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Head to head · Prices checked Oct 29, 2026

Keychron K3 Max vs Nuphy Air75 V3Open-Source vs Battery Life

Choose the Keychron K3 Max for deep firmware customization with QMK/VIA, or the Nuphy Air75 V3 for superior battery life and a gasket-mounted typing feel.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron K3 Max

Open-Source

Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Native support for QMK and VIA firmware for extensive key remapping.
  • Compatible with a wide range of ISO layouts for international users.
  • Includes internal IXPE acoustic foam and latex foam for sound dampening.

Rules this board out

  • 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-FR. The other board is sold in those layouts.

Get the

Nuphy Air75 V3

Battery Life

Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $150.

If you want

  • Substantially larger 4000mAh battery for extended wireless use.
  • Features a gasket mount design for a potentially more cushioned typing feel.
  • Includes a programmable knob for multimedia or application control.

Rules this board out

  • Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
  • North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • Missing ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.

Bottom line

Select the Keychron K3 Max if your priority is unbounded customization through QMK/VIA, you need specific ISO layouts, or you value open-source firmware. Opt for the Nuphy Air75 V3 if you require maximum battery life, prefer a gasket-mounted typing experience with a knob, and primarily use Apple devices. The K3 Max is a tool for tinkerers, while the Air75 V3 is a refined, endurance-focused companion.

What actually differs

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

Nuphy Air75 V3

  • Battery

    1,550 mAh

    4,000 mAh

    A larger battery means fewer cables during the day

  • Case material

    ABS, Aluminum, Plastic, Wood

    ABS, Aluminum, Plastic, Polycarbonate

  • Switch options

    Clicky, Linear, Tactile

    Clicky, Linear, Low-profile 3.0, Mechanical, Tactile

  • Mount style

    Plate Mount

    Gasket Mount

  • Knob

    No

    Yes

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron K3 Max
  • Nuphy Air75 V3
Performance
81
82
Build quality
86
88
Productivity
94
97
Customizability
91
98
Portability
77
82

What they share

  • Layout size: 75%
  • Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
  • Hot-swappable
  • Low profile
  • Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
  • QMK
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Keychron K3 Max wins for programming and modding due to its superior firmware support and customization depth. The Nuphy Air75 V3 takes the lead for office work, travel, and content creation, leveraging its exceptional battery, portable accessories, and included knob. Gaming is a close call, but the K3 Max's explicit gaming-focused marketing gives it a slight edge. Your workflow dictates the choice: open-source flexibility versus all-day endurance and multimedia control.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron K3 Max

  • Both offer a 1000 Hz polling rate in 2.4 GHz and wired modes for low latency.
  • The K3 Max's vendor page highlights its 1000 Hz polling rate for competitive gaming.
  • The K3 Max supports more switch types including tactile options, which some gamers prefer.

Full specs

Keychron K3 Max vs Nuphy Air75 V3 specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

13 of 28 specs differ

Keychron K3 Max

Nuphy Air75 V3

Typing & switches

Switch options

Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Low-profile 3.0, Mechanical, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Plate Mount
Gasket Mount

Low profile

Yes
Yes

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
75%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-UK, JIS

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

No
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

Max polling rate

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Battery

1,550 mAh
4,000 mAhBetter

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS, Aluminum, Plastic, Wood
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic, Polycarbonate

Plate material

Aluminum, Plastic, Polycarbonate
Aluminum, Polycarbonate

Keycaps

ABS, PBT
PBT

Weight

580 g
750 g

Dimensions

22 x 306 x 116 mm
13 x 319 x 129 mm

Typing angle

3°, 7°
10°, 5°

Backlight

RGB, north-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2023
2024

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

Keychron K3 Max

  • Input Gear

    ISO-DE

    Out of stockShips to you

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW

    Out of stockShips to you

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Nuphy Air75 V3

  • Input Gear

    ISO-DE

    In stockShips to you

  • Input Gear

    ISO-FR

    In stockShips to you

  • Input Gear

    ISO-DE

    In stockShips to you

Where to buy

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.

FAQ

Keychron K3 Max vs Nuphy Air75 V3: your questions

The Nuphy Air75 V3 has a significantly larger 4000mAh battery. The Keychron K3 Max has a 1550mAh battery. Based on the specifications, the Air75 V3 will last much longer between charges, especially with its power-efficient chipset as mentioned in its product description.

Yes, the Nuphy Air75 V3 can be customized using the NuPhy IO 2.0 software, which is a web-based configurator. It allows for key remapping, macro recording, and lighting adjustments. However, it does not support the open-source QMK or VIA firmware like the Keychron K3 Max does.

Yes, both the Keychron K3 Max (in the specified hot-swappable version) and the Nuphy Air75 V3 feature hot-swappable sockets. The K3 Max is specifically compatible with Gateron and Keychron low-profile mechanical switches. The Air75 V3 uses Nuphy's own Nano switches.

Both keyboards offer Mac compatibility. The Nuphy Air75 V3's vendor description strongly emphasizes its design for Mac and iPad, with dedicated F-key caps and a Win/Mac mode switch. The Keychron K3 Max also includes Mac keycaps and promotes seamless switching between operating systems.

A key mechanical difference is the mount style. The Nuphy Air75 V3 uses a gasket mount, which typically provides a softer, more cushioned typing experience. The Keychron K3 Max uses a plate mount. Furthermore, the Air75 V3's Nano switches have a 3.5mm travel distance, which its description compares to high-profile switches.

No, the Keychron K3 Max does not have a knob. The Nuphy Air75 V3 includes a programmable knob that can be assigned to functions like volume control or zoom.

The Nuphy Air75 V3 is thinner, with a height of 13mm according to its specifications. The Keychron K3 Max is 17mm tall. The Air75 V3 is also marketed with specific travel accessories like the NuFolio case and Airfeet stand.

Yes, the Keychron K3 Max has native support for both QMK and VIA open-source firmware. This allows for deep, community-driven customization of every key and layer, which is a central feature promoted in its product description.

Yes, both keyboards feature RGB backlighting. The Keychron K3 Max offers per-key RGB and mix RGB zones via its software. The Nuphy Air75 V3 includes a rhythm light bar in addition to per-key RGB, which can act as a battery or typing speed indicator.

The Keychron K3 Max comes with low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps, and its metadata also lists ABS as an option. The Nuphy Air75 V3 uses PBT keycaps. PBT is generally more durable and resistant to shine than ABS.

The Keychron K3 Max offers three adjustable typing angles (3°, 7°, and a default). The Nuphy Air75 V3 features a 3-stage adjustable kickstand for 4°, 8°, and 10° angles. Both provide good ergonomic flexibility for wrist support.

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