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Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Keychron K2 HE Special Edition test: wireless magnetic switch keyboard surprise
The Keychron K2 HE is a compact, wireless gaming keyboard that doesn't look like it's aimed at gamers. This is due to its premium aluminium frame and rosewood side panels. You will get the best ergonomic experience using it with a supportive wrist rest, which you can buy as an optional accessory from the company. READ MORE: Microsoft Surface Laptop 13in review: the best everyday ultra-portable notebook I've tested in 2025 READ MORE: Ugreen Nexode Retractable Chargers review: ideal power bank for festivals such as All Together Now Keychron K2 HE everyday use It is excellent used as a gaming keyboard but also suits productivity tasks thanks to its great build quality and impressive performance. It has a standard high-profile design with flip-out feet on the base that offer two additional incline settings. The keyboard has rubber pads to keep it stable on your desk and its 1kg weight helps too. The K2 HE offers Bluetooth 5.2, 2.4GHz wireless and USB-C wired connections. Switching between my MacBook, Windows laptop and iPad was fast and fluid. It supports macOS, Windows and Linux and includes both Windows and Mac keycap sets in the box. It's a 75 percent keyboard layout,. (Image: Keychron) Gamers will love the Gateron double-rail magnetic switches (also known as Hall Effect switches) at the heart of this keyboard as they offer great fine-tuning options. Through web-based software you get in-depth customisation with accurate actuation and reset distances, as well as more advanced features that can provide advantages in games like FPS or rhythm titles. You can also save multiple profiles tailored for your different use cases. I found these linear switches pleasing to use for both gaming and typing. Battery life is excellent too. The firm said you get up to 72 hours of run time with the backlight switched on and 240 hours with it off. There are lots of lighting effects to choose from incidentally, but bear in mind they keys aren't transparent so the lighting effects are a subtle glow under the keys. The firm includes a braided cable in the box, along with a hex wrench for taking off the wood side panels and a small screwdriver for getting access to the interior of the keyboard. Keychron K2 HE verdict Keychron K2 HE keyboard comes as both a standard black edition (which has more of a gamer aesthetic and RGB lighting) and a Special Edition that comes in black or white with wood grain styling on either side of the case. I tested the black Special Edition and it looks fantastic - probably the most stylish looking keyboard I've ever used. Pricing and availability Keychron K2 HE costs €178 from Price comparison Apple Magic Keyboard and Mouse costs €204 from Apple . Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Daily Mirror
31-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
X-Sense Link+ Pro Smoke Alarm review: fire safety in the home gets smart
I've been testing out the X-Sense Link+ Pro Smoke Alarm with Base Station, a great example of the future of fire safety. It's a smart wireless fire protection system with real-time alerts, remote monitoring and seamless app control. The FS31 bundle includes three smoke alarms and a base station. Other kits are available with more alarms if you need them. READ MORE: Microsoft Surface Laptop 13in review: the best everyday ultra-portable notebook I've tested in 2025 READ MORE: Ugreen Nexode Retractable Chargers review: ideal power bank for festivals such as All Together Now X-Sense Link+ Pro in everyday use What you get in the X-Sense Link+ Pro (FS31) box (Image: X-Sense) Setting up the X-Sense Link+ Pro only takes a few minutes. You just plug in the compact 110mm x 110mm base station with a USB-C cable and power adapter included in the box. Then connect it to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network using the free X-Sense companion app and pair it with the three smoke detection units. Installing the smoke detection units is equally simple - you screw the base plate into the ceiling but the alarm can be easily removed in case you need to change the CR123 battery which incidentally should last up to five years. An LED beneath the central button blinks green every 60 seconds to let you know it's working, and it flashes brighter and red during an alarm incident. The big selling point of this smart system is the instant notifications. The base station and the smoke alarms are all managed and controlled using a free cloud service and the X-Sense smartphone app. If smoke is detected, the alarms and base station all sound loudly like a traditional smoke alarm, but your phone will also receive an alert, no matter where in the world you are. You're supposed to test smoke alarms once per week by pressing the test button, which can be tiresome with regular smoke alarms. On the X-Sense Link+ Pro, however, you can do this remotely from the app. You can also do it manually if you wish but pressing one alarm tests all the units on the system which is handy. There's also a clever Family Sharing feature which enables up to 12 users to receive notifications and control the system. X-Sense Link+ Pro verdict The X-Sense Link+ Pro (FS31 combo pack) is essentially three smoke alarms for the price of one and it's a fantastic addition to your smart home that points to the future of fire safety. The X-Sense software is well-designed and easy to use and this system is an easy one to recommend. X-Sense Link+ Pro pricing and availability X-Sense Link+ Pro (FS31 bundle) costs €96 on Amazon. For comparison, Google Nest Protect costs €119 from Harvey Norman. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
