Keychron K2 HE Keyboard Review

The Keychron K2 HE is yet another Hall effect keyboard from a company that is rapidly refreshing its lineup. As you might expect, if you’re tuned into the hype surrounding these HE variants, the K2 HE is yet another fantastic option for those who want the modern must-have feature of Hall effect switches, but without needing to break the bank. Here is my review.

The mighty Hall effect switch

As expected, the main highlight of the K2 HE is the Hall effect switch type. This keyboard makes use of Gateron’s double-rail magnetic Hall effect switches, which offer customizable actuation points. This means users can decide exactly how far a key needs to be pushed before it triggers a function. What’s interesting is that multiple functions can be assigned to a single key, meaning different actions can trigger at different ranges. Why is this useful? Well, in games it can make things like strafe dodging in a first-person shooter or making small steering adjustments to a car in a racer, much easier to perform.

75% is the sweet spot

For me, the K2 HE is the perfect form factor. Being 75%, it keeps all of the keys that I find useful, including the F-row and arrow keys, but ditches the number pad. This means the keyboard takes up less room on the desk, leaving more room for mouse movement.

My review unit is the Special Edition, which adds real wood to the sides. I think it looks classy and moves it away from the tired, overtly “gamer” aesthetic.

Looks and feels great

In use, the K2 HE feels fantastic to type on and game with. The magnetic switches are linear and feel buttery smooth. Though I’m more into tactile switches for typing for work, I was pleasantly surprised by how satisfying the K2 HE is. I could easily use this for both work and play. The stabilizers are impressively well-tuned, too. There’s no wobble or rattle to complain about here.

Customizing the key actuation points and the keyboard’s other functions can be done inside Keychron’s Launcher app. It’s simple, yet effective, and more than gets the job done.

Some nitpicks

Moving on to the drawbacks, the main one to highlight is the lack of switch compatibility. Users will need to commit to using Gateron’s double-rail magnetic switches, as there’s no way to swap in other types.

The other nitpick I have concerns the RGB lighting on the Special Edition. For this version in particular, the included keycaps are not shine-through. This somewhat mutes the effect of the lighting.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by Keychron.