1. Try Searching by
    1. Category (Best $100 Headphones, Best 50 Inch TVs, …)
    2. Brand (Sony, Samsung, LG, Bose, …)
    3. Model (S405, QC 35 II, …)
    4. Etc
Get insider access
Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Best
Gaming Keyboards Mechanical Wireless Ergonomic iPad Typing Mac Budget Gaming Programming Budget And Cheap Office Keychron Budget Mechanical Razer Logitech Low-Profile 60% Quiet TKL
Tools
Compare Table Review List Review Index Graph Custom Ratings
Popular
Wooting 80HE Logitech MX Keys S NuPhy Field75 HE Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] NuPhy Air75 V2 [Air60 V2, Air96 V2] Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] Corsair K100 AIR Logitech MX Mechanical NuPhy Air60 HE AULA F99/F75 Keychron K2 HE Razer Huntsman Mini ASUS ROG Azoth Logitech G715 Corsair K70 RGB TKL Logitech G515 LIGHTSPEED TKL Logitech G PRO X TKL RAPID Wooting 60HE Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s
252
Keyboards bought and tested
Supported by you via insider access, and when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Driven by data, run by a passionate team of engineers, testers, technical writers, developers, and more.
We are hiring!
  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 K3 vs Keychron K12

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K3
Keychron K12

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Nov 16, 2023 08:59 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 30, 2022 09:08 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K3 Picture
Keychron K12 Picture
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (75%)
Mechanical
Yes
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (60%)
Mechanical
Yes

Variants

  • K3 (K3B3 - Black)
  • K12 (Black)

Review

See Keychron K3 review

See Keychron K12 review

0
0

Our Verdict

Keychron K3

Keychron K12

The Keychron K3 and the Keychron K12 are both compact wireless keyboards, with different switch styles. If you like low-profile switches and prefer having a dedicated F-row and navigation keys, the K3 is a better choice. However, if you prefer standard-shaped switches and want your board to be as compact as possible, you should go with the K12.

0

Check Price

K3B3 - Black
K3
Searching
Finding store
Black
K12
Searching
Finding store
K3B3 - Black
K3
Searching
Finding store
Black
K12
Searching
Finding store
K3B3 - Black
K3
Searching
Finding store
Black
K12
Searching
Finding store
K3B3 - Black
K3
Searching
Finding store
Black
K12
Searching
Finding store
K3B3 - Black
K3
Searching
Finding store
Black
K12
Searching
Finding store

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.0
7.5

Pre-Travel 
 

1.7 mm
2.6 mm

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K3 Top Picture
Keychron K12 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (75%)
Compact (60%)

Height 
 

1.1" (2.7 cm)
1.5" (3.9 cm)

Width  

12.0" (30.5 cm)
11.7" (29.8 cm)

Depth 
 

4.6" (11.6 cm)
4.2" (10.7 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

0.88 lbs (0.397 kg)
1.47 lbs (0.667 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K3 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron K12 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
6.5

Side Picture  

Keychron K3 Side Picture
Keychron K12 Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

4°
4°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
6°

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
10°

Wrist Rest  

No
No

Show text

Backlighting 
 

9.3
9.3

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K3 Backlighting Picture
Keychron K12 Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

Keychron K3 White Shot
Keychron K12 White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

Keychron K3 Brightness Max
Keychron K12 Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

Keychron K3 Brightness Min
Keychron K12 Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB
RGB

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

Ok
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  

4.0 ft (1.2 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 K3 Extra Features
Keychron K12 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  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K3 Bundle Picture
Keychron K12 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 Brown
Gateron Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

51 gf
44 gf

Actuation Force 
 

48 gf
36 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.7 mm
2.6 mm

Total Travel 
 

2.7 mm
4.0 mm

Show text

Typing Quality 
 

7.5
8.0

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

Noise 
 

Quiet
Quiet

Show text

Latency 
 

7.0
7.3

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

14.6 ms
11.7 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

22.1 ms
22.9 ms

Show text

Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
0.0

Software Picture  

Keychron K3 Software Picture
Keychron K12 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 
 

9.2
8.5

Windows  

Full
Full

macOS  

Full
Partial

Linux  

Partial
Partial

Android  

Full
Partial

iOS  

Partial
Partial

iPadOS  

Partial
Partial

Show text

Check Price

K3B3 - Black
K3
Searching
Finding store
Black
K12
Searching
Finding store
K3B3 - Black
K3
Searching
Finding store
Black
K12
Searching
Finding store
K3B3 - Black
K3
Searching
Finding store
Black
K12
Searching
Finding store
K3B3 - Black
K3
Searching
Finding store
Black
K12
Searching
Finding store
K3B3 - Black
K3
Searching
Finding store
Black
K12
Searching
Finding store
Back to Top

Keychron K3

Keychron K12

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Keychron K3 vs Keychron K12: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

Follow Discussion0 followingSee All Computer Peripherals DiscussionsCopy link
0 replies
PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones
You have 9/10 free reviews left
To access
unlimited full product reviews,
product prices
and
other exclusive site features
Become an Insider
We make money directly from you via insider access (which gives you access to extra features) and when you buy a product after clicking a link to a retailer. Learn more about how we work.
We buy our own products, just like you, mostly from the United States. When a product is discontinued or no longer popular, we sell the review units locally. You can see what products we currently have for sale here.
© 2025 9298-5266 Quebec Inc. All Rights Reserved. Visit our corporate site.