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  1. Home
  2. Keyboard
  3. Compare
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Backlighting
    5. Cable & Connector
    6. Wireless Versatility
    7. Extra Features
    8. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Keystrokes
    2. Typing Quality
    3. Typing Noise
    4. Latency
  6. Software and Operating System
    1. Software & Programming
    2. Keyboard Compatibility
  7. Comments

Keychron K2 (Version 2) vs Keychron K12

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K2 (Version 2)
Keychron K12

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 27, 2023 08:47 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 30, 2022 09:08 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K2 (Version 2) Picture
Keychron K12 Picture
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (75%)
Mechanical
Yes
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (60%)
Mechanical
Yes

Variants

  • K2 (Version 2) (Dark Gray)
  • K12 (Black)

Review

See Keychron K2 (Version 2) Review
See Keychron K12 Review
0 
1 

Our Verdict

Keychron K2 (Version 2)

Keychron K12

The Keychron K2 (Version 2) and the Keychron K12 are very similar wireless mechanical boards, but the K2 is a 75% board with a dedicated F-row and navigation keys, while the K12 is a 60% compact board. The K2 is available with white backlighting or RGB backlighting, and it's available with Gateron Red, Blue, or Brown switches. On the other hand, the K12 is available with the same K2 options, but it's also available with no backlighting at all, and it has more switch options, including Keychron mechanical and optical switches, as well as in a hot-swappable variant.

0 

Check Price

Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K12
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
K12
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEARCH
B&H
Black
K12
SEARCH
B&H
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
Black
K12
SEARCH
BestBuy.com

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.7
7.5

Pre-Travel 
 

2.3 mm
2.6 mm

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Top Picture
Keychron K12 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (75%)
Compact (60%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.2 cm)
1.5" (3.9 cm)

Width  

12.4" (31.6 cm)
11.7" (29.8 cm)

Depth 
 

5.0" (12.7 cm)
4.2" (10.7 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.74 lbs (0.787 kg)
1.47 lbs (0.667 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Build Quality Close Up
Keychron K12 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.5

Side Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Side Picture
Keychron K12 Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

6.5°
4°

Medium Incline 
 

8.5°
6°

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
10°

Wrist Rest  

No
No
Show Text 

Backlighting 
 

9.1
9.3

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Backlighting Picture
Keychron K12 Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

Keychron K2 (Version 2) White Shot
Keychron K12 White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Brightness Max
Keychron K12 Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Brightness Min
Keychron K12 Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB
RGB

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

Poor
Ok

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Programmable 
 

No
No
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)
4.0 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 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Extra Features
Keychron K12 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Hot Keys

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
No

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Wheel  

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Bundle Picture
Keychron K12 Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Brown
Gateron Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

44 gf
44 gf

Actuation Force 
 

36 gf
36 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.3 mm
2.6 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.0 mm
4.0 mm
Show Text 

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.0
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

Noise 
 

Quiet
Quiet
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.0
7.3

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

15.7 ms
11.7 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

25.3 ms
22.9 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
0.0

Software Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Software Picture
Keychron K12 Software Picture

Software Name  

No Software
No Software

Account Required 
 

No Software
No Software

Profiles 
 

No Profile
No Profile

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

Cloud Sync 
 

No
No

Macro Programming 
 

No
No

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

9.2
8.5

Windows  

Full
Full

macOS  

Full
Partial

Linux  

Partial
Partial

Android  

Full
Partial

iOS  

Partial
Partial

iPadOS  

Partial
Partial
Show Text 

Check Price

Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K12
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
K12
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEARCH
B&H
Black
K12
SEARCH
B&H
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
Black
K12
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
Back to Top

Keychron K2 (Version 2)

Keychron K12

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Keychron K2 (Version 2) vs Keychron K12: Main Discussion

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