Keychron V1 vs V3 UltraWired 75% vs Wireless 80%
Choose the V1 for deeper modding support and a lower entry price, or the V3 Ultra for wireless freedom and an 8K polling rate.
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4.8 (63)4.8 · 63 reviews
from$44at Keychron
5.0 (2)5.0 · 2 reviews
from$114at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V1
Wired 75%
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $50.
- Available as a barebone kit for building from scratch without paying for included switches or keycaps
- QMK firmware provides deep macro and layer programming for advanced users
- Offers both tray mount and gasket mount options with steel or polycarbonate plate choices
- 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
Wireless 80%
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $150.
- Supports 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.3 with an 8K polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz modes
- 4000mAh battery delivers up to 660 hours of usage with backlight off
- ZMK firmware with web Launcher allows easy key remapping and macro customization
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
If wireless gaming and portability are your priorities, the Keychron V3 Ultra is the clear pick with its 2.4 GHz 8K polling and long battery life. If you want a budget-friendly modding platform that gives you full control over every component and firmware layer, the Keychron V1 is the better fit. Both keyboards share hot-swap sockets and PBT keycaps, so your choice comes down to wired customization versus wireless performance.
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
Keychron V3 Ultra
Layout size
75%
80%
Connection
Wired
Wired, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Gasket Mount
Weight
995 g
960 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
Layout standard
ANSI, ISO, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW, ISO-UK, JIS
ANSI, ISO, ISO-CH, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-UK, JIS
ISO and JIS exist so regional layouts fit
- Keychron V1
- Keychron V3 Ultra
- Performance
- 9191
- Build quality
- 8983
- Productivity
- 9898
- Customizability
- 9894
- Portability
- 6476
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- QMK
What will you mostly use it for?
The V3 Ultra wins for gaming and travel thanks to its wireless modes and 8K polling rate. The V1 takes the edge for programming and modding due to its QMK firmware, barebone availability, and broader plate options. For office and content creation, the two are evenly matched because both offer rotary knob control, OS toggle, and full key remapping. Travel users should prefer the V3 Ultra's Bluetooth 5.3 and long battery life, while modders will appreciate the V1's barebone kit and tray/gasket mount flexibility.
Pick the Keychron V3 Ultra
- Supports 8K polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes for lower input lag
- Wireless 2.4 GHz connection removes cable drag and adds desk freedom
- ZMK firmware provides customizable macros and key remaps via Launcher
- Includes multiple layers of acoustic foam for a quieter gaming experience
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron V1
63 owner reviews
“Even tho I live in the middle of Europe the shipping only took 11 working days. It feels and sounds great to type on. And the opening experience was also great.”
“Good quality of build but its actually pretty trash keyboard, 2 years and started to not register keys, double typing ect and its not problem of the switch because i changed them with working ones and still had the problem”
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 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
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
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
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 vs V3 Ultra: your questions
The Keychron V3 Ultra supports an 8000 Hz polling rate in both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless modes, while the Keychron V1 offers 1000 Hz by default. For the lowest possible input lag in competitive gaming, the V3 Ultra is the superior choice.
No, the Keychron V1 is a wired-only keyboard. It connects via USB-C and does not support Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz wireless. If you need a wireless connection, the Keychron V3 Ultra supports both Bluetooth 5.3 and 2.4 GHz wireless.
Yes, both the Keychron V1 and V3 Ultra feature hot-swappable PCBs that support 3-pin and 5-pin MX style switches. You can change switches without soldering on either model.
The Keychron V1 uses QMK firmware and can be configured via the Keychron Launcher web app. The Keychron V3 Ultra uses ZMK firmware and also supports the Keychron Launcher web app for key remapping and macro customization.
According to vendor listings, the Keychron V3 Ultra is only available as a fully assembled version with knob. It does not appear to be offered as a barebone kit. The Keychron V1 is available in both fully assembled and barebone versions.
The Keychron V3 Ultra has a 4000mAh battery that provides up to 660 hours of use with the backlight off. The Keychron V1 is wired only, so it does not have a battery and relies on a constant USB connection.
Yes, both keyboards include additional keycaps for both macOS and Windows systems. Each model comes with a system toggle switch to quickly switch between layouts.
Yes, both the Keychron V1 and V3 Ultra use screw-in PCB stabilizers for improved stability on larger keys like the space bar, shift, and enter. The V1 also supports third-party screw-in PCB stabilizers.
The Keychron V3 Ultra includes multiple foam layers: sound absorbing foam, PET film, EPDM foam, and bottom case acoustic foam. The Keychron V1 includes an acoustic silicone pad. The V3 Ultra likely provides more extensive dampening.
No, the Keychron V3 Ultra uses ZMK firmware, not QMK. ZMK is also open-source but has a different architecture. The Keychron V1 is QMK-compatible.
The Keychron V3 Ultra weighs 960g, while the Keychron V1 weighs 995g. Although the difference is small, the V3 Ultra is slightly lighter and offers wireless connectivity, making it more portable for travel.
The Keychron V3 Ultra supports per-key RGB and Mix RGB customization via the Launcher web app. The vendor description for the V1 does not specify per-key RGB functionality, only that it has south-facing RGB LEDs.
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