---
product_id: 555300833
title: "Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard, Programmable 87 Keys Compact TKL Layout Gasket Mount, Red LED Backlight Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Brown Switches for Mac/Windows/Linux"
brand: "keychron"
price: "$189"
currency: NZD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 7
category: "Keychron"
url: https://www.desertcart.nz/products/555300833-keychron-c3-pro-qmk-via-custom-gaming-keyboard-programmable-87
store_origin: NZ
region: New Zealand
---

# 1000Hz polling rate & NKRO Gasket mount for quiet typing QMK/VIA fully programmable Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard, Programmable 87 Keys Compact TKL Layout Gasket Mount, Red LED Backlight Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Brown Switches for Mac/Windows/Linux

**Brand:** keychron
**Price:** $189
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🔥 Command your desk with speed, silence, and style.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard, Programmable 87 Keys Compact TKL Layout Gasket Mount, Red LED Backlight Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Brown Switches for Mac/Windows/Linux by keychron
- **How much does it cost?** $189 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.nz](https://www.desertcart.nz/products/555300833-keychron-c3-pro-qmk-via-custom-gaming-keyboard-programmable-87)

## Best For

- keychron enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted keychron brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Tailor Your Workflow:** Open-source QMK/VIA software lets you remap every key and create custom macros effortlessly.
- • **Striking Red Backlight:** 14 dynamic red LED modes with shine-through double-shot ABS keycaps for a sleek, professional aesthetic that stands out.
- • **Lightning-Fast Response:** 1000Hz polling rate and NKRO ensure zero lag and flawless multi-key inputs for gaming and productivity.
- • **Whisper-Quiet Precision:** Gasket mount design plus sound-absorbing foam delivers a smooth, low-resonance typing experience.
- • **Seamless Mac & Windows Switch:** Instantly toggle between macOS and Windows layouts with a simple key combo—universal keycap compatibility included.

## Overview

The Keychron C3 Pro is a compact, 87-key TKL mechanical keyboard featuring brown switches optimized for both Mac and Windows. It boasts full programmability via QMK/VIA software, a gasket mount design for quieter typing, and a blazing 1000Hz polling rate with NKRO for ultra-responsive input. Its durable double-shot ABS keycaps shine through customizable red LED backlighting, making it a perfect blend of performance and sleek design for professionals and gamers alike.

## Description

desertcart.com: Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard, Programmable 87 Keys Compact TKL Layout Gasket Mount, Red LED Backlight Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Brown Switches for Mac/Windows/Linux : Video Games

