Keychron K3 Ultra vs Q3Wireless or Metal
Choose the K3 Ultra for wireless use and low-profile portability, or the wired Q3 for a heavier aluminum build with more customization options.
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4.3 (9)4.3 · 9 reviews
from$109at MK
4.8 (107)4.8 · 107 reviews
from$59at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K3 Ultra
polling rate
Build quality in the top 30% of 75% boards under $150.
- Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity.
- 8000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
- Low-profile 75% layout with a listed weight of 566 g ± 10 g.
- 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-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron Q3
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $100.
- Full CNC-machined aluminum case with a steel plate and gasket-mount construction.
- Hot-swappable sockets support 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches.
- QMK/VIA support, screw-in PCB stabilizers, and an available programmable knob version.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Choose the K3 Ultra if wireless connectivity, a low-profile 75% layout, and its listed 8000 Hz polling rate are your priorities. Choose the Q3 if you want a wired TKL with a full aluminum case, broader MX switch compatibility, and a programmable knob option. Both support hot-swapping and QMK/VIA, so the deciding trade-off is portability and connection flexibility versus a heavier, more customizable desk build.
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 Ultra
Keychron Q3
Layout size
75%
80%
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Low profile
Yes
No
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
ABS, Wood
Aluminum
- Keychron K3 Ultra
- Keychron Q3
- Performance
- 8671
- Build quality
- 7591
- Productivity
- 8998
- Customizability
- 8698
- Portability
- 8257
- Hot-swappable
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The K3 Ultra has the clearer fit for gaming that prioritizes its listed polling rate, and for travel where wireless operation and lower weight matter. The Q3 suits desk use, content workflows, and hands-on customization, especially when its knob and full aluminum construction appeal. Programming is a close call because both support hot-swapping and QMK/VIA, with different layouts and connection options. Pick based on whether a slim wireless board or a heavier wired TKL better matches your setup.
Pick the Keychron K3 Ultra
- The K3 Ultra lists an 8000 Hz polling rate, compared with 1000 Hz for the Q3.
- It supports both wired and 2.4 GHz connections at 8000 Hz, according to its product details.
- The Q3 is wired-only, while the K3 Ultra also offers Bluetooth.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K3 Ultra
9 owner reviews
“Portable, match my minimalist setup, great feeling, high quality, durable”
“Meh. I dont like the wood grain and they make it difficult to return or exchange”
Keychron Q3
107 owner reviews
“I upgraded from the Q1 as I never really liked 75%. The weight, sound and feel of the Q3 are all amazing. Really good build quality. Money well spent.”
Keychron K3 Ultra vs Q3 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K3 Ultra
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
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron K3 Ultra
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO
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 Ultra vs Q3: your questions
Yes. The K3 Ultra supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C connections. Keychron lists up to 550 hours of battery life with the backlight off.
No. The Q3 is listed as wired-only, with Type-C connectivity. Choose the K3 Ultra if Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz operation is important.
The K3 Ultra lists 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, while the Q3 lists 1000 Hz. The K3 Ultra's Bluetooth polling rate is listed separately as 125 Hz.
The K3 Ultra is the more travel-oriented option, with a low-profile 75% layout and listed weight of 566 g ± 10 g. The Q3 weighs 2000 g ± 10 g and requires a wired connection.
Yes, both models list hot-swappable switches. The Q3's vendor description specifies support for 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches, while the K3 Ultra uses low-profile Keychron Milk POM switches.
The product metadata lists QMK and VIA support for both keyboards. The K3 Ultra vendor description also discusses ZMK firmware and Keychron Launcher, while the Q3 description identifies QMK and Launcher.
The Q3 is available in versions with a programmable knob, which Keychron says can control tasks such as zoom, volume, and brush size. A knob is not listed for the K3 Ultra.
The K3 Ultra is a 75% keyboard, while the Q3 is an 80% TKL model. The Q3 vendor page describes ISO layout options including UK, German, Nordic, Swiss, French, and Spanish.
The K3 Ultra is listed with an aluminum and wood body, and its detailed specifications identify an ABS bottom case. The Q3 has a full CNC-machined aluminum case.
The Q3 has a programmable knob option that can be assigned to controls such as video clip selection, zoom, and brush size. The K3 Ultra supports key remapping and macros, but its listed features do not include a knob.
Yes. The K3 Ultra has north-facing RGB lighting, while the Q3 has south-facing RGB. The Q3 vendor description says its south-facing lighting is designed to illuminate from the typist's angle.
The K3 Ultra is listed with low-profile double-shot PBT keycaps. The Q3's described ISO version uses OSA-profile ABS shine-through keycaps.
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