Keychron K3 Max SE vs V1 UltraLow-Profile or 8K
Choose the V1 Ultra for 8000 Hz polling and broader switch and layout flexibility, or the K3 Max SE for a slimmer, lighter low-profile design.
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5.0 (2)5.0 · 2 reviews
from$104at Keychron
5.0 (1)5.0 · 1 reviews
from$97at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K3 Max SE
Build quality in the top 35% of 75% boards under $150.
- Low-profile 75% layout in a 566g keyboard, with a 20 x 319 x 126 mm listed size.
- ABS and wood case with an aluminum plate.
- Three connection options: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired.
- 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
Keychron V1 Ultra
Battery
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.
- 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
- 4000 mAh battery, with Keychron listing up to 660 hours with backlighting off.
- Gasket mount, PC plate, and multiple foam layers for a softer, quieter typing experience, according to Keychron.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Pick the V1 Ultra if you want 8000 Hz polling, a larger battery, a knob, or access to MX-style switches for future changes. Choose the K3 Max SE if a lower-profile keyboard and lighter 566g build matter more than those additions. Check keycap fit before buying: the K3 Max SE requires low-profile sets, while the V1 Ultra's south-facing LEDs have their own shine-through and sculpted-cap caveats.
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 SE
Keychron V1 Ultra
Battery
1,550 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Low profile
Yes
No
Max polling rate
1,000 Hz
8,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
ABS, Wood
ABS, Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Linear, Tactile
- Keychron K3 Max SE
- Keychron V1 Ultra
- Performance
- 8091
- Build quality
- 7484
- Productivity
- 8998
- Customizability
- 8694
- Portability
- 8079
- Layout size: 75%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The V1 Ultra takes the lead for gaming, office use, programming, modding, and content creation, mainly through its higher polling rate, larger battery, knob, and MX-style switch flexibility. The K3 Max SE is the travel-oriented pick because it is lighter and lower profile. Both are compact wireless 75% boards with hot-swap switches and customization support, so the deciding factor is the full-height versus low-profile format and the flexibility each permits.
Pick the Keychron V1 Ultra
- The V1 Ultra supports 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, compared with the K3 Max SE's 1000 Hz.
- Both models offer 2.4 GHz and wired connections, plus N-key rollover.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K3 Max SE
2 owner reviews
“Beautiful service from yourselves, got updates at every point required. Product is amazing and arrived wrapped well. Only issue was the courier delivering the parcel by throwing it into the house rather than handing it in person. Already reviewed their poor…”
Keychron V1 Ultra
1 owner reviews
“Keychron has the best keyboard for keyboard enthusiasts. This is my 3rd and I have no notes. Exactly what I wanted, versatility, thockiness, and portability.”
Keychron K3 Max SE vs V1 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
13 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K3 Max SE
Keychron V1 Ultra
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
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 Max SE
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron V1 Ultra
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship 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 Max SE vs V1 Ultra: your questions
The V1 Ultra lists 8000 Hz polling over wired and 2.4 GHz connections, while the K3 Max SE lists 1000 Hz. Both offer wired and 2.4 GHz modes and N-key rollover.
No, its compatibility rules specify low-profile switches and keycaps, and standard MX keycaps will not fit. The V1 Ultra uses OSA double-shot PBT keycaps and supports MX-style switches, but check individual keycap compatibility with its south-facing LEDs.
Keychron says the V1 Ultra can hot-swap almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, including Cherry, Gateron, Kailh, and Panda. The K3 Max SE instead requires low-profile switches.
Keychron lists up to 660 hours for the V1 Ultra with backlighting off, and up to 200 hours with RGB at its lowest brightness. The K3 Max SE is listed for up to 120 hours.
Both support Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired USB-C connections. The K3 Max SE vendor listing specifies Bluetooth connections for up to three devices, and the V1 Ultra product description also specifies connection to three Bluetooth devices.
The product metadata lists QMK and VIA support for both keyboards. Vendor descriptions also mention Keychron Launcher for remapping and macros on each model.
The K3 Max SE weighs 566g, while the V1 Ultra weighs 770g. Keychron describes the K3 Max SE as ultra-slim, making it the lighter, lower-profile option in this comparison.
Yes, the V1 Ultra listing describes a fully assembled knob version, and its metadata includes knob support. The K3 Max SE's listed extra features do not include a knob.
The V1 Ultra is listed in ANSI and ISO variants, including ISO-DE, ISO-ES, and ISO-FR. The K3 Max SE has no ISO layout offering according to its compatibility rules.
The V1 Ultra has south-facing RGB LEDs, and its compatibility rule warns that shine-through legends stay dark. Some sculpted keycaps may also clip the LED.
The K3 Max SE is a low-profile board with an aluminum plate and low-profile Keychron Milk POM switches. The V1 Ultra uses a gasket mount and PC plate, which Keychron describes as producing a softer and quieter feel.
The V1 Ultra supports hot-swapping almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches without soldering, according to Keychron. The K3 Max SE is also hot-swappable, but its compatibility rules limit it to low-profile switches.
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