Keychron Q3 vs V5Aluminum or 96% layout
Choose the Q3 for its aluminum case and TKL layout, or the V5 for a numpad in its compact 96% layout.
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4.8 (107)4.8 · 107 reviews
from$59at Keychron
4.8 (8)4.8 · 8 reviews
from$74at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron Q3
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $100.
- CNC-machined aluminum case and steel plate.
- 80% TKL layout without the V5's numpad.
- Gasket mount, with the vendor describing a double-gasket design and silicone pads between the cases.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron V5
polling rate
Build quality in the top 5% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% layout retains a numpad while keeping the keyboard's listed length to 389 mm.
- ABS plastic case and listed weight of 1170 g make it lighter than the Q3.
- Double-shot PBT keycaps with an OSA profile.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Choose the Keychron Q3 if you want an aluminum 80% TKL board with gasket mounting and are comfortable with its higher listed weight. Choose the Keychron V5 if retaining a numpad and reducing the board's listed weight matter more than an aluminum case. Both offer wired operation, hot-swap switches, QMK and VIA support, and a knob option.
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 Q3
Keychron V5
Layout size
80%
96%
Max polling rate
1,000 Hz
8,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
Aluminum
ABS, Plastic
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Silent, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
Mount style
Gasket Mount, PCB Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
- Keychron Q3
- Keychron V5
- Performance
- 7191
- Build quality
- 9189
- Productivity
- 9898
- Customizability
- 9898
- Portability
- 5745
- Connection: Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Knob
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The V5 is the practical pick for number-heavy office work and for buyers prioritizing lower listed weight, though it remains wired-only. The Q3 is more compelling for someone seeking a heavier aluminum TKL board with a gasket-based design. Gaming is close on the listed connection and polling specifications, while programming and content creation benefit from features shared by both. Modding leans toward the Q3 on construction, but both provide hot-swap sockets and firmware customization.
It's a tie
- Both list a 1000 Hz polling rate and wired-only connectivity.
- The Q3 has an 80% TKL layout, while the V5's 96% layout includes a numpad, so desk-space preference may decide.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
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 V5
8 owner reviews
“In love with it already. Only downside is how long it took to get the keyboard. Other then that its a great product for the price”
Keychron Q3 vs V5 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 26 specs differ
Keychron Q3
Keychron V5
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
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 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
Keychron V5
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship 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.
Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Keychron Q3 vs V5: your questions
The Q3 is an 80% TKL keyboard with a CNC-machined aluminum case and gasket mount. The V5 is a 96% keyboard with a numpad, an ABS plastic case, and tray mounting.
Yes, the V5's 96% layout retains a numpad. The Q3's 80% TKL layout does not include one.
The V5 has a listed weight of 1170 g, while the Q3 is listed at 2000 g. Both use wired-only connectivity.
No, both are listed as wired-only keyboards. Their vendor descriptions specify USB-C connectivity.
Yes, both have hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches. This lets owners change compatible switches without soldering, as described by Keychron.
Both list QMK and VIA support, and Keychron describes using its Launcher web app for key remapping and macros. The vendor says the Launcher requires a wired connection.
The Q3 has a full CNC-machined aluminum case. The V5 uses an ABS plastic case.
The vendor's Q3 description lists OSA-profile ABS shine-through keycaps. The V5 description lists double-shot PBT OSA-profile keycaps that are not shine-through.
Both list south-facing RGB lighting. The V5's vendor description notes that its PBT keycaps are not shine-through.
The Q3 lists gasket mounting, and Keychron describes its design as double-gasket with silicone pads between the top and bottom cases. The V5 is listed as a tray-mount keyboard.
Both list Mac and Windows support, and their vendor descriptions mention a system toggle and additional keycaps for both systems. Both are wired keyboards.
Both list knob support, and the vendor descriptions identify knob versions. Keychron specifically describes assigning commands such as zoom, brush size, or volume to the Q3 knob.
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