Keychron
C3 Pro
- 87-key TKL
- Gasket mount
- QMK/VIA
Price when we saw it
$34.99seen at Keychron on 16 Aug 2026
No retailer rating is included in this comparison.
What we can tell you
A wired, tenkeyless mechanical board that carries QMK/VIA remapping, which is unusual at this end of the price list: most budget boards ship a fixed layout and a driver you have to install. The trade-offs are in the details: ABS keycaps rather than PBT, a single-colour backlight rather than RGB, and no wireless mode at all. Keychron does not publish whether this variant’s PCB is hot-swappable, so if changing switches later matters to you, confirm it before ordering.
What the specifications favour
- QMK/VIA remapping, so the layout is changed on the board rather than through vendor software
- Gasket mount and a full tenkeyless layout at a budget price
- Keychron publishes a complete specification sheet for it, so little here is inference
What to check before you buy
- ABS keycaps and a single-colour backlight, where dearer boards use PBT and RGB
- Wired only: no Bluetooth and no receiver
- Hot-swap support is not stated for this variant, though other variants of the same board advertise it
Published specifications
The table shows the specifications recorded in this comparison. “Not recorded” means a value is missing here, not that the product lacks the feature or that the manufacturer has never published it.
| Layout, as the vendor names it | TKL / 80% (87 key) |
|---|---|
| Keys | 87 |
| Switch technology | Mechanical |
| Switch options offered | Keychron Mechanical Red, Keychron Mechanical Brown |
| Hot-swappable switches | Not recorded |
| Number pad | No |
| Connections | Wired |
| Battery | Not recorded |
| Battery life, as quoted | Not recorded |
| Backlight | Single colour |
| Keycap material | ABS |
| Case material | Not recorded |
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Polling rate | 1,000 Hz |
| Remapping software | QMK/VIA |
| Wrist rest included | Not recorded |
| Spill resistance claimedA vendor claim, not a rating we verified. | Not recorded |
Which setup filters match this product?
Use these categories to narrow your options in the setup builder. Check the specifications for the full list of supported features.
- Switch type
- Mechanical
- Size
- TKL / 75%
- Connection
- Wired
What this page is based on
We have not tested this product. This page summarizes published specifications and retailer information; the sources and price dates are shown below. A missing value means it is not recorded in this comparison.
What we are not sure about (1)
Check the following details before ordering, especially where variants differ or information is incomplete.
Hot-swap support
Keychron does not state whether this variant's circuit board is hot-swappable, so no answer is shown. Other C3 Pro variants are advertised as hot-swappable, so confirm it before ordering if changing switches matters to you.
Sources (1)
- Keychron: Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Wired Mechanical Keyboard (Manufacturer, read 16 Aug 2026)Cited for: the model name, the price, the size, how it connects, the switch type, the specifications
Other keyboards at a similar price
Compare these alternatives using the dated prices shown.
- Keychron V1
$69.99 seen at Keychron on 16 Aug 2026
- Razer BlackWidow V4 75%
$139.99 seen at Razer on 16 Aug 2026
- Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless
$159.99 seen at Razer on 16 Aug 2026
- SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
$239.99 seen at Best Buy on 16 Aug 2026