Keychron K3 HE vs K4 HELayout vs Portability
Choose the K3 HE for portability and a low-profile design, or the K4 HE for a full layout with longer battery life and more extensive switch compatibility.
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4.4 (8)4.4 · 8 reviews
from$119at Keychron
4.2 (10)4.2 · 10 reviews
from$118at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K3 HE
Layout
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $150.
- Ultra-slim low-profile design with 22.0mm front height for ergonomic typing and easy transport.
- Lightweight at only 575g, making it highly portable.
- LSA double-shot PBT keycaps resist oil and wear over time.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- 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-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron K4 HE
Portability
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $150.
- Full 96% layout with numpad enhances productivity for office and content creation tasks.
- Large 4000mAh battery provides up to 110 hours of wireless use.
- Compatible with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches, offering more hot-swap flexibility.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
For buyers who need a compact, travel-friendly keyboard with low-profile ergonomics, the Keychron K3 HE is the better fit, offering a lightweight aluminum-wood build at 575g. However, if you require a full numpad, longer battery life, and wider switch compatibility, the Keychron K4 HE delivers more productivity features and a richer acoustic experience with its foam layers. Choose based on whether portability or layout completeness matters more to your daily use.
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 K3 HE
Keychron K4 HE
Layout size
75%
96%
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired, 2.4 GHz
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Battery
2,600 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Low profile
Yes
No
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Wood
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic, Wood
- Keychron K3 HE
- Keychron K4 HE
- Performance
- 9292
- Build quality
- 8687
- Productivity
- 8894
- Customizability
- 8989
- Portability
- 8256
- Hall effect (magnetic)
- Rapid trigger
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile
- Mount style: Tray Mount
What will you mostly use it for?
The K4 HE wins outright in gaming, office, modding, and content creation due to its full 96% layout, larger battery, and Gateron double-rail switches with TMR sensors. The K3 HE takes the lead in programming and travel, where its lightweight, low-profile 75% design offers better portability and ergonomics. Both keyboards share core magnetic switch features like adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger, and QMK/VIA support, making the layout and battery the main differentiators. For users who prioritize numpad access and longer runtime, the K4 HE is the clear choice; for those who value compactness and easy transport, the K3 HE wins.
Pick the Keychron K4 HE
- 1000 Hz polling rate across wired and 2.4 GHz wireless, matching K3 HE, but with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches featuring TMR sensors for higher resolution.
- Broader switch compatibility with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches, supported by 13 customer reviews.
- Larger 4000mAh battery for longer wireless gaming sessions without recharging.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K3 HE
8 owner reviews
“I am happy with this keyboard! I needed some time to adjust my typing habits, but so far so good.”
“please add a custom firmware file in your as the app can not recognize the keyboard and apparently doesn't have a correct firmware. the reset buttons do not work as well”
Keychron K4 HE
10 owner reviews
“So far it have met my expectations for the use i wanted it for, had a small hic up the first day i started ysing it but got easily resolved with the provided user manual”
“The keyboard is smooth to the touch, and has the nice feel. For me, it's almost an ideal keyboard but the one thing that gets me and it's a hard issue is that when connected, it takes away input from my controller when I game, especially for live service…”
Keychron K3 HE vs K4 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K3 HE
Keychron K4 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
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 K3 HE
Keychron
ISO-DE
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron K4 HE
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-CH
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 K3 HE vs K4 HE: your questions
The Keychron K3 HE uses a compact 75% layout without a numpad, while the K4 HE uses a 96% layout that includes a full numpad. The K3 HE measures 318.62 x 126 mm, while the K4 HE is larger at 373-377 x 126 mm, making the K4 better for data entry but less portable.
The Keychron K4 HE has a 4000mAh battery rated for up to 110 hours of wireless use, significantly more than the K3 HE's 2600mAh battery rated at up to 55 hours. Both batteries are rechargeable li-polymer, but the K4 HE offers nearly double the runtime.
No, the Keychron K3 HE is only compatible with Keychron Ultra-Fast Lime Low-Profile magnetic switches. It does not support Gateron double-rail magnetic switches, which are designed for the K4 HE and other full-height boards.
Yes, both the K3 HE and K4 HE are hot-swappable, but they use different magnetic switch families. The K3 HE only accepts Keychron Ultra-Fast Lime low-profile switches, while the K4 HE only accepts Gateron double-rail magnetic switches. Neither supports standard mechanical switches or other magnetic switch brands.
Both support 1000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, plus magnetic switch features like adjustable actuation (0.2-2.9mm on K3 HE, 0.2-3.8mm on K4 HE), Rapid Trigger, and analog mode. The K4 HE uses Gateron switches with TMR sensors for potentially higher resolution, and has more positive customer reviews for gaming performance.
Yes, both the Keychron K3 HE and K4 HE support QMK firmware and the Keychron Launcher web app for key remapping, macros, and backlight control. The Launcher works via a Chrome, Opera, or Edge browser when the keyboard is connected in wired mode.
The Keychron K3 HE weighs about 575g, making it much lighter and more portable than the K4 HE, which weighs around 1066-1090g. The K3 HE's low-profile design (22.0mm front height) also makes it easier to slip into a bag compared to the taller K4 HE.
The Keychron K4 HE includes more sound dampening layers: EVA acoustic foam, EPDM foam, silicone acoustic pad, and bottom case PET film. The K3 HE has sound-absorbing foam, silicone bottom pad, and PET film, but fewer total layers. The K4 HE is designed for a soft, thocky sound, while the K3 HE emphasizes a clean, low-profile typing experience.
No, the K3 HE uses low-profile LSA (low-profile spherical-angled) keycaps, while the K4 HE uses full-height OSA or Cherry profile keycaps. The stem mounts differ, so low-profile keycaps from the K3 HE will not fit the K4 HE, and vice versa.
Yes, both the Keychron K3 HE and K4 HE are compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux. They include a system toggle and come with additional keycaps for Mac and Windows, allowing users to switch between operating systems easily.
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