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

The media could not be loaded. TLDR: If you can adapt to the extremely compact layout of the K4 HE, I believe it provides the best value and would highly recommend.I returned this and chose the Q5 HE. While the keyboard was one of the best I've tried (comparisons below), the numpad/arrow key layout felt too cluttered, hurting accuracy and typing speed, and unfortunately I just couldn't adapt to it. If there was adequate spacing (ASUS ROG Scope II 96 managed this with the same dimensions), I would have kept this over the Q5 HE despite the inferior build quality since it's a great value.Note: I tested both editions—Standard and Special—and very much preferred the Standard edition for the textured/matte Cherry profile RGB keys over the lower contrast/opaque OSA profile keys of the Special Edition. Both versions are solid and keycap profile/RGB just comes down to preference.~~Pros:~~1. Premium build with sound-dampening foam (deep, thocky acoustics right out of the box - no ping or echo)2. Intuitive web utility (Keychron Launcher) for full customization.3. Multiple connections: Bluetooth, wired, wireless.4. Low latency with 1000hz polling (8,000hz is imperceptible).5. Hall Effect: adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger, quad-actuation, analog keys, and high durability.6. High-quality keycaps and RGB (Standard keycaps are textured; Special is smooth).7. Full-size functionality in a compact layout.8. Great value for a premium Hall Effect keyboard.9. Long battery life.10. Multi-OS support (Mac-ready with Windows keycaps included).11. Easy switching between profiles for gaming/productivity.12. Actuation force (40g) increases on press for better Hall Effect feedback.13. Right-angle USB cable (monitor-compatible without speed loss).~~Cons:~~1. Multiple keys felt scratchy despite relubrication (known factory lube issue specific to Gateron switches, not Keychron).2. Analog keys are hard to use in games and not widely supported.3. Awkward numpad/arrow layout—ROG Scope II 96 Wireless offers a better design for the same dimensions.4. Limited switch customization compared to mechanical boards (but stock switches feel superior).5. Keyboard is tall with no wrist rest, and finding one with matching width is tough unless it's Keychron branded.6. Boxed-in case design/switch wells makes cleaning harder.~~~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. I came from one of Corsair's membrane boards and the K70 was my first mechanical - it left me deeply disappointed even without any expectations going into it.Keychron Q5 Pro - ⭐⭐:The Q series is Keychron's quality series and have the best build quality/weight of any keyboard I've tried. Unfortunately, the Pro version lacks versatility and is made strictly for productivity. It had KSA profile keycaps which were definitely not for me (extremely deep dish keycaps with tall height).ROG Scope II 96 Wireless (Snow/Storm/Silent Brown Switch Comparison) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐: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), good build quality (inferior to K4), 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.~Note: I tried Silent Brown, Snow, and Storm switches. Silent brown felt scratchy, Storm was too loud, and Snow was nearly perfect.Keychron Q5 HE - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐:In terms of productivity, gaming performance, sound profile, build quality, and ease-of-use web-based software, the Keychron Q5 HE checks all the boxes (minus adapting to south-facing RGBs) and comes out on top over all others that I've tried. Unfortunately, it's still plagued by variable QC of individual Gateron switches, which can feel slightly scratchy due to uneven factory lubrication.

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!

So far, it's been excellent. I like the feel, I like the weight, I like the performance, Works great whether using Bluetooth connection or cable. While it's not a silent keyboard, it's not as loud as other mechanical keyboards I've seen. I was sick of the "ok" keyboard and wanted something of quality. Worth the price. I haven't messed with the programming, I'm just using it straight out of the box. Excellent product so far.

I'll start with the one negative which is, while I love the look of the condensed keyboard, I couldn't get used to finding the arrow keys or number keypad without looking. I was constantly hitting the wrong key. I returned the K4 and replaced it with the K10, full size keyboard. For me, this makes all the difference. Now I can feel my way around the keyboard much better. All the positives - great build quality, a joy to type, immediate feedback on waking from sleep with the 2.4 gHz connection. I really like setting a few keys to different depths. Esc, all the way down - I was tapping it inadvertently sometimes when reaching to my pen tab and then exiting the window I was in. Now it requires a little more intentionality. The arrow keys are set very high since I use them when editing photos and I don't have to press very far for repetitive use. And it looks great. The LED backlighting is totally unnecessary in my life but I find it satisfying to see a little spark of red shoot from my fingers.

This keyboard is amazing! So sturdy and heavy but light and compact at the same time! The keys are clicky but soft which is perfect! The 3 different ways to connect is amazing too! The backlights are beautiful and customizable! I love it!