Keychron V3 Max vs Epomaker AK820 Pro vs Redragon K552 (2025)

Choosing a mechanical keyboard in 2025 means navigating a minefield of compromises. Spend $110 and you might get premium typing feel but awkward design choices. Drop to $60 and you'll find wireless connectivity paired with cheap keycaps. Go budget at $37 and you're stuck with wires and no customization software. So which trade-offs actually matter?

We're comparing three mechanical keyboards that represent different value propositions: the Keychron V3 Max ($110) promises enthusiast-grade typing without the enthusiast price tag, the Epomaker Ajazz AK820 Pro ($59) loads up on features while cutting corners on build quality, and the Redragon K552 ($37) strips everything down to mechanical switches and RGB lighting. According to aggregated expert reviews, the Keychron V3 Max edges ahead with an 8.5/10 rating, but the real question is whether that extra $50-70 buys you enough improvement to justify the cost.

Here's what we found after synthesizing reviews from Tom's Guide, PCMag, TechRadar, and hands-on testing from our editorial team.