REVIEW – If you’re a mechanical keyboard enthusiast, one of the first brands that comes to mind is Keychron. Keychron is well-known for its quality keyboards, which are heavy enough to be used as weapons! It’s hard for me to turn down an offer to review one of their new keyboards because they are so good. That’s why I’m going to be telling you about the Keychron K2 HE magnetic switch mechanical keyboard today.
What is it?
The K2 HE is Keychron’s newest magnetic switch mechanical keyboard with a 75% layout.
What’s included?
- Keychron K2 HE magnetic switch mechanical keyboard
- Windows keycaps
- Keycap / switch removal tool
- Screw driver and hex key
- USB 2.4 GHz dongle
- USB-C cable with right-angle connector
- Manual
Design and features
The Keychron K2 HE magnetic switch mechanical keyboard is a 75% sized keyboard that is available in three models. The version you see here is the Special Edition with a Black aluminum chassis. It has natural rosewood rails on the sides that give it a rustic style. It is also available in a white version.
As you can see in the image above, the 75% sized format gives you a dedicated function key row with media keys. No knob though… <sniff>
If we flip the Keychron K2 HE keyboard over, we see that there are flip out feet for those of you who cherish your ergonomics.
The feet have two stages. Flip them up for the highest level.
Or you can split the feet if you want to bring the height down. I just leave it flat.
A side view shows that even without the feet, the keyboard has a nice, comfortable typing angle. The left side has the USB-C port that you’ll use to charge the internal battery or hardwire the keyboard to your computer. I’m not a big fan of the USB port being on the side of the keyboard instead of the back edge.
There are also two switches on the left side. There’s one to switch between Windows and Mac and one to switch between Bluetooth, USB dongle, or USB cable connectivity.
The keyboard has a Cherry OSA profile and uses double-shot PBT caps. Everything looks great so far, right? Well, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns, because there is one gotcha with the Keychron K2 HE keyboard. It’s the switches. No, the switches aren’t bad. I actually like them – a lot. They sound great, and feel great. But the problem is that the only switches that you can use with the K2 HE are Gateron Double-Rail magnetic switches. At this time, Keychron only offers Dawn, Nebular, and Aurora switches to choose from if you want to purchase additional switches to try with this keyboard.
The switches have magnetic HE (hall effects) sensors. What’s that?
As opposed to traditional mechanical switches, magnetic switches use pressure-sensitive hall effect sensors to detect keypresses—which means you get to set the depth at which you want each keypress to engage, with 0.1 millimeter precision.
Customize each key with precision, adjusting actuation points from 0.2 to 3.8 mm with 0.1 mm sensitivity. Set shallow keypresses for instant actions and deeper ones for deliberate engagement, minimizing accidental touches and giving you an edge in both gaming and typing.
You can use QMK software through your browser to program the keys. This really isn’t something that I personally get into, it’s more for gamers.
I did all my testing with the K2 HE keyboard connected to my MacBook Pro using hardwired USB cable and Bluetooth. I prefer hardwiring because I don’t have to worry about charging it. I obviously used it in macOS mode and had no issues at all with the layout or the 3 and 4-key macros that I use. I found typing to be enjoyable both in sound and feel.
See and hear it in action
What I like about the Keychron K2 HE keyboard
- Great look, sound, and typing feel
- Includes Mac and macOS keycaps
What needs to be improved?
- Only supports Gateron Double-Rail magnetic switches which could be a deal breaker for many
- Cable connection on left side instead of back edge
Final thoughts
The Keychron K2 HE is another winner. It’s well made, heavy as a tank, and offers easy switching between Windows and Mac. With three connectivity modes, there’s something for everyone. But this keyboard shines in how it feels and sounds when you type on it. I’ve swiftly become a fan of magnetic switches, and the Gateron Double-Rail magnetic Nebula switches haven’t disappointed me. I might love them even more if I were a gamer, which I’m not. As an all-day touch typist, I have nothing but good things to say about this keyboard. But people who enjoy swapping out switches frequently should look elsewhere since the only switches that you can use with this keyboard are Gateron Double-Rail switches.
Price: $140.00
Where to buy: Keychron and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Keychron. Keychron did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
