Reviewing devices for a dwelling requires a certain quantity {of professional} detachment and objectivity. Which is why Keychron is de facto beginning to get on my nerves. After initially dismissing the corporate as one other bandwagon jumper on the mechanical keyboard pattern, I’ve now tried three separate Keychron keyboards previously yr. And all of them are to date forward of the competitors that it’s nearly unfair. 

Take this K3 Pro, for instance. Keychron took the low-profile, price range design of the K3, and zhuzhed it up with a number of of the premium options extra typically discovered on its Q collection. Not solely does this make it a exceptional little board by itself deserves, it’s among the many greatest low-profile, travel-friendly mechanical boards available on the market by way of worth. 

See what I imply? Unfair to the competitors, unfair to the reviewer. Just unfair. And I imply that in one of the simplest ways potential. 

Note: This assessment is a part of our ongoing roundup of the best wireless keyboards. Go there to study extra about competing merchandise, what to search for in a wi-fi keyboard, and shopping for suggestions.

At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Great dimension and structure
• High-end options
• Unbeatable worth

Cons

• VIA programming is slightly tough

Our Verdict

Keychron’s K3 Pro is one of the best small keyboard round. It has options previously reserved for boards at twice the worth, and it’s versatile sufficient for essentially the most demanding energy customers.

Price When Reviewed

$114

Best Prices Today: Keychron K3 Pro

Keychron Pro 3: The specs

The K3 Pro is an upgraded model of the low-profile Keychron K3. That a lot is clear, however the upgrades are available some stunning areas. The most evident is a bump up from ABS plastic keycaps to the extra premium PBT plastic, to not point out a shift to a extra standard OEM-style key profile. 

Michael Crider/IDG

If all that appears like alphabet soup to you, simply know that the keycaps really feel higher and last more. Underneath them are Gateron’s low-profile mechanical switches, which are available crimson (linear), blue (clicky), or brown (clickly, however not fairly so noisy) selections. All are nice replicas of their full-sized alternate options, albeit with the plain discount in key journey that comes from being shrunken down. 

Gateron’s switches really feel loads higher than the Cherry Ultra-Low Profile switches discovered within the Corsair K100 Air, however that’s not likely a good comparability—these switches are designed for high-end gaming laptops, and placing them in a separate keyboard is one thing of a novelty. A greater comparability is with the low-profile switches on Razer’s new Deathstalker. Gateron’s switches have rather less journey, however they’re stiffer, leading to an identical really feel. It’s six of 1, half a dozen of the opposite—but when I used to be compelled to decide on, I’d go together with Keychron for the superior keycaps. 

Michael Crider/IDG

Those low-profile components end in a keyboard simply 22mm tall, with out the dual-stage ft (a pleasant contact). Fully prolonged, it’s about 35mm, which continues to be barely taller than a regular MX swap and keycap. It’s straightforward to throw in a bag, particularly with the devoted off swap. Just don’t get it confused with the mode swap that’s nearer to the sting of the case—an outdated design selection that Keychron appears detest to desert. 

Michael Crider/IDG

And the K3 Pro is superb for touring. In addition to its Bluetooth wi-fi and cable backup, the compact 75 % structure signifies that it’ll go just about anyplace a full-sized pill will, and it’ll recharge from the identical USB-C cable. It lasted for greater than per week with RGB backlighting—it ought to go for months for those who don’t want the sunshine present. I can’t say I really like the default structure of a number of the operate keys, particularly Delete and Print Screen, however that’s straightforward sufficient to vary. 

The different main development over the usual K3 is the addition of programming choices. This is a giant deal for energy customers—and it solely turns into an even bigger deal whenever you shrink down your keyboard and pressure the consumer to decide on which capabilities must go on a hidden layer. Like the Q collection, the K3 Pro will be programmed with QMK or VIA, two of the requirements for the mechanical keyboard fanatic neighborhood. 

Michael Crider/IDG

I gained’t lie, even VIA, the extra user-friendly possibility, isn’t fairly as idiot-proof as one thing just like the programming instruments that include gaming keyboards. It requires placing the keyboard in wired mode, utilizing an online device, enabling permissions, and importing a JSON file from Keychron’s web site. Even then, I needed to fiddle round with numerous settings earlier than the device would really acknowledge the board. 

But as soon as issues clicked—sorry—it turned as straightforward as another device, with an easy UI and apparent movement. I used to be capable of alter the few ache factors of the loadout and get my media controls on the primary layer in only a few minutes. Note that, because of all of the caps utilizing the identical profile, you’ll be able to transfer any of the 1×1 keycaps round with out having to fret about odd row mismatching. 

Should you purchase a Keychron Pro 3?

The K3 Pro comes with different selections along with the swap colours. Buyers can go for normal white backlighting or RGB, each of which will be personalized. And you’ll be able to select between soldered key switches or hot-swappable. At the second there are so few choices for low-profile switches that I don’t see an enormous worth add for the improve, and I’ve by no means seen the purpose of RGB lighting, so the most cost effective mannequin at $94 is the one I’d go together with. But blinging out the keyboard isn’t that costly both—each add-on choices are simply $10, for a most worth of $114. 

Michael Crider/IDG

And even at its highest worth, the worth is exceptional. Low-profile keyboards in the identical basic dimension vary from Apple and Logitech begin at about $100. Logitech wants $150 for the MX Mechanical Mini, with an an identical structure, fewer programming choices, and no hot-swap switches or RGB lighting. 

What concerning the gaming selections? Razer, Logitech, and Corsair all have low-profile tenkeyless boards which might be all greater than $200 at retail. Cooler Master’s SK621 appears to be out of manufacturing, however its cramped structure is a non-starter for me. (The K3 Pro’s Bluetooth isn’t nice for gaming, however it has 1,000Hz polling in wired mode.) 

Michael Crider/IDG

At the second the one actual competitors I may discover with an identical function set was the NuPhy Air75, with the identical structure and swap selections, plus a 2.4GHz wi-fi possibility. It’s $130, which appears honest given its further connection and extra sturdy case…however it additionally lacks the programming choices of the K3 Pro. 

In brief, Keychron is totally killing it versus extra mainstream manufacturers by way of worth, even because it strikes into extra standard territory with low-profile, travel-friendly designs. With wonderful {hardware}, stable wi-fi, and an excellent worth, it’s the teeny-tiny, low-profile mechanical board to beat.