Key Takeaways
- Keychron K2 HE gives magnetic switches for gaming innovation & an improved typing expertise.
- Priced from $130 to $140 with USB-C connectivity & good-looking visible design choices.
- Compact design might really feel cramped for some typists, however magnetic switches improve gameplay.
With the Keychron K2 HE, the prolific keyboard maker took on the tall process of leveling up its best-selling keyboard. Because of the introduction of magnetic switches, this effort proved successful, providing profound versatility when gaming and a soothing typing expertise.
Keychron K2 HE
The Keychron K2 HE is an iteration of the favored K2 keyboard with magnetic switches and a set of gaming options. The particular version options rosewood aspect panels.
- Magnetic switches are versatile
- Nice typing really feel
- Many gaming options
- Three connectivity modes
- A number of designs to select from
- Barely cramped format
- Brief cable
- Takes a number of key presses to get up
- Just one swap possibility
Value and Availability
The Keychron K2 HE retails for $140 for the Particular Version (obtainable in black and white, with three ISO layouts obtainable in black) and $130 for the Normal Model. It comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable, USB-A 2.4Ghz receiver (alongside an adapter to connect the receiver to the cable), keycap & swap puller, screwdriver, hex key, and 6 alternative keycaps.
Good-looking Design in A number of Flavors
Whereas the principle attraction of the Keychron K2 HE (Corridor Impact) is its magnetic switches, this didn’t cease Keychron from giving the keyboard fairly a makeover.
The rosewood panels flanking both aspect of its aluminum body and matching Esc and Enter keys are instantly putting, showcasing a classic aptitude that contrasts properly with the fashionable applied sciences on show. If you happen to go for the usual model, the keyboard presents a extra futuristic visage full with shine-through keycaps. Both possibility offers you a handsome-looking keyboard that’s differentiated by esthetics quite than performance.
Weighing in at 2.16 kilos, the Keychron K2 HE can also be simple to maneuver round, even when I wouldn’t name it moveable. It can be propped up by two again legs primarily based in your typing preferences. This stuff additionally work to the keyboard’s detriment, although: the keyboard jostles simply on easy surfaces resulting from its weight alongside weak grips, and the legs characteristic sharp edges that could possibly be a security hazard if not dealt with rigorously. Neither of this stuff negatively impacted how I used the keyboard, although corners had been clearly lower there.
If you happen to’re a fan of RGB lighting, you’ll be well-serviced by this keyboard. Whereas there are extra advanced lighting patterns and customization in the marketplace, I felt the north-facing LEDs did a convincing job of bathing the keyboard in coloration with out exposing the switches an excessive amount of. It’s undoubtedly a better-looking implementation than most different Keychron keyboards I’ve used.
A Nice however Barely Cramped Typing Really feel
The Keychron K2 HE is as compact as a tenkeyless keyboard will get with out making any cuts to the 75% format. That is to say that each key you count on is right here, however they’re additionally barely smaller than I’m used to cherry-profile keycaps being.
I really feel two methods about this. On one hand, it’s a good trade-off given the minimal desk actual property used. On the opposite, my muscle reminiscence with bigger keycaps resulted in me unintentionally hitting a number of keys with one stroke. Personally, I’d have taken a barely larger keyboard with a view to accommodate extra spacious keys. It’s value noting that I acquired used to this the extra I used the keyboard, however when you’ve got large fingers, this won’t be the decide for you. These with smaller fingers will doubtless love the format, although.
What made up for the minor cramping I skilled had been the magnetic switches. These present a linear typing really feel that’s easy but nonetheless weighted. You lose the punchy sensation of hitting a mechanical swap’s actuation level and the clack upon contacting the bottom, however in alternate, I felt an elevated fluidity to my typing as my fingers effortlessly bounced between keys. A number of the fatigue that lengthy periods utilizing mechanical keyboards can incur was all however nonexistent right here.
Magnetic Switches Are a Recreation(play) Changer
Typing is nice on magnetic switches, although their true magic lies of their gaming functions. Because of this Keychron packed the Keychron K2 HE with revolutionary gaming options.
