Keychron V3 Ultra vs V8 MaxTKL or Alice Layout
Choose the V3 Ultra for a function row and 8000 Hz polling, or the V8 Max for an Alice layout in a lighter, more compact board.
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5.0 · 2 reviews
from$114at MK
4.7 · 6 reviews
from$99at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V3 Ultra
polling rate
Build quality in the top 10% of 80% boards under $150.
- 80% TKL layout with a function row and multi-media keys.
- 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
- Supports ANSI, JIS, and multiple ISO layout standards.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron V8 Max
Build quality in the top 10% of 65% boards under $100.
- 65% Alice layout in a 745 g assembled keyboard.
- Hot-swappable and compatible with 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches, according to Keychron.
- Vendor lists up to 190 hours of use with the backlight off.
- 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.
- 65% layout. No function row and no numpad.
Pick the V3 Ultra if a function row, ISO layout options, or 8000 Hz polling matter most. Choose the V8 Max if you prefer the Alice shape and want a lighter, smaller keyboard, or want the barebones option. Both provide wireless connectivity, hot-swap support, and QMK and VIA support.
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 V3 Ultra
Keychron V8 Max
Layout size
80%
65%
Connection
Wired, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Ergonomics
Standard
Alice
Max polling rate
8,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Higher polling helps competitive FPS and does nothing for typing
Weight
960 g
745 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron V3 Ultra
- Keychron V8 Max
- Performance
- 9178
- Build quality
- 8386
- Productivity
- 9898
- Customizability
- 9496
- Portability
- 7688
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Case material: ABS, Plastic
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
- Knob
What will you mostly use it for?
The V3 Ultra leads for gaming and content creation, where its higher listed polling rate and fuller TKL layout are useful differentiators. It is also a stronger fit for programming if you want a function row or an ISO layout. The V8 Max suits buyers prioritizing a lighter, smaller board or specifically seeking an Alice layout. For modding, their shared hot-swap and firmware features make the choice largely a matter of layout and build option.
Pick the Keychron V3 Ultra
- The V3 Ultra lists 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, compared with 1000 Hz for the V8 Max.
- The V3 Ultra's 80% layout includes a function row, unlike the V8 Max's 65% layout.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
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 V8 Max
6 owner reviews
“This board adds great wireless connectivity options to the already great V8. I love that the case includes slots for storing the wireless adapters. My only complaint is that the way that the gasket mounting is implemented results in a lot of flex in the four…”
Keychron V3 Ultra vs V8 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
9 of 27 specs differ
Keychron V3 Ultra
Keychron V8 Max
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 V3 Ultra
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-FR, ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V8 Max
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
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 V3 Ultra vs V8 Max: your questions
The V3 Ultra is an 80% TKL keyboard with 8000 Hz polling, while the V8 Max is a 65% Alice-layout keyboard with 1000 Hz polling. The V8 Max is also lighter at 745 g, compared with 960 g for the V3 Ultra.
Yes. The V3 Ultra has an 80% TKL layout, and its product listing identifies it as a TKL keyboard. The V8 Max's 65% layout does not have a function row.
No. The V8 Max is a 65% keyboard, and its compatibility details specify that it has no function row. Choose the V3 Ultra if you want a TKL layout with a function row.
The V3 Ultra lists 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes. The V8 Max lists 1000 Hz in those modes, so the V3 Ultra has the higher stated polling rate.
The V8 Max has an Alice ergonomic layout, with a shape Keychron describes as intended to enhance comfort and productivity. The V3 Ultra has a normal ergonomic layout rather than Alice.
The assembled V8 Max weighs 745 g, while the V3 Ultra weighs 960 g. The V8 Max also has a 65% layout compared with the V3 Ultra's 80% layout.
Yes, both are listed as hot-swappable. Keychron says the V3 Ultra supports most 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, and the V8 Max supports both 3-pin and 5-pin MX switches.
Both products list QMK and VIA support in their metadata. Keychron's product descriptions also identify the V3 Ultra as using ZMK, so check the specific product configuration and firmware details before choosing based on firmware.
The V3 Ultra lists ANSI, JIS, and several ISO layout standards, including ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-DE, ISO-UK, and ISO-CH. The V8 Max is ANSI only and does not offer ISO variants.
Keychron lists up to 660 hours for the V3 Ultra with the backlight off and up to 190 hours for the V8 Max with the backlight off. Both have a 4000 mAh battery, and actual use can affect runtime.
Both use south-facing LEDs, and their compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends can stay dark. The notes also warn that some sculpted keycaps may clip the LEDs.
Yes. The V8 Max is listed in fully assembled and barebones configurations, and the barebones version does not include keycaps or switches. The V3 Ultra is listed as pre-built.
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