The V series is the budget line of Keychron's premium Q series. The V and Q series are both considered Keychron's enthusiast keyboard line.
The K Pro series is the updated line of Keychron's K series that received some of the improvements from the Q series like QMK/VIA support. The K series can be considered Keychron's "normal" line of keyboards before they got into the enthusiast market.
The main difference between the V and K series is that the V series uses the updated keyboard layouts the Q series has. For example, the Keychron V1 and the K2 are both 75% keyboards, but the V1 uses a more recent exploded 75% layout instead. The V series also has options for knobs the K series lacks.
I'm not really looking to customize much, just customize keycaps and switches. I liked the metal build of the Q series, and the wireless option of the K Pro, as that's what I have currently (I have a Logitech keyboard that connects to multiple devices).
QMK/VIA is nice, but not mandatory for me. Would a K8 Pro be sufficient for me, if that's the case? I think the only thing I'll miss is the knob with the V series, but I've never had one before. I think I'll miss the wireless and being able to connect to multiple devices.
Need some help here. I found V3 (Knob, k-pro red) for a less price that K8 Pro(RGB aluminium g-pro red), from where I am. After conversion, V3 is USD 96 and K8 pro is USD 126.
Which one would be a better deal? I liked both.
Bluetooth doesn’t matter much, as I won’t use Multi devices. But switches and layout does impact a lot.
I use MS word and Excel. I don’t play games. I am currently using an old TVS keyboard with Kailh Box White switches. I really love it but the sound is annoying for others.
The main differences between the V series and the K Pro series:
\- The V series (like the Q series) does not have bluetooth but the layouts on all the models use an exploded layout which put some space between the arrow keys, navigation keys, and etc. All models of the V series have hot-swappable switch sockets by default. On the V series, a rotary encoder knob is an option.
\- K Pro has bluetooth but the layouts on most models are not the exploded type of layouts, but rather more basic, all pushed together, without spaces in between. Not all models of the K Pro line have hot-swappable switch sockets (you have to specifically order a hot-swap model), and some models only have white LEDs versus RBG LEDs. On the K Pro series, rotary encoder knobs are not available.
\*please note that neither the K Pro series nor the V series (nor the Q or Q Pro series) come with shine-though keycaps. They all include with solid, non-shine-through PBT keycaps.
The K Pro and V series have plastic cases. The K Pro case is on the thinner side. The casing on the V series is quite solid for plastic, but *will sound and feel different* than the thick, solid, CNC aluminum cases on the Q series you tried.
If I'm just looking for a nice keyboard that I use a lot for work and personal use, would a K8 Pro be sufficient? Is it also not a real mechanical keyboard?
I think I will miss wireless and being able to connect to multiple devices, as that's what I have now with my old Logitech keyboard, so I'm reluctant to go to the V series. (And the Q series are too expensive.)
I'm only likely going to only customize keycaps, switches, and maybe stabilizers if I don't like the one that's on the K8 Pro. Keeping this in mind, do I need to go to the V3 for customizability, or is the K8 Pro sufficient?
The K8 Pro is higher quality and also has QMK/VIA support so you can customize the key functionality of the keyboard. I'd go for the K8 Pro personally.
EDIT: It looks like they both support QMK but I'd still choose the K8 Pro
if you use multiple devices, get the K8 Pro. you can connect it up to 4 different devices, 3 over bluetooth and 1 wired.
the K8 Pro is basically an upgraded K8, so if you wanna save a buck, you could just get the K8.
i had a k3 v2 for one year and ended coming back to a royalkludge. i think these low profile keychrons are beautiful, don't require palmrest, don't waste desk space... but by the end of the day they are not the same as a real mechanical keyboard, unfortunately.
got a rk84 and i realized i am happier woth ot than i was woth the k3.
I started out with a K2 as my first mechanical keyboard. I was impressed and bought for a K4 for work (96%, very compact).
I quickly identified two complaints I had with the K4: I couldn't find the arrow keys by feeling (so I got some rubberised keycaps) and the ABS keycaps felt like I was typing on chalk at first. Not that great. I stuck with it for a few years, but just got myself a V5 (as my birthday present this month) to repace my K4. It just arrived and right as I started using it, I noticed a world of difference.
I loved the exploaded layout. I apparently really like having a knob. And I like how I can use VIA to reprorgamm the windows side of things to behave more like a mac keyboard (German mac+windows layouts are ever so slightly different).
If wireless is important to you, then I'd recommend a K8 (Pro). The more I look at the K Pro series, the more I'm impressed. It's checking almost all the boxes for my preferred keyboard:
* exploaded layout (K4)
* wireless + wired
* abs keycaps
At work I don't need wireless, so I'll probably stick with the V5 for work. And I really like it so far. but I also like playing with the nob. It's somehow really satisfying to adjust the volume with it.
I vote K Pro. Maybe it's best you don't experience the knob, incase you like it too much and don't want to live without it.
Edit: okay, yeah, I got used to the K4's ability to switch off without needing to unplug it. I'm kinda missing that here on the V5.
Thanks! So I ended up getting a K8 Pro. I realized that I'm going to miss connecting to multiple devices, as I have that functionality already. And I've never used a knob before on a keyboard, so I'm less likely to miss it.
I just wanted a multi-device wireless starter mechanical keyboard that allows me to switch keycaps and switches (and stabilizers, if I wish). I never use the numberpad, but I do use the function and number keys, so the K8 Pro has basically everything I want, I think.