Review: Fantastic for the price. - This mechanical keyboard is fantastic for the price! I had a Logitech G413 that was starting to jitter and repeat keypresses and I needed a decent replacement at a cheap price until I could get around to cleaning the contacts on my G413 switches. This keyboard turned out to be perfect for that. I love it so much more than the G413 and I paid nearly 3 times as much for that keyboard when I first bought it! Got it same-day delivery as well, thanks desertcart! I bought the Red Switch version (doesn't refer to the color of the keyboard, but the kind of switches the keys have; all models are black and red keycaps). The red switch version is supposed to be the quieter version compared to the brown. I don't have the brown switch version to compare to so I can't speak for it, but if you prefer your keys have more of a "clickty-clack" sound and that they require a bit more pressure to push, then you should buy the brown switch version, so I'm told. I like the Red Switch version a lot and it's supposed to be quieter, but I will admit that the keys are super easy to press which makes accidental presses more likely. Probably makes typing a bit faster though. The switches in the keyboard are not hot-swappable (board is fully soldered), but there should be no surprise there, given the price. The keycaps are fine, the (only) red backlighting looks nice, and the build quality feels great. The backlighting has 14 different modes you can toggle, using Fn+Q or Fn+PauseBreak keys, or you can turn the back light off entirely with Fn+TAB. I did get the VIA software working with this keyboard, but it does take extra work. This model keyboard hasn't been merged into VIA upstream yet, so you have to turn the "Design" tab on in VIA settings, download a json file from KeyChron's website, and load that into the VIA software in the Design tab on your browser tab. Once I did that, the keyboard was fully programmable. I programmed the right-hand side of the keyboard to function as a num-pad when layer 3 is on (which was nice because this keyboard is TKL, meaning no num-pad). Keyboard Layers 0 and 1 are for Mac and Layers 2 and 3 are for windows. VIA takes some getting used to as I hadn't used it before, but after some experimenting, it worked and I was able to program macros, swap caps-lock for the control key, do the num-pad programming I mentioned, etc. I did get myself stuck one time and some Googling showed me that the keyboard could be reset by holding ESC down while plugging the keyboard in, releasing ESC, and unplugging and replugging the keyboard. That reset all of my keys to defaults. The manual also mentions using Fn+J+Z to reset, but I haven't tried that myself. Having so much programmability in the keyboard is great! I just wish there were more indicators, like something which showed which layer was currently active. You can make your keyboard pretty unusable if you're not careful with the programming, so for novices it's probably best to watch a few YouTube videos. Of course, the programmability is completely optional. You can simply use it stock if you prefer. For the price, it's practically impossible to go wrong, as the cost of so-called midrange mechanical keyboards is 3-4x the price of this. It's worth getting just to have a backup mechanical keyboard around the house. I think it's better than my G413 and that keyboard still goes for more than $90 last I checked!
Review: I Absolutely Love This Keyboard - This keyboard is fantastic. It's my first mechanical keyboard and I couldn't be happier with it. I spend hours scrolling and looking for the perfect one, and it's this one. I have a black and red theme going on in my life, so that's a plus. But what's awesome is the backlight. I wanted a keyboard purely for functionality and this delivers that (with added style points due to the red space bar, esc, and enter.) I am sensitive to light and I have my whole house on lockdown at night with purely red light to minimize the disruption of night vision. Red backlight is all I really need, and it's all this keyboard has. This keyboard was made for me. It's not for everybody, but it is, squarely, for me. The software is intuitive and easy to use and connect to. I am on MacOS. I was bummed the keyboard didn't have a number pad at first until I realized that I never used any of the buttons above the arrow keys ever, and that I could fashion my own number pad by hacking the keyboard with Keychron Launcher. Now I have the function keys functioning as a number pad on the right, along with many other tweaks to the keycap layout and key binding that make my day to day life smoother. The sound of the keys is awesome. I used membrane my whole life and I didn't even know it. I knew nothing about keyboards before getting this. I got the red switch version because not getting red with the red theme felt wrong. They were super weird at first but now I can't go without them. They're super smooth, and they don't have much resistance. The keyboard begs you to type faster. It isn't satisfied. It is never satisfied. No matter how fast you type, it won't be fast enough. The keyboard is a taskmaster. It wants more and more and more from you. It breathes red light, red fire. It is frustrated, it is angry, like a dragon. It wants you to type faster. That's not fast enough. You'd better not make any mistakes. So yeah that's how this keyboard feels to type on and a taste of its personality. I have a GravaStar keyboard when I want to be more laid back but when all that matters is raw speed and performance, the C3 Pro is my go to. Also a note on the switches for those new to Mechanical Keyboard World. They're really cool though it may take you a while to appreciate the difference from membrane or cheap keyboards. These press down very smoothly and vividly and when they hit the floor, they stop. That's something I noticed last night, how hard the floor of the keyboard is. Once a key is pressed, it is on the ground. Bedrock, there's no flex. It's awesome. Subtle but really nice. Oh and in the video I'm pressing the keys hard at first to exaggerate the sound but then I show the keys actually activate before the cap hits the floor so the keyboard can also be used much more gently and quietly. Like I said though, this thing is speed demon and it will start to complain if you're too gentle with it. It doesn't want to be abused, but it wants to be at its limit at all times, constantly pressing that limit harder and harder until the limit is demolished. It kind of looks like the hot coals, the embers under a fireplace smoldering. It is the spirit of rage in a keyboard. If you have rage inside and you channel it through this keyboard, this keyboard will be very very happy with you.

