Keychron K2 HE vs Keychron Q2 Max

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K2 HE compared with Q2 Max

	KeychronK2 HE	KeychronQ2 Max
Overview
Released
Released	August 2024	January 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	Gateron Jupiter switches (Red, Brown or Banana); hot-swappable; screw-in PCB stabilisers
Keycaps
Keycaps	Cherry-profile double-shot PBT, shine-through (Standard Version); OSA-profile double-shot PBT, not shine-through (Special Edition)	KSA-profile double-shot PBT, not shine-through; keycaps for Mac and Windows
Layouts
Layouts	75%; ANSI (keychron.com); UK, German, Nordic and Swiss ISO (ISO Layout Collection; UK ISO on keychron.uk)	65% with a knob; ANSI (keychron.com); UK ISO (keychron.uk)
Backlight
Backlight	North-facing RGB LEDs	South-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	Programmable rotary knob; 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 180 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 5.1 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; up to 180 hours with the backlight off and up to 100 hours with RGB at its lowest brightness
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 with VIA and the Keychron Launcher web app
Design
Weight
Weight	980 g (better)	1528 g
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	316.4 × 126.7 × 40.7 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°	327 × 121 mm; 21 mm high at the front and 34.8 mm at the back without keycaps; 2.7 mm feet; 6.5° typing angle; 1,528 g ± 10 g fully assembled
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	CNC aluminium body; PC plate; double-gasket design; IXPE foam, PET film, latex bottom pad and bottom-case acoustic foam
Colours
Colours	Black (Standard Version); Black or White with wood sides (Special Edition)	Carbon Black, Shell White (keychron.com); Carbon Black (keychron.uk UK ISO)