![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.]](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/M5QM2eTk/keychron-k2-he/design-medium.jpg?format=auto)
The Keychron K2 HE is a compact 75% model in Keychron's K HE series of gaming keyboards. These keyboards use Hall effect switches, which allow you to adjust the actuation and reset points of individual keys. They feature an ABS plastic chassis with an aluminum frame and durable PBT keycaps. The K HE series also supports advanced features through Keychron’s web-based configuration software, including Rapid Trigger and One Key Multiple Command. These can offer tangible benefits over standard mechanical keyboards, particularly in fast-paced genres like FPS or rhythm games.
We bought and tested the compact 75% Keychron K2 HE. See the Differences Between Variants for a comparison between other models in the wider series.
Our Verdict
The Keychron K HE keyboards are excellent for gaming, with great build quality and amazing raw performance. They're well-suited for gaming in all genres at any competitive level. The web-based software offers in-depth customization with accurate actuation and reset distances, as well as more advanced features that can provide advantages in games like FPS or rhythm titles.
Great build quality.
Excellent raw performance.
True 1000Hz polling rate using a wired or 2.4GHz wireless connection.
Web-based software offers in-depth switch customization options.
Switches wobble a bit in their housing.
Hot-swappable PCB only supports Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches.
The Keychron K HE keyboards are impressive for office use. They have great overall build quality and connect wirelessly with an included 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth with up to three devices. They also offer an excellent typing experience with smooth and consistent pre-lubed switches and stabilizers. There are multiple layers of acoustic material inside the case that dampen and round out the sound profile, making them extremely quiet to type on and unlikely to bother those around you. That said, they have a fairly tall profile, so we recommend using these keyboards with a wrist rest for the most comfortable experience, though note that they don't come with one in the box. The K2 HE version we tested lacks a numpad and some navigation keys. However, the lineup offers a variety of layouts, all the way from 65% to a full-sized keyboard, with a bunch of compact variants in between.
Great build quality.
Excellent overall typing quality with only minor issues that may not bother everyone.
Switches wobble a bit in their housing.
Tray mount design may not suit those who prefer a softer, more cushioned typing feel.
Hot-swappable PCB only supports Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches.
The Keychron K HE keyboards are satisfactory for use with mobile devices and tablets. They connect wirelessly via Bluetooth and support multi-device pairing with up to three devices simultaneously. That said, even the more compact layouts (K2 and K6) are fairly heavy and have a tall chassis, so they aren't very easy to slip into bags or regularly move between hot desks or around the house.
Great build quality.
Multi-device pairing with up to three devices simultaneously.
Lacks dedicated media keys.
Fairly tall profile and somewhat heavy; not very portable despite its compact layout.
The Keychron K HE keyboards are impressive for programming. They have great build quality with pre-lubed switches and stabilizers, and layers of acoustic material inside the case help dampen their sound profile, providing an excellent and extremely quiet typing experience overall. You can connect these keyboards wirelessly, either with an included 2.4GHz receiver or via Bluetooth, with up to three devices simultaneously. They also have full RGB backlighting and keycaps with shine-through legends that are easy to read in darker rooms. The K HE series is also offered in a variety of sizes, so you can find the perfect layout for your needs.
Great build quality.
Excellent overall typing quality with only minor issues that may not bother everyone.
Switches wobble a bit in their housing.
Tray mount design may not suit those who prefer a softer, more cushioned typing feel.
Hot-swappable PCB only supports Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches.
The Keychron K HE keyboards are acceptable for use in a home theater setup. They have great build quality and support wireless connectivity via a USB receiver or Bluetooth. However, they lack dedicated media keys and, even the smaller K2 and K6 versions, are fairly heavy for their size, making them unwieldy to use from a sitting position. That being said, they also have full RGB backlighting with legends that are easy to read in the dark.
Great build quality.
Lacks dedicated media keys.
Fairly tall profile and somewhat heavy; not very portable despite its compact layout.
The Keychron K HE keyboards provide excellent raw performance well-suited for playing games in all genres and at a casual or competitive level. Single-key and multi-key latency is remarkably low, and regardless of whether you're using these keyboards wired or wirelessly, they have an effective update rate of 1000Hz that isn't bottlenecked by other latency elements.
Excellent raw performance.
True 1000Hz polling rate using a wired or 2.4GHz wireless connection.
Changelog
- Updated Jan 06, 2026: Our Test Bench 1.4.3 update adds clearer terminology and new measurements to our Keystrokes test group. For more details, see the full changelog.
- Updated Oct 02, 2025: Our 1.4.2 Test Bench Update makes changes to the Hardware Customizability test group. We've created a new Magnetic Switch Compatibility test and renamed our previous PCB Socket test to Mechanical Switch Compatibility. See our full changelog.
- Updated Aug 26, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.4.1. This update removes the Key Release test and a video element from the Multi-Key Latency section, resulting in minor score changes. See our full 1.4.1 changelog for details.
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Updated Jul 02, 2025:
We've updated this review to reflect not just the Keychron K2 HE we tested, but the broader Keychron K HE lineup. In addition to changing the title, we've expanded our coverage with new information—most notably in the Differences Between Variants, Dimensions, and Extra Features sections.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We bought the Keychron K2 HE Standard Version in Black. You can see an image of our unit's label here.
