Keychron K2 Max vs Keychron K2 HE
Updated
Keychron · 75%
Keychron K2 Max
£119.99List priceWhere to buy
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Keychron · 75%
Keychron K2 HE
£137List priceWhere to buy
ADWe earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change the price you pay. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Which to pick
Both are Keychron's K2 shape: a compact 75% with no knob, wireless over Bluetooth or a 2.4 GHz receiver as well as a cable, with aluminium frames on the versions we list. UK prices are close: £119.99 for the Max, and about £137 for the HE, though the HE figure comes from launch coverage rather than Keychron's own store.
The K2 Max uses mechanical Keychron Super switches in hot-swap sockets, so you can fit almost any MX-style switch later. It's the one for typing, office work and anyone who wants to experiment with switches.
The K2 HE uses Gateron magnetic switches with adjustable actuation and rapid trigger, and it's one of the cheaper ways to get those features in a Keychron. Its sockets only take compatible magnetic switches. Pick it if games are a big part of what you'll use it for.
Specifications side by side
10 rows differ
| Spec | Keychron K2 Max | Keychron K2 HE |
|---|---|---|
| Price (differs) | £119.99List price | £137List price |
| Sound (editorial) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Version (differs) | Max | HE |
| Size | 75% | 75% |
| Layouts | ANSI / ISO | ANSI / ISO |
| Keys (differs) | 84 | Not listed |
| Switch options (differs) | Keychron Super Red, Keychron Super Brown, Keychron Super Banana | Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula Switch |
| Switch type (differs) | Mechanical | Hall-effect (magnetic) |
| Hot-swap | Yes | Yes |
| Connection | Wired (USB-C), Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz dongle | Wired (USB-C), Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz dongle |
| Battery (differs) | 4,000 mAh | Not listed |
| Polling rate (differs) | 1,000 Hz | Not listed |
| Case | Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Mounting | Other | Other |
| Keycaps (differs) | PBT, OSA profile, doubleshot | PBT, Other profile, doubleshot |
| Software (differs) | QMK | QMK, VIA |
| Lighting | Per-key RGB | Per-key RGB |
| Weight (differs) | 1.08 kg | Not listed |
Prices are list prices unless marked as a live price. Check the retailer before you buy. Sound tags are our summary of what owners and reviewers report, not measurements. Add a third keyboard
Guides
- Buying a magnetic (Hall-effect) keyboardWhat to check before buying a Hall-effect keyboard: who it helps, switch lock-in, software, polling rate, UK layouts and current prices.
- Wireless mechanical keyboards: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and battery lifeBluetooth or a 2.4 GHz dongle, what battery figures mean, latency for gaming, and which wireless boards in our catalogue suit which desk.
More comparisons
Sources
Specs come from our catalogue, which records where each fact was read:
- keychron.com/products/keychron-k2-max-qmk-wireless-mechanical-keyboard
- keychron.uk/products/keychron-k2-max-qmk-wireless-mechanical-keyboard-iso-layout-collection
- keychron.com/products/keychron-k2-he-wireless-magnetic-switch-keyboard
- techpowerup.com/334667/keychron-launches-the-k2-he-and-k3-max-wireless-mechanical-keyboards-with-uk-iso-layout