Get insider access
Preferred store
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
  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 K4 vs Keychron K12

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K4
Keychron K12

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 15, 2023 09:40 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 30, 2022 09:08 PM

Amazon.com
Keychron K4 Picture
Keychron K12 Picture

Variants

  • K4 (Black)
  • K12 (Black)

Our Verdict

Keychron K4

Keychron K12

The Keychron K4 is a 96% size board, while the Keychron K12 is a 60% compact board. The K4 has a Numpad and dedicated navigation keys. It's available with Gateron Red, Brown, Blue, and Yellow switches, as well as LK Optical Brown, Blue, and Red switches. On the other hand, the K12 is very compact and comes with more switch options, including Gateron, Keychron mechanical, and Keychron optical switches. Both boards have hot-swappable variants.

0 

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.7
7.5

Pre-Travel 
 

1.9 mm
2.6 mm

Operating Force 
 

58 gf
44 gf

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K4 Top Picture
Keychron K12 Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (96%)
Compact (60%)

Height 
 

1.5" (3.7 cm)
1.5" (3.9 cm)

Width  

14.6" (37.1 cm)
11.7" (29.8 cm)

Depth 
 

4.9" (12.5 cm)
4.2" (10.7 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.69 lbs (0.765 kg)
1.47 lbs (0.667 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K4 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron K12 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.5

Side Picture  

Keychron K4 Side Picture
Keychron K12 Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

Medium Incline 
 

N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

10°

Wrist Rest  

No
No
Show Text 

Backlighting 
 

8.9
9.3

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K4 Backlighting Picture
Keychron K12 Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

Keychron K4 White Shot
Keychron K12 White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

Keychron K4 Brightness Max
Keychron K12 Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

Keychron K4 Brightness Min
Keychron K12 Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

White
RGB

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

White Only
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  

3.8 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 K4 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  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

No Indicator
Caps Lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K4 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 
 

LK Optical Brown
Gateron Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

58 gf
44 gf

Actuation Force 
 

57 gf
36 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.9 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 
 

7.4
7.3

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

11.1 ms
11.7 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

23.3 ms
22.9 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
0.0

Software Picture  

Keychron K4 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 
 

9.1
8.5

Windows  

Full
Full

macOS  

Full
Partial

Linux  

Partial
Partial

Android  

Partial
Partial

iOS  

Partial
Partial

iPadOS  

Partial
Partial
Show Text 

Keychron K4

Keychron K12

Comments

  1. Comparison

Keychron K4 vs Keychron K12: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones