Keychron V3 vs V5 UltraWireless or TKL Layout
Choose the Keychron V3 for its TKL layout, regional layout options, and barebones kit; choose the V5 Ultra for wireless connectivity, a numpad, and its rechargeable battery.
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4.9 (17)4.9 · 17 reviews
from$54at Keychron
4.5 (2)4.5 · 2 reviews
from$119at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron V3
Build quality in the top 5% of 80% boards under $100.
- Available as a DIY kit or barebones keyboard, as well as pre-built.
- Offered in ISO-DE, ISO-UK, and ISO-FR layouts.
- 80% TKL layout for buyers who prefer a board without a numpad.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron V5 Ultra
Build quality in the top 15% of 96% boards under $150.
- Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, plus wired USB-C.
- 96% layout includes a numpad in a compact full-size format.
- 4000mAh rechargeable battery, with Keychron listing up to 660 hours of use with backlight off.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Choose the V3 for its TKL layout, broader listed regional options, and barebones kit. Choose the V5 Ultra for Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, a numpad, and its rechargeable battery. Both support hot-swappable switches and QMK and VIA, so those shared customization features do not decide the comparison.
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
Keychron V5 Ultra
Layout size
80%
96%
Connection
Wired
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
ABS, Plastic
ABS, Metal, Plastic
Mount style
Gasket Mount, Plate Mount, Tray Mount
Gasket Mount
Weight
1,360 g
983 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Keychron V3
- Keychron V5 Ultra
- Performance
- 9191
- Build quality
- 8883
- Productivity
- 9898
- Customizability
- 9894
- Portability
- 5856
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
- Switch options: Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Knob
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The V5 Ultra has the clearer fit for buyers who want wireless use, a numpad, or a lighter listed weight. The V3 favors buyers seeking a TKL layout, additional regional layout choices, or a barebones build. Programming is a close call because both support hot-swapping and QMK and VIA customization, with the layout and connection trade-off determining the better fit. Both can suit desk work and customization, but their different layouts and connection options shape the choice.
Pick the Keychron V5 Ultra
- The V5 Ultra supports 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, according to Keychron.
- Its 96% layout includes a numpad, while the V3 is an 80% layout without one.
- The V3 is wired-only, while the V5 Ultra also offers 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron V3
17 owner reviews
“Mainly bought this keyboard for the russian layout, despite this I prefer it over my steelseries apex pro, its nice feel and sounds nice”
Keychron V5 Ultra
2 owner reviews
“I gave it four stars for build quality, but knocked one for the massive height of this thing. I sent it back. It had great feel to it, but again, it was just way too tall. Noise level was a bit on the mid level, not bad. In the end I ended up with a 60…”
Keychron V3 vs V5 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
10 of 27 specs differ
Keychron V3
Keychron V5 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
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.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron V3
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-SW
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V5 Ultra
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-ES
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron V3 vs V5 Ultra: your questions
The V5 Ultra supports Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, as well as wired USB-C. The V3 is listed as wired-only.
Yes. Its 96% layout includes a numpad, though the compatibility notes say it does not have the gaps of a full-size board. The V3 is an 80% layout and has no numpad.
The metadata lists the V5 Ultra at 983 g and the V3 at 1360 g. That makes the V5 Ultra the lighter of the two by the listed weights.
The V3 is listed in ISO-DE and ISO-UK layouts, as well as ISO-FR. Those layouts are not listed for the V5 Ultra.
Keychron describes the V5 Ultra as supporting 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes. The metadata also lists 8000 Hz for the V5 Ultra.
The V3 is a wired-only keyboard, and its metadata lists polling rates of 1000 Hz and 8000 Hz. Keychron’s product description specifies 1000 Hz out of the box, so check the version and configuration details if polling rate is a deciding factor.
Yes. Both are listed as hot-swappable; Keychron says the V3 supports 3-pin and 5-pin switches, and describes the V5 Ultra as supporting 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches.
Both keyboards list QMK and VIA support in their metadata. Keychron’s V5 Ultra description also refers to ZMK and its Launcher web app, so consult the product documentation for the relevant configuration details.
Both use south-facing RGB, and the compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends stay dark. The V3 vendor description specifies non-shine-through double-shot PBT keycaps, while the V5 Ultra description specifies double-shot PBT keycaps.
Keychron lists up to 660 hours with the backlight off and up to 200 hours with RGB at its lowest brightness. The metadata lists a 4000mAh battery.
Yes. The V3 is listed as a DIY kit or barebones option, and Keychron says its barebone version does not include keycaps or switches. The V5 Ultra product description focuses on its fully assembled version.
The V5 Ultra is the closer fit because its 96% layout includes a numpad. Its compact layout does not have the gaps of a full-size board, while the V3 is an 80% TKL layout without a numpad.
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