its hot-swappable feature is for low-profile Keychron Optical switches only.
According to its vendor page, the Keychron K3 package includes the keyboard, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a keycap puller, a switch puller (for the optical version), a dust cover, a user manual, and 17 extra keycaps.
The listed package content for the K1 SE V5 includes the keyboard, a USB-A to USB Type-C cable, a keycap puller, and a user manual. It does not mention extra keycaps, a switch puller, or a dust cover.
No. Both vendor descriptions explicitly state that their low-profile Keychron Optical and low-profile Gateron mechanical versions are not compatible with any normal profile MX-style mechanical switches. They are designed for specific low-profile switches only.
Yes. Both the Keychron K1 SE V5 and K3 are listed as compatible with Mac and Windows devices. The K3 vendor page notes it includes keycaps for both macOS and Windows layouts.
Both the Keychron K1 SE V5 and K3 use Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity, as stated in their respective vendor specifications.
The Keychron K3 is likely more portable. Its vendor page describes it as "one of the thinnest and lightweight wireless mechanical keyboards" due to its 75% layout and streamlined aluminum body. The K1 SE V5 has a larger 80% form factor.
Yes. The vendor page for the K1 SE V5 mentions it has two-level adjustable rubber feet. The K3 also has two-level adjustable rubber feet, and its specifications list a fixed 6-degree typing angle.
Both keyboards offer models with white backlighting or RGB backlighting. Their vendor pages mention adjustable brightness levels and up to 18 different backlight effects or types.
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