I leaped on the probability to overview the Keychron K4 HE. Not as a result of it is a fancy Corridor Impact keyboard, however as a result of I assumed it regarded fairly. Fortunately, the keyboard turned out to have some deeper deserves—it has a singular pillowy really feel, it is improbable for gaming, and it is comparatively reasonably priced, too.

Keychron K4 HE

The Keychron K4 HE is among the extra reasonably priced Corridor-effect keyboards out there immediately, but it affords a super-smooth and pillowy expertise with superior software program customization. It is a wonderful choice for avid gamers who need a aggressive edge and a genuinely enjoyable typing floor.

Execs & Cons

• Attractive design
• Reasonably priced value, high-end magnetic really feel
• Superior software program customization options

• Unimpressive backlighting
• Considerably cramped
• Delicate magnetic switches aren’t nice for typing

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Value and Availability

The Keychron K4 HE is obtainable for $145 on the Keychron net retailer. It comes with macOS keycaps preinstalled, although Home windows keycaps are included within the bundle. I am reviewing the special-edition white colorway, although there’s additionally a black mannequin, in addition to a less expensive customary version that does not have wood facet panels.

Howdy, Good-looking

If this overview had been based mostly on seems to be alone, I would in all probability give the Keychron K4 HE an ideal rating. It is only a great-looking keyboard. The rosewood facet panels give off a cool retro look, the double-shot PBT keycaps have super-legible legends, and there is one thing undeniably nice concerning the compact but massive design. This keyboard has a 96% format, and it solely weighs 2.3 kilos, but it seems to be massive, tall, and imposing, particularly whenever you flip out the legs. It is a good assertion piece.

I am additionally shocked by the construct high quality, which exceeded my expectations at this value. The K4 HE’s body seems to be like plastic, however it’s aluminum. And though the underside of the keyboard is plastic, it does not have any flex. Below the hood, Keychron makes use of a frame-mount design with two layers of froth, plus a silicone acoustic pad, to realize a uniquely “thunky” typing sound and tender really feel.

My solely criticism, actually, is the backlight. Colourful gamer lighting does not pair effectively with eggshell white or fake woodgrain. And, anyway, this backlight is simply too dim to see in daylight. A vibrant, softly-diffused, pure-white backlight would’ve been higher, for my part. Shine-through keycaps would’ve been good, too, though I am additionally completely satisfied and not using a backlight, so perhaps it is not a giant deal.

I ended up setting the backlight to a heat white and utilizing the “reactive” setting, which briefly lights up keys after they have been pressed. I would choose extra of a pure white, however the backlight skews towards bluer hues, so I needed to go along with a hotter tone.

There’s additionally some high quality management weirdness occurring with my overview unit—one of many side-panel screws arrived free, and the “Enter” key on the far proper of the keyboard has some scratches on its facet—however I assume that these blemishes are a fluke.

Weightless Corridor Impact Switches, First rate Ergonomics

As a Corridor Impact keyboard, the Keychron K4 HE naturally has a linear, weightless, bouncy really feel. I feel it is a bit too sloppy for typing, particularly with the default actuation settings, however it’s good for gaming. Each keypress is fluid and responsive, and the keyboard naturally encourages you to have a lightweight, quick contact. After a couple of days of use, I discovered that I not pressed the keys down all the way in which—I floated across the keyboard and flippantly pushed every key to its actuation level.

I am fairly pleased with the Gateron Twin-rail Magnetic Nebula switches which might be included with this keyboard, too. They’s completely frictionless, they do not wobble a lot, they usually’re barely much less springy than different HE switches I’ve examined (though this can be as a result of keyboard’s stiff tray-mount design). Nonetheless, the switches make a stereotypical Corridor Impact plodding sound once they high out, which I do not take pleasure in. If I kind actually quick, it virtually appears like I am deep-frying some rooster—plop, plop, plop-plop-plop. Fortunately, the typing noise is not too loud, and Keychron’s double-shot PBT keycaps have a nice texture that distracts from the acoustics.

Associated

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From an ergonomic perspective, the K4 HE is a bit taller than what I am used to, which is an effective factor. It forces me to carry my wrists up and tackle a great posture. And though I choose tenkeyless keyboards—I do not prefer it when a giant numpad takes up a bunch of house between my keyboard and mouse—the K4 HE’s 96% format is a good compromise.

