Keychron K3 V3 vs S1Wireless vs All-Metal Low-Profile

Yes, the Keychron K3 V3 supports both Bluetooth 5.2 and a wired USB-C connection. It includes a 1550mAh rechargeable battery for cordless use. You can connect it to up to three devices via Bluetooth.

The Keychron S1 has a full CNC machined aluminum body and a steel plate, making it a solid, all-metal keyboard. The K3 V3 uses a frame made from a combination of ABS and aluminum, which keeps it lighter but less dense than the S1's construction.

The Keychron S1's vendor page states it is compatible with low-profile, XDA, and DSA keycaps, suggesting relatively thin keycaps are required. The K3 V3 is designed for specific low-profile switches and keycaps, and compatibility with standard profile keycaps is not mentioned.

Both keyboards are fully compatible with macOS and Windows. They include keycap sets for both operating systems and have a system toggle switch. The K3 V3 vendor description specifically notes it provides the same multimedia key functions as Apple keyboards for Mac users.

Both the Keychron K3 V3 and S1 offer hot-swappable versions. However, each has switch compatibility restrictions. The K3 V3 supports Keychron Milk POM or Gateron/Keychron low-profile mechanical switches. The S1 supports Gateron low-profile mechanical switches.

Both keyboards support the open-source QMK firmware for deep customization. The K3 V3 can be programmed via the Keychron Launcher web app, while the S1 is also compatible with the VIA configurator software for real-time key remapping.

In wired mode, both the Keychron K3 V3 and S1 have a 1000Hz polling rate. The K3 V3's polling rate drops to 90Hz when used in Bluetooth wireless mode, which may not be ideal for fast-paced competitive gaming.

The Keychron K3 V3 is more portable. It weighs 540g compared to the S1's 960g, and its wireless capability means you don't need to carry or connect a cable. The S1 is a heavy, wired-only board designed for a permanent desk setup.

Yes, both keyboards offer RGB backlighting with north-facing LEDs. The K3 V3 and S1 vendor pages mention multiple lighting effects, with the S1 specifically listing 22 RGB backlight effects.

The Keychron S1 comes with double-shot PBT keycaps. The Keychron K3 V3 uses shine-through ABS keycaps in its described configuration, though PBT is listed as a possible material in its metadata. PBT is generally more resistant to shine and wear than ABS.

Based on the provided specifications, the Keychron S1 is listed only with an ANSI layout. The Keychron K3 V3, however, is available in multiple ISO layouts including UK, German, Swiss, and Nordic versions.

According to its vendor description, the fully assembled Keychron S1 includes the full CNC aluminum keyboard, steel plate, PCB, low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps for Mac and Windows, Gateron low-profile switches, a Type-C cable, and a Type-A to Type-C adapter.