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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
    5. Latency
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Keychron K1 vs Keychron C2

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K1
Keychron C2

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 20, 2022 09:27 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:20 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K1 Picture
Keychron C2 Picture

Variants

  • K1 (Black)
  • K1 (Light Gray)
  • C2 (100% - Black)
  • C2 (100% - Gray)

Our Verdict

Keychron K1

Keychron C2

The Keychron C2 and the Keychron K1 are both mechanical keyboards with significant differences. The C2 is a wired, full-sized keyboard with Gateron Red, Blue, or Brown switches. It's also available in a hot-swappable version. The K1 is a wireless TKL keyboard with low-profile Gateron Red, Blue, or Brown switches and a shorter-pre travel distance that's better suited for gaming. It connects via a USB receiver or Bluetooth, and it can pair wirelessly with up to three devices.

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Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our keyboards test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.0
7.0

Pre-Travel 
 

1.4 mm
2.9 mm

Backlighting 
 

9.5
6.5

Latency 
 

7.1
6.5

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

7.9
10

Windows  

Partial
Fully Compatible

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K1 Top Picture
Keychron C2 Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

0.9" (2.3 cm)
1.5" (3.9 cm)

Width  

14.0" (35.6 cm)
17.1" (43.4 cm)

Depth 
 

4.8" (12.1 cm)
5.0" (12.8 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.40 lbs (0.636 kg)
1.76 lbs (0.800 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K1 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron C2 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
6.0

Side Picture  

Keychron K1 Side Picture
Keychron C2 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

Straight
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

2.5°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A

Home Row Height 
 

30.1 mm (1.2")

Wrist Rest  

No

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0

Customizability Overview  

Keychron C2 Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes

Backlight Features 
 

9.5
6.5

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K1 Backlighting Picture
Keychron C2 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Keychron K1 Brightness Max
Keychron C2 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Keychron K1 Brightness Min
Keychron C2 Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

Keychron K1 White Shot
Keychron C2 White Shot

RGB 
 

No

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

No
No

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Good

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0

White Shot  

Keychron K1 White Shot
Keychron C2 White Shot

Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

5.0 ft (1.5 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C

Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

10
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
No Batteries

Show text

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

0.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K1 Extra Features
Keychron C2 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

No Indicator
Caps & Num Lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K1 Bundle Picture
Keychron C2 Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

7.0
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

9.0
7.0

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

54.6 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Quiet

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Gateron Low Profile Red
Gateron Brown

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Feel 
 

Linear
Tactile

Analog 
 

No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Low Profile Red
Gateron Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Linear
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

40 gf
47 gf

Actuation Force 
 

40 gf
40 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.4 mm
2.9 mm

Total Travel 
 

2.7 mm
3.9 mm

Show text

Latency 
 

7.1
6.5

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

13.6 ms
18.0 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

43.4 ms
N/A

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.1
6.5

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

18.0 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±6.6 ms

Wired 
 

13.6 ms
18.0 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

43.4 ms
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

15.4 ms

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.2

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

17.8 ms

Key Release 
 

19.4 ms

Data Transmission 
 

7.2

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Keychron C2 Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

200 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes

Chord Split 
 

4.5

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

18.4 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

42.6 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Keychron K1 Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

Profiles 
 

No Profile
No Profile

Account Required 
 

No Software

Cloud Sync 
 

No

Macro Programming 
 

No

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software

Show text

Computer Compatibility 
 

7.9
10

Windows 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

Partial
Not Compatible

iOS  

Partial
Not Compatible

iPadOS  

Partial
Not Compatible

Show text

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0

Android 
 

Partial
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

Partial
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Partial
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible

Show text

Check Price

Keychron K1

Keychron C2

Comments

  1. Comparison

Keychron K1 vs Keychron C2: Main Discussion

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