As a result of magnetic switches don’t characteristic a baked-in actuation level, customers can as an alternative set their very own. The keyboard comes preset with a regular actuation level of two.0mm however the Keychron Launcher web app allows you to adjust this right down to the decibel (each for your entire keyboard or on a key-by-key foundation). In different phrases, you possibly can enhance your gaming efficiency by tweaking when keys activate.
The opposite options obtainable within the Launcher construct upon this malleability. Chief amongst these is Snap Click on, which works much like Razer’s Snap Tap. By linking two keys collectively, you possibly can instantly swap between their inputs relying on which is additional depressed. That is nice for actions like rapidly strafing backwards and forwards, or for rapidly hitting notes in rhythm video games. It really works effectively, although I’d love the flexibility to hyperlink greater than two buttons collectively.
In the same vein, Fast Set off lets you set the space after which a launched key might be triggered once more. This successfully means you possibly can faucet a depressed key to repeatedly set off an in-game motion, not like mechanical triggers which require elevating it above the actuation level each time. I discovered it to be a specific boon for any video games that required me to spam a key, one thing which may in any other case be bodily exhausting and will probably harm a keyboard.
Dynamic Keystrokes will let you set a macro of as much as 4 key presses primarily based on how depressed or raised a secret is. For instance, urgent previous the actuation level may set off the “A” button, urgent all of it the best way down may set off “D,” elevating triggers “W,” and going previous the actuation level as soon as extra triggers “F.” These inputs repeat endlessly and Keychron showcases the characteristic as being a very good motion device. I didn’t personally discover a lot use for this in any sport I examined, as it may be onerous to gauge presses with out a tactile actuation level, however within the right scenario and with some follow, there’s numerous potential right here.
Final amongst this characteristic set is the flexibility for the magnetic switches to simulate the sticks and triggers of a gamepad. How far you press a secret is straight correlated to how far you’d push a stick or set off, with a number of measured presses indicating totally different stick positions past what a keyboard can usually recreate. I’d largely think about this novel as using an actual gamepad will typically do you better, although I did have some success mapping WASD to left stick inputs in a single profile for barely smoother character movement in some video games. This does override the traditional key features until you set each to function concurrently.
Whereas I do suppose there’s benefit to the tactile really feel of mechanical switches when gaming, I walked away notably impressed with what magnetic switches have to supply. The switches and options showcase a imaginative and prescient for the way forward for PC gaming that different merchandise on this class not often do. A number of this has sensible software so long as you’re prepared to study a bit of latest muscle reminiscence and mildly tinker with settings.
Three Modes of Connectivity
The three modes of connectivity you’d discover in most wi-fi keyboards—together with all of Keychron’s—are all current. 2.4GHz wireless with a 1,000Hz polling rate and Bluetooth that may hot-swap between three gadgets works seamlessly, sans occasional issue waking up the pc with out mashing keys or flipping switches. You can too toggle between Home windows and Mac layouts utilizing a swap alongside the aspect of the keyboard.
Wired mode is a little bit of a combined bag for one easy purpose, although: the roughly 4-foot cable is simply too quick. Different Keychron keyboards I’ve used have include longer cords that left loads of slack, but this one barely reached from the highest of my laptop to my keyboard. I like the eye to element of placing the USB-C connector going through sideways in order that it doesn’t jut out from the aspect when plugged in, however I’d have taken a standard-issue wire as an alternative if it meant extra size. You’ll undoubtedly wish to take this into consideration when buying.
Ought to You Purchase the Keychron K2 HE?
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a brand new strategy to PC gaming, the Keychron K2 HE could be the antidote you’re on the lookout for. Magnetic switches supply a degree of customization and flexibility that mechanical switches merely aren’t able to. This usually pans out in ways in which actively enhance your gameplay, be it by speedy triggers, keystroke prioritization, or area of interest choices like gamepad emulation. Plus, it helps that the keyboard feels nice to sort on and is kind of a looker!
My primary warning is that individuals with large fingers are most likely going to seek out this keyboard a bit of small for his or her liking. On this case, you might as an alternative wish to check out the Keychron Q1 HE which gives the magnetic swap expertise with a extra spread-out tenkeyless format.
Keychron K2 HE
The Keychron K2 HE is an iteration of the favored K2 keyboard with magnetic switches and a set of gaming options. The particular version options rosewood aspect panels.
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