Looking for a new mechanical keyboard without burning through your wallet? This time we review the ASUS TUF Gaming K3 to see if it’s something worth considering. As another one of those ASUS TUF series peripherals, the Gaming K3 is positioned as a robust budget-friendly offering from the premium (and often times expensive) tech company. Is it something to consider? Read our review of the TUF Gaming K3 to know more.
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| OS Support |
Windows® 10 64-bit
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Dimensions
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Keyboard 438.7(L) x 130.9(W) x 38.75(H) mm
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Wrist rest 438.7(L) x 76.95(W) x 10.75(H) mm
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Weight
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Keyboard: 1110 g
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| Wrist rest: 160 g | |
| Color | Gray |
| Interface available | USB 2.0 |
| Contents |
TUF Gaming K3 gaming keyboard x1, TUF wrist rest x1, Warranty card x1, Quick-start guide x1
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One thing to note is that the TUF Gaming K3 has a thick cable that requires 2 USB ports. One is for the keyboard itself and the other one is for the keyboard’s USB port. Note that this is only USB 2.0 so having it plugged into USB 3.0 will cause a bottleneck. Also, the cable is not detachable.
Took a while to find this info online but the TUF Gaming K3 makes use of Kahli Switches. So far, the Blue switches that came with the review product proved to be quite similar to blue variants of other companies.
As with all of ASUS’ current offerings, the TUF Gaming K3 is compatible with the ROG / TUF Armoury II. If you’re not familiar, the Armory II is an all-in-one app that controls ALL ASUS products attached to your computer. From Macro keys, software updates, and RGB controls. You also can open your Steam games using this application. If you want to personalize and make your keyboard more unique, this is your go-to program.
For those looking for different settings for the keyboards RGB, don’t worry as the Armory Crate II has 10 settings for them. All of these settings can then be customized to feature only the colors that you want.
Added Extras Means More ValueMore than just a standard gaming keybord, the ASUS TUF K3 comes with a USB 2.0 (which is frankly old tech in today’s standards) and a wrist-rest. I personally was pleased with the wrist-rest, initially scoffing at it as I deemed it as something I didn’t need. But lo and behold, trying it out made typing more easier as you don’t get those wrist burns from resting your idle hands. The wrist rest is also surprisingly easy to attach and remove, and it doesn’t get dragged around when you move your wrist.
The wire is something I do find interesting as I’ve been using a mechanical keyboard that has a detachable micro-USB cable. It’s a good product, but despite proper wiring, a simple tug is enough to disconnect it from the PC momentarily. Due to that event, I do prefer thick wires, ones that the Gaming K3 has, over thin detachable ones.
TUF Gaming K3 with TUF Gaming M3 Mouse & TUF Gaming P3 Mouse Pad (see the pattern?)
With that said, seeing it from a budget perspective, the TUF Gaming K3 is a steal. While other brands just give you a decent keyboard, the K3 does more. For its price, you get a very competent mechanical keyboard with added extras. More so if you’re into ASUS products as you’ll find the ROG/TUF Armory quite useful with its custom RGB lighting and additional macro controls.
When talking about responsiveness and “clicketiness” of the keyboard, it is hands-down one of the best I’ve ever tried. It is very easy to use and prompts are registered without delay. It feels cathartic typing on this as you drone on and hear only clicks and clacks. This experience honestly made me consider buying a blue switch Keyboard.
The TUF Gaming K3 uses of 3 variations of Kaihl switches: Red, Brown, and Blue. If you have used and tried Cherry MX switches, then you’ll find the experience to be similar here.
The ASUS TUF K3 is something that you should consider when purchasing a mechanical keyboard. Sure, the market is littered with other competent offerings from different brands making the selection paradoxically more difficult. But if you think about it, the TUF K3 has most, if not all, that you might need for a typical mechanical keyboard. It has good quality switches, easily-identifiable keys, macro capabilities, and more. Moreover, it is also very competitively priced.
The ASUS TUF Gaming K3 is available in the Philippines and can be purchased online or in stores. It has an SRP of PhP 4,000 with current store prices mostly offering it at that price point. You can know more about the capabilities of this product here.
If you’re looking for a gaming mouse to partner this with, consider taking a look at the ASUS Gaming M3 mouse. You can read our review of the product here. For a mouse pad, consider looking at our review of the TUF Gaming P3 here. For audio, check out our review of the wireless gaming headset, the TUF H3.
For other gaming keyboards, you can check out our review of the following keyboards:
