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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. 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 K2 HE

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K2 (Version 2)
Keychron K2 HE

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 27, 2023 08:47 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Mar 31, 2025 06:51 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K2 (Version 2) Picture
Keychron K2 HE Picture
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (75%)
Mechanical
Yes
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (75%)
Switch Type
Magnetic
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes

Variants

  • K2 (Version 2) (Dark Gray)
  • K2 HE (Black (Special Edition ISO))
  • K2 HE (Black (Special Edition))
  • K2 HE (Black (Standard Edition))
  • K2 HE (White (Special Edition))

Review

See Keychron K2 (Version 2) Review
See Keychron K2 HE Review
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0 

Our Verdict

Keychron K2 (Version 2)

Keychron K2 HE

The Keychron K2 HE and the Keychron K2 (Version 2) are wireless models with the same compact 75% layout, but the K2 HE has significantly better raw gaming performance and uses Hall effect switches that allow you to customize the actuation distance of individual keys. Comparatively, the K2 (Version 2) is a much more straightforward model with mechanical switches. It isn't designed for competitive gaming and is much better suited for productivity and everyday desktop use.

0 

Check Price

Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black (Special Edition ISO)
K2 HE
Searching
Finding store
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black (Special Edition)
K2 HE
Searching
Finding store
 
Black (Standard Edition)
K2 HE
Searching
Finding store
 
White (Special Edition)
K2 HE
Searching
Finding store
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.7
8.5

Pre-Travel 
 

2.3 mm
0.5 mm

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
9.4

Latency 
 

7.0
9.0

Backlighting 
 

9.1
10

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

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

Size 
 

Compact (75%)
Compact (75%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.2 cm)
1.6" (4.0 cm)

Width  

12.4" (31.6 cm)
12.5" (31.7 cm)

Depth 
 

5.0" (12.7 cm)
5.0" (12.7 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.74 lbs (0.787 kg)
2.10 lbs (0.952 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

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

Keycap Material  

ABS
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.0

Side Picture  

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

Curved/Angled 
 

Straight
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

6.5°
5°

Medium Incline 
 

8.5°
9.3°

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
12.3°

Home Row Height 
 

31.2 mm (1.2")

Wrist Rest  

No
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

7.6

Customizability Overview  

Keychron K2 HE Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Screw-in

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Non-Customizable Design

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

9.1
10

Backlighting Picture  

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

Brightness Max  

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

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

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

White Shot 
 

Keychron K2 (Version 2) White Shot
Keychron K2 HE 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 
 

8.0

White Shot  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) White Shot
Keychron K2 HE 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)
5.9 ft (1.8 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
Yes

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 K2 HE 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
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

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

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

9.0
9.3

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

43.3 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Quiet
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Gateron Brown
Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula

Switch Type 
 

Magnetic

Feel 
 

Tactile
Linear

Analog 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

Gateron Brown
Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Linear

Operating Force 
 

44 gf
41 gf

Actuation Force 
 

36 gf
41 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.3 mm
0.5 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.0 mm
3.9 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.0
9.0

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

15.7 ms
3.4 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
5.6 ms

Latency Bluetooth 
 

25.3 ms
9.9 ms
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.0
9.0

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

3.4 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.6 ms

Wired 
 

15.7 ms
3.4 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
5.6 ms

Bluetooth 
 

25.3 ms
9.9 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.9

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

3.4 ms

Key Release 
 

6.2 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

8.2

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Keychron K2 HE 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 
 

7.4

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

7.5 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

9.5 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Keychron K2 (Version 2) Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
Keychron Launcher

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

No
Yes

Profiles 
 

No Profile
3

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

Check Price

Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black (Special Edition ISO)
K2 HE
Searching
Finding store
Dark Gray
K2 (Version 2)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black (Special Edition)
K2 HE
Searching
Finding store
 
Black (Standard Edition)
K2 HE
Searching
Finding store
 
White (Special Edition)
K2 HE
Searching
Finding store
Back to Top

Keychron K2 (Version 2)

Keychron K2 HE

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 3 months ago

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

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