Keychron K3 HE and K3 Ultra low-profile keyboard launch: Sleek wood-accents, surprisingly low prices, fully Kickstarted within hours
Keychron previously teased a new, updated line-up of low-profile Hall effect and mechanical keyboards, both of which feature wireless connectivity, PBT keycaps, an aluminium frame, and rosewood accents, but now the peripherals brand has officially released the new gaming keyboards via Kickstarter, divulging more specifications and revealing the official launch pricing in the process. During the first day of the Kickstarter campaign, it has already surpassed the $10,000 goal, earning over $55,000. Early Bird Kickstarter pricing starts at $105 for the K3 Ultra and $115 for the K3 HE, and both versions are expected to start shipping in May, 2026.
Keychron K3 HE and K3 Ultra specs and new details
| K3 Ultra 8K | K3 HE | |
|---|---|---|
| Case material | ABS bottom case, aluminium rails, rose wood edge accents | |
| Dimensions | 126 × 318.62 mm, 20.5 mm front height | |
| Connectivity | USB type-C, 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.3 | |
| PCB and switch style | 3-pin, 5-pin hot-swap PCB for Gateron Low-Profile 2.0 switches | HE PCB, magnetic switches |
| Plate material | Aluminium | |
| Default switch options | Keychron Milk POM Red (linear), Brown (tactile), Banana (sharp tactile) | Keychron Ultra-Fast Lime Low-Profile |
| Layout | 75% | |
| Typing angles | 2°, 4.5°, 7.5° | |
| Weight | 575 g | |
| Keycap material and profile | Double-shot PBT, LSA (low-profile SA), non-shine-through | |
| Customisation software | Keychron Launcher web-based UI | |
| Battery capacity | 2600 mAh | |
| Battery life | 550 hours (no backlighting) tested in 2.4 GHz | 55 hours |
| Backlight | Per-key north-facing RGB backlighting | |
| Polling rate | 8,000, 2,000, 1,000 Hz over wired and 2.4 GHz, 133 Hz over Bluetooth | 1,000 Hz (USB-C, 2.4 GHz) |
Keychron has officially revealed several specifications we did not yet know about the K3 HE and K3 Ultra. Notably, the K3 HE will have a significantly shorter battery life than its Ultra counterpart — just 55 hours compared to over 500 hours in Keychron's lab testing. The primary reason for this is the ultra-efficient ZMK firmware in the K3 Ultra. It's also been revealed that the Keychron K3 HE's Ultra-Fast Lime Low-Profile switches will have 2.9 mm of travel, which is shorter than the 3.1 mm of the Milk POM switches found in the K3 Ultra, but not by much.
Keychron has also confirmed that both keyboards will have ample noise damping materials in the case, which should help shape the sound profile of the tray-mount designs. As with many Keychron keyboards, the K3 series will ship with screwdrivers to disassemble and experiment with the case foams and even do modifications to alter the sound and typing feel. When it comes to the K3 HE's customisation features, Keychron says that it will offer adjustable actuation distance with a sensitivity of 0.1 mm and a minimum actuation distance of 0.2 mm. It will also feature Rapid Trigger, SOCD, analogue input, and DKS, as well as the typical macro recording functionality found in other programmable Keychron keyboards. Keychron also confirmed that the low-profile Ultra-Fast Lime switches will have an actuation force similar to that of the existing Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula switches, instead of the lightweight full-height Ultra-Fast Magnetic Lime switches we tested in the Q1 HE 8K recently.
The Kickstarter campaign has also revealed prospective retail pricing, with the K3 HE seemingly coming in at around $110, while the K3 Ultra looks to be launching at an MSRP of $120. If those prices are accurate, Keychron will be able to compete with popular low-profile Hall effect and mechanical keyboards, like the NuPhy Air75 HE ($129.95 on Amazon) and the Lofree Flow Lite (curr. $110 on Amazon) — read our in-depth review here.
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