Keychron K2 HE vs Keychron K8 HE

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K2 HE compared with K8 HE

	KeychronK2 HE	KeychronK8 HE
Overview
Released
Released	August 2024	May 2025
Typing
Layout
Layout	Compact	Tenkeyless
Switches
Switches	Magnetic (Hall effect)	Magnetic (Hall effect)
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	Pre-lubed Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula switches with a TMR sensor under each key; hot-swappable with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches only; actuation adjustable from 0.2 to 3.8 mm with 0.1 mm sensitivity
Keycaps
Keycaps	Cherry-profile double-shot PBT, shine-through (Standard Version); OSA-profile double-shot PBT, not shine-through (Special Edition)	Cherry-profile double-shot PBT, shine-through (Standard Version); OSA-profile double-shot PBT, not shine-through (Special Edition)
Layouts
Layouts	75%; ANSI (keychron.com); UK, German, Nordic and Swiss ISO (ISO Layout Collection; UK ISO on keychron.uk)	80% TKL; ANSI (keychron.com); a Japanese JIS version is also sold
Backlight
Backlight	North-facing RGB LEDs	North-facing RGB LEDs
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	Rapid Trigger; four-in-one Dynamic Keystrokes; Last Keystroke Prioritization and Snap Click; 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 110 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 at 125 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; up to 110 hours (Keychron's lab tests; Keychron doesn't say with what backlight setting)
Works with
Works with	macOS, Windows and Linux	Windows, macOS 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 actuation, Rapid Trigger, key remapping and lighting
Design
Weight
Weight	980 g (better)	1185 g
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	316.4 × 126.7 × 40.7 mm	359.2 × 129.2 × 41 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°	359.2 × 129.2 mm, about 1,185 g (Standard Version); 363.2 × 129.2 mm, about 1,162 g (Special Edition); 34.3 mm high at the front and 41.0 mm at the back with keycaps; typing angles of 5°, 9.34° and 12.43°
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	Aluminium body (aluminium and wood on the Special Edition); ABS bottom case; aluminium plate; screw-in PCB stabilisers
Colours
Colours	Black (Standard Version); Black or White with wood sides (Special Edition)	Black (Standard Version); Black or White with wood sides (Special Edition)