## Features

- QMK/VIA software support: QMK / VIA is open-source software for keyboards that allows anyone to program and remap each key easily and quickly. You can personalize your own keyboard layouts, shortcuts, backlight effects, and more.
- Gasket mount design: The C3 Pro uses a gasket mount structure to reduce sound resonance while adding more typing flexibility. Along with the sound-absorbing foam and the case foam, it provides you with a quieter and smoother typing experience.
- 1000 Hz polling rate & NKRO: Empowered by the high- performance ARM architecture MCU with 256KB Flash, it provides a 1000 Hz polling rate for a fast and responsive typing speed in your working and gaming. The NKRO feature is convenient to help you enter multiple keypresses at a time.
- Easy toggle between macOS and Windows: Press the key combo FN + CAPS to instantly change the keyboard working system to Mac / Win. And it accommodates universal keycaps compatible with both systems.
- Shine-through double-shot ABS keycaps: Made through the ABS double-shot process, the keycaps are durable and wear-resistant. Meanwhile, the shine-through legends lit up by the north-facing LED present a glamorous look at your fingertips. And you can also switch from more than 14 types of red backlights.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B0CBWJ9SKX |
| Batteries | 1 Nonstandard Battery batteries required. |
| Best Sellers Rank | #4,076 in Video Games ( See Top 100 in Video Games ) #352 in PC Gaming Keyboards |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,057) |
| Date First Available | July 15, 2023 |
| Item Weight | 2.44 pounds |
| Item model number | P-C3P |
| Language | German |
| Manufacturer | Keychron |
| Product Dimensions | 14.35 x 5.43 x 1.25 inches |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Keychron
- **Color:** Brown Switch
- **Compatible Devices:** Computers, Laptops
- **Connectivity Technology:** USB-C
- **Keyboard Description:** for Mac/Windows/Linux
- **Material:** Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
- **Product Dimensions:** 14.35"L x 5.43"W x 1.25"H
- **Recommended Uses For Product:** Gaming
- **Special Feature:** QMK & VIA
- **Style:** Modern

## Images

![Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard, Programmable 87 Keys Compact TKL Layout Gasket Mount, Red LED Backlight Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Brown Switches for Mac/Windows/Linux - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/6125ZxZI9gL.jpg)
![Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard, Programmable 87 Keys Compact TKL Layout Gasket Mount, Red LED Backlight Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Brown Switches for Mac/Windows/Linux - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51GhB4t6ThL.jpg)
![Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard, Programmable 87 Keys Compact TKL Layout Gasket Mount, Red LED Backlight Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Brown Switches for Mac/Windows/Linux - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71vzNbrjZpL.jpg)
![Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard, Programmable 87 Keys Compact TKL Layout Gasket Mount, Red LED Backlight Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Brown Switches for Mac/Windows/Linux - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71JB7ZbSRML.jpg)
![Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard, Programmable 87 Keys Compact TKL Layout Gasket Mount, Red LED Backlight Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Brown Switches for Mac/Windows/Linux - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/6118x0rbUhL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Color** options.

## Questions & Answers

**Q: How long is the cable?**
A: The cable is 1.5 meter long (59 inches), thanks.

**Q: Cheap, and hence not hot-swappable, right?**
A: indeed, this keyboard is not hot-swappable.

**Q: Can I use a usb to connect?**
A: yes, the keyboard comes with a usb-c to usb-a cord. this means that the usb-c end plugs into the keyboard, and the usb-a end plugs into a usb port on a computer, laptop, etc. you don't have to use the cord that comes with the keyboard.
hope this helps!

**Q: Are the switches hot-swappable?**
A: Not hot-swappable

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic for the price.
*by M***T on March 4, 2024*

This mechanical keyboard is fantastic for the price! I had a Logitech G413 that was starting to jitter and repeat keypresses and I needed a decent replacement at a cheap price until I could get around to cleaning the contacts on my G413 switches. This keyboard turned out to be perfect for that. I love it so much more than the G413 and I paid nearly 3 times as much for that keyboard when I first bought it! Got it same-day delivery as well, thanks Amazon! I bought the Red Switch version (doesn't refer to the color of the keyboard, but the kind of switches the keys have; all models are black and red keycaps). The red switch version is supposed to be the quieter version compared to the brown. I don't have the brown switch version to compare to so I can't speak for it, but if you prefer your keys have more of a "clickty-clack" sound and that they require a bit more pressure to push, then you should buy the brown switch version, so I'm told. I like the Red Switch version a lot and it's supposed to be quieter, but I will admit that the keys are super easy to press which makes accidental presses more likely. Probably makes typing a bit faster though. The switches in the keyboard are not hot-swappable (board is fully soldered), but there should be no surprise there, given the price. The keycaps are fine, the (only) red backlighting looks nice, and the build quality feels great. The backlighting has 14 different modes you can toggle, using Fn+Q or Fn+PauseBreak keys, or you can turn the back light off entirely with Fn+TAB. I did get the VIA software working with this keyboard, but it does take extra work. This model keyboard hasn't been merged into VIA upstream yet, so you have to turn the "Design" tab on in VIA settings, download a json file from KeyChron's website, and load that into the VIA software in the Design tab on your browser tab. Once I did that, the keyboard was fully programmable. I programmed the right-hand side of the keyboard to function as a num-pad when layer 3 is on (which was nice because this keyboard is TKL, meaning no num-pad). Keyboard Layers 0 and 1 are for Mac and Layers 2 and 3 are for windows. VIA takes some getting used to as I hadn't used it before, but after some experimenting, it worked and I was able to program macros, swap caps-lock for the control key, do the num-pad programming I mentioned, etc. I did get myself stuck one time and some Googling showed me that the keyboard could be reset by holding ESC down while plugging the keyboard in, releasing ESC, and unplugging and replugging the keyboard. That reset all of my keys to defaults. The manual also mentions using Fn+J+Z to reset, but I haven't tried that myself. Having so much programmability in the keyboard is great! I just wish there were more indicators, like something which showed which layer was currently active. You can make your keyboard pretty unusable if you're not careful with the programming, so for novices it's probably best to watch a few YouTube videos. Of course, the programmability is completely optional. You can simply use it stock if you prefer. For the price, it's practically impossible to go wrong, as the cost of so-called midrange mechanical keyboards is 3-4x the price of this. It's worth getting just to have a backup mechanical keyboard around the house. I think it's better than my G413 and that keyboard still goes for more than $90 last I checked!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I Absolutely Love This Keyboard
*by J***N on February 15, 2026*

