Truly personal legends
WASD's printing workflow let buyers design a functional custom legend set rather than only choose colors.
WASD Keyboards
V3 87-Key Custom Mechanical Keyboard (Legacy)
A discontinued customizable tenkeyless board with Cherry-style mechanical switches, programmable onboard layers and user-designed keycap printing.
- Score
- 7.4/10
- Est. life
- 10 yrs
- Cover
- 1 yr
Last-known catalog price
$175.00
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Product Overview
WASD's V3 87-Key was a wired tenkeyless platform sold with numerous switch, case and custom-printed keycap choices. Firmware 1.20 added onboard remapping, virtual layers and programmable indicator colors, with physical DIP switches for layout and function changes. The keyboard uses a detachable USB-...
$175.00
Out of Stock
Specifications
- OverviewBrand
- WASD Keyboards
- OverviewProduct category
- mechanical-keyboards
- OverviewExpected lifespan
- 10 years · We Buy It For Life editorial estimate
- Warranty & ServiceWarranty
- 12 months · Warranty
- Additional detailsConfiguration
- Custom switch, case and printed keycap options when sold new
Why We Love It
The features that make this product stand out from the competition.
Onboard programming
Firmware-level layers and remaps travel with the keyboard after setup.
Archived support material
WASD still hosts manuals and firmware guidance even though the retail model is gone.
Detailed Quality Score Breakdown
Core Performance
Primary Performance
8.1
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Feature Richness
7.5
WASD's V3 firmware guide covers onboard remapping, virtual layers, DIP switches and programmable indicators.
Build Quality
7.9
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Reliability Score
7.8
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Longevity
Durability Rating
7.9
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Wear Resistance
7.3
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Component Replaceability
8.0
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Design Timelessness
7.8
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Serviceability
Repairability
7.6
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Spare Parts Availability
7.4
The manufacturer continues to host V3 manuals and firmware, while MX-stem replacement caps remain standardized.
Warranty Coverage
5.0
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Service Network
5.2
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Value
Total Cost of Ownership
7.2
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Resale Value Retention
6.8
Secondary-market listings confirm identifiable V3 configurations remain tradable, but prices vary heavily with custom...
User Satisfaction
8.0
AI-assisted preliminary estimate pending editor review and durable-source evidence.
Total Cost of Ownership Calculator
The sticker price is just the beginning. Use this tool to estimate the true long-term cost of this product. Adjust the sliders based on your expected usage and care to see how the value holds up over time.
Buy box purchase price$175.00
Based on your estimates, the true cost is:
$1.23 / month
$14.78
Per Year
$147.75
Over 10 years
Calculation: (Purchase Price + Total Maintenance - Resale Value) ÷ Lifespan
Tracked price history
Observed US merchant prices in USD.
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Sign in to view price historyFrequently Asked Questions
Could the V3 be ordered with custom legends or artwork?
Yes. The review documents UV color printing, per-key color choices, and custom artwork or layouts; WASD sent a proof for approval before printing. Printing was limited to the tops of the keycaps, not their sides. Because this is a legacy model, that describes a historical ordering capability rather than a current option.
Was the WASD V3 available with different switches?
Yes. The review describes choosing Cherry MX Browns and says the custom keyboard allowed the buyer to select a preferred switch. Custom keycap colors and printed designs were separate choices. The exact switch fitted to a used V3 must be checked on the individual unit, since the review does not establish one fixed configuration for every board.
Can the WASD V3 be backlit?
No. The review states that the V3 cannot be backlit and distinguishes it from WASD's CODE line, which was the manufacturer's backlit alternative. Buyers of a used V3 should therefore not expect an integrated backlight, regardless of the keycap or switch configuration.
Can I back up or inspect the V3's programmed macros?
The review reports that macros could be programmed on the keyboard without computer software, but also that there was no way to back up the configuration or see which macros had been set. Owners should document important mappings externally before resetting or reconfiguring a legacy board.
What operating systems were needed for V3 firmware upgrades?
The hands-on review reports that firmware upgrades required Windows or a Mac. A Linux-only setup should therefore not be assumed to support V3 firmware updating; anyone buying a used board should verify that the required upgrade tooling is still available for the relevant firmware revision.
What accessories originally came with the WASD V3?
The reviewed package included the customized V3 keyboard, a keycap puller, a USB-to-PS/2 adapter, the manual, a roughly 1.8-metre USB-A-to-USB-C cable, and a WASD sticker. This is a documented historical package, so the completeness of any used unit should be checked rather than assumed.
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