The $79 K2 has lengthy been one among Keychron’s bestselling mechanical keyboards. As with all the firm’s Okay-line boards, it affords a comparatively no-frills expertise however gives all the benefits of a mechanical keyboard in an inexpensive bundle with a 75% format (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 bundle that begins at $130 (or $125 throughout the Kickstarter). However except all you care about is the extra gaming options {that a} corridor impact magnetic swap can give you, you’ll in all probability wish to spring for the additional $10 to get both of the particular editions with their light- or dark-colored wood facet panels.
Like with most of its new designs, Keychron is launching the venture on Kickstarter. Sometimes, crowdfunding would include a couple of caveats, however at this level, that is extra of a advertising and marketing mechanism for Keychron than a solution to fund a brand new venture. That is nonetheless a pre-sale, although, and the primary boards are scheduled to ship in October.
Should you’re out there for one among these, the principle 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 shade feels extra minimalist.
There have been different keyboards on the market with wood accents — and generally 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 a couple of extra keyboards sitting beneath my desk for the time being, however though the K2 HE isn’t essentially the most premium board I may very well 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, though the remainder of the board is created from plastic.
That combo additionally ends in a pleasing sound. It’s a bit on the muted facet 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 through the use of a mixture of a silicone pad and acoustic foam.
The switches additionally make a distinction right here, after all. That is my first time attempting out Gateron’s pre-lubed magnetic switches they usually work fairly effectively. There’s not a variety of wobble they usually 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 facet of the keyboard. There’s no want to put in any further software program. Which means you’ll be able to’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 anticipate from a keyboard like this. At its most simple, which means setting the actuation distance from how far down it is advisable press earlier than the keyboard registers a keystroke. You’ll be able to 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 may help forestall the occasional typo, however magnetic switches actually begin to shine in terms of gaming. Right here, you need to use speedy triggers, for instance, which resets the important thing a lot quicker than a standard swap and therefore means that you can spam keypresses a lot quicker.
Magnetic switches additionally help you create what are primarily macros that set off totally different keystrokes at totally different factors throughout the down press and launch. Right here, Keychron permits for as much as 4 actions you can set off on a single keystroke. The canonical instance for the best way to use this (with simply two actions set to a single key) is to change between strolling and operating.
Those that are much more artistic than me will seemingly be capable of dream up loads of productiveness use circumstances.
It’s price noting, nonetheless, that there’s no flex right here. That seems like a little bit of a concession to the gaming viewers that could be interested in the magnetic switches and their customizability. That will make longer typing classes just a little bit extra fatiguing, however that’s very a lot a private desire. It also needs to be straightforward sufficient to mod the board to convey again some flex.
I’m blissful to report that Keychron will use normal Cherry profile keycaps right here, which I a lot favor over the upper KSA keycaps Keychron typically consists of by default. The pattern I acquired initially got here with a set of OEM profile caps (and that’s what you see in a number of the pictures right here), however throughout my testing, I additionally switched that out for a fundamental set of Keychron Cherry keycaps I already owned and whereas there are higher-quality units on the market, Keychron has all the time executed a wonderfully high quality job with its keycaps.
One different good characteristic that’s typically lacking in fashionable mechanical keyboards: The K2 HE options two small plastic toes that allow you to regulate the keyboard’s angle.
There are, after all, 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 inexpensive worth level, you’re making a couple of 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 concentrate on.
Oh, and there’s no knob, if that’s vital to you.
General, although, it is a very good bundle and as so typically with Keychron, it’s a simple one to suggest if you wish to dip your toes into corridor impact magnetic switches.
