Keychron R5 vs V3 UltraNumpad or 8K Polling?
Choose the R5 for its numpad, or the V3 Ultra for its TKL layout, gasket mount, and higher polling rate.
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5.0 · 2 reviews
from$114at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron R5
Build quality in the top 50% of 96% boards under $100.
- 96% layout retains a numpad in a compact full-size design.
- Supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired USB-C connections.
- Offers hot-swappable switches, QMK support, and N-key rollover.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Get the
Keychron V3 Ultra
polling rate
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $150.
- 8000 Hz polling rate is listed for wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
- Gasket mount and polycarbonate plate are specified for the build.
- Supports hot-swapping, QMK, and VIA, with screw-in stabilizers.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Pick the Keychron R5 if your work depends on a numpad and you want a compact full-size layout. Choose the V3 Ultra if you prefer a TKL board and value its 8000 Hz polling, gasket mount, and added VIA support. Both offer wireless connectivity and hot-swappable switches, so the layout and feature differences should drive the decision.
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 R5
Keychron V3 Ultra
Layout size
96%
80%
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Max polling rate
1,000 Hz
8,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Case material
ABS
ABS, Plastic
Switch options
Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Keychron R5
- Keychron V3 Ultra
- Performance
- 7991
- Build quality
- 6383
- Productivity
- 8498
- Customizability
- 7894
- Portability
- 5476
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- QMK
- Sound dampening
- Keycaps: PBT
What will you mostly use it for?
The R5 is the more direct fit for office setups that benefit from a numpad. The V3 Ultra leads in gaming and customization-oriented categories, with its higher polling rate, gasket mount, and additional VIA support. Its TKL format also makes it the more compact choice between these two layouts, though its listed weight is 960 g. Both offer wireless connections, hot-swappable switches, and multimedia keys.
Pick the Keychron V3 Ultra
- The V3 Ultra lists an 8000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, compared with 1000 Hz for the R5.
- The V3 Ultra has an 80% TKL layout without a numpad.
- Both keyboards offer linear and tactile switch options and N-key rollover.
Keychron R5 vs V3 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 27 specs differ
Keychron R5
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 R5
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
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 R5 vs V3 Ultra: your questions
Yes. The R5 is a 96% compact full-size keyboard with a numpad, though its layout does not have the gaps of a full-size board.
No. The V3 Ultra is an 80% TKL keyboard, and its compatibility notes specify that it has no numpad.
The V3 Ultra lists 8000 Hz in wired and 2.4 GHz modes. The R5 lists 1000 Hz in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
Both support Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, as well as wired connections. The V3 Ultra vendor description also specifies Bluetooth 5.3.
Yes, both are listed as hot-swappable. The V3 Ultra vendor description says it supports 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.
The V3 Ultra lists VIA support alongside QMK. The R5 lists QMK support, but VIA support is not listed for it.
Both have south-facing RGB lighting. The V3 Ultra vendor description specifies per-key RGB and a static white option.
Both list Mac/Windows support and include system switching. The V3 Ultra vendor description also lists Linux compatibility.
The R5 uses a plate-mount design with a plastic plate. The V3 Ultra uses a gasket mount and a polycarbonate plate.
The V3 Ultra has an 80% TKL layout, while the R5 retains a numpad in its 96% layout. The V3 Ultra is listed at 960 g, so consider that weight alongside its smaller layout when choosing a travel keyboard.
Both use south-facing LEDs, and their compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends stay dark. Some sculpted keycaps may also clip the LED on either keyboard.
Both keyboards list a 4000 mAh battery. The V3 Ultra vendor description gives up to 660 hours with backlighting off, while the R5 vendor description does not state a battery-life estimate.
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