![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.]](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/XSuXWhSC/keychron-k8-pro-k2-pro-k3-pro-k4-pro-etc/design-medium.jpg?format=auto)
The Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] belong to Keychron's K Pro Series lineup. These keyboards are an upgrade from the standard Keychron K Series and feature noticeable build and design differences but retain the same wireless functionality. Namely, the upgraded lineup has higher-quality PBT keycaps with a unique rounded and tapered shape. These keyboards also depart from the gray and orange color scheme of the K Series. You can also purchase these keyboards in a hot-swappable configuration, meaning you can change out the switches without soldering—but they also include a toolkit so you can further modify your keyboard if you want.
We bought and tested the Keychron K8 Pro, which is a TenKeyLess (80%) variant within this keyboard lineup—but there are numerous other size variants and different configurations available. See our Differences Between Sizes and Variants section below for more details.
Our Verdict
These keyboards are great for casual or even competitive gaming when using a wired connection. Just note that their latency performance is significantly higher and only suitable for casual gaming when using a wireless connection. That being said, they're also solidly built boards with full RGB backlighting. Since they have a hot-swappable PCB, you can change the stock switches without having to solder. Also, every key is macro-programmable, and the companion software is compatible with all major operating systems. Unfortunately, these keyboards don't come with a wrist rest.
- Excellent build quality.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Hot-swappable PCB.
- Excellent wired latency overall, suitable for casual or competitive gaming.
- Wireless latency is decent for casual titles but too high for competitive gaming.
These keyboards are decent for office use. They offer great typing quality and have a layer of sound-dampening foam inside to reduce noise. We bought and tested the Keychron K8 Pro with Gateron G Pro Blue switches, which are too loud for an office environment, but you can also buy these keyboards in quieter Red or Brown switch varieties, which are much more office-appropriate. These keyboards are fully compatible with Windows and macOS, thanks to the toggle on the top left side to change operating systems. Also, the software is available on all major operating systems. Unfortunately, they lack an included wrist rest, which could lead to some discomfort when typing for long periods on any of the high-profile models in this lineup.
- Excellent build quality.
- Hot-swappable PCB.
- Great typing quality.
- No included wrist rest.
- Not very portable due to their size and weight.
These keyboards are adequate for use with tablets and mobile devices. They feel well-built thanks to the premium materials used, and you can connect with up to three devices simultaneously via Bluetooth. However, some of the larger size variants, including the Keychron K8 Pro we tested, are a bit too big and heavy to carry around comfortably for use on the go.
- Excellent build quality.
- Not very portable due to their size and weight.
These keyboards are great for programming. They feel well-built and offer a nice, satisfying typing experience. You can connect them with up to three devices using Bluetooth. They're fully compatible with both Windows and macOS, and only a few function hotkeys don't work on Linux. The companion software is available on all major PC operating systems, so you can program macros and customize the key mapping regardless of your setup. They also have full RGB backlighting, though the key legends aren't shine-through. Unfortunately, they lack a wrist rest, which would improve the overall comfort of any of the high-profile models in this lineup.
- Excellent build quality.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Hot-swappable PCB.
- No included wrist rest.
These keyboards are sub-par options to use with a home theater PC setup. While they have excellent build quality and connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, they lack dedicated media keys. Furthermore, while they have RGB lighting, the keycaps don't have shine-through legends, and you can't read them in a darkened room.
- Excellent build quality.
- No dedicated media keys.
- Keys don't have shine-through legends and can't be seen in a darkened room.
These keyboards provide amazing raw performance when using a wired connection with great single-key and multi-key latency. However, using this keyboard wirelessly limits the polling rate to 125Hz and results in significantly higher latency performance, so we only recommend using this keyboard wirelessly for playing casual titles.
- Excellent wired latency overall, suitable for casual or competitive gaming.
- Wireless latency is decent for casual titles but too high for competitive gaming.
Changelog
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Updated Apr 08, 2025:
We've added a link to the Keychron K8 Max to the Wireless Versatility section.
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Updated Mar 06, 2025:
We've corrected an error in the table in the Differences Between Variants section. Previously, we stated that the low-profile variants lacked aluminum frame options. In fact, all variants come with aluminum frames by default, except for the normal profile models, which offer a choice between ABS or ABS+Aluminum frame cases.
- Updated Jun 20, 2024: We've updated this review to improve clarity and readability and to ensure all text is accurate and up-to-date.
- Updated Jun 07, 2024: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Keychron K5 Max in the Wireless Versatility section of this review.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
Keychron's K Pro Series offers quite a few variants. We've outlined the many variants and configurations in the chart below. We bought and tested the fully assembled K8 Pro with RGB backlighting, an aluminum frame, and Gateron G Pro Blue switches installed. You can see the label of our unit here.
As Keychron releases more keyboards in this series, we will update our list of variants. If you have a variant you don't see listed here, let us know in the comments.
