Keychron K3 HE vs K4 MaxMagnetic vs Mechanical
Choose the K3 HE for low-profile magnetic controls and gaming features, or the K4 Max for a larger 96% layout and broader mechanical switch swapping.
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5.0 (6)5.0 · 6 reviews
from$119at Keychron
5.0 (1)5.0 · 1 reviews
from$99at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K3 HE
Magnetic
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $150.
- Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 2.9 mm.
- Rapid Trigger, dynamic keystrokes, and analog mode are listed features.
- 75% low-profile design weighs 580 g.
- 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.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron K4 Max
Mechanical
Build quality in the top 20% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% layout includes more keys and multimedia keys.
- Hot-swappable version supports a broad range of 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.
- 4000 mAh battery, with Keychron listing up to 190 hours of use.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Pick the K3 HE if adjustable magnetic actuation, Rapid Trigger, and a lighter low-profile build are your priorities. Choose the K4 Max if you want a 96% layout, a larger battery, or broader MX-style mechanical switch swapping. The central trade-off is specialized magnetic functionality and portability versus more keys and mechanical switch flexibility.
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 Max
Layout size
75%
96%
Hall effect (magnetic)
Yes
No
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
Yes
No
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Battery
2,600 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Low profile
Yes
No
- Keychron K3 HE
- Keychron K4 Max
- Performance
- 9282
- Build quality
- 8680
- Productivity
- 8989
- Customizability
- 8992
- Portability
- 8251
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The K3 HE is the more targeted choice for gaming features and carrying a keyboard between locations. The K4 Max has an edge for desk-based work where a larger layout, multimedia keys, or wider mechanical switch choice is useful. Both offer wireless and wired connections and support QMK and VIA, so the main split is magnetic gaming functionality versus a roomier mechanical layout. For other workflows, choose based on preferred size and switch type.
Pick the Keychron K3 HE
- The K3 HE uses Hall Effect magnetic switches and supports Rapid Trigger.
- Its actuation point is adjustable from 0.2 to 2.9 mm, and it supports four actions per key based on press depth.
- Both keyboards list a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K3 HE
6 owner reviews
“I am happy with this keyboard! I needed some time to adjust my typing habits, but so far so good.”
Keychron K4 Max
1 owner reviews
Keychron K3 HE vs K4 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
19 of 29 specs differ
Keychron K3 HE
Keychron K4 Max
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
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 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 Max
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips 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 K3 HE vs K4 Max: your questions
The K3 HE has Hall Effect magnetic switches, adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger, and analog mode, making it the more feature-focused option for gaming controls. Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
The K3 HE is a 75% low-profile keyboard with magnetic switches, while the K4 Max is a 96% mechanical keyboard. The K3 HE emphasizes adjustable actuation and Rapid Trigger, and the K4 Max offers more keys and broader mechanical switch swapping.
Yes, the K3 HE is hot-swappable, but Keychron specifies compatibility with its Ultra-Fast Lime Low-Profile magnetic switches only. It does not offer the broad 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switch compatibility described for the K4 Max.
The hot-swappable K4 Max version supports almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, according to Keychron. The product also has a non-hot-swappable version, so check the version before buying.
The K3 HE is lighter at 580 g, compared with 1290 g for the K4 Max. Its listed dimensions are also smaller, and its design is described as low profile.
Yes, Rapid Trigger is listed for the K3 HE, alongside adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 2.9 mm. Keychron also describes dynamic keystrokes and analog mode for this model.
Keychron lists up to 55 hours for the K3 HE and up to 190 hours for the K4 Max. The K3 HE has a 2600 mAh battery, while the K4 Max has a 4000 mAh battery.
Both keyboards support Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections. Keychron describes Bluetooth pairing with up to three devices for each model.
The K4 Max has a 96% layout, while the K3 HE has a 75% layout, so the K4 Max is the larger option for buyers who want more keys. The product details do not specifically identify a numpad, so confirm the layout image before purchasing if a dedicated numpad is essential.
Both models list Mac and Windows support, and their vendor descriptions also mention Linux compatibility. The K4 Max includes keycaps for Windows and macOS, while the K3 HE is described as offering a Mac layout alongside Windows compatibility.
Both models list QMK and VIA support. Their vendor descriptions also identify Keychron Launcher as a tool for remapping keys and setting up macros.
The K3 HE is explicitly described as low profile and uses low-profile magnetic switches and LSA keycaps. The K4 Max is a standard-profile mechanical keyboard with OSA-profile keycaps.
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