1.   Try searching by:
    1. Category (Best $100 Headphones, Best 50 Inch TVs, …)
    2. Brand (Sony, Samsung, LG, Bose, …)
    3. Model (S405, QC 35 II, …)
    4. Etc...
Get insider access
Get insider access
Preferred store
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Best
Gaming Keyboards Mechanical Wireless Ergonomic iPad Typing Mac Budget Gaming Programming Budget And Cheap Office Keychron Budget Mechanical Razer Logitech Low-Profile 60% Quiet TKL
Tools
Compare Table Review List Review Index Graph Custom Ratings
Popular
Wooting 80HE NuPhy Field75 HE Logitech MX Keys S Keychron Q5 Max [Q1 Max, Q2 Max, etc.] NuPhy Air75 V2 [Air60 V2, Air96 V2] Lemokey P1 HE Keychron V5 Max [V1 Max, V2 Max, etc.] Keychron K5 Max [K1 Max, K3 Max, etc.] AULA F99/F75 Razer Huntsman Mini Logitech MX Mechanical Corsair K100 AIR Keychron K2 HE Corsair K70 RGB TKL Logitech G515 LIGHTSPEED TKL Logitech G715 ASUS ROG Azoth Logitech G915 X LIGHTSPEED Razer Huntsman V2 Razer Huntsman V3 Pro [Mini, TKL]
257
Keyboards bought and tested
Supported by you via insider access, and when you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Driven by data, run by a passionate team of engineers, testers, technical writers, developers, and more.
We are hiring!
  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 K8 vs Keychron Q2

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Keychron K8
Keychron Q2

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Apr 15, 2024 12:27 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Sep 23, 2022 06:05 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Keychron K8 Picture
Keychron Q2 Picture
ConnectivityWireless
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Mechanical
Yes
ConnectivityWired
Size
Compact (65%)
Mechanical
Yes

Variants

  • K8 (Dark Gray)
  • Q2 (Carbon Black)
  • Q2 (Navy Blue)
  • Q2 (Silver Grey)

Review

See Keychron K8 Review
See Keychron Q2 Review
2 
0 

Our Verdict

Keychron K8

Keychron Q2

The Keychron K8 and the Keychron Q2 are mechanical keyboards with different features. The K8 is a TKL board with a wireless connection, while the Q2 is a compact 65% wired-only board. Unlike most Keychron offerings, the Q2 has companion software to remap keys, and since it's wired, it has a switch at the top to toggle between Windows and macOS modes.

0 

Check Price

Dark Gray
K8
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Carbon Black
Q2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K8
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Navy Blue
Q2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K8
SEARCH
B&H
Silver Grey
Q2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K8
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.7
8.5

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
All

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
9.6

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
2.6 mm

Windows  

Partial
Full

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Keychron K8 Top Picture
Keychron Q2 Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
Compact (65%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.3 cm)
1.7" (4.4 cm)

Width  

14.1" (35.8 cm)
12.9" (32.7 cm)

Depth 
 

5.1" (13.0 cm)
4.8" (12.1 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.98 lbs (0.900 kg)
3.68 lbs (1.671 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
9.0

Build Quality Close Up  

Keychron K8 Build Quality Close Up
Keychron Q2 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.0

Side Picture  

Keychron K8 Side Picture
Keychron Q2 Side Picture

Board Design 
 

Straight
Straight

Minimum Incline 
 

4°
6.5°

Medium Incline 
 

8°
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

12°
N/A

Wrist Rest  

No
No
Show Text 

Backlighting 
 

9.3
9.6

Backlighting Picture  

Keychron K8 Backlighting Picture
Keychron Q2 Backlighting Picture

White Shot 
 

Keychron K8 White Shot
Keychron Q2 White Shot

Brightness Max 
 

Keychron K8 Brightness Max
Keychron Q2 Brightness Max

Brightness Min 
 

Keychron K8 Brightness Min
Keychron Q2 Brightness Min

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB
RGB

Individually Backlit Keys 
 

Yes
Yes

Color Mixing 
 

Ok
Poor

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Programmable 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Wired

Detachable 
 

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

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
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
No Batteries
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Keychron K8 Extra Features
Keychron Q2 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Hot Keys

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

No
All

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Wheel  

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
No Indicator
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Keychron K8 Bundle Picture
Keychron Q2 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 G Pro Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes
Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

45 gf
55 gf

Actuation Force 
 

34 gf
39 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
2.6 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.1 mm
4.1 mm
Show Text 

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.5
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

Typing Sample  

Noise 
 

Quiet
Very Quiet
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.4
7.3

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

11.0 ms
11.6 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

22.9 ms
N/A
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Software & Programming 
 

0.0
9.6

Software Picture  

Keychron K8 Software Picture
Keychron Q2 Software Picture

Software Name  

No Software
VIA

Account Required 
 

No Software
No

Profiles 
 

No Profile
6+

Onboard Memory 
 

No
Yes

Cloud Sync 
 

No
No

Macro Programming 
 

No
Software

Ease Of Use 
 

No Software
Easy

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

7.9
8.2

Windows  

Partial
Full

macOS  

Partial
Full

Linux  

Partial
Full

Android  

Partial
No

iOS  

Partial
No

iPadOS  

Partial
No
Show Text 

Check Price

Dark Gray
K8
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Carbon Black
Q2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K8
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Navy Blue
Q2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K8
SEARCH
B&H
Silver Grey
Q2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Dark Gray
K8
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 
Back to Top

Keychron K8

Keychron Q2

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Keychron K8 vs Keychron Q2: 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.

Follow Discussion0 followingSee All Computer Peripherals DiscussionsCopy link
0 
PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones
We make money directly from you via insider access (which gives you access to extra features) and when you buy a product after clicking a link to a retailer. Learn more about how we work.
We buy our own products, just like you, mostly from the United States. When a product is discontinued or no longer popular, we sell the review units locally. You can see what products we currently have for sale here.
© 2025 9298-5266 Quebec Inc. All Rights Reserved. Visit our corporate site.