Normal Profile Variants
We expect our test results to apply to the following normal profile variants:
| Name | Size/Layout | Assembly Options | Aluminum Frame Case Option | Backlighting | Switches | Switches | Hot-swappable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keychron K2 Pro | Compact (75%) | Barebones, Fully Assembled | Yes/No | White, RGB | Keychron K Pro Mechanical | Red, Blue, Brown | Yes/No |
| Keychron K4 Pro | Compact (96%) | Barebones, Fully Assembled | Yes/No | White, RGB | Keychron K Pro Mechanical | Red, Blue, Brown | Yes/No |
| Keychron K6 Pro | Compact (65%) | Barebones, Fully Assembled | Yes/No | White, RGB | Keychron K Pro Mechanical | Red, Blue, Brown | Yes/No |
| Keychron K8 Pro | TenKeyLess (80%) | Barebones, Fully Assembled | Yes/No | White, RGB | Gateron G Pro Mechanical | Red, Blue, Brown | Yes/No |
| Keychron K10 Pro | Full-size (100%) | Barebones, Fully Assembled | Yes/No | White, RGB | Keychron K Pro Mechanical | Red, Brown | Yes/No |
| Keychron K12 Pro | Compact (60%) | Barebones, Fully Assembled | Yes/No | White, RGB | Keychron K Pro Mechanical | Red, Brown | Yes/No |
| Keychron K14 Pro | Compact (70%) | Barebones, Fully Assembled | Yes/No | White, RGB | Keychron K Pro Mechanical | Red, Brown | Yes/No |
Low-Profile Variants
Most of our test results within this review apply to the low-profile variants below. Most of our test results in this review apply to the low-profile variants below. These models differ slightly in build quality due to their thinner construction. They also use low-profile switches which have a shorter total travel, providing a distinct typing feel.
If you have any of the low-profile variants below and feel there are other differences or issues we should mention in our review, let us know in the comments.
| Name | Size/Layout | Assembly Options | Backlighting | Dedicated Macro Keys | Switches | Hot-swappable | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keychron K1 Pro | TKL (80%) | Fully Assembled | White, RGB | No | Red, Brown | Yes/No | 2000 mAh |
| Keychron K3 Pro | Compact (75%) | Fully Assembled | White, RGB | No | Red, Blue, Brown | Yes/No | 1550 mAh |
| Keychron K5 Pro | Full-size (100%) | Fully Assembled | White, RGB | No | Red, Brown | Yes/No | 2000 mAh |
| Keychron K7 Pro | Compact (65%) | Fully Assembled | White, RGB | No | Red, Brown | Yes/No | 1550 mAh |
| Keychron K9 Pro | Compact (60%) | Fully Assembled | White, RGB | No | Red, Brown | Yes/No | 1550 mAh |
| Keychron K13 Pro | "Numpad TKL" (80%) | Fully Assembled | White, RGB | No | Red, Brown | Yes/No | 2000 mAh |
| Keychron K17 Pro | Compact (96%) | Fully Assembled | White, RGB | Yes | Red, Brown | Yes/No | 2000 mAh |
Additional Low-Profile Variants
Note that the low-profile variants listed below have more significant design differences, including Alice layouts. Furthermore, they may include additional elements, such as control knobs and dedicated macro keys, which are not present on most other variants in this lineup, including the unit we bought and tested. While we expect most of our tests will remain broadly applicable, these additional elements may produce differences in build and typing quality.
If you have any of the variants below and feel there are other differences or issues we should mention in our review, let us know in the comments.
| Name | Size/Layout | Assembly Options | Backlighting | Dedicated Macro Keys | Switches | Hot-swappable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keychron K11 Pro | Compact (65%), Alice Layout | Fully Assembled | White, RGB | No | Low Profile Gateron Mechanical | Yes/No |
| Keychron K15 Pro | Compact (75%), Alice Layout | Fully Assembled | White, RGB | Yes | Low Profile Gateron Mechanical | Yes/No |
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
These keyboards are upgraded versions of the Keychron K Series. Overall, they perform very similarly to their predecessors and still use Bluetooth to connect with up to three devices. However, they feature notable upgrades to the build quality, the most important of which is the PBT keycaps with the OSA profile, the same keycaps found on the more premium Keychron Q Series boards. The K Pro Series also takes a few more pages from the Q Series, including a hot-swappable PCB option, screw-in stabilizers, and compatibility with the VIA companion software.
If you're interested in more options, check out our recommendations for the best wireless keyboards, the best keyboards for typing, or the best Keychron keyboards.
The Keychron K5 Max and the Keychron K8 Pro are wireless mechanical keyboard models that are each part of a wider series with other size variants available. The major difference between the keyboards in these two lineups is that the K Max keyboards have expanded wireless versatility with the addition of 2.4GHz receiver connectivity, offering better overall raw performance. The K Max boards also have more layers of internal acoustic material.
The Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] are the upgraded version of Keychron's K Series, which includes the Keychron K8. While the performance remains similar, Keychron made notable improvements to the build quality on the K Pro Series with new PBT keycaps, screw-in stabilizers, option aluminum frames, and two additional layers of foam inside the case for better acoustics. The K Pro Series are also the first wireless keyboards from Keychron to be compatible with the VIA companion software, so you can fully customize your layout, macros, and RGB backlighting.
The Ducky One 3 and the Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] are both customizable mechanical boards but they have some notable differences. The Ducky is wired-only and has much lower latency than the Keychrons, making it better suited to gaming. The Keychrons are wireless and support multi-device pairing with up to three devices via Bluetooth.
The Keychron V Series and the Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] are similar, customizable mechanical keyboards manufactured by Keychron. They're very similar in terms of performance and features, but the K Pro Series has the option for an aluminum frame, whereas the V Series only has plastic frames. Otherwise, the major difference between the two is that the K Pro Series are wireless and use Bluetooth to connect while the V Series boards are wired-only.
Test Results
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Top Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/dimensions-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Build Quality Close Up Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/build-quality-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Side Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/ergonomics-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Customizability Overview Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/custom-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Backlighting Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/backlight-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Brightness Max Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/brightness-max-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Brightness Min Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/brightness-min-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] White Shot Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/whiteshot-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Extra Features Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/features-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Bundle Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/in-the-box-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Typing Sample Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/typing-sample-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Wobble Video Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/wobble-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/feel-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Single-Key Latency Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/latency-single-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Latency Video Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/latency-multi-video-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/latency-multi-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Multi-Key Raw USB Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/rollover-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Chord Split Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/keyboard-chordsplit-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
for videos & test results
![Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Software Tour Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/software-tour-small.jpg?format=auto)