Keychron K3 HE vs K4 ProHall Effect vs 96% Layout
Choose the K3 HE for groundbreaking Hall Effect magnetic switches and extreme portability, or the K4 Pro for a full numpad, deeper customization, and a proven feature set at a lower price.
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4.4 (8)4.4 · 8 reviews
from$119at Keychron
4.7 (7)4.7 · 7 reviews
from$69at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K3 HE
Hall Effect
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 and 0.1 mm sensitivity.
- Rapid Trigger, Snap Click, Last Key Priority, and Analog Mode for competitive gaming.
- Ultra-low profile 22.0mm front height and only 575g weight for excellent portability.
- 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-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron K4 Pro
96% Layout
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $100.
- Full 96% layout with a dedicated number pad for productivity.
- 4000mAh rechargeable Li-polymer battery for extended wireless use.
- Hot-swappable with almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
If you prioritize cutting-edge gaming features like variable actuation and analog input, the K3 HE is the clear choice. If you need a workhorse keyboard with a numpad, deep modding potential, and a lower price, the K4 Pro delivers proven versatility. Both keyboards share QMK/VIA support and strong build quality from Keychron.
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 Pro
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
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired
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
- Keychron K3 HE
- Keychron K4 Pro
- Performance
- 9281
- Build quality
- 8684
- Productivity
- 8995
- Customizability
- 8996
- Portability
- 8254
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Mount style: Tray Mount
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The K3 HE dominates in gaming and travel thanks to its Hall Effect switches, adjustable actuation, and ultra-light 575g weight. The K4 Pro wins for office work and modding because of its 96% numpad layout, 4000mAh battery, and broad MX-style switch compatibility. Programming is a tie since both offer QMK/VIA support but different layout philosophies. Content Creation favors the K3 HE for its analog mode and compact footprint.
Pick the Keychron K3 HE
- Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 2.9 mm and 0.1 mm sensitivity.
- Rapid Trigger, Snap Click, Last Key Priority, and Analog Mode for competitive gaming.
- 1000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
- Ultra-low profile design reduces hand fatigue during long sessions.
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 Pro
7 owner reviews
“I previously had a normal K4 and i love the new one, the only thing is that the stabilizers lube work is kinda bad and the space bar was very rattly but after some lube work the K4 pro retakes the perfect productivity keyboard.”
Keychron K3 HE vs K4 Pro 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 Pro
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 Pro
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, 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 K3 HE vs K4 Pro: your questions
The K3 HE supports 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.2, and wired Type-C connections, offering a low-latency 2.4 GHz option for gaming. The K4 Pro relies on Bluetooth 5.1 and wired USB-C, but lacks 2.4 GHz, making the K3 HE more versatile for competitive wireless play.
Yes, the K4 Pro's hot-swappable PCB is compatible with almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches, including brands like Cherry, Gateron, Kailh, and Panda. This makes it a great platform for switch modding and experimentation.
Yes, the vendor states that the K3 HE offers a Mac layout with compatible multimedia and function keys while also supporting Windows. It includes keycaps for both operating systems, making it suitable for mixed-device setups.
The K4 Pro has a 4000mAh battery, while the K3 HE has a 2600mAh battery. The vendor states the K3 HE offers up to 55 hours of wireless use in lab tests. The K4 Pro's larger battery likely provides longer runtime, though exact figures are not provided.
Yes, the vendor page explicitly states the K4 Pro supports QMK firmware and the Keychron Launcher web app for remapping keys, creating macros, and adjusting settings. This allows full customization similar to the K3 HE.
The K4 Pro uses screw-in PCB stabilizers, which the vendor describes as providing a smoother typing experience with less wobbliness on large keys like the space bar and shift. It also supports third-party screw-in PCB stabilizers.
The K3 HE is hot-swappable, but only compatible with Keychron Ultra-Fast Lime Low-Profile magnetic switches according to the vendor. This limits switch choices compared to the K4 Pro's broad MX compatibility.
The K3 HE features an ultra-low profile design with a front height of 22.0mm and low-profile LSA keycaps, which some users find more ergonomic for typing. The K4 Pro offers a 3 degree standard typing angle and adjustable feet, but has a higher profile overall.
No, the K3 HE has a 75% layout which omits the dedicated number pad. For users who require frequent numeric entry, the K4 Pro's 96% layout includes a full numpad.
The K3 HE includes Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 2.9 mm, Rapid Trigger, Snap Click, Last Key Priority (LKP), Analog Mode, and a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes. These features enable fast, precise keystrokes for competitive gaming.
The K4 Pro supports multiple ISO layouts including UK, German, Nordic, Swiss, French, and Spanish, as well as ANSI. The K3 HE is primarily ANSI with some ISO variants, making the K4 Pro more accommodating for regional keyboard preferences.
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