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  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 Q2 vs Keychron Q3

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron Q2
Keychron Q3

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Sep 23, 2022 06:05 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 23, 2023 01:13 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron Q2 Picture
Keychron Q3 Picture

Variants

  • Q2 (Carbon Black)
  • Q2 (Navy Blue)
  • Q2 (Silver Grey)
  • Q3 (Carbon Black)
  • Q3 (Navy Blue)
  • Q3 (Silver Grey)

Our Verdict

Keychron Q2

Keychron Q3

The Keychron Q2 and the Keychron Q3 are very similar wired-only, hot-swappable keyboards, but they have slight differences. The Q2 is a 65% compact keyboard, so it lacks a row of dedicated function keys, and it's missing some buttons from the navigational cluster. On the other hand, the Q3 is a TKL size, meaning it has a full navigational cluster and a row of dedicated function keys. Both keyboards perform nearly identically, so it's a matter of personal preference on what size you want.

0 

Check Price

Carbon Black
Q3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.5
8.4

Pre-Travel 
 

2.6 mm
2.8 mm

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron Q2 Top Picture
Keychron Q3 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (65%)
TenKeyLess (80%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.4 cm)
1.7" (4.4 cm)

Width  

12.9" (32.7 cm)
14.4" (36.7 cm)

Depth 
 

4.8" (12.1 cm)
5.4" (13.8 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

3.68 lbs (1.671 kg)
4.53 lbs (2.055 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

9.0
9.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron Q2 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron Q3 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

Keychron Q2 Side Picture
Keychron Q3 Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

6.5°
5.2°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Wrist Rest  

No
No
Show Text 

Backlighting 
 

9.6
9.7

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron Q2 Backlighting Picture
Keychron Q3 Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

Keychron Q2 White Shot
Keychron Q3 White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

Keychron Q2 Brightness Max
Keychron Q3 Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

Keychron Q2 Brightness Min
Keychron Q3 Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB
RGB

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

Poor
Ok

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Programmable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
No Batteries
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron Q2 Extra Features
Keychron Q3 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Hot Keys

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

All
All

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Wheel  

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

No Indicator
No Indicator
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron Q2 Bundle Picture
Keychron Q3 Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron G Pro Brown
Gateron G Pro Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

55 gf
49 gf

Actuation Force 
 

39 gf
42 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.6 mm
2.8 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.1 mm
4.2 mm
Show Text 

Typing Quality 
 

8.5
8.5
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

Noise 
 

Very Quiet
Very Quiet
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.3
7.3

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

11.6 ms
11.5 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

9.6
9.6

Software Picture  

Keychron Q2 Software Picture
Keychron Q3 Software Picture

Software Name  

VIA
VIA

Account Required 
 

No
No

Profiles 
 

6+
6+

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Cloud Sync 
 

No
No

Macro Programming 
 

Software
Software

Ease Of Use 
 

Easy
Easy

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

8.2
8.2

Windows  

Full
Full

macOS  

Full
Full

Linux  

Full
Full

Android  

No
No

iOS  

No
No

iPadOS  

No
No
Show Text 

Check Price

Carbon Black
Q3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Keychron Q2

Keychron Q3

Comments

  1. Comparison

Keychron Q2 vs Keychron Q3: Main Discussion

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