Keychron C3 Pro user guide
Official original C3 Pro guide, manual and shortcut resources. Select the original model rather than C3 Pro 8K.
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Keychron C3 Pro QMK/VIA Wired Mechanical Keyboard (80% Layout, Red Switches, ABS Keycaps)
New
Supplier has stock — 10 avail
Keychron C3P-A1 wired tenkeyless mechanical keyboard with Red switches, red backlighting, QMK/VIA programming, gasket structure and 1000 Hz polling.
R949.00
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Supplier has stock — 10 avail
Key product details
Full specifications below- Ean: 4894979013545
- Gtin: 4894979013545
- Brand: Keychron
- Condition: New
Delivery & support
Clear fulfilment, warranty and payment details.
- Availability Supplier has stock — 10 avail Supplier has stock — 10 avail
- Delivery Nationwide courier delivery or collection from Strand, Cape Town. Courier nationwide or Strand collection
- Dispatch Ships within 24 hours. Ships within 24 hours
- Warranty Manufacturer warranty applies where stated on the product page. As stated on this page
- Returns See our Returns Policy for eligible change-of-mind and faulty goods procedures. See Returns Policy
- Secure payment PayFast checkout with card, Instant EFT, and Mobicred. PayFast · card · EFT · Mobicred
Keychron • C3 Pro C3P-A1 • Red switches
A tenkeyless layout, with room to make the keys your own.
The C3P-A1 is the original wired C3 Pro with Keychron mechanical Red switches, red backlighting and an 80% tenkeyless layout. It keeps the function row, navigation cluster and arrow keys while removing the number pad. QMK/VIA programming, a gasket-mounted steel plate and shine-through ABS keycaps provide a practical starting point for a personalised desk setup.
80% TKLFunction row and navigation
Red switchesKeychron mechanical
1000 HzWired polling rate
QMK / VIARemapping and macros
Layout and switches
Keep the useful keys within reach.
The tenkeyless layout retains the navigation and arrow keys without a separate numeric pad. This C3P-A1 configuration has Keychron mechanical Red switches and a black case with red accent keys. The manufacturer describes the switches as factory pre-lubricated, excluding clicky switch types. This is the original red-backlit C3 Pro, so RGB and 8K features from other C3 versions should not be assumed.
Gasket structure
A cushioned plate with acoustic foam.
The steel plate sits within a gasket-mount structure, accompanied by sound-absorbing and case foam. These materials influence the typing feel and reduce resonance, while plate-mounted stabilisers support the larger keys. Sound and feel also depend on the desk surface and typing style; the construction is not a guarantee of silence.
QMK and VIA
Program the layer you actually use.
QMK firmware and VIA support let you remap keys and create macros. The guide defines Mac layers 0 and 1 and Windows layers 2 and 3, with FN + CAPS switching between the two system layouts. If VIA does not recognise the keyboard, use the manufacturer’s exact ANSI red-backlight keymap instructions. Select files for this original model rather than RGB, ISO, JIS or C3 Pro 8K variants.
Keycaps and lighting
Red illumination through double-shot legends.
OEM-profile double-shot ABS keycaps allow the north-facing red LEDs to illuminate their legends. More than fourteen red lighting modes and side lighting provide different effects. FN + Q cycles effects, FN + TAB toggles lighting, and FN + W or FN + S adjusts brightness. The lighting remains red; it is not per-key RGB.
Connection and response
A wired USB connection with rollover control.
A USB Type-A-to-Type-C cable connects the keyboard to the computer, with three cable-routing directions under the case. The 1000 Hz polling specification describes the keyboard’s USB report rate rather than an end-to-end input-lag measurement. N-key rollover is supported and enabled by default in the guide; FN + N switches between six-key and N-key rollover.
Positioning and package
Choose a typing angle and keep the right guide.
The feet provide 4°, 6° and 8.7° typing angles, and the listed weight is 912 ±10 g. The package is listed with the keyboard, USB cable and a two-in-one keycap/switch puller; extra system keycaps and documentation are also listed in the manufacturer’s guide, with pack contents subject to regional variation. A puller does not establish hot-swap capability: check the switch-mount design before attempting switch removal. The listed warranty is twelve months, subject to applicable local terms.
Specifications
Identity
| Model | Keychron C3 Pro |
|---|---|
| SKU | C3P-A1 |
| GTIN | 4894979013545 |
| Layout | 80% tenkeyless; ANSI red-backlight variant |
| Switches | Keychron mechanical Red |
| Finish | Black with red accent keys |
| Connection | Wired USB Type-C; Type-A-to-Type-C cable |
Build and typing
| Case | ABS plastic |
|---|---|
| Plate | Steel |
| Mount | Gasket mount with acoustic/case foam |
| Stabilisers | Plate-mounted |
| Keycaps | OEM-profile shine-through double-shot ABS |
| Polling | 1000 Hz, wired |
| Rollover | NKRO; guide default NKRO with FN + N six-key/NKRO toggle |
| MCU | ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit STM32F402RC; 256 KB flash |
Lighting and programming
| Backlight | North-facing red LED; not RGB |
|---|---|
| Effects | 14+ red lighting modes and side lights |
| Programming | QMK / VIA; use exact ANSI red-backlight files |
| System switch | FN + CAPS: Mac / Windows |
| System compatibility | macOS / Windows; manufacturer product page also lists Linux |
| Guide layers | Mac 0/1; Windows 2/3 |
| Variant caution | Do not substitute C3 Pro RGB/ISO/JIS or C3 Pro 8K firmware |
Physical and package
| Front height with keycaps | 31.8 mm |
|---|---|
| Typing angle | 4° / 6° / 8.7° |
| Weight | 912 ±10 g |
| Operating environment | −10°C to 50°C |
| Listed package | Keyboard, Type-A-to-Type-C cable, combined keycap/switch puller; guide also lists extra keycaps and documentation |
| Warranty | 12 months listed; applicable local conditions apply |
| Switch replacement | Confirm switch-mount design before removal; included puller is not a hot-swap guarantee |
| Dimensions | 364.5 × 129.3 mm; rear height 41.5 mm including keycaps |
Use the original ANSI red-backlight support files and confirm switch-mount design before attempting switch replacement.
Driver & Software Downloads
Use official support resources for this product. Each link opens in a new tab.
C3 Pro firmware and VIA keymap resources
Official S/C Pro support selector. Use C3 Pro ANSI red-backlight files for this variant; follow manufacturer instructions and do not flash a working keyboard unnecessarily.
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