Pick two boards from the directory and see how they differ.
Shaded rows are where they differ.
| Spec | Keychron Keychron K6 $70–$95 “K6, from Keychron's store” | Keychron Keychron V3 $60–$70 “QMK support under $100 is absurd” Budget King |
|---|---|---|
| Price , different | $70–$95 | $60–$70 |
| Size , different | 65% | TKL |
| Type , different | Barebones | Pre-built |
| Connectivity , different | Wireless + Wired | Wired |
| Released , different | 2020 | 2022 |
| Mounting | Tray Mount | Tray Mount |
| Case , different | ABS, or ABS with aluminum bezels | ABS Plastic |
| Colors , different | See the store | Frosted Black, Carbon Black |
| Weight , different | About 530 g (plastic frame), About 664 g (aluminum bezels) | 966g |
| Dimensions , different | 313 x 104 mm (plastic frame), 317 x 107 mm (aluminum bezels) | 359 x 138.5 x 31mm |
| Typing angle , different | Not listed | 5.2° |
| Front height , different | Not listed | 22mm |
| Switches | Mechanical | Mechanical |
| Profile | Standard | Standard |
| Keycaps , different | ABS | Double-shot PBT, OSA Profile |
| PCB , different | Hot-swap | Hot-swap, South-facing RGB |
| Plates , different | Not listed | Steel |
| Battery , different | 4000 mAh, up to 240 hours | — |
| Compatible switches , different | MX-style | MX-style 3-pin and 5-pin |
| Software , different | QMK | QMK, VIA |
| NKRO | Yes | Yes |
| RGB , different | No | Yes |
| Features , different | 65% layout, Tri-mode, Hot-swap, QMK/VIA | QMK/VIA, 80% TKL with Knob, Hot-swap, Screw-in Stabs, Double-shot PBT, South-facing LEDs, 1000Hz Polling |
| Good for , different | Beginners who want a cheap, compact mechanical board to modify Travelers who want a light 65% People planning to replace the keycaps anyway | A first QMK/VIA keyboard on a small budget Learning switch swapping without soldering Desk or office use where wireless is not needed TKL fans who want arrow keys and a nav cluster |
| Skip if , different | Buyers who want a refined sound out of the box Anyone who wants QMK/VIA (see the K6 Pro) Gamers who want 2.4 GHz or Hall-effect features | Anyone who needs wireless Buyers who want an aluminum case People who want a soft, flexy gasket-style feel Buyers who need a guaranteed in-stock listing |
| Pros , different | Small and light: about 530 g in plastic Hot-swap sockets on the right version Long rated battery life (up to 240 hours, maker) Bluetooth for three devices plus wired Aluminum bezel version adds weight and firmness | QMK firmware with the Keychron Launcher web app for remapping and macros Hot-swap sockets, so switches can be changed without soldering Screw-in PCB stabilizers; Keychron says third-party screw-in stabilizers also fit Double-shot PBT keycaps and K Pro switches on the assembled version (pre-lubed except the clicky Blue) Steel plate with a tray mount, which reviewers of the V3 8K found stable and firm TKL layout with arrow keys and navigation keys, and an optional knob |
| Cons , different | Stock keycaps were thin and cheap-looking (The Keeblog) Plastic case sounds hollow (The Keeblog) ABS keycaps and a basic tray mount No 2.4 GHz and no function row Hot-swap is only on some versions, so check the listing | Wired only; the V3 Max is the wireless version ABS plastic case rather than aluminum Tray mount feels stiffer than a gasket-mounted board (APH Networks, on the V3 8K) Keychron's page lists it as sold out, so availability is uncertain Little independent review coverage of this exact model |
| Research take , different | A cheap and compact starter. The aluminum bezel version is the one to prefer. | A plain wired TKL that, on Keychron's specs, gives QMK/VIA, hot-swap and screw-in stabilizers in a plastic case. Its trade-offs are the plastic build, a stiffer tray-mount feel and no wireless. Because reviews of this exact model are scarce and Keychron lists it as sold out, the V3 Max or V3 8K may be the more practical buy. |