Keychron K3 vs K4 MaxUltra-Slim vs Full-Featured Keyboard
Choose the K3 for portability and a low-profile feel, or the K4 Max for a full-featured, highly customizable typing experience with a number pad.
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from$105at Keychron (DE)
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Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K3
Ultra-Slim
Build quality in the bottom 40% of 75% boards under $150.
- Ultra-slim, low-profile design for a compact and lightweight feel.
- Low-profile optical switches offer a unique, shallow typing experience.
- Includes 17 extra keycaps for macOS/Windows compatibility.
- 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
Full-Featured Keyboard
Build quality in the top 20% of 96% boards under $100.
- Feature-rich 96% layout includes a number pad in a compact form.
- Full QMK and VIA support for unlimited key remapping and macros.
- Massive 4000mAh battery for extended wireless use.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-FR. 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.
Your primary need dictates the choice. If portability, a sleek desk profile, and a low-profile typing feel are paramount, the Keychron K3 is the obvious pick. For virtually every other scenario—especially gaming, programming, office work, or serious customization—the Keychron K4 Max's superior feature set, programmability, and included number pad make it the more versatile and capable keyboard.
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
Keychron K4 Max
Layout size
75%
96%
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Battery
1,550 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Low profile
Yes
No
Case material
ABS, Aluminum
ABS
- Keychron K3
- Keychron K4 Max
- Performance
- 6482
- Build quality
- 6180
- Productivity
- 6689
- Customizability
- 6892
- Portability
- 8051
- Hot-swappable
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
What will you mostly use it for?
The K4 Max is the clear choice for users who need maximum features, programmability, and a number pad, winning in Gaming, Office, Programming, Modding, and Content Creation. Its advantages include high polling rate, QMK support, extensive sound dampening, and a large battery. The K3 wins only for Travel, where its ultra-slim, low-profile, and compact 75% design are decisive factors for portability.
Pick the Keychron K4 Max
- The K4 Max lists a 1000 Hz polling rate for its 2.4 GHz connection, which the K3's specifications do not mention.
- It features N-key rollover, a spec not listed for the K3.
- The manufacturer states its 1000 Hz polling rate makes latency 'hardly noticeable even in competitive games'.
Keychron K3 vs K4 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
18 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K3
Keychron K4 Max
Switch options
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
Keychron (DE)
ISO-FR
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 vs K4 Max: your questions
The Keychron K4 Max has a significantly larger 4000mAh battery, while the K3 has a 1550mAh battery. According to the manufacturer, the K4 Max's larger capacity provides extended wireless runtime, making it better for long sessions away from a charger.
No, the hot-swappable version of the Keychron K3 is only compatible with low-profile Keychron Optical switches. The manufacturer explicitly states it is not compatible with conventional MX-style mechanical switches.
Yes. The Keychron K4 Max's hot-swappable sockets are compatible with almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, including brands like Cherry, Gateron, and Kailh, as stated in its product description.
The Keychron K4 Max is superior for programming. It supports open-source QMK and VIA firmware, allowing for deep key remapping, layer creation, and complex macros directly through the Keychron Launcher web app, features not mentioned for the K3.
The Keychron K4 Max is positioned for gaming with its 1000 Hz polling rate in 2.4 GHz and wired modes, and N-key rollover. The manufacturer claims this makes latency 'hardly noticeable even in competitive games.' The K3 does not list a polling rate.
The Keychron K4 Max is likely quieter out of the box. It includes multiple layers of sound-dampening foam (IXPE, PET, and EPDM) and screw-in stabilizers designed to reduce noise, features not specified for the K3.
Yes, both the Keychron K3 and K4 Max include keycap sets and system toggles for both macOS and Windows. The K3 comes with 17 extra keycaps, while the K4 Max allows you to save two different layouts for each system.
The K3's 75% layout is more compact, sacrificing the number pad and some navigation keys for a smaller footprint. The K4 Max's 96% layout retains the number pad and most navigation keys in a condensed arrangement, offering more keys in a space-efficient design.
The Keychron K4 Max features south-facing RGB LEDs. This design prevents interference with Cherry-profile keycaps and aims to better illuminate keys from the typist's angle. The K3's vendor description mentions north-face RGB.
Yes, both offer adjustability. The Keychron K3 has two-level adjustable rubber feet. The Keychron K4 Max offers three adjustable typing angles: 3, 7, and 10 degrees, providing more ergonomic options.
The Keychron K4 Max is far more modder-friendly. It supports QMK/VIA, uses a PCB mount with screw-in stabilizers, has a steel plate, includes pre-installed acoustic foams, and is compatible with standard MX switches, offering a broader modding platform than the K3.
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