Sadly, the keys really feel a bit cramped. I feel that wider, flatter keycaps can be a critical improve so far as consolation is anxious, however even then, I am unable to do a lot round the appropriate facet of this keyboard with out trying right down to see the place my hand is. I frequently drift into the numpad when attempting to press the arrow keys, for instance.

The one footnote right here is the 1,000Hz polling charge in wired mode. I am wonderful with 1,000Hz as a result of I am not a hardcore gamer, and in any case, the K4 HE feels tremendous responsive. However for those who’re obsessive about the thought of an 8,000Hz polling charge, you may want to purchase a dearer Corridor Impact keyboard.

Distinctive Options That Give You a Aggressive Edge

After all, magnetic switches include some distinctive performance that would provide you with an edge in aggressive video games. The spotlight right here, a minimum of for me, is adjustable per-key actuation. Others will in all probability hone in on Fast Set off or Snap Faucet, although these options are extra helpful in some video games than in others.

The Keychron K4 HE affords adjustable actuation between 0.2mm and three.8mm, which means that it could actually conform to an impressively wide selection of typing kinds or preferences. You too can set per-key actuation, which creates numerous attention-grabbing prospects. In the event you set your WASD keys to a particularly shallow actuation whereas the remainder of your keys are “regular,” for instance.

Adjustable actuation can also be answerable for a function referred to as Dynamic Keystrokes, which lets you give keys a secondary actuation level for customized performance. It successfully turns your keys into pseudo “analog triggers;” I programmed my “W” key in order that, when pressed all the way in which down, it might additionally set off the “Shift” key—this protects me the difficulty of reaching over and urgent “Shift” after I need to run in a sport like Fortnite.

Fast set off is a little more simple. It ensures that keypresses are reset instantly after you carry your finger, making fast actions, like strafing in Counter Strike 2, loads snappier. There’s additionally Snap Faucet, which makes use of Final Key Prioritization to offer near-instant directional modifications in some video games. So, for those who maintain the “A” key to shuffle to the left in Counter Strike 2 and repeatedly faucet the “D” key, you may strafe actually quick.

Simply know that Snap Faucet is banned in some competitive games, together with the aforementioned CS2, and will not present any profit in newer video games—the function takes benefit of in-game motion conduct that was extra frequent in older titles.

Software program That Will get the Job Completed

Like different Keychron keyboards, the K4 HE might be personalized within the web-based Keychron Launcher. You’ll want to be in wired mode, and the customization device is a bit cluttered, however it will get the job finished. The entire gamer-focused customization stuff that I discussed beforehand—speedy set off, per-key actuation settings, and so forth—are situated contained in the Keychron Launcher. There are additionally choices for key remapping, macros, and RGB.

Notably, Keychron Launcher allows you to program and save three separate profiles to the K4 HE, which means that you could name upon these profiles at any time, even for those who transfer to a distinct pc. I ended up creating a singular profile for work with a reasonably low actuation setting with the intention to make my typing rather less sloppy. However, for gaming, I kinda simply caught with Keychron’s default settings. I do not suppose that the typical gamer must do any customization past some RGB tinkering.

Ought to You Purchase the Keychron K4 HE?

At $144, the Keychron K4 HE affords improbable worth. It is a beautiful, surprisingly high-quality Corridor Impact keyboard that you could customise or improve to your coronary heart’s content material. Whereas I do not actually advocate it for typing—a tactile keyboard is absolutely my weapon of alternative—the K4 HE’s fluid really feel and distinctive performance make it a wonderful choice for gaming.

If I proceed utilizing this keyboard, I will in all probability swap out the switches for one thing firmer to make typing simpler. However I would slightly maintain two keyboards at my desk—one for work, one other for play.

By the way in which, you do not take care of the special-edition K4 HE’s wood facet panels, you may seize the standard version of the keyboard for $135.

Keychron K4 HE

The Keychron K4 HE is among the extra reasonably priced Corridor-effect keyboards out there immediately, but it affords a super-smooth and pillowy expertise with superior software program customization. It is a wonderful choice for avid gamers who need a aggressive edge and a genuinely enjoyable typing floor.