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  1. Home
  2. Keyboard
  3. Compare
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Backlighting
    5. Cable & Connector
    6. Wireless Versatility
    7. Extra Features
    8. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Keystrokes
    2. Typing Quality
    3. Typing Noise
    4. Latency
  6. Software and Operating System
    1. Software & Programming
    2. Keyboard Compatibility
  7. Comments

Keychron K1 vs Keychron K3

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K1
Keychron K3

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 20, 2022 09:27 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Nov 16, 2023 08:59 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K1 Picture
Keychron K3 Picture
ConnectivityWireless
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Mechanical
Yes
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (75%)
Mechanical
Yes

Variants

  • K1 (Black)
  • K1 (Light Gray)
  • K3 (K3B3 - Black)

Review

See Keychron K1 review

See Keychron K3 review

0
0

Our Verdict

Keychron K1

Keychron K3

The Keychron K1 and the Keychron K3 are both great gaming keyboards, but the K1 has a TenKeyLess layout whereas the K3 has a compact 75% layout. Otherwise, they have very similar features, although the K3 has a lower latency over Bluetooth. It also has a Caps Lock indicator light, which the K1 lacks. The K3 is available with many different switches, including optical ones, so you have a wider range of options to choose from. Neither keyboards have software to customize the backlighting or set macros.

0

Check Price

Black
K1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
K3B3 - Black
K3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Light Gray
K1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
K3B3 - Black
K3
SEARCH
B&H
 
K3B3 - Black
K3
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 
K3B3 - Black
K3
SEARCH
Walmart.com

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.0
8.0

Windows  

Partial
Full

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K1 Top Picture
Keychron K3 Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
Compact (75%)

Height 
 

0.9" (2.3 cm)
1.1" (2.7 cm)

Width  

14.0" (35.6 cm)
12.0" (30.5 cm)

Depth 
 

4.8" (12.1 cm)
4.6" (11.6 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.40 lbs (0.636 kg)
0.88 lbs (0.397 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K1 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron K3 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
7.0

Side Picture  

Keychron K1 Side Picture
Keychron K3 Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

2.5°
4°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Wrist Rest  

No
No

Show text

Backlighting 
 

9.5
9.3

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K1 Backlighting Picture
Keychron K3 Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

Keychron K1 White Shot
Keychron K3 White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

Keychron K1 Brightness Max
Keychron K3 Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

Keychron K1 Brightness Min
Keychron K3 Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB
RGB

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

Good
Ok

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Programmable 
 

No
No

Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wireless

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

5.0 ft (1.5 m)
4.0 ft (1.2 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C

Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

10
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
3

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
Rechargeable

Show text

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K1 Extra Features
Keychron K3 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Hot Keys

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
No

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Wheel  

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

No Indicator
Caps Lock

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K1 Bundle Picture
Keychron K3 Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Low Profile Red
Gateron Low Profile Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Linear
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

40 gf
51 gf

Actuation Force 
 

40 gf
48 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.4 mm
1.7 mm

Total Travel 
 

2.7 mm
2.7 mm

Show text

Typing Quality 
 

7.0
7.5

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

Noise 
 

Quiet
Quiet

Show text

Latency 
 

7.1
7.0

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

13.6 ms
14.6 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

43.4 ms
22.1 ms

Show text

Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
0.0

Software Picture  

Keychron K1 Software Picture
Keychron K3 Software Picture

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Account Required 
 

No Software
No Software

Profiles 
 

No Profile
No Profile

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

Cloud Sync 
 

No
No

Macro Programming 
 

No
No

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Show text

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

7.9
9.2

Windows  

Partial
Full

macOS  

Partial
Full

Linux  

Partial
Partial

Android  

Partial
Full

iOS  

Partial
Partial

iPadOS  

Partial
Partial

Show text

Check Price

Black
K1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
K3B3 - Black
K3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Light Gray
K1
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
K3B3 - Black
K3
SEARCH
B&H
 
K3B3 - Black
K3
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 
K3B3 - Black
K3
SEARCH
Walmart.com
Back to Top

Keychron K1

Keychron K3

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Keychron K1 vs Keychron K3: Main Discussion

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