In the table below, we've listed the different size variants currently available in the wider K Max series lineup. Our test results for the Keychron K2 HE we about and tested apply to all variants listed below. If you encounter another variant, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
| Name | Size | Connectivity | Assembly Options | Switch Type (Fully assembled) | Hot-Swappable |
| Keychron K6 HE | Compact (65%) | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.2 | Fully Assembled, Barebones | Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula | Yes |
| Keychron K2 HE | Compact (75%) | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.2 | Fully Assembled, Barebones | Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula | Yes |
| Keychron K8 HE | TKL (80%) | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.2 | Fully Assembled, Barebones | Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula | Yes |
| Keychron K4 HE | Compact (96%) | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.2 | Fully Assembled, Barebones | Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula | Yes |
| Keychron K10 HE | Full-size (100%) | 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.2 | Fully Assembled, Barebones | Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula | Yes |
All models of the Keychron K HE keyboards are available in either a Standard Version or a Special Edition configuration. The Standard Version features an aluminum frame, an ABS plastic chassis, and shine-through Cherry profile keycaps. The Special Edition uses the same aluminum frame and ABS chassis but adds wooden accents along the sides and comes with non-shine-through OSA profile keycaps. The Standard Version is only available in black, while the Special Edition comes in either black or white.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Keychron K2 HE is a compact (75%) wireless gaming keyboard in Keychron's K HE series lineup. The K HE series is itself part of a wider family of Keychron's HE keyboards with Hall effect switches that include the more premium-priced Keychron Q HE Series models. The major difference between them is that the K HE series has an aluminum frame around a plastic case and a stiffer tray mount design compared to the solid aluminum case and springier-feeling double-gasket mount found on the Q HE series.
The K HE series keyboards are a great budget option if you're looking for a wireless Hall effect gaming option, as there remain relatively few on the market at the moment. In particular, they represent a less expensive alternative to the Q HE series if you don't mind giving up the more premium all-aluminum case and softer typing feel, as it has virtually identical performance. However, it doesn't match the high-end competitive performance of wired-only options like the NuPhy Field75 HE or the Wooting 80HE.
For more recommendations, see our picks for the best wireless keyboard, the best gaming keyboard, and the best budget gaming keyboard.
Both the Keychron Q1 HE and the Keychron K2 HE are wireless gaming keyboards with Hall effect switches and virtually identical raw performance. The Q1 HE has a much heavier solid aluminum case and a double-gasket mount design that provides a softer, springier-feeling typing experience. Unfortunately, its stabilizers are somewhat inconsistent and prone to rattling. Comparatively, the K2 HE has an ABS plastic bottom chassis and a thinner aluminum frame. It has a relatively stiffer-feeling tray mount design but much more consistent stabilizers.
The Wooting 80HE and Keychron K2 HE are gaming keyboards with Hall effect switches. The Wooting is a wired-only model and a better fit for competitive gaming with significantly better raw performance and a higher maximum polling rate of 8000Hz. Additionally, it has a gasket mount design for a slightly springier-feeling typing experience, and it's available with either a heavyweight zinc alloy or much lighter ABS plastic case. On the other hand, the Keychron is a wireless model and has a relatively stiffer-feeling tray mount design. Its case design features a thin aluminum frame and a plastic bottom.
The Keychron K2 HE and Lemokey P1 HE are both wireless Hall effect keyboards with virtually the same raw gaming performance. While they're both compact 75% models, the Keychron has a slightly more compact key layout, while the Lemokey has a more traditional layout and a control knob. The Lemokey also boasts a more premium build, featuring a solid aluminum case, greater key stability, and better-tuned stabilizers. Additionally, its gasket mount design provides a softer, more refined typing feel compared to the stiffer, tray-mounted structure of the Keychron.
The NuPhy Field75 HE and the Keychron K2 HE are gaming keyboards with Hall effect switches. The NuPhy offers better overall raw performance and a higher maximum polling rate of 8000Hz, making it better positioned for competitive play. It has a very distinct visual style with two sets of dedicated macro buttons and a knurled control knob, as well as a gasket mount design that lends a noticeably softer and more cushioned-feeling typing experience. The Keychron, on the other hand, has a more straightforward look and a relatively stiffer tray mount design, but it also has additional wireless connectivity, which the NuPhy lacks.
Test Results
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Top Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/dimensions-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Build Quality Close Up Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/build-quality-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Underside Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/underside-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Side Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/ergonomics-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Customizability Overview Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/custom-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Backlighting Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/backlight-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Brightness Max Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/brightness-max-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Brightness Min Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/brightness-min-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] White Shot Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/whiteshot-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Extra Features Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/features-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Bundle Picture Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/in-the-box-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Typing Sample Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/typing-sample-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/feel-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Input Linearity Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/keyboard-input-granularity-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Analog Output Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/keyboard-input-granularity-analog-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Wobble Video Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/wobble-small.jpg?format=auto)
for pictures & test results
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Single-Key Latency Graph Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/latency-single-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, 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 K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Multi-Key Raw USB Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/rollover-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Keychron K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, 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 K2 HE [K4 HE, K8 HE, etc.] Software Tour Sample](https://i.rtings.com/assets/sample-images/keyboard/software-tour-small.jpg?format=auto)