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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 K2 (Version 2) vs Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.]

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K2 (Version 2)
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.]

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 27, 2023 08:47 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Jun 20, 2024 04:13 PM

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BestBuy.com
Keychron K2 (Version 2) Picture
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Picture

Variants

  • K2 (Version 2) (Dark Gray)
  • K10 Pro (100%)
  • K5 Pro (Low Profile) (100%)
  • K9 Pro (Low Profile) (60%)
  • K12 Pro (60%)
  • K6 Pro (65%)
  • K7 Pro (Low Profile) (65%)
  • K14 Pro (70%)
  • K2 Pro (75%)
  • K3 Pro (Low Profile) (75%)
  • K1 Pro (Low Profile) (80% TKL)
  • K13 Pro (Numpad) (80% TKL)
  • K8 Pro (80% TKL)
  • K4 Pro (96%)
  • K17 Pro (Low Profile) (96%)

Our Verdict

Keychron K2 (Version 2)

Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.]

The Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] are part of Keychron's K Pro series, which are upgraded models of the Keychron K Series that includes the Keychron K2 (Version 2). The K Pro Series has a better build quality, including an aluminum frame option and PBT keycaps. They're also compatible with the VIA companion software, and they have added layers of sound-dampening foam to reduce typing noise, all of which are features that the original K Series lacks.

0

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Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
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Amazon.com
 
100%
K5 Pro (Low Profile)
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60%
K9 Pro (Low Profile)
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65%
K7 Pro (Low Profile)
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75%
K3 Pro (Low Profile)
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80% TKL
K1 Pro (Low Profile)
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80% TKL
K13 Pro (Numpad)
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96%
K17 Pro (Low Profile)
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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 

7.7
8.2

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
10

Latency 
 

7.0
8.3

Backlighting 
 

9.1
10

Operating Force 
 

44 gf
57 gf

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Top Picture
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (75%)
TenKeyLess (80%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.2 cm)
1.7" (4.3 cm)

Width  

12.4" (31.6 cm)
14.1" (35.8 cm)

Depth 
 

5.0" (12.7 cm)
5.1" (13.0 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.74 lbs (0.787 kg)
2.95 lbs (1.336 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Build Quality Close Up
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
PBT

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.0

Side Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Side Picture
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

Straight
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

6.5°

Medium Incline 
 

8.5°

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
10.5°

Home Row Height 
 

35.5 mm (1.4")

Wrist Rest  

No

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

10

Customizability Overview  

Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Screw-in

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

5-pin Cherry

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

No

Show text

Backlight Features 
 

9.1
10

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Backlighting Picture
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Brightness Max
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Brightness Min
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

Keychron K2 (Version 2) White Shot
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] White Shot

RGB 
 

Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

No
Yes

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Poor

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

4.0

White Shot  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) White Shot
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] White Shot

Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wireless

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

3.9 ft (1.2 m)
3.9 ft (1.2 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C

Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

10
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
3

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
Rechargeable

Show text

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

4.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes

Show text

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Extra Features
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Bundle Picture
Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

9.0
4.3

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

55.9 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

Yes

Noise 
 

Quiet

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Gateron Brown
Gateron G Pro Blue

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Clicky

Analog 
 

No

Show text

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Brown
Gateron G Pro Blue

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Clicky

Operating Force 
 

44 gf
57 gf

Actuation Force 
 

36 gf
43 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.3 mm
2.3 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.0 mm
4.5 mm

Show text

Latency 
 

7.0
8.3

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

15.7 ms
9.8 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

25.3 ms
19.9 ms

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.0
8.3

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

9.8 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±1.0 ms

Wired 
 

15.7 ms
9.8 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

25.3 ms
19.9 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

6.6 ms

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

9.9 ms

Key Release 
 

12.9 ms

Show text

Data Transmission 
 

8.2

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.] Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

No

Show text

Chord Split 
 

8.8

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

3.3 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

10.8 ms

Show text

Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
VIA

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

No
Yes

Profiles 
 

No Profile
6+

Account Required 
 

No Software

Cloud Sync 
 

No

Macro Programming 
 

No

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software

Show text

Computer Compatibility 
 

9.2
10

Windows 
 

Full
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Full
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

Full
Fully Compatible

iOS  

Partial
Fully Compatible

iPadOS  

Partial
Fully Compatible

Show text

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

10

Android 
 

Full
Fully Compatible

iOS 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Android, iPhone & iPad

Show text

Check Price

Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
100%
K5 Pro (Low Profile)
Searching
Finding store
 
60%
K9 Pro (Low Profile)
Searching
Finding store
 
65%
K7 Pro (Low Profile)
Searching
Finding store
 
75%
K3 Pro (Low Profile)
Searching
Finding store
 
80% TKL
K1 Pro (Low Profile)
Searching
Finding store
 
80% TKL
K13 Pro (Numpad)
Searching
Finding store
 
 
96%
K17 Pro (Low Profile)
Searching
Finding store

Keychron K2 (Version 2)

Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.]

Comments

  1. Comparison

Keychron K2 (Version 2) vs Keychron K8 Pro [K2 Pro, K3 Pro, K4 Pro, etc.]: Main Discussion

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