Vortex Race 3

Vortex · 75% · standard height

Vortex Race 3 mechanical keyboard
Image courtesy of Vortex

The Vortex Race 3 is a compact 75 percent board in a hefty CNC aluminium case with a floating-key design, Cherry MX switches, PBT keycaps and Vortex's signature onboard programming, a cult favourite for a small-footprint arrow-cluster layout.

Best for: programming, enthusiast, typing.

Vortex Race 3 specs

Layout 75%
Height Standard
Connectivity Wired
Hot-swap No
Stock switches Cherry MX Red, Cherry MX Brown, Cherry MX Blue, Cherry MX Clear
Keycaps Doubleshot PBT
Case CNC aluminum
Mount Tray
Backlight White / none
QMK / VIA No
Battery n/a
Typical price $150
Sound (stock) clean MX clack
Released 2016

Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers rather than guesses.

Unverified: specs compiled from manufacturer listings

Stock switches in the database

The Vortex Race 3 is offered with these switches. Open a switch page for force, travel, materials, and similar alternatives.

Cherry MX Red linear · 45g actuation The Cherry MX Red is the industry's reference 45g linear, the default gaming switch in countless prebuilt keyboards since its 2008 reintroduction. Cherry MX Brown tactile · 55g actuation The Cherry MX Brown is the classic light 55g tactile that defined the "quiet office switch" category, with a subtle bump that enthusiasts either rely on or mod away. Cherry MX Blue clicky · 60g actuation The Cherry MX Blue is the archetypal click-jacket clicky switch, actuating at 60g with the sharp, jingly click that most people picture when they hear "mechanical keyboard". Cherry MX Clear tactile · 65g actuation The Cherry MX Clear is a stiff 65g tactile with a larger bump than the MX Brown, best known today as the donor stem for the community's Ergo Clear spring-swap mod.

Where to buy

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Alternatives to the Vortex Race 3

Vortex Pok3r 60% · $130 The Vortex Pok3r (POK3R) is a foundational 60 percent board that helped popularise the compact layout, packing genuine Cherry MX switches, thick PBT caps and deep onboard layer programming into a screw-together aluminium case with no software required.
Vortex Cypher 65% · $110 The Vortex Cypher is a 65 percent board with a dedicated arrow cluster, Cherry MX switches and PBT caps, offering Vortex's onboard-programmable firmware in a lighter plastic case than the metal Race for compact-layout fans.
Leopold FC660M 65% · $109 The Leopold FC660M is a wired 66-key compact (65%-class) keyboard famous for its rock-solid Korean build, thick double-shot PBT caps, and one of the best stock typing sounds of any non-custom board.

Not sure this is the one?

Answer five questions in KeebScout switch database and it narrows every mechanical board we track to ones that match your use case, size, and budget. The Vortex Race 3 ships soldered, so choose the stock switch carefully from the switch database.

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