Tech review: The Keychron K2 HE is a sophisticated gamechanger for button bashers
Just over a year ago I tried out my first mechanical keyboard, and I was hooked instantly.
The satisfying design, and the subtle clicking sounds of the keys, it felt rewarding and it added a touch of class to my desk.
That started a bit of an obsession with keyboards, and up until three months ago, I thought I had settled on one.
Until I got my hands on the Keychron K2 HE - which quite frankly is a gamechanger for me.
Technology is usually desirable in compact, sleek, understated format - this keyboard is anything but that.
It is chunky, really heavy and very bold in appearance - and I love it. From the hefty fingers that provide the perfect pad for my fat fingers, to the wood effect trim on the sides.
It just calls out for attention and makes a real statement on any desk area. It certainly provides a robust experience due to its weight, even the most violent typist would fail to get even the slightest of movement.
I admire the classic look and feel of it, there is a definite air of elegance and sophistication to it, and I really liked that.
Depending how much you like subtle, soothing lighting patterns on a keyboard, you may like this.
From slow blinking to the fast and furious, there are many different presets you can choose. I have stuck with the one that lights up the keys you have pressed like a heat map. It's strangely addictive and good fun.
So it looks the part, it's built for action, but does it do the job it needs to do?
The keys are Hall Effect magnetic switches and that makes it a great keyboard for all your gaming needs.
Mine is largely office use as I work from home, and although it is probably spoiling me, I don't care. This keyboard is just so responsive and in a strange way, really relaxing.
Connectivity is via Wired, 2.4G and Bluetooth 5.2 and the set-up is effortless, allowing you to be up and running almost straight from the box.
Us journos are known for really hammering our keyboards and I've seen many a laptop and keyboard break as a result, maybe even a couple of my own.
With this I just felt like my fingers glided and bounced around the keys and as I typed the rhythm and sound of the keys seemed to make me more productive, in a strange kind of way.
The keyboard has various customisation options, from tweaking the actuation points, to changing some of the keys to accommodate the keyboard layout of your choice.
There's loads of nerdy tech things I could touch on in terms of specifications, but we could be here all day.
It's a great all-round keyboard that makes a real play into the higher end of the gaming keyboard market. It also has a great battery unit and seems to last for ages. Sorry not to be more precise, so far I'm up to two weeks on one charge.
It looks fantastic, has an sublime quality to it, and it's a great user experience using it. It will take a very serious keyboard to dislodge it from my desk.
The Keychron K2 HE is available via the Keychron store for £153.99.
Reviews
Peter Wolinski, Tom's Guide: It still does everything to all people, but now this sleeper can drag muscle cars at the lights. Its gaming credentials are top drawer, and prove that you don't need a garish RGB-clad gaming board to mince a few games of Valorant.
Yet it still keeps almost all the magic of the original K2. It looks great, is a productivity weapon (more so now than ever) and is still undercutting rivals from NuPhy and Lofree, while offering more for the money. I struggled finding a bad word to say about the Keychron K2 HE, and even when I did, I didn't enjoy writing it.
Reece Bithrey, PC Gamer: Besides the gorgeous rosewood edges, the K2 HE's build quality is sublime. It is otherwise plastic, but offers some of the sturdiest I've tested on a keyboard at its price point. It's solid and rigid, while also coming with no deck flex even if you tried to tear it to pieces.
Alternatives
T8 60% Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
DUSK67 Walnut Mechanical Keyboard Kit
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