Keychron has added a budget‑friendly option to its low‑profile lineup with the K3 Max SE, a QMK‑based wireless keyboard that mirrors the recently funded K3 Ultra’s design. Priced at $104.99 on the company store, it undercuts the Ultra’s pre‑order cost by five dollars and the HE model by fifteen. The Max SE arrives now, while the Ultra and HE remain Kickstarter‑only until their slated June launch.

Both the Max SE and Ultra share a 1,550 mAh battery, but firmware choice drives a stark endurance gap. The Ultra runs on ZMK, delivering an advertised 550‑hour charge life, whereas the Max SE relies on traditional QMK and tops out at roughly 120 hours. Polling rates also diverge: 8 kHz for the Ultra versus 1 kHz on the Max SE, a nuance rarely felt in everyday typing.

Beyond the battery trade‑off, the Max SE retains the Ultra’s aluminium frame, rosewood accents, LSA‑profile double‑shot PBT keycaps and offers the same switch palette—Keychron Milk POM Red, Brown or Banana. Connectivity mirrors the Ultra with Bluetooth 5.2, 2.4 GHz wireless and USB‑C wired options. For users who prioritize price over ultra‑efficient firmware, the Max SE delivers a fully featured, ready‑to‑ship low‑profile keyboard today.