Keychron K3 QMK V3: new 75% slim wireless mechanical keyboard launches at $84 with premium build, universal compatibility

Keychron has been on a mission to update its mechanical keyboard line-up with enthusiast features, from improved customisation via QMK/VIA to a host of new materials and case designs for better acoustic properties. Now, it's the 75% Keychron K3's turn for an upgrade with the introduction of the new Keychron K3 QMK Version 3.

The biggest update to the K3 is the addition of QMK firmware, which allows for keyboard remapping, layer changes, and other customisation via a web app. This also means that Linux and macOS users can easily customise their keyboards without having to resort to using a friend's computer or dual-booting Windows. 

The Keychron K3 QMK V3 is a low-profile wireless mechanical keyboard, making it a strong candidate for a portable mechanical keyboard, thanks to its compact nature and wireless connectivity. It has support for both USB type-C — with 1,000 Hz polling — and Bluetooth connectivity options. The Keychron K3 V3 uses a floating keycap design and an aluminium top case/plate and ABS bottom case. Despite the aluminium case, the K3 V3 weighs in at a fairly lightweight 540 g. 

The Keychron K3 Version 3 QMK is available in three different configurations: 

• White backlight: $84
• RGB Backlight: $94
• RGB Backlight with a hot-swap PCB: $104

In addition to upgraded internals, the K3 QMK V3 comes with a variety of sound-shaping materials, including latex and IXPE foams between the plate and PCB and EPDM case foam and a PET film between the PCB and the bottom case and battery assembly. Anyone who is considering a K3 V3 should pay special attention to which version they buy, since only the hot-swap version will allow for easy stabiliser, switch, and acoustic customisation. 

The $104 RGB backlit version is currently the only one offered with hot-swappable switches. For the other two, you'll have to choose between red linear and brown tactile low-profile switches. As usual with Keychron's low-profile keyboards, the switches are designed as a collaboration between Keychron and Gateron. This time around, Keychron is using the Keychron Low Profile 2.0 mechanical switches, which are factory-lubed and have a fairly middle-of-the-road actuation force of 45 gf and a total travel distance of 3.1 mm. The brown tactile switch has a pre-travel distance of 1.7 mm, while the red switch has a lower pre-travel distance of 1.3 mm.

Like its predecessor, the K3 QMK V3 has double-shot, shine-through keycaps, meaning the legend will never fade from use, although, the K3 V3 uses ABS keycaps, again catering to keyboard enthusiasts, who often prefer the feel of ABS over PBT. Likewise, the K3 V3 has the same 1550 mAh battery capacity as the V2 iteration, but an upgraded controller and a switch to Bluetooth 5.2 mean that the estimated battery life without backlighting goes up from 70 hours to a remarkable 124 hours.

While the Keychron K3 QMK V3 is only currently available from Keychron directly, Keychron also has an official Amazon store, and the keyboard will likely make it onto there, soon, too.