Keychron established that it knows how to make a good Hall effect keyboard with the Q1 HE earlier this year. Now, with the latest K2 HE, Keychron is out to prove it can do it on a budget. The K2 HE takes the best part of the Q1—the programmable Hall effect switches—and transplants them into a simpler and more affordable chassis while maintaining much of the functionality.
The K2 HE keyboard is available in both a standard and Special Edition package. The standard edition ($130) comes in black while the Special Edition ($140) can be had in black or white with wood grain styling on either side of the case. Both feature the same Gateron Nebula Double-Rail Hall effect switches and full programmability, only differing from one another cosmetically.
The Typing Feel
The core of this keyboard is Gateron’s double-rail magnetic switch. These were previously seen in Keychron’s first Hall effect keyboard, the Q1 HE, and they are great. On the K2, they’re just as good. (I have an in-depth explainer on Hall effect sensors if you'd like to learn more about the technology.) These switches are smooth, comfortable, and consistent to type on. While they do feel a bit dampened compared to traditional mechanical switches, especially at the bottom of the keystroke, I don’t think this is a detriment in any way.
The K2 HE combines these switches with a tray-mount system. Tray-mounts are typically one of the more budget-oriented mounting systems because of their simplicity and ease of assembly. Instead of having a multi-piece case that the keyboard’s internal assembly is placed into (like the Q1’s gasket mount system), the K2’s internals are dropped into a single-piece case and screwed down.
This results in a relatively inconsistent typing feel, with some stiffer areas where the screws are, and softer areas where the printed circuit board (PCB) is not supported. However, these issues aren’t prominent on the K2, presumably because Keychron has a good sense of where to place the screws to limit this effect, and because it opted for a stiffer aluminum plate to mitigate it. I find the typing experience of the K2 HE enjoyable and consistent, although it is a bit stiff compared to a gasket-mounted keyboard.