Compare
Pick two boards from the directory and see how they differ.
Shaded rows are where they differ.
| Spec |  Keychron Keychron V3 $60–$70 “QMK support under $100 is absurd” Budget King |  Keychron Keychron V5 $65–$75 “Wired 96% with a numpad, knob and tray-mounted plastic case” |
|---|---|---|
| Price , different | $60–$70 | $65–$75 |
| Size , different | TKL | 96% |
| Type | Pre-built | Pre-built |
| Connectivity | Wired | Wired |
| Released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Mounting | Tray Mount | Tray Mount |
| Case , different | ABS Plastic | Plastic |
| Colors , different | Frosted Black, Carbon Black | Frosted Black (Translucent), Carbon Black (Non-transparent) |
| Weight , different | 966g | Not listed |
| Dimensions , different | 359 x 138.5 x 31mm | 96% |
| Typing angle , different | 5.2° | Not listed |
| Front height , different | 22mm | Not listed |
| Switches | Mechanical | Mechanical |
| Profile | Standard | Standard |
| Keycaps , different | Double-shot PBT, OSA Profile | Double-shot PBT |
| PCB , different | Hot-swap, South-facing RGB | Hot-swap |
| Plates , different | Steel | Not listed |
| Compatible switches , different | MX-style 3-pin and 5-pin | MX-style |
| Software , different | QMK, VIA | QMK, Keychron Launcher |
| NKRO | Yes | Yes |
| RGB , different | Yes | No |
| Features , different | QMK/VIA, 80% TKL with Knob, Hot-swap, Screw-in Stabs, Double-shot PBT, South-facing LEDs, 1000Hz Polling | 96% layout, Wired, Hot-swap, QMK/VIA, Knob |
| Good for , different | 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 | Typists and spreadsheet users who want a numpad in a compact footprint QMK users who want macros on a budget People who want a rotary knob on a wired board |
| Skip if , different | 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 | Anyone who needs wireless People who use PgUp, PgDn and the menu key heavily and do not want to remap Buyers who work in dark rooms and dislike LED glare |
| Pros , different | 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 | Compact 96% footprint with a numpad, arrows and a rotary knob Hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches QMK with the Launcher web app; an owner got macros with mouse actions working in QMK (Mortensen) South-facing per-key RGB with 22 modes in the v1.1 firmware (Mortensen) Both ANSI and ISO layouts were sold (Keychron) About 1.34 kg in Mortensen's measurement, so it stays put on the desk |
| Cons , different | 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 | Wired only The 96% numpad squeezes out dedicated PgUp, PgDn and context-menu keys (Mortensen) South-facing LEDs bleed bright light toward the typist at higher brightness (Mortensen) Owners on Amazon.de criticized the keycap quality (via testberichte.de summary) No easy way to cancel a running QMK macro (Mortensen) |
| Research take , different | 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. | A capable wired 96% for QMK and macro use, with the usual 96% compromises on page and menu keys. It has been replaced by the V5 8K, V5 Max and V5 Ultra 8K, so check what is actually in stock. |