This keyboard is fantastic. It's my first mechanical keyboard and I couldn't be happier with it. I spend hours scrolling and looking for the perfect one, and it's this one. I have a black and red theme going on in my life, so that's a plus. But what's awesome is the backlight. I wanted a keyboard purely for functionality and this delivers that (with added style points due to the red space bar, esc, and enter.) I am sensitive to light and I have my whole house on lockdown at night with purely red light to minimize the disruption of night vision. Red backlight is all I really need, and it's all this keyboard has. This keyboard was made for me. It's not for everybody, but it is, squarely, for me. The software is intuitive and easy to use and connect to. I am on MacOS. I was bummed the keyboard didn't have a number pad at first until I realized that I never used any of the buttons above the arrow keys ever, and that I could fashion my own number pad by hacking the keyboard with Keychron Launcher. Now I have the function keys functioning as a number pad on the right, along with many other tweaks to the keycap layout and key binding that make my day to day life smoother. The sound of the keys is awesome. I used membrane my whole life and I didn't even know it. I knew nothing about keyboards before getting this. I got the red switch version because not getting red with the red theme felt wrong. They were super weird at first but now I can't go without them. They're super smooth, and they don't have much resistance. The keyboard begs you to type faster. It isn't satisfied. It is never satisfied. No matter how fast you type, it won't be fast enough. The keyboard is a taskmaster. It wants more and more and more from you. It breathes red light, red fire. It is frustrated, it is angry, like a dragon. It wants you to type faster. That's not fast enough. You'd better not make any mistakes. So yeah that's how this keyboard feels to type on and a taste of its personality. I have a GravaStar keyboard when I want to be more laid back but when all that matters is raw speed and performance, the C3 Pro is my go to. Also a note on the switches for those new to Mechanical Keyboard World. They're really cool though it may take you a while to appreciate the difference from membrane or cheap keyboards. These press down very smoothly and vividly and when they hit the floor, they stop. That's something I noticed last night, how hard the floor of the keyboard is. Once a key is pressed, it is on the ground. Bedrock, there's no flex. It's awesome. Subtle but really nice. Oh and in the video I'm pressing the keys hard at first to exaggerate the sound but then I show the keys actually activate before the cap hits the floor so the keyboard can also be used much more gently and quietly. Like I said though, this thing is speed demon and it will start to complain if you're too gentle with it. It doesn't want to be abused, but it wants to be at its limit at all times, constantly pressing that limit harder and harder until the limit is demolished. It kind of looks like the hot coals, the embers under a fireplace smoldering. It is the spirit of rage in a keyboard. If you have rage inside and you channel it through this keyboard, this keyboard will be very very happy with you.

### ⭐⭐⭐ Review
*by K***A on May 30, 2025*

Way too Overpriced but works well ig. I only got it coz i love black and red color combination, and the brand is good.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Custom Gaming Keyboard, Programmable 87 Keys Compact TKL Layout Gasket Mount, Red LED Backlight Wired Mechanical Keyboard with Brown Switches for Mac/Windows/Linux
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*Product available on Desertcart New Zealand*
*Store origin: NZ*
*Last updated: 2026-02-26*