Keychron K1 V5 vs K3 Pro
Choose the K1 V5 for its larger 80% layout and bigger battery, or the K3 Pro for QMK/VIA customization and PBT keycaps.
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4.8 (1,458)4.8 · 1,458 reviews
from$54at Keychron
4.8 (52)4.8 · 52 reviews
from$67at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K1 V5
Battery
Build quality in the top 40% of 80% boards under $100.
- 80% ANSI layout provides more keys than the K3 Pro's 75% layout.
- 2000mAh battery, larger than the K3 Pro's 1550mAh battery.
- Bluetooth, wired, and wireless connectivity are listed.
- 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 Pro
QMK
Build quality in the top 15% of 75% boards under $100.
- QMK and VIA support, with Keychron Launcher for remapping and macros.
- 75% layout and 525g listed weight make it smaller and lighter than the K1 V5.
- Low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps, with dye-sublimated PBT on the Special Edition.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Pick the K1 V5 if you want an 80% layout and prioritize its larger 2000mAh battery. Choose the K3 Pro if you want QMK/VIA customization, PBT keycaps, or a smaller, lighter board. For switch changes on the K3 Pro, check that you are buying its hot-swappable version.
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 V5
Keychron K3 Pro
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, Plastic
Mount style
Tray Mount
Plate Mount, Tray Mount
QMK
No
Yes
The deep option when you want to remap every key
- Keychron K1 V5
- Keychron K3 Pro
- Performance
- 6382
- Build quality
- 6781
- Productivity
- 6780
- Customizability
- 7089
- Portability
- 7478
- Connection: Bluetooth, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Low profile
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
What will you mostly use it for?
The K3 Pro has the clearer edge for customization, travel, and macro-oriented workflows, while the K1 V5 offers a larger layout and bigger battery for desk use. Both provide multimedia keys, Bluetooth and wired connectivity, and hot-swappable options. The K3 Pro's listed 1000 Hz polling rate and N-key rollover suit buyers who prioritize those gaming-related features. Neither is a universal choice, the preferred layout and customization options decide most comparisons.
Pick the Keychron K3 Pro
- The K3 Pro lists a 1000 Hz polling rate and N-key rollover for wired and wireless modes.
- Its 75% layout is smaller than the K1 V5's 80% layout.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K1 V5
1,458 owner reviews
“Cant beat this keyboard. Everything I wanted for a great price. Great for Mac and just as good as any keyboard for PC. I use ti for my work pc and personal Mac.”
Keychron K3 Pro
52 owner reviews
“For anyone buying this, remember to toggle the switch to the correct operating system. Other than that, the feel is good and it comes with a good feature set for a low price”
Keychron K1 V5 vs K3 Pro specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 24 specs differ
Keychron K1 V5
Keychron K3 Pro
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
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 V5
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron K3 Pro
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, 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.
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 V5 vs K3 Pro: your questions
The K1 V5 has an 80% layout and a 2000mAh battery. The K3 Pro has a 75% layout, QMK/VIA support, PBT keycaps, and a 1550mAh battery.
Yes, QMK and VIA support are listed for the K3 Pro. Keychron also describes using its Launcher web app for key remapping and macros.
Hot-swappable is listed as a feature for the K1 V5. The product listing describes a hot-swappable Keychron optical switch option, so check the specific version and switch type when ordering.
The K1 V5 has a 2000mAh battery, compared with 1550mAh in the K3 Pro. The K1 V5 vendor description lists up to 190 hours, but that figure is not listed for the K3 Pro.
The K3 Pro is listed at 525g and measures 306 x 116 mm. The K1 V5 is about 650g and measures 355 x 120 mm.
The K1 V5 is listed with ABS keycaps, and its vendor description identifies them as LSA ABS that are not shine-through. The K3 Pro uses low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps, while its Special Edition uses dye-sublimated PBT.
Both vendor descriptions list a 1000 Hz polling rate. The K3 Pro listing specifies 1000 Hz in wired mode and separately gives a 90 Hz wireless polling rate.
The K3 Pro vendor description says it can connect wirelessly to up to three devices via Bluetooth. The K1 V5 is listed with Bluetooth, but a device count is not specified.
Both keyboards have hot-swappable options, but the K3 Pro vendor description specifies compatibility with Gateron low-profile mechanical switches. The K1 V5 listing describes a hot-swappable Keychron optical option, so verify the switch version before buying.
The K3 Pro metadata lists ISO variants, including ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, and ISO-UK, as well as ANSI and JIS. Its vendor description presents an ANSI version, so confirm the layout of the specific listing.
Mac/Win support is listed for both keyboards. The K3 Pro vendor description also says it includes keycaps for macOS and Windows.
The K3 Pro has QMK and VIA support, and its vendor description says Keychron Launcher can be used for remapping and macros. The K1 V5 is listed as hot-swappable, but QMK or VIA support is not listed for it.
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