The Keychron K2 (Version 2) is a decent entry-level mechanical keyboard. Its small and compact design makes it fairly easy to carry around, and you shouldn't have to worry about damaging it thanks to its excellent build quality. It's designed with macOS users in mind, but it comes with extra Windows keycaps as well. It works fully on both macOS and Windows, and only certain function keys don't work on mobile operating systems. It can connect with up to three devices at once via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, it doesn't have dedicated software, and you can't program any macros for gaming. Our unit has tactile Gateron Brown switches, and you can also get it with clicky Blue and linear Red switches. Unfortunately, the latency is a bit high, even when using a wired connection, which might disappoint serious gamers.
Our Verdict
The Keychron K2 is good for gaming; however, the latency is a bit high, even over a wired connection. It should be fine for most casual gamers, but it might disappoint serious, competitive gamers. It has full RGB backlighting, but without dedicated software, you can't reprogram any keys.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Light operating force.
- No dedicated software or macro-programmable keys.
- Lacks wrist rest.
- Slightly high latency.
The Keychron K2 is good for mobile use. It can be paired with up to three devices at once, and except for some function keys, it works properly on most common mobile operating systems. It's small, light, and it has an excellent build quality, so you shouldn't have to worry about damaging it during travel.
- Compatible with most popular operating systems.
- Multi-device pairing with three devices.
- Small and compact design.
- Wireless connectivity.
- Certain function keys don't work on mobile devices.
The Keychron K2 is good for office use. The unit we tested has Gateron Brown switches, which provide a great typing experience, and you can get it with other switch types if you prefer. It's well-built and has okay ergonomics with two incline settings, but it doesn't come with a wrist rest. It's also fully compatible with both macOS and Windows.
- Compatible with most popular operating systems.
- Great typing quality.
- Excellent build quality.
- Lacks wrist rest.
The Keychron K2 is good for programming. The keys are stable and the Gateron Brown switches on our unit provide a great typing experience. It's well-built with a solid aluminum frame and has two incline settings, but it doesn't come with a wrist rest. Sadly, it doesn't come with dedicated software, and you can't reprogram any keys.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Great typing quality.
- Excellent build quality.
- No dedicated software or macro-programmable keys.
- Lacks wrist rest.
The Keychron K2 is okay for use with a home theater PC. It has Bluetooth connectivity, so you can pair it to a wide variety of devices, and you can keep your setup wire-free. However, it doesn't have a trackpad for navigation.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Wireless connectivity.
- No trackpad.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 05, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jan 06, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Jan 04, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Dec 21, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Keychron K2 V2 with an aluminum frame, RGB backlighting, and Gateron Brown switches. It's available in a few different variants, including a hot-swappable version that allows you to quickly change the switches without soldering. The differences between the versions are listed below, and the build quality, typing experience, and typing noise may change depending on which model and switch type you get. It's the updated version of the Keychron K2 V1, which doesn't have an incline frame or a Caps Lock indicator light.
Keychron sells extra accessories for the K2 V2 mechanical keyboard. You can get a wrist rest and a set of PBT keycaps directly from their website, so your experience may vary with these extra parts.
| Model | Keycap Color | Backlighting | Frame Material | Gateron Switches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keychron K2 | Light/Dark Gray | RGB | Aluminum | Red, Brown, Blue |
| Keychron K2 | Light/Dark Gray | White | Plastic | Red, Brown, Blue |
| Keychron K2 | Light/Dark Gray | RGB | Plastic | Red, Brown, Blue |
| Keychron K2 Hot-Swappable | White/Black | RGB | Aluminum | Red, Brown, Blue |
| Keychron K2 Hot-Swappable | White/Black | White | Plastic | Red, Brown, Blue |
If someone notices that their unit doesn't correspond to our review, please let us know in the discussions and we'll update the review. You can see the label for our unit here.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The Keychron K2 is a decent, entry-level mechanical keyboard, and it's a better choice for mobile devices than the Keychron K4 or Keychron K8 because it's smaller and lighter to carry around. You can get it with a few different switch types, but sadly, you can't reprogram any of its keys, which is disappointing if you're a gamer. Also see our recommendations for the best keyboards for writers, the best mechanical keyboards, and the best keyboards for Mac.
The Keychron K3 and the Keychron K2 (Version 2) are two very similar keyboards, except the K3 has low-profile switches while the K2 has normal-sized ones. The K3 has better ergonomics because its lower profile makes it comfortable to type on even without a wrist rest. It's also available in a wider range of switch types, including optical ones. However, the K2 offers better typing quality and feels better built.
The Keychron K2 (Version 2) and the Keychron K8 are essentially the same keyboard in two different sizes. The K2 is 75%, while the K8 is 80%. The K2 is available with various Gateron switches, but the K8 has both Gateron and Keychron Optical switch options. That said, both keyboards have a hot-swappable variant that lets you change the switches without soldering. Latency is better on the K8, but the difference shouldn't be noticeable to most people.
The Keychron K2 (Version 2) is a 75% version of the Keychron K4. The K2 that we tested has full RGB backlighting, while the K4 has white backlighting, although you can get it with RGB backlighting as well. The K2 is smaller and lighter, so it's a better choice for use with mobile devices. However, the K4 has more switch options because it's available with LK Optical or Gateron switches, whereas the K2 is only available with Gateron switches. The K2 has slightly higher latency, but it shouldn't be noticeable to most people.
The Keychron K2 (Version 2) is essentially a bigger version of the Keychron K6. The K2 is a 75% keyboard with a row of dedicated function keys, while the K6 is 65%. They're nearly identical in features, but the K6 has lower latency, making it a better choice for gaming.
Test Results
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