The $79 K2 has lengthy been certainly one of Keychron’s bestselling mechanical keyboards. As with the entire firm’s Ok-line boards, it presents a comparatively no-frills expertise however offers the entire benefits of a mechanical keyboard in an reasonably priced package deal with a 75% structure (which implies you get arrow keys and a row of perform keys, however no numpad).
Now Keychron goes a bit upmarket with the K2 by launching a brand new model, the wi-fi K2 HE with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches and, optionally, a chassis that mixes wooden, aluminum and plastic right into a package deal that begins at $130 (or $125 in the course of the Kickstarter). However until all you care about is the extra gaming options {that a} corridor impact magnetic swap can give you, you’ll most likely need to spring for the additional $10 to get both of the particular editions with their light- or dark-colored wood aspect panels.
Like with most of its new designs, Keychron is launching the undertaking on Kickstarter. Sometimes, crowdfunding would include just a few caveats, however at this level, that is extra of a advertising mechanism for Keychron than a approach to fund a brand new undertaking. That is nonetheless a pre-sale, although, and the primary boards are scheduled to ship in October.
For those who’re out there for certainly one of these, the primary option to make is whether or not you need the usual version, with its aluminum body and plastic physique, or the white or black particular version with the wooden and aluminum body and plastic physique. The darkish rosewood on the black particular version provides it a classic synthesizer vibe, whereas the lighter colour feels extra minimalist.
There have been different keyboards on the market with wood accents — and typically wood frames — however only a few can be found from mainstream manufacturers like Keychron.
I’ve been testing the black model with Gateron’s Nebula switches. I’ve fairly just a few extra keyboards sitting beneath my desk in the mean time, however despite the fact that the K2 HE isn’t probably the most premium board I might be utilizing proper now, I haven’t felt the necessity to swap it out.
There are a few issues that basically assist — on high of the flexibility of the magnetic switches. The very first thing you’ll discover is that whereas it’s comparatively gentle, the board doesn’t really feel low-cost. The aluminum frames and wood accents lend a extra premium aesthetic, despite the fact that the remainder of the board is constituted of plastic.
That combo additionally ends in a pleasing sound. It’s a bit on the muted aspect however nonetheless pleasantly thocky — although maybe not fairly as marbly or poppy as some would love.
There may be additionally no board ping to be discovered. Keychron achieves that sound by utilizing a mix of a silicone pad and acoustic foam.
The switches additionally make a distinction right here, in fact. That is my first time attempting out Gateron’s pre-lubed magnetic switches and so they work fairly effectively. There’s not numerous wobble and so they function effectively together with the remainder of the board’s supplies to form the sound. There may be additionally zero rattle from the screw-in stabilizers.
Keychron additionally did a pleasant job with the web-based software program for tweaking the software program aspect of the keyboard. There’s no want to put in any extra software program. Meaning you may’t use VIA/QMK to make changes both, however I didn’t miss that in day-to-day use.
It simply works.
That is additionally the place the benefits of the magnetic switches come into play. By now, there’s a set of options you’d count on from a keyboard like this. At its most elementary, which means setting the actuation distance from how far down it’s essential press earlier than the keyboard registers a keystroke. You may set that with 0.1mm precision from 0.2mm, which just about triggers it the second your finger touches the keycap, all the way in which down to three.8mm, simply earlier than the swap bottoms out.
That’s enjoyable for typists and will help stop the occasional typo, however magnetic switches actually begin to shine in terms of gaming. Right here, you need to use fast triggers, for instance, which resets the important thing a lot quicker than a standard swap and therefore permits you to spam keypresses a lot quicker.
Magnetic switches additionally will let you create what are basically macros that set off completely different keystrokes at completely different factors in the course of the down press and launch. Right here, Keychron permits for as much as 4 actions that you may set off on a single keystroke. The canonical instance for methods to use this (with simply two actions set to a single key) is to change between strolling and operating.
Those that are much more inventive than me will seemingly have the ability to dream up loads of productiveness use instances.
It’s value noting, nonetheless, that there’s no flex right here. That seems like a little bit of a concession to the gaming viewers which may be interested in the magnetic switches and their customizability. That will make longer typing periods slightly bit extra fatiguing, however that’s very a lot a private desire. It must also be simple sufficient to mod the board to deliver again some flex.
I’m blissful to report that Keychron will use customary Cherry profile keycaps right here, which I a lot choose over the upper KSA keycaps Keychron typically contains by default. The pattern I acquired initially got here with a set of OEM profile caps (and that’s what you see in among the photographs right here), however throughout my testing, I additionally switched that out for a primary set of Keychron Cherry keycaps I already owned and whereas there are higher-quality units on the market, Keychron has at all times completed a wonderfully superb job with its keycaps.
One different good function that’s typically lacking in trendy mechanical keyboards: The K2 HE options two small plastic toes that allow you to modify the keyboard’s angle.
There are, in fact, LEDs underneath each key and 22 other ways to make them gentle up. If that’s your factor, you’re in luck.
At this extra reasonably priced value level, you’re making just a few trade-offs. Not like another boards that allow you to use each magnetic and conventional switches, the PCB that Keychron is utilizing right here isn’t set as much as help something however magnetic switches. Fortunately, there’s an ever-increasing variety of magnetic swap choices on the market now, together with tactile and clicky ones, however that’s one thing to pay attention to.
Oh, and there’s no knob, if that’s vital to you.
General, although, this can be a very good package deal and as so typically with Keychron, it’s a straightforward one to suggest if you wish to dip your toes into corridor impact magnetic switches.