Keychron K8 Ultra vs V3 UltraMetal Frame or Knob
Choose the K8 Ultra for its aluminum frame and steel plate, or the V3 Ultra for its knob, gasket mount, and lower weight.
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5.0 · 4 reviews
from$119at MK
5.0 · 2 reviews
from$114at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K8 Ultra
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $150.
- Aluminum-and-ABS case with a steel plate.
- Supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connections.
- Hot-swappable switches, QMK support, and VIA support.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Get the
Keychron V3 Ultra
Knob
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $150.
- Weighs 960 g, less than the K8 Ultra.
- Includes a knob and uses a gasket mount.
- Polycarbonate plate and plastic case distinguish its build from the K8 Ultra.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
Choose the Keychron K8 Ultra if a metal frame and steel plate are your priorities. Choose the V3 Ultra if you want a lighter keyboard with a knob, gasket mount, and polycarbonate plate. Their shared 80% layout, wireless options, hot-swap support, and listed 8000 Hz polling rate make the construction and controls the clearest 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 K8 Ultra
Keychron V3 Ultra
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Metal
ABS, Plastic
Mount style
Plate Mount
Gasket Mount
Knob
No
Yes
Weight
1,299 g
960 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron K8 Ultra
- Keychron V3 Ultra
- Performance
- 9091
- Build quality
- 8383
- Productivity
- 9498
- Customizability
- 9294
- Portability
- 7777
- Layout size: 80%
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The V3 Ultra has the clearer advantage for travel because it weighs less, and its knob and gasket-mounted construction make it a strong fit for office work and content workflows. Gaming is a close match on listed connectivity and polling rate, with no clear spec-based reason to separate them. Programming and modding are also close, since both offer hot-swap support and the same listed firmware features, but their case and plate constructions differ. Pick based on whether you prefer the K8 Ultra's metal frame or the V3 Ultra's knob and lighter plastic build.
It's a tie
- Both list an 8000 Hz polling rate and wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4 GHz connectivity.
- Both support hot-swappable switches and N-key rollover.
- The K8 Ultra has a steel plate, while the V3 Ultra has a polycarbonate plate and gasket mount, offering different construction choices.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K8 Ultra
4 owner reviews
“The order is exactly what i had ordered, and exceeds everything i had expected”
Keychron V3 Ultra
2 owner reviews
“Second Keyboard I buy from Keychron! I live in El Salvador and it arrived on time and perfectly. Extremely comfortable, outstanding switches. Best keyboard I've had in my life.”
Keychron K8 Ultra vs V3 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
7 of 27 specs differ
Keychron K8 Ultra
Keychron V3 Ultra
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
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 K8 Ultra
Keychron (DE)
ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V3 Ultra
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (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 K8 Ultra vs V3 Ultra: your questions
The K8 Ultra has an aluminum-and-ABS case and a steel plate. The V3 Ultra uses a plastic case and polycarbonate plate, adds a knob, and has a gasket mount.
Yes, the V3 Ultra is listed with knob support, and Keychron describes the assembled version as including a knob. The K8 Ultra's listed extra features do not include one.
The V3 Ultra weighs 960 g, while the K8 Ultra weighs 1299 g. That makes the V3 Ultra the lighter option between these two.
Both list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity. Each also has a 4000 mAh battery in its product specifications.
The K8 Ultra has an aluminum-and-ABS case and a steel plate. The V3 Ultra has a plastic case and a polycarbonate plate.
Yes, both are listed as hot-swappable. This lets owners change switches without soldering, according to the product descriptions.
The K8 Ultra lists ANSI, ISO, and ISO-ES layouts. The V3 Ultra lists ANSI, multiple ISO layouts, and JIS.
Both product listings include QMK support and VIA support. Keychron's vendor descriptions also mention ZMK firmware and the Launcher web app for these models.
The V3 Ultra has a gasket mount and a polycarbonate plate. The K8 Ultra is listed as plate-mounted and uses a steel plate.
Both list an 8000 Hz polling rate, N-key rollover, and wired and 2.4 GHz connectivity. Choose between them based on construction and controls, such as the K8 Ultra's steel plate or the V3 Ultra's knob and gasket mount.
Keychron lists up to 760 hours for the K8 Ultra and up to 660 hours for the V3 Ultra, with the backlight off. Actual battery life can vary with use and lighting settings.
Both list south-facing RGB lighting. Keychron describes per-key RGB and Mix RGB lighting controls for both models.
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