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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 12, 2026

Keychron K13 Pro vs K3QMK or compact 75%

Choose the K13 Pro for QMK/VIA customization and its larger 80% layout, or the K3 if its more compact 75% layout is the priority.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron K13 Pro

Battery

Build quality in the top 15% of 80% boards under $100.

If you want

  • QMK and VIA support, with the vendor describing key remapping, macros, and shortcuts.
  • 80% layout with 1000 Hz wired polling and N-key rollover listed for wired and wireless modes.
  • 2000mAh battery and 580g listed weight.

Rules this board out

  • 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-FR. The other board is sold in those layouts.
  • No numpad.
$83 at Keychron

Get the

Keychron K3

Build quality in the bottom 40% of 75% boards under $150.

If you want

  • 75% layout, smaller than the K13 Pro's 80% layout.
  • Bluetooth and wired connectivity, with a 1550mAh battery.
  • Hot-swappable low-profile switches and multimedia keys.

Rules this board out

  • 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.
$105 at Keychron (DE)

Bottom line

Pick the K13 Pro if QMK/VIA programming, wired 1000 Hz polling, or its 80% layout are the deciding features. Choose the K3 if you prefer a 75% footprint and do not need the K13 Pro's stated firmware features. For either model, confirm your regional layout and low-profile switch and keycap requirements before ordering.

What actually differs

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 K13 Pro

Keychron K3

  • Layout size

    80%

    75%

  • Battery

    2,000 mAh

    1,550 mAh

    A larger battery means fewer cables during the day

  • Case material

    ABS, Aluminum, Plastic

    ABS, Aluminum

  • Mount style

    Plate Mount, Tray Mount

    Plate Mount

  • QMK

    Yes

    No

    The deep option when you want to remap every key

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron K13 Pro
  • Keychron K3
Performance
81
64
Build quality
81
61
Productivity
79
66
Customizability
88
68
Portability
73
80

What they share

  • Connection: Bluetooth, Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Low profile
  • Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
  • Plate material: Plastic
  • Keycaps: ABS, PBT
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The K13 Pro leads where explicit programmability, wired polling details, and a larger layout are useful. The K3 is the more compact choice by layout size, though its listed battery capacity is smaller and no weight is given for a direct comparison. Both have hot-swap support and multimedia keys, but their switch technologies and regional layouts differ. Check the low-profile compatibility limits before buying replacement switches or keycaps.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron K13 Pro

  • The K13 Pro lists a 1000 Hz wired polling rate.
  • Its N-key rollover is specified for both wired and wireless modes.
  • The K3 listing does not provide a polling-rate specification.
$83 at Keychron

Full specs

Keychron K13 Pro vs K3 specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

9 of 25 specs differ

Keychron K13 Pro

Keychron K3

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Plate Mount

Low profile

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

80%
75%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-UK, JIS
ANSI, ISO, ISO-FR

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
—

Battery

2,000 mAhBetter
1,550 mAh

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS, Aluminum, Plastic
ABS, Aluminum

Plate material

Plastic
Plastic

Keycaps

ABS, PBT
ABS, PBT

Weight

580 g
—

Dimensions

8 x 346 x 119 mm
—

Typing angle

3°
6°

Backlight

RGB, north-facing
RGB, north-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
No

VIA

Yes
No

N-key rollover

Yes
No

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2023
2023

Where to buy

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 K13 Pro4 stores
Keychron K33 stores

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

Keychron K13 Pro

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic

    In stockShips to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Keychron K3

FAQ

Keychron K13 Pro vs K3: your questions

The K13 Pro has an 80% layout and lists QMK and VIA support, while the K3 uses a 75% layout. Both are low-profile, hot-swappable keyboards with Bluetooth and wired connectivity.

Yes, the K13 Pro lists QMK and VIA support. Keychron describes using its Launcher web app for key remapping, macros, and shortcuts.

The K3's listed features include hot-swap support, multimedia keys, and wired and Bluetooth connectivity. QMK or VIA support is not listed for this model.

The K13 Pro specifies 1000 Hz polling in wired mode and N-key rollover for both wired and wireless modes. The K3 listing does not specify a polling rate, so the K13 Pro has the clearer documented gaming specifications.

No, its compatibility rules specify low-profile keycaps and state that standard MX keycaps will not fit. The north-facing LEDs can also cause Cherry-profile keycaps to hit the switch housing.

Yes, the K13 Pro is listed as hot-swappable, and Keychron describes switch changes without soldering. Its compatibility is limited to low-profile Gateron or Keychron mechanical switches, not low-profile optical switches.

The K3 is listed as hot-swappable, and the vendor describes a low-profile optical-switch version with switches that can be changed without soldering. Its compatibility rules require low-profile switches and keycaps, and standard MX keycaps will not fit.

The K3 has a 75% layout, while the K13 Pro has an 80% layout. Neither has a numpad according to its compatibility rules.

The K13 Pro vendor lists UK, German, Swiss, Nordic, French, and Spanish ISO variants. The K3 metadata lists ISO-FR, ISO, and ANSI, but its compatibility rules exclude ISO-DE, ISO-UK, and ISO-Nordic.

The K13 Pro has a listed 2000mAh battery, compared with 1550mAh for the K3. These capacities do not by themselves establish how long either keyboard lasts between charges.

The K13 Pro lists Mac/Windows support, and its vendor description says it includes keycaps for both operating systems. The K3 also lists Mac/Windows support, and its vendor describes extra keycaps for those layouts.

The K3 vendor description says it comes with 17 extra keycaps for Windows and Mac layouts. The K13 Pro vendor also describes keycaps for Mac and Windows, but does not give the same 17-key quantity.

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