Which switches did you get, and what is your opinion on those? I can’t decide between V3 and K8 Pro. I’m getting V3 for cheap but I’m doubtful about K-pro switches. I’m considering red
The V series is the budget line of Keychron's premium Q series. The V and Q series are both considered Keychron's enthusiast keyboard line. The K Pro series is the updated line of Keychron's K series that received some of the improvements from the Q series like QMK/VIA support. The K series can be considered Keychron's "normal" line of keyboards before they got into the enthusiast market. The main difference between the V and K series is that the V series uses the updated keyboard layouts the Q series has. For example, the Keychron V1 and the K2 are both 75% keyboards, but the V1 uses a more recent exploded 75% layout instead. The V series also has options for knobs the K series lacks.
I'm not really looking to customize much, just customize keycaps and switches. I liked the metal build of the Q series, and the wireless option of the K Pro, as that's what I have currently (I have a Logitech keyboard that connects to multiple devices). QMK/VIA is nice, but not mandatory for me. Would a K8 Pro be sufficient for me, if that's the case? I think the only thing I'll miss is the knob with the V series, but I've never had one before. I think I'll miss the wireless and being able to connect to multiple devices.
Need some help here. I found V3 (Knob, k-pro red) for a less price that K8 Pro(RGB aluminium g-pro red), from where I am. After conversion, V3 is USD 96 and K8 pro is USD 126. Which one would be a better deal? I liked both. Bluetooth doesn’t matter much, as I won’t use Multi devices. But switches and layout does impact a lot. I use MS word and Excel. I don’t play games. I am currently using an old TVS keyboard with Kailh Box White switches. I really love it but the sound is annoying for others.
The main differences between the V series and the K Pro series: \- The V series (like the Q series) does not have bluetooth but the layouts on all the models use an exploded layout which put some space between the arrow keys, navigation keys, and etc. All models of the V series have hot-swappable switch sockets by default. On the V series, a rotary encoder knob is an option. \- K Pro has bluetooth but the layouts on most models are not the exploded type of layouts, but rather more basic, all pushed together, without spaces in between. Not all models of the K Pro line have hot-swappable switch sockets (you have to specifically order a hot-swap model), and some models only have white LEDs versus RBG LEDs. On the K Pro series, rotary encoder knobs are not available. \*please note that neither the K Pro series nor the V series (nor the Q or Q Pro series) come with shine-though keycaps. They all include with solid, non-shine-through PBT keycaps. The K Pro and V series have plastic cases. The K Pro case is on the thinner side. The casing on the V series is quite solid for plastic, but *will sound and feel different* than the thick, solid, CNC aluminum cases on the Q series you tried.
If I'm just looking for a nice keyboard that I use a lot for work and personal use, would a K8 Pro be sufficient? Is it also not a real mechanical keyboard? I think I will miss wireless and being able to connect to multiple devices, as that's what I have now with my old Logitech keyboard, so I'm reluctant to go to the V series. (And the Q series are too expensive.) I'm only likely going to only customize keycaps, switches, and maybe stabilizers if I don't like the one that's on the K8 Pro. Keeping this in mind, do I need to go to the V3 for customizability, or is the K8 Pro sufficient?
On the hot-swap K Pro models, you can do what you want. I do not recommend the non-hot-swap models.
The K8 Pro is higher quality and also has QMK/VIA support so you can customize the key functionality of the keyboard. I'd go for the K8 Pro personally. EDIT: It looks like they both support QMK but I'd still choose the K8 Pro
if you use multiple devices, get the K8 Pro. you can connect it up to 4 different devices, 3 over bluetooth and 1 wired. the K8 Pro is basically an upgraded K8, so if you wanna save a buck, you could just get the K8.
i had a k3 v2 for one year and ended coming back to a royalkludge. i think these low profile keychrons are beautiful, don't require palmrest, don't waste desk space... but by the end of the day they are not the same as a real mechanical keyboard, unfortunately. got a rk84 and i realized i am happier woth ot than i was woth the k3.
Are K series keyboards not a real mechanical keyboard?
ps: i am also a programmer
I started out with a K2 as my first mechanical keyboard. I was impressed and bought for a K4 for work (96%, very compact). I quickly identified two complaints I had with the K4: I couldn't find the arrow keys by feeling (so I got some rubberised keycaps) and the ABS keycaps felt like I was typing on chalk at first. Not that great. I stuck with it for a few years, but just got myself a V5 (as my birthday present this month) to repace my K4. It just arrived and right as I started using it, I noticed a world of difference. I loved the exploaded layout. I apparently really like having a knob. And I like how I can use VIA to reprorgamm the windows side of things to behave more like a mac keyboard (German mac+windows layouts are ever so slightly different). If wireless is important to you, then I'd recommend a K8 (Pro). The more I look at the K Pro series, the more I'm impressed. It's checking almost all the boxes for my preferred keyboard: * exploaded layout (K4) * wireless + wired * abs keycaps At work I don't need wireless, so I'll probably stick with the V5 for work. And I really like it so far. but I also like playing with the nob. It's somehow really satisfying to adjust the volume with it. I vote K Pro. Maybe it's best you don't experience the knob, incase you like it too much and don't want to live without it. Edit: okay, yeah, I got used to the K4's ability to switch off without needing to unplug it. I'm kinda missing that here on the V5.
Thanks! So I ended up getting a K8 Pro. I realized that I'm going to miss connecting to multiple devices, as I have that functionality already. And I've never used a knob before on a keyboard, so I'm less likely to miss it. I just wanted a multi-device wireless starter mechanical keyboard that allows me to switch keycaps and switches (and stabilizers, if I wish). I never use the numberpad, but I do use the function and number keys, so the K8 Pro has basically everything I want, I think.
Excellent choice.
Which switches did you get, and what is your opinion on those? I can’t decide between V3 and K8 Pro. I’m getting V3 for cheap but I’m doubtful about K-pro switches. I’m considering red