Keychron K2 HE vs Keychron K2 Max

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

K2 HE compared with K2 Max

	KeychronK2 HE	KeychronK2 Max
Overview
Released
Released	August 2024	July 2024
Typing
Layout
Layout	Compact	Compact
Switches
Switches	Magnetic (Hall effect)	Mechanical
Backlight
Backlight	RGB	RGB
Keys labelled for
Keys labelled for	Mac, Windows and more	Mac, Windows and more
Touch ID
Touch ID	No	No
Switches
Switches	Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula switches, in Version 1 (TMR sensors; takes only Gateron double-rail magnetic switches) or Version 2 (also takes Keychron Ultra-fast Lime magnetic switches); hot-swappable; actuation adjustable from 0.2 to 3.8 mm with 0.1 mm sensitivity	Keychron Super mechanical switches (Red, Brown or Banana), rated for 50 million clicks; south-facing; hot-swappable version accepts almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches
Keycaps
Keycaps	Cherry-profile double-shot PBT, shine-through (Standard Version); OSA-profile double-shot PBT, not shine-through (Special Edition)	Double-shot PBT, OSA profile; extra keycaps for Windows and macOS
Layouts
Layouts	75%; ANSI (keychron.com); UK, German, Nordic and Swiss ISO (ISO Layout Collection; UK ISO on keychron.uk)	84 keys (75%); ANSI (keychron.com); UK, Nordic, German and Swiss ISO (ISO Layout Collection; UK ISO on keychron.uk)
Backlight
Backlight	North-facing RGB LEDs	South-facing RGB with 22 effects, adjustable hue, saturation, brightness and speed; a white-backlight version is also sold
Special keys
Special keys	Rapid Trigger; four-in-one Dynamic Keystrokes; Last Keystroke Prioritization and Snap Click; gamepad analog mode; N-key rollover wireless and wired	12 multimedia keys; Mac/Windows system toggle that keeps a separate layout for each; N-key rollover wireless and wired
Connections and battery
Connects by
Connects by	Bluetooth, USB receiver and Cable	Bluetooth, USB receiver and Cable
Devices it switches between
Devices it switches between	3	3
Power
Power	Rechargeable	Rechargeable
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 110 hours	Up to 190 hours
Receiver
Receiver	2.4 GHz USB receiver at 1,000 Hz polling; Bluetooth 5.2 at 125 Hz to up to three devices; USB-C wired at 1,000 Hz	2.4 GHz USB receiver at 1,000 Hz polling; Bluetooth 5.2 (spec table; the page text says 5.1) at 90 Hz to up to three devices; USB-C wired at 1,000 Hz
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	4,000 mAh lithium-polymer battery; up to 110 hours (Keychron's lab tests; Keychron doesn't say with what backlight setting)	4,000 mAh lithium-polymer battery; around 190 hours with the backlight off and around 100 hours with RGB at its lowest brightness (Keychron's lab tests)
Works with
Works with	macOS, Windows and Linux	macOS, Windows and Linux
Software
Software	QMK firmware; Keychron Launcher web app for actuation, Rapid Trigger, key remapping and lighting	QMK firmware; Keychron Launcher web app for key remapping and macros
Design
Weight
Weight	980 g	940 g (better)
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	316.4 × 126.7 × 40.7 mm	311.54 × 121.54 × 41.54 mm
Size
Size	316.4 × 126.7 mm, 980 g (Standard Version); 320.5 × 126.7 mm, 965 g (Special Edition); 30.2 mm high at the front and 40.7 mm at the back with keycaps; typing angles of 5°, 9.34° and 12.43°	311.54 × 121.54 mm (plastic frame), 940 g; 316.62 × 126.56 mm (aluminium frame), 1,080 g; height with keycaps 32.06 mm at the front, 41.54 mm at the rear; typing angles of 5°, 9° and 12°
Materials
Materials	Aluminium body (aluminium and wood on the Special Edition); ABS bottom case; aluminium plate; screw-in PCB stabilisers; EVA foam, EPDM and PET films, silicone acoustic pad	ABS or ABS and aluminium frame; steel plate; IXPE, PET and EPDM foams
Colours
Colours	Black (Standard Version); Black or White with wood sides (Special Edition)	Black, White (keychron.com)