This is a good guide for peripherals. Gaming keyboards have long been incredibly homogenized with angular, stark black cases and the inevitable bright RGB lighting. I used to find myself buying keyboards with sub-par performance because I wanted something that looked good on my desk. This is why I really like the design of the K2 HE. It shows the shift from sports equipment, mainly focused on performance, to various designs and styles.
In general I think it’s important for products to look good, not just work as advertised. So much of what we have today can be considered temporary and it can be easy to throw it away without a second thought. A thoughtfully designed product, whether it’s a keyboard, computer case, pen, or lamp, can compel you to keep it for a long time, even if you care to keep it. Best of all, you feel better using it. This has happened for years with high-end, $500+ mechanical keyboards, but I’m glad to see it democratized and more accessible.
Software customization
Hall’s effect switches are incredibly efficient and deeply customizable using Keychron’s browser-based launcher software. As with the Q1 HE, each key’s input and trigger range can be automated, and can be programmed to have multiple inputs at different ranges.
The quick trigger feature, which I feel is one of the biggest changes to Hall’s effect, works very well. This setting allows for faster key input by continuously changing the switch’s startup position. A traditional mechanical keyboard switch has one predetermined point where it registers a key press, and to register a second key press, the switch needs to be released, back above that point, and then pressed down again. If the fast trigger is enabled, the Hall effect switch should only depress a small amount, then it can be pressed down again to register another key press. This allows for a much faster response when gaming and some great typists even report that they can type faster when the setting is enabled.
Photo: Henri Robbins
Like every other Keychron keyboard, I’m frustrated that it needs to be plugged in to configure the layout using the Launcher, but that’s a necessary sacrifice when you’re building a keyboard in well-documented open source software like QMK.
RGB is easy to adjust and has countless settings from static colors and RGB color transitions to a “heatmap” that gradually changes the color of a key based on how often it is pressed. The wireless connection works flawlessly, but I found that pressing a key wouldn’t automatically reconnect the keyboard after being idle for a while. Instead, I had to use the side slider to switch from wired back to wireless mode.
I have no real problems with the K2 HE. For the price, it’s a bargain. It looks great, has a clean and deep typing sound, feels great to type on, and comes with some of the best Hall effect switches available today. For $140, no other keyboard is nearly as solid as this one.
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