Keychron K3 V3 vs Q3Low-Profile Wireless vs Full-Size TKL
Choose the K3 V3 for extreme portability and wireless convenience, or the Q3 for a premium, heavy-duty typing experience with a knob.
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from$84at MK
4.8 (108)4.8 · 108 reviews
from$59at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K3 V3
Low-Profile Wireless
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.
- Ultra-slim low-profile design at only 19mm thickness.
- Supports Bluetooth 5.2 to connect with up to 3 devices wirelessly.
- Lightweight at 540g, ideal for travel.
- 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, ISO-ES. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron Q3
Full-Size TKL
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $100.
- Full CNC machined 6063 aluminum body for premium durability.
- Double-gasket design significantly reduces metal resonance and noise.
- Includes a programmable aluminum rotary encoder knob.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-Nordic. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
If you need a keyboard for on-the-go use with wireless freedom, the Keychron K3 V3 is the clear pick with its Bluetooth 5.2, slim profile, and light weight. For a desktop-centric user who values build quality, a programmable knob, and extensive modding options, the Keychron Q3 offers a superior typing foundation with its full aluminum body and double-gasket design. Invest in the K3 for mobility; invest in the Q3 for a premium, customizable workstation.
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 V3
Keychron Q3
Layout size
75%
80%
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Low profile
Yes
No
Case material
ABS, Aluminum
Aluminum
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Silent, Tactile
- Keychron K3 V3
- Keychron Q3
- Performance
- 8272
- Build quality
- 8391
- Productivity
- 8098
- Customizability
- 8998
- Portability
- 7757
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- QMK
- VIA
- Keycaps: ABS, PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron K3 V3 wins clearly for travel wireless use due to its low weight, slim profile, and Bluetooth 5.2. The Keychron Q3 takes the lead for office, programming, modding, and content creation, as its TKL layout, double-gasket design, knob, and screw-in stabilizers deliver a more stable and customizable platform. Gaming is a tie since both offer 1000 Hz wired polling and N-key rollover. Overall, the Q3 is the more versatile desk keyboard, while the K3 is unmatched for portability.
It's a tie
- Both have a 1000 Hz polling rate on wired mode for responsive input.
- The K3 V3 features low-profile Milk POM switches for faster actuation in a slim form.
- The Q3 offers a double-gasket design for reduced resonance, potentially quieter gaming sessions.
- Both support N-key rollover and RGB, but the K3 V3's low profile may feel different for fast-paced games.
Keychron K3 V3 vs Q3 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
17 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K3 V3
Keychron Q3
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 V3
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron Q3
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of 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 V3 vs Q3: your questions
The Keychron K3 V3 is designed for wireless use with Bluetooth 5.2, connecting to up to 3 devices. The Keychron Q3 does not support wireless connectivity at all, it is wired-only via USB-C. For a cable-free setup, the K3 V3 is the only option.
No, the K3 V3 is only compatible with low-profile mechanical switches such as Keychron Milk POM or Gateron low-profile switches. Standard MX switches are taller and will not fit the low-profile PCB or keycaps.
Yes, the Keychron Q3 includes a programmable aluminum rotary encoder knob. You can customize it via VIA software to control volume, zoom, brush size, or backlight brightness among other functions.
The Keychron K3 V3 uses an ABS and aluminum frame, while the Keychron Q3 features a full CNC machined 6063 aluminum body. The Q3's all-metal construction provides a more solid and premium feel but adds significant weight.
The Keychron Q3 is easier to mod due to its hot-swappable PCB that supports 3 and 5 pin MX switches, screw-in stabilizers, and a gasket mount that can be tuned. The K3 V3 is hot-swappable but only with low-profile switches and has a more compact, less open structure.
Yes, both the Keychron K3 V3 and Keychron Q3 support QMK firmware and VIA software for full key remapping and macro creation. The K3 V3 uses the Keychron Launcher web app, while the Q3 can be configured with the desktop VIA software or Launcher.
The Keychron Q3 uses screw-in PCB stabilizers for increased stability and less wobble. The K3 V3 features redesigned plate-mount stabilizers that improve reliability on big keys but are not as rigid as screw-in ones.
The Keychron K3 V3 weighs only 540 grams, making it highly portable. The Keychron Q3 weighs approximately 2000 grams, more than three times heavier, due to its full aluminum construction.
Yes, both the K3 V3 and Q3 include a system toggle switch and come with extra keycaps for macOS and Windows. They are designed to work seamlessly with both operating systems.
Yes, the Q3 features a double-gasket design with silicone pads between the top and bottom cases to reduce acoustic resonance. It also includes sound dampening foam in the case to minimize echo and ping.
Both keyboards have RGB backlighting. The Keychron K3 V3 uses north-facing RGB LEDs, while the Keychron Q3 uses south-facing RGB LEDs to reduce interference with aftermarket keycap profiles like Cherry.
Yes, the Keychron Q3 is available in barebones versions (Carbon Black, Silver Grey, Navy Blue) that come without switches and keycaps, allowing you to build your own setup. The K3 V3 does not offer a barebones option.
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