Keychron K3 HE Wireless Keyboard Review

The Keychron K3 HE wireless keyboard takes an interesting approach by offering both a low-profile slim build and Hall Effect switch technology. For those who want a highly portable gaming keyboard complete with magnetic switches, the K3 HE is one of a rare breed. Despite that exclusivity, Keychron is pricing it very competitively. On paper, it could be a big winner, but how has it fared during my real-world testing? Here is my review.

Low-profile meets Hall Effect

Right out of the gate, let’s talk about those Hall Effect magnetic switches. For the uninitiated, magnetic switches are now the modern must-have feature amongst gaming keyboard enthusiasts, so to see it in a low-profile build is certainly interesting.

Hall Effect allows the K3 HE to detect key travel distance across a number of points. This enables features like analog input, rapid trigger, and multi-action assigning. For fans of racing games, analog input comes in especially handy for making small movements when steering. Rapid trigger and multi-action come into their own when playing first-person shooters. These are just a couple of examples from my usage in games like Forza and Call of Duty. The sky is pretty much the limit with this tech, which is why it is so hyped and sought after.

Getting connected

Enhancing the portability of this low-profile gaming keyboard is its low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity. You can happily connect the K3 HE wirelessly and enjoy consistently quick inputs. Of course, wired is the more dependable choice, but to feel truly portable and disconnected, I think wireless is the best way to go.

For those looking to tweak settings, QMK is supported and the Keychron web app makes it easy to customize without the need to install any software. Many mainstream brands still require an app to be installed, so it’s great to see Keychron giving enthusiasts what they want on this front.

In use, the K3 HE sounds and feels good, especially for a low-profile option. Keychron has done well to enhance the acoustics with various materials, helping to dampen the hollowness that often plagues similar products.

A natural weakness

Being low-profile is the K3 HE’s biggest strength and weakness. For those in the market for a slim keyboard with some gaming enhancements, this keyboard makes the most sense. However, for those deciding between a low-profile keyboard and a standard keyboard, the K3 HE is still limited by its form factor. If you don’t need the slimness, then a full-height keyboard would still make more sense.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by Keychron.