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Head to head · Prices checked Nov 7, 2026

Keychron V1 Ultra vs V375% Wireless vs 80% TKL

Choose the Keychron V1 Ultra for wireless freedom and a gasket-mounted typing feel, or the Keychron V3 for a full TKL layout and lower price point.

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Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Keychron V1 Ultra

75% Wireless

Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Wireless connectivity with 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, and wired modes.
  • 4000mAh battery providing up to 660 hours of use with backlight off.
  • Gasket mount design with PC plate for a softer, quieter typing feel.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • Missing ISO-UK, ISO-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.
  • No numpad.

Get the

Keychron V3

80% TKL

Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $100.

If you want

  • Full 80% TKL layout with dedicated navigation and function keys.
  • Lower starting price point, suitable for budget builds.
  • Steel plate provides a stiffer, more responsive typing feel.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • No numpad.

Bottom line

The Keychron V1 Ultra is the better pick for users who want wireless flexibility, a quieter gasket-mounted feel, and extended battery life for travel or office use. The Keychron V3 is ideal for budget-conscious buyers who need a full TKL layout, prefer a stiffer tray mount feel, and want the widest possible compatibility with international keycap layouts. Let your need for wireless freedom or a full-size layout be the deciding factor.

What actually differs

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 Ultra

Keychron V3

  • Layout size

    75%

    80%

  • Connection

    Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired

    Wired

    Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency

  • Switch options

    Linear, Tactile

    Clicky, Linear, Tactile

  • Mount style

    Gasket Mount

    Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount

  • Weight

    770 g

    1,360 g

    Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Keychron V1 Ultra
  • Keychron V3
Performance
91
91
Build quality
84
89
Productivity
98
98
Customizability
94
98
Portability
79
58

What they share

  • Hot-swappable
  • Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
  • Case material: ABS, Plastic
  • Knob
  • QMK
  • VIA
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The Keychron V1 Ultra wins in Gaming, Office, Travel, and Content Creation due to its wireless capabilities, lighter weight, and gasket mount design that reduces noise and provides a softer feel. The V3 takes the lead in Modding thanks to its higher customizability score and steel plate. For Programming and general key customization, both boards are tied since they offer similar hot-swappable PCBs and deep firmware programmability via QMK or ZMK.

For gaming

Pick the Keychron V1 Ultra

  • Supports 8000 Hz polling rate in both 2.4 GHz and wired modes for lower latency.
  • Gasket mount design with PC plate provides a softer, quieter typing experience.
  • Wireless 2.4 GHz option reduces cable clutter on the desk.

From real owners

What owners say

Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.

Keychron V1 Ultra

5.0

1 owner reviews

Praise
“Keychron has the best keyboard for keyboard enthusiasts. This is my 3rd and I have no notes. Exactly what I wanted, versatility, thockiness, and portability.”
CamilleVerified buyer· via Keychron

Keychron V3

4.7

18 owner reviews

Praise
“Mainly bought this keyboard for the russian layout, despite this I prefer it over my steelseries apex pro, its nice feel and sounds nice”
ElijahVerified buyer· via Keychron
Critique
“I bought this keyboard in March 2023 and genuinely liked it at first. It's solid, heavy, well-built, sounds great. Keychron clearly knows what they're doing in terms of design and firmware. The problem is the switches. After about a year and a half of normal…”
JahusVerified buyer· via Keychron

Full specs

Keychron V1 Ultra vs V3 specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

10 of 27 specs differ

Keychron V1 Ultra

Keychron V3

Typing & switches

Switch options

Linear, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile

Hot-swappable

Yes
Yes

Mount style

Gasket Mount
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

Yes
Yes

Layout

Layout size

75%
80%

Layout standard

ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Knob

Yes
Yes

Display

None
None

Media keys

Yes
Yes

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

8,000 Hz
8,000 Hz

Battery

4,000 mAh
Wired only

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

ABS, Plastic
ABS, Plastic

Plate material

Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate, Steel

Keycaps

PBT
ABS, PBT

Weight

770 g
1,360 g

Dimensions

29 x 329 x 149 mm
19 x 141 x 367 mm

Typing angle

4°
4°

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

QMK

Yes
Yes

VIA

Yes
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2026
2022

For EU buyers

ISO layouts by store

Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.

Keychron V1 Ultra

  • Keychron (DE)

    ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES

    In stockDoes not ship to you

Keychron V3

  • Keychron

    ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW

    In 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

Where to buy

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 V34 stores

FAQ

Keychron V1 Ultra vs V3: your questions

Yes, the vendor specification for the Keychron V1 Ultra lists Bluetooth 5.3 as one of its connectivity options. This allows you to connect to up to three devices and switch between them seamlessly.

The Keychron V3 has a standard polling rate of 1000 Hz out of the box, as stated in its vendor specifications. This makes it suitable for most gaming and typing tasks with negligible latency.

The Keychron V1 Ultra uses ZMK firmware along with the Keychron Launcher web app for customization. While it does not support QMK, the Launcher provides a similar experience for remapping keys, macros, and adjusting backlight settings.

Yes, both the Keychron V1 Ultra and Keychron V3 feature hot-swappable PCBs that support 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches. This allows you to change switches without soldering.

The Keychron V1 Ultra comes with double-shot PBT keycaps in an OSA (OEM Spherical Angled) profile. The vendor states these provide oil resistance and prevent legends from fading.

Yes, the Keychron V3 is available in a barebones version that does not include keycaps or switches. The vendor listing specifies that this allows you to choose your own components.

The Keychron V1 Ultra uses a gasket mount with a polycarbonate plate, resulting in a softer, more flexible typing feel. The Keychron V3 uses a tray mount with a steel plate, which provides a firmer and more rigid response.

The Keychron V3 weighs 1360g, making it significantly heavier than the Keychron V1 Ultra at 770g. This makes the V1 Ultra far more portable for travel.

No, the Keychron V3 is a wired-only keyboard. Its specifications list connectivity as 'Wired only' via USB-C, so it does not support Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless.

The Keychron V1 Ultra uses screw-in PCB stabilizers according to its vendor page. They are designed to provide more stability and less wobble on larger keys like the space bar and shift keys.

Yes, the Keychron V3 includes a system toggle and additional keycaps for both macOS and Windows. The vendor description confirms it can save two different layouts, one for each system.

The Keychron V1 Ultra has a 4000mAh battery that offers up to 660 hours of use with the backlight turned off. With RGB at the lowest brightness, it can last up to 200 hours per charge.

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