Keychron K2 Pro QMK/VIA Wireless Mechanical Keyboard, Hot-Swappable K Pro Red Switch with 75% Layout Custom Programmable Macro, RGB Backlight, PBT Keycaps Wired Keyboard for Mac Windows Linux

Recently got a couple of new PCs recently, and spent a lot of time finding just the right gaming mouse & keyboard. That lead to me wanting to 'upgrade' my existing work Apple Magic Keyboard to something with longer key throw and better tactile feel. After weeks of watching YT reviews and dithering, I settled on the Keychron K2 Pro in the black/grey/red color scheme with Gateron red switches.And I have to say that I really like this keyboard.75% keyboards are as small as I ever want to go, I've learned. I know this because I tried using a 60% wireless keyboard on a machine for a while, and it works but I've discovered I really miss the arrow keys. And a 65% keyboard would fix that but would still be lacking the function keys frequently used on a Mac for controlling things like audio volume - something I need for online video calls.The Gateron reds feel spectacular too. Now having tried Cherry MX Speed Silvers and Reds, Outemu blues and browns, reds are my favorite keyswitches, especially for a work keyboard. For gaming I'm still very happy with the Corsair R70 RGB Pro & Razer Huntsman V2 optical switch keyboards I'm using. But the Keychron sounds and feels better than any other keyboard I have. And this style of keycaps remind me of the ones found on some computers I used WAY back in the day. Love it.I'd read that the aluminum frame Keychron K2 Pro was the way to go, but I went with the plastic RGB version because it ended up being $20 less including a coupon, and was available next day. No regrets as it feels solid and I think it sounds great.

The media could not be loaded. Decent build quality at the price point, hard to beat. Sounds nice. Only complaint is the keyboard arrived without the cable or key cap puller it advertised. I believe it missing a few other things also( I only got the keyboard and a mini screwdriver in the package). Really nice thock.

When I was in the market for my first mechanical keyboard, I wasn't sure I wanted to pay this kind of money, so I opted for the K2 v2 for about $50 less. That was a nice keyboard, but a) it was just a bit more "clacky" than I liked, and b) it had red switches, which were fine, but I was curious to see why brown switches are so popular.Less than six months in, I couldn't wait any longer and got this one. It's great. The brown switches offer a little gentle resistance, and the sound is more muffled but still pleasantly mechanical. I think Keychron makes great looking and sounding keyboards.

Out of the box there was this unusual smell, not bad but not great. I figured it was something from the manufacturing process, however a little googling later and it seems they perfume the silicon pad. It took maybe a few days to a week for it to fade(YMMV), however if you put it up to your nose you can still smell the floral scent today(maybe a month or so later).I wanted to try the pre-lubed switches, so I went with the reds as few "tactile" switches are actually legitimately tactile(if their browns are anything like cherry, it might as well not be tactile). They are quite smooth and the thock is nice, but as expected reds are too light for me.I purchased this for the size being mildly portable and bluetooth, though it's still a sizeable keyboard as far as thickness(height from base to tops of key caps) goes. It works great with my steamdeck, and PC when I'm lazy sitting back away from my desk. I've barely eaten anything out of the battery it would seem, though I've left the lighting off and it isn't my main keyboard, however it seems it would last quite a while without charging.The QMK/VIA support is nice, however currently tapdance doesn't work and to get it working you have to get involved enough to edit the json file if I'm not mistaken. The workaround seemed fairly complicated as someone who although is fairly technical, hasn't delved into QMK beyond using web based interfaces to set keys/layers.Overall it's worth it, and there's not much else out there that ticks the boxes I wanted, especially the bluetooth with hot swap sockets.

I don't typically review things until I've had a week or so with them, but damn I love this keyboard. It feels great to type on, and sounds nice but isn't obnoxiously loud. I went with the brown switches to change things up from the linear switches I used to get, and I like them better than any of the linear's I've tried before. the tactile feedback is very slight and there's no obnoxiously loud click noise like with the Blue's. The VIA software just works, bluetooth works and doesn't miss keypresses like the last board I tested and won't name. So far it's great. If anything changes I will reflect that in this review. It's worth the extra dollars to get a quality keyboard that I'll use every day. I hope it lasts for many years to come.