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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. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
    5. Latency
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Keychron K8 vs Keychron K3 (Version 2)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K8
Keychron K3 (Version 2)

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Apr 15, 2024 12:27 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:20 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K8 Picture
Keychron K3 (Version 2) Picture
ConnectivityWireless
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Mechanical
Yes
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (75%)
Switch Type
Optical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Mac

Variants

  • K8 (Dark Gray)
  • K5 (100%)
  • K3 (Version 2) (75%)

Review

See Keychron K8 Review
See Keychron K3 (Version 2) Review
0 
0 

Our Verdict

Keychron K8

Keychron K3 (Version 2)

The Keychron K8 and the Keychron K3 (Version 2) are both wireless mechanical keyboards designed for office use. The K3 V2 is a compact 75% low-profile board that offers better ergonomics. It uses low-profile switches, and if you elect to get the variant that uses Keychron Low Profile Optical switches, it's also hot-swappable. On the other hand, the K8 is a TKL size with a high profile and uses regular Gateron switches, so you have your choice of tactile Brown, clicky Blue, and linear Red, depending on the feeling you want. Overall, both boards perform similarly.

0 

Check Price

Dark Gray
K8
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
100%
K5
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Dark Gray
K8
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Amazon.com
75%
K3 (Version 2)
Searching
Finding store
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.7
7.8

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
1.1 mm

Operating Force 
 

45 gf
57 gf

Backlighting 
 

9.3
8.5

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

7.9
10

Windows  

Partial
Fully Compatible

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K8 Top Picture
Keychron K3 (Version 2) Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
Compact (75%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.3 cm)
0.9" (2.2 cm)

Width  

14.1" (35.8 cm)
12.0" (30.5 cm)

Depth 
 

5.1" (13.0 cm)
4.6" (11.6 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.98 lbs (0.900 kg)
1.06 lbs (0.480 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K8 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron K3 (Version 2) Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
7.0

Side Picture  

Keychron K8 Side Picture
Keychron K3 (Version 2) Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

Straight
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4°
2.5°

Medium Incline 
 

8°
4°

Maximum Incline 
 

12°
6.5°

Home Row Height 
 

20.0 mm (0.8")

Wrist Rest  

No
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

4.9

Customizability Overview  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Mixed

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Non-Standard

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Low Profile Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

No
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

9.3
8.5

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K8 Backlighting Picture
Keychron K3 (Version 2) Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Keychron K8 Brightness Max
Keychron K3 (Version 2) Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Keychron K8 Brightness Min
Keychron K3 (Version 2) Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

Keychron K8 White Shot
Keychron K3 (Version 2) White Shot

RGB 
 

Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

No
No

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Ok
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0

White Shot  

Keychron K8 White Shot
Keychron K3 (Version 2) White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wireless

Detachable 
 

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

Length  

3.9 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 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

0.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K8 Extra Features
Keychron K3 (Version 2) Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K8 Bundle Picture
Keychron K3 (Version 2) Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
7.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

9.0
9.3

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

42.0 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Quiet
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Gateron Brown
Keychron Low Profile Optical Brown

Switch Type 
 

Optical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Brown
Keychron Low Profile Optical Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

45 gf
57 gf

Actuation Force 
 

34 gf
46 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
1.1 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.1 mm
2.6 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.4
7.1

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

11.0 ms
16.4 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

22.9 ms
29.6 ms
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.4
7.1

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

16.4 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±4.9 ms

Wired 
 

11.0 ms
16.4 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

22.9 ms
29.6 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

15.6 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.3

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

16.2 ms

Key Release 
 

19.8 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

6.9

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Keychron K3 (Version 2) Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

125 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Chord Split 
 

9.4

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

2.0 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.2 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Keychron K8 Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

Profiles 
 

No Profile
No Profile

Account Required 
 

No Software

Cloud Sync 
 

No

Macro Programming 
 

No

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

7.9
10

Windows 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

Partial
Fully Compatible

iOS  

Partial
Fully Compatible

iPadOS  

Partial
Fully Compatible
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

10

Android 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

iOS 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Android, iPhone & iPad
Show Text 

Check Price

Dark Gray
K8
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
100%
K5
Searching
Finding store
Dark Gray
K8
SEARCH
Amazon.com
75%
K3 (Version 2)
Searching
Finding store
Back to Top

Keychron K8

Keychron K3 (Version 2)

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Keychron K8 vs Keychron K3 (Version 2): Main Discussion

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