KeychronK4 HE 96% Wireless RGB Hall Effect Keyboard, Gateron Magnetic Switch, Analog Mode & Rapid Trigger, QMK/VIA, 2.4GHz/BT5.2/USB-C, Multitasker for Mac/Windows/Linux, Wood Accent Frame - Black

The media could not be loaded. Edit: I swapped for the Standard Edition and much prefer those keys (very distinct difference, not just RGB) over the Special Edition.***Pros:***- Deep, thocky sound profile right out of the box (no spring ping or echoing)- Easy-to-use web-based utility to customize keyboard in nearly every way (review video for a walkthrough of all the options on the Keychron Launcher)- Multiple connectivity options (Bluetooth, wired, wireless)- Low latency and 1000hz polling is on par with competitors (8,000hz is imperceptible)- Hall Effect (Precise customization of actuation, Rapid Trigger, quad-actuation per keypress, analog keys, greater key longevity - review options on the Keychron Launcher video I uploaded).- RGB - while opaque on the Special Edition, the keys are actually more visible thanks to the white font on the PBT caps, even in the dark with the PC screen partially illuminating the top of the keys- Premium build quality with built in sound-dampening foam (under the key plate, spacebar, etc).- Functionality of a full size keyboard in a more compact style- Phenomenal value for a premium build Hall Effect keyboard- Reliable battery life- Multi-OS support (MacOS out of the box, with spare keys for Windows users)- Easily swap between actuation/keyboard profiles for gaming/productivity to prevent typing errors and improve response times- Actuation force (40g) increases as you press down, giving a feeling of great feedback for the hall effect features (quad-actuation, analog)- Right-angle USB cable is included and can be plugged into a monitor that supports it without sacrificing speed.***Cons:***- Two keys have a scratchy feel to them that I haven't been able to resolve by relubricating yet. This is likely from unequal lubricant distribution from the factory (all keys come pre-lubricated)- Analog keys are difficult to use in-game and doesn't seem to be a widely supported feature yet- The layout is a little awkward with the numpad being mixed with the arrow keys. In terms of a layout comparison, the ROG Scope II 96 Wireless has a superior design for the same amount of space. The following keys have a notch on them to feel where you are on the keyboard: F, J, up arrow, numpad 5.- Magnetic switches aren't as customizable as other non-hall effect mechanical keyboards (doesn't matter to me since I appreciate the switches it comes with as they feel better than all others I've tried).- Keyboard sits higher up and doesn't come with a wrist rest. Widths of available wrist rests to match the precise width of the keyboard is difficult to find.- "Boxed in" casing makes cleaning slightly more challenging than other boards.***Comparison of contenders:***Corsair K70 (Cherry Red) - ⭐:The most hollow, low quality keyboard I've tried for a premium price. Loud spring ping and sound profile are among the worst I've heard.Keychron Q5 Pro - ⭐⭐:Heaviest, best build quality of any keyboard I've tried - though lacks versatility and is purely made for productivity (which is beat or matched by more affordable alternatives). Key height was awkward and there was nothing special about it.ROG Scope II 96 Wireless (Storm) - ⭐⭐⭐:Switches were too loud. Swapped for silent browns and while they were quiet and sounded better, they felt scratchy. Similar pros/cons as the Snow variant below.ROG Scope II 96 Wireless (Snow) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐:This is the only board I've tried that came close to matching the K4 HE. The sound profile was creamy, no spring ping (would need a spacebar mod), premium build quality, though it lacked all of the hall effect features at a higher price point and was more prone to typing errors with the lighter keys. Easy to clean and water resistant. There is also a known reported issue of keys seizing to work on different connection modes, indicating possible firmware issues. Armoury Crate is an atrocious disaster to work with and attempts to install non-essential bloatware.Keychron K4 HE - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐:In terms of productivity, gaming performance, sound profile, customization, and ease-of-use web-based software, the Keychron K4 HE checks all the boxes and comes out on top over all others that I've tried.

Just got this thing a few days ago, have been interested in trying a HE keyboard for a while and between the looks (my desk and computer case have the same black + wood aesthetic) and it keeping the numpad decided to give this one a shot.I did not expect how much better this would feel and sound than my 9 year old corsair K70 keyboard that I've been using. This keyboard sounds incredible, all those fancy words people use like thocky or marbley or what have you. Its quieter in general and just pleasant sound and feels wise right out of the box.I haven't messed with the settings a ton. I immediately dropped the actuating point to 1mm and rapid trigger to .2 just to see if I'd notice and have just been trying to get used to the keyboard like you would with any new keyboard. It feels very natural but noticeably more responsive. It kind of reminds me of typing on the browns of my old keyboard where the "tactile bump" would let me know the key actuated, except in this case the actuation point is so much higher that just contacting the key enough for a deliberate press is basically the same thing.I'm not trying to type differently, just trying to get used to the slightly different layout like you would with any new keyboard and I can already tell I'm bottoming out less.Its crazy to think that this keyboard is only slightly more expensive than my old keyboard for how much higher quality it is and how much better it sounds along with the new tech.For my own gripes, its kinda crazy to me that print screen isn't a default button.I really disliked that numlock by default is backlit a different color when you're able to use the numpad. I saw people saying you can swap the behavior in the software for some of the keyboards but I couldn't find it for this one.Last thing is the smaller 0 on the numpad is tough to get used to, I definitely press more to the left on the normal wider 0 most of the time which I didn't appreciate until it was smaller.I did solve all of those issues by just rebinding keys in a way that works for me. I made the top right RBG toggle print screen, I rebound the numpad to the number row keys so I could keep the numlock light off, and I made what is by default right arrow into another 0 key so both of those keys work as 0 and sometimes I end up pressing either... and then I shifted the arrow keys over since I never use right control or right shift normally. YMMV on what works for you there but that pretty much solved my issues.Would recommend, really happy I decided to pull the trigger on this.

This is a solid keyboard, not only in build but performance. It has a great tactile feel and the sound is fantastic. It did take some getting used to with the amount of downforce required compared to my last board (HyperX with HX Aqua switches).I don't take full advantage of the HE features (different key press depths to do different things (mostly for gaming)), but plan to setup some macros soon.The quality of the build is quite remarkable for the price; it's sturdy. The RGB is good, but limited (28 schemes) by what's available in the web-based QMK configuration tool, Launcher. Launcher has a lot of customization options. A lot.The 96% layout is a bit crammed together, as expected when you stuff a 10-key into a space not much larger than a board without.I use it wired, even though the USB cable that comes with it is pretty short, so I can't comment on Bluetooth performance or battery life.All-in-all, I'm very happy with this purchase and can recommend it to anyone looking for a solid build, fast-typing (improved my speed by about 8%), great-looking, great-sounding keyboard.Highly Recommended!

This is a great keyboard and has a lot of features. The quality is excellent. I’ve had no connectivity issues. The feel is really great. My only issue is that maybe I can’t feel the difference between actuation point that strongly.