I recently picked up the Keychron K2 HE Special Edition in black, featuring rosewood accent panels. After using it as part of my Mac-based desk setup for the past couple of months, I can confidently say it’s been a dream to use. The Hall Effect magnetic switches feel incredibly smooth, and I love the mid-century-inspired design, which is a perfect fit for my workspace.
This has now officially replaced my NuPhy Air75 V2 as my daily driver—and without a doubt, it’s the best keyboard I’ve owned so far. In this review, I’ll break down exactly why.
Specs
So in terms of specs the Keychron K2 HE is a compact 75% keyboard, making it a versatile choice for both desk and mobile setups. Its relatively small footprint also makes it a practical option for travel.
This is a full-profile keyboard, but as a Mac user who’s mostly used to low-profile keyboards, I’ve found it surprisingly easy to adapt to.
This versatile product is compatible with Mac, PC, Linux, iOS, and Android. It offers wireless connectivity via Bluetooth or 2.4GHz using the included USB receiver, with the ability to connect up to three devices simultaneously over Bluetooth.
Inside The Box
Inside the box we get the manual and quick-start guide, some extra keycaps so you can switch between Mac and PC layouts, a USB receiver, a keycap puller, and a USB-C to A charging cable.
Design
The design of the K2 HE is one of its standout features, embracing a classic mid-century aesthetic that feels refreshingly refined compared to the often flashy, gamer-centric look of many other mechanical keyboards.
On the left side, you’ll find a USB-C port along with switches to toggle between Mac and PC modes, as well as wired and wireless connectivity.
Build quality is impressively solid—the keyboard has a reassuring heft, weighing in at around 2.2 lbs. Aside from the rosewood accent panels, the chassis is constructed from aluminium and high-quality plastics, giving it a premium feel.
The keycaps are made from double-shot PBT plastic with a subtly textured finish, enhancing both durability and typing comfort. The fixed fold-out feet provide two incline options so you can find your preferred typing angle.
Typing Experience
Typing on the Hall Effect magnetic switches is an incredibly smooth and refined experience. There’s a soft, almost bouncy feel to each keystroke, with a subtle dampening that makes typing on this keyboard far more satisfying than the mechanical switches on my NuPhy Air75, which now feels a bit crude by comparison.
That’s not to say the NuPhy isn’t a great keyboard for the price—it absolutely is. But the K2 HE delivers a more polished typing experience, along with superior design and build quality.
Right out of the box, the K2 HE offers excellent accuracy and precision for everyday productivity. The default actuation point feels just right for me—I love that I don’t need to press deeply for keystrokes to register.
Of course, if you prefer, you can fine-tune the actuation distance using the Keychron Launcher web app. Since I primarily use this as an office keyboard, I haven’t explored this much, but for PC gamers, there are some great features, including dynamic keystrokes and rapid triggers.
Battery Life
Battery life has been excellent, the K2 HE sports a 4,000 milliampere battery size and can last up to 72 hours with the backlight on, or 240 hours with it off, this is according to the official Keychron website.
In my real world experience so far, I’ve found I need to charge the keyboard around every three weeks, which is pretty good going. However please note this is with the backlight mostly turned off.
Final Thoughts
So to conclude, the Keychron K2 HE is an outstanding keyboard that offers high performance for both office and gaming use cases. It combines a premium, mature design with ultra-smooth magnetic switches, excellent build quality, and solid battery life.
Its compact size also make it a a viable option for commuting and travel. All things considered, I don’t think you’ll find a better keyboard at this price point. At around $140, the K2 HE offers fantastic value for money—and for me, it’s easily my go-to keyboard for the foreseeable future.
Note: this page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.