Keychron K3 Pro vs K4 MaxLow Profile or 96% Layout
Choose the K3 Pro for a lighter low-profile setup, or the K4 Max for a 96% layout and 2.4 GHz connectivity.
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4.8 (52)4.8 · 52 reviews
from$67at Keychron
5.0 (1)5.0 · 1 reviews
from$99at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K3 Pro
Build quality in the top 15% of 75% boards under $100.
- 75% low-profile design, weighing 525 g and measuring 306 x 116 mm.
- Bluetooth, wired, and wireless connectivity, with Bluetooth support for up to three devices in the vendor description.
- QMK and VIA support, plus Keychron Launcher for key remapping and macros.
- 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.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron K4 Max
Battery
Build quality in the top 20% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% layout with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity.
- 4000 mAh battery, with the vendor listing up to 190 hours of use.
- Hot-swappable version supports almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, according to Keychron.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic. 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.
Pick the Keychron K3 Pro if low-profile typing, a smaller footprint, and lighter weight are your priorities. Choose the K4 Max if you want a 96% layout, 2.4 GHz wireless, a larger battery, or wider MX-style switch options in its hot-swappable version. Both offer QMK and VIA, so layout size and physical design are the main deciding factors.
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 Pro
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, Plastic
ABS
- Keychron K3 Pro
- Keychron K4 Max
- Performance
- 8282
- Build quality
- 8180
- Productivity
- 8089
- Customizability
- 8992
- Portability
- 7851
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The K4 Max has the edge for gaming where 2.4 GHz wireless matters, and for desk use that benefits from its 96% layout. Its broader MX-style hot-swap support also makes it more flexible for switch changes. The K3 Pro is the more travel-friendly choice because it is lighter and smaller. For content creation, the choice depends on whether you prefer a fuller layout or a more compact board, since both offer multimedia keys and remapping features.
Pick the Keychron K4 Max
- The K4 Max supports 2.4 GHz wireless with a 1000 Hz polling rate, as well as wired use at 1000 Hz.
- The K3 Pro lists a 1000 Hz polling rate, but its vendor description specifies that rate for wired mode.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K3 Pro
52 owner reviews
“For anyone buying this, remember to toggle the switch to the correct operating system. Other than that, the feel is good and it comes with a good feature set for a low price”
Keychron K4 Max
1 owner reviews
Keychron K3 Pro vs K4 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K3 Pro
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 Pro
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of 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 Pro vs K4 Max: your questions
The K3 Pro is a 75% low-profile keyboard weighing 525 g, while the K4 Max is a 96% keyboard weighing 1290 g. The K4 Max also adds 2.4 GHz connectivity and has a larger 4000 mAh battery.
The K3 Pro is the more portable option based on its listed weight of 525 g and dimensions of 306 x 116 mm. The K4 Max weighs 1290 g and measures 391 x 140 mm.
Yes, Keychron lists 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired connectivity for the K4 Max. The vendor specifies a 1000 Hz polling rate for its 2.4 GHz and wired modes.
The K3 Pro's listed connections are Bluetooth and wired, and its vendor description discusses Bluetooth and USB-C wired use. Keychron lists 2.4 GHz connectivity for the K4 Max.
The K4 Max has a 4000 mAh battery, compared with the K3 Pro's 1550 mAh battery. Keychron lists up to 190 hours for the K4 Max.
Both models have hot-swappable versions, but switch compatibility differs. Keychron says the K3 Pro hot-swap version works with Gateron low-profile mechanical switches, while the K4 Max hot-swappable version supports almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.
Both product listings include QMK and VIA support. Keychron also describes its Launcher web app for remapping keys and creating macros on both models.
The K4 Max has a 96% layout, while the K3 Pro has a 75% layout. Choose the K4 Max if you want the larger layout, or the K3 Pro if a more compact layout is the priority.
The K3 Pro uses low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps, with dye-sublimated PBT on the Special Edition. The K4 Max comes with double-shot PBT keycaps in an OSA profile, according to Keychron.
Yes, Keychron describes IXPE, PET, and EPDM acoustic foam layers in the K4 Max. The vendor says the layers are intended to improve its typing sound and experience.
The K4 Max hot-swappable version has broader stated compatibility, supporting almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches. The K3 Pro hot-swap version is limited to Gateron low-profile mechanical switches.
Both listings include Mac and Windows support, and both vendor descriptions mention keycaps for those operating systems. Keychron also says each keyboard's Launcher configuration works with macOS, Windows, and Linux.
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