Keychron K3 Max vs S1Wireless or CNC Aluminum
Choose the K3 Max for Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and ISO layout options, or the S1 for its full CNC aluminum body and support for relatively thin XDA and DSA keycaps.
KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
4.3 (15)4.3 · 15 reviews
from$89at MK
4.8 (12)4.8 · 12 reviews
from$82at Keychron
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K3 Max
Sound dampening
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, alongside wired connectivity.
- Listed in ISO variants as well as ANSI.
- IXPE acoustic foam and latex foam inside the keyboard.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
Get the
Keychron S1
Build quality in the top 15% of 75% boards under $100.
- Full CNC-machined aluminum body with a steel plate.
- The vendor describes compatibility with relatively thin XDA and DSA keycaps.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Get the K3 Max for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, its lower listed weight, and ISO layout choices. Get the S1 for its full CNC aluminum body, steel plate, and named XDA and DSA keycap options. Both suit buyers who want a low-profile 75% board with QMK and VIA, but neither supports standard MX keycaps.
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 Max
Keychron S1
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic, Wood
Aluminum
Mount style
Plate Mount
Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Weight
580 g
960 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Sound dampening
Yes
No
- Keychron K3 Max
- Keychron S1
- Performance
- 8182
- Build quality
- 8682
- Productivity
- 9480
- Customizability
- 9189
- Portability
- 7765
- Layout size: 75%
- Hot-swappable
- Low profile
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The K3 Max leads for gaming, office use, programming, travel, and content creation, primarily because of its wireless connections, lower listed weight, and ISO layout choices. Modding is a closer call: both offer QMK, VIA, and hot-swap options, while the S1 has explicitly named XDA and DSA keycap compatibility. Both require low-profile switches and keycaps, so neither is suited to a standard MX keycap setup.
Pick the Keychron K3 Max
- The K3 Max supports 2.4 GHz wireless and wired connections, both listed at a 1000 Hz polling rate.
- The S1 is wired only, while the K3 Max also offers Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K3 Max
15 owner reviews
“Noce keyboard, i appreciate the level of customization QMK provides. One thing was little disappointing - the tactile feeling comparing to K3. Other than that its very good kb!”
“I sold my k3 pro and got this. The one I got drops connection intermittently or doesn't type or respond right away. It sounds nice, but stiff reds are not as pleasant to type on as previous keyboards reds. I really thought I ordered hotswap RGB max but seems…”
Keychron S1
12 owner reviews
“Got it today, hands on my first mechanical keyboard and feels so good. And a lot of difference in day-to-day way of typing.”
Keychron K3 Max vs S1 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
12 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K3 Max
Keychron S1
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
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.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron K3 Max
- Go to Input Gear
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron S1
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron K3 Max vs S1: your questions
Yes. The K3 Max supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections.
No, the S1 is listed as wired only. Its connectivity is USB-C.
Both are listed at 1000 Hz polling rate. The K3 Max vendor description specifies 1000 Hz in 2.4 GHz and wired modes, and 90 Hz in Bluetooth mode.
The K3 Max is listed in ISO variants including ISO-UK, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, and ISO-SW, as well as ANSI. Check the selected version’s layout before buying.
The S1 is listed as ANSI only. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
No. Both require low-profile switches and keycaps, and standard MX keycaps will not fit.
Both have hot-swappable versions. The K3 Max hot-swap version supports low-profile Gateron mechanical switches, and the S1 sockets support Gateron low-profile mechanical switches.
Both are listed with QMK and VIA support. The K3 Max vendor description also describes remapping keys and setting macros through its Launcher web app.
The K3 Max weighs 580 g, while the S1 weighs 960 g. The K3 Max is also the one with Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity.
The S1 has a full CNC-machined aluminum body and a steel plate. These materials distinguish its listed construction from the K3 Max’s ABS and aluminum case-material listing.
Both have north-facing LEDs, and their compatibility rules warn that Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing. The S1 vendor description also recommends low-profile keycaps or relatively thin XDA and DSA keycaps.
The K3 Max is the more travel-oriented choice based on its 580 g listed weight and its Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless options. The S1 weighs 960 g and is wired only.
Not sold on either?
Still torn?
Answer a few quick questions and the keyboard finder ranks 2,000+ boards by how you will actually use yours.