Keychron’s K2 HE turns magnets and wooden into an inexpensive mechanical keyboard

The $79 K2 has lengthy been one in all Keychron’s bestselling mechanical keyboards. As with the entire firm’s Ok-line boards, it gives a comparatively no-frills expertise however supplies the entire benefits of a mechanical keyboard in an inexpensive package deal with a 75% structure (which suggests you get arrow keys and a row of operate 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 change can give you, you’ll in all probability 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. Usually, 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 undertaking. That is nonetheless a pre-sale, although, and the primary boards are scheduled to ship in October.

In case you’re available in the market for one in all 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 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 a couple of extra keyboards sitting beneath my desk in the intervening time, however despite the fact that the K2 HE isn’t essentially the most premium board I might be utilizing proper now, I haven’t felt the necessity to change 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 leads to a nice sound. It’s a bit on the muted aspect however nonetheless pleasantly thocky — although maybe not fairly as marbly or poppy as some would really like.

There’s 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 properly. There’s not loads of wobble and so they function properly together with the remainder of the board’s supplies to form the sound. There’s 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 further software program. Meaning 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 some great 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, meaning setting the actuation distance from how far down it is advisable to 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 change bottoms out.

That’s enjoyable for typists and can assist forestall the occasional typo, however magnetic switches actually begin to shine in terms of gaming. Right here, you should use speedy triggers, for instance, which resets the important thing a lot sooner than a conventional change and therefore means that you can spam keypresses a lot sooner.

Magnetic switches additionally can help 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 which you could set off on a single keystroke. The canonical instance for how you can use this (with simply two actions set to a single key) is to modify between strolling and operating.

Those that are way more inventive than me will seemingly be capable to dream up loads of productiveness use instances.

It’s value noting, nonetheless, that there’s no flex right here. That appears like a little bit of a concession to the gaming viewers which may be interested in the magnetic switches and their customizability. Which will make longer typing classes a bit bit extra fatiguing, however that’s very a lot a private choice. It also needs to be straightforward sufficient to mod the board to convey again some flex.

I’m glad to report that Keychron will use customary Cherry profile keycaps right here, which I a lot desire over the upper KSA keycaps Keychron typically contains by default. The pattern I obtained initially got here with a set of OEM profile caps (and that’s what you see in a few of the photographs 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 at all times accomplished a wonderfully tremendous job with its keycaps.

One different good characteristic that’s typically lacking in trendy mechanical keyboards: The K2 HE options two small plastic ft that allow you to modify the keyboard’s angle.

There are, in fact, LEDs underneath each key and 22 alternative ways to make them gentle up. If that’s your factor, you’re in luck.

At this extra inexpensive value level, you make 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 assist something however magnetic switches. Fortunately, there’s an ever-increasing variety of magnetic change 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 essential to you.

Total, although, this can be a very good package deal and as so typically with Keychron, it’s a simple one to advocate if you wish to dip your toes into corridor impact magnetic switches.