Keychron V1 Max vs V3 Ultra75% vs 80% Wireless Choice
Choose the V1 Max for better portability and a proven wireless setup, or the V3 Ultra if you need the absolute lowest latency with its 8000 Hz polling rate.
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4.1 (18)4.1 · 18 reviews
from$94at MK
5.0 (2)5.0 · 2 reviews
from$114at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V1 Max
75%
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $100.
- Lighter 770g weight and more compact 75% layout make it highly portable.
- Available as a barebone DIY kit for custom builds.
- QMK and VIA support provide open-source firmware flexibility.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-CH. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron V3 Ultra
80% Wireless Choice
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $150.
- 8000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz modes for ultra-low latency.
- Up to 660 hours of battery life with backlight off, far exceeding the V1 Max.
- Includes multiple layers of acoustic foam (sound absorbing foam, PET film, EPDM foam) for a refined typing sound.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-Nordic, ISO-IT, ISO-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
For gamers who prioritize the lowest possible input latency, the V3 Ultra's 8000 Hz polling rate and longer battery life make it the clear winner. However, if you value portability, a smaller desk footprint, and the flexibility of a barebone kit for modding, the V1 Max is the more practical everyday choice. Both keyboards deliver solid typing experiences with gasket mount and hot-swappable features, so your final pick comes down to whether you need ultra-fast wireless performance or a lighter, more compact 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 V1 Max
Keychron V3 Ultra
Layout size
75%
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
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount
Gasket Mount
Weight
770 g
960 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron V1 Max
- Keychron V3 Ultra
- Performance
- 8391
- Build quality
- 8683
- Productivity
- 9798
- Customizability
- 9894
- Portability
- 7976
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The V3 Ultra wins for gaming thanks to its 8000 Hz polling rate and stable heavier build, while the V1 Max takes the lead in travel and content creation due to its lighter weight and compact 75% layout. For office and programming use, the V1 Max's smaller footprint and lighter chassis make it more adaptable, though both offer excellent key remapping and typing feel. Modders will prefer the V1 Max for its available barebone kit and industry-standard QMK firmware, while the V3 Ultra's longer battery life appeals to users who hate frequent charging.
Pick the Keychron V3 Ultra
- 8000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes provides the lowest input lag.
- Heavier 960g frame adds stability during intense gaming sessions.
- Keychron Silk POM switches are described as high-performance for gamers and typists.
- Longer 660-hour battery life (backlight off) reduces worry about frequent charging.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron V1 Max
18 owner reviews
“Feels great, haven't got a new KB since my Novatouch. Great high end features and feel, DSA caps on it feel good.”
“The dongle does not work after 6 months of using it and they want me to pay to fix it. If you want to buy a keyboard that is good don’t go for keycron”
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 V1 Max vs V3 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 27 specs differ
Keychron V1 Max
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 V1 Max
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT, ISO-SW, ISO-PT
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.
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 V1 Max vs V3 Ultra: your questions
The Keychron V3 Ultra supports up to 8000 Hz polling in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes, which is significantly higher than the V1 Max's 1000 Hz. This makes the V3 Ultra better suited for competitive gaming where ultra-low latency is critical.
The V3 Ultra offers up to 660 hours of battery life with the backlight turned off, while the V1 Max provides up to 190 hours under the same conditions. Both have a 4000 mAh rechargeable li-polymer battery, but the V3 Ultra's power efficiency is much better on paper.
The Keychron V1 Max supports QMK and VIA firmware, while the V3 Ultra uses ZMK firmware with Keychron Launcher. Both offer full key remapping and macro support, but the V1 Max is better for users who prefer the open-source QMK ecosystem.
The V1 Max is more portable due to its lighter 770g weight and smaller 75% layout (22 x 149 x 329 mm). The V3 Ultra is heavier at 960g and has a larger 80% TKL footprint, making it less convenient to carry around.
Yes, both the V1 Max and V3 Ultra support hot-swappable switches and are compatible with most 3-pin and 5-pin MX mechanical switches. This allows you to change switches without soldering on either model.
Both keyboards come with screw-in PCB stabilizers for the big keys like space bar, shift, enter, and delete. These provide a more stable and less wobbly typing experience compared to pate-mount stabilizers.
Both keyboards come with a system toggle and additional keycaps for macOS and Windows, allowing you to save two different layouts. The V1 Max and V3 Ultra are equally well-suited for multi-OS usage.
The Keychron V1 Max is available as a barebone DIY kit that does not include switches or keycaps, making it perfect for custom builds. The V3 Ultra is only sold as a fully assembled version with Keychron Silk POM switches and double-shot PBT keycaps included.
The V3 Ultra features per-key RGB and mix RGB lighting modes, allowing you to individually customize each key or split the keyboard into two lighting zones. The V1 Max has south-facing RGB but does not offer the same advanced per-key or mix RGB functionality.
The V1 Max weighs approximately 770g fully assembled, while the V3 Ultra is heavier at about 960g. The V1 Max is noticeably lighter and easier to move around a desk or pack for travel.
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