Tag: Keychron K4 HE

  • Keychron Q4 HE: New All-Aluminium Wireless Gaming Keyboard

    Keychron Q4 HE: New All-Aluminium Wireless Gaming Keyboard

    Key Takeaways

    1. Premium Features: The Keychron Q4 HE features a full-aluminium frame and high-end gaming attributes similar to the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX.

    2. Gasket-Mounted Design: It has a gasket-mounted structure with sound-dampening foam for a softer typing experience and enjoyable sound.

    3. Keycap Quality: The keycaps are made from double-shot PBT for durability, featuring a 60% layout that improves ergonomics but hides certain functions in a layer.

    4. Customization Options: Users can personalize the keyboard through Keychron Launcher or QMK, with features like adjustable actuation distance and Analog Mode for enhanced gaming control.

    5. Availability: The Q4 HE is available exclusively on Keychron’s online store, with other models offered at Best Buy.

    Keychron has been very active recently, unveiling the Lemokey P1 HE and the Keychron Q6 HE double-tap in January, followed by the budget-friendly Keychron K4 HE in March (a review is coming soon). Today, they revealed the Q4 HE, a new 60% Hall-effect keyboard crafted from an all-aluminium case, complete with several premium features that distinguish it from options like the Wooting 60HE.

    Premium Gaming Features

    Keychron brings together all the high-end gaming attributes from keyboards such as the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX (priced at $147.57 on Amazon) and encases them in a full-aluminium frame that offers a more sophisticated, premium appearance.

    Design and Connectivity

    Similar to the Keychron Q13 Max we recently looked at, the Keychron Q4 HE adopts a gasket-mounted structure and incorporates multiple layers of sound-dampening foam, delivering a gentler typing experience and an enjoyable sound profile. The 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity is an additional perk for users seeking a tidier desk setup or those who wish to use their gaming keyboard with devices like an Android tablet. The 1,000 Hz polling rate matches the latency of a wired USB-C connection, making the Q4 HE suitable for both work and gaming.

    Keycap Quality

    The keycaps of the Q4 HE are constructed from double-shot PBT, making them more resistant to oil than ABS keycaps, while the OSA profile lends a more professional look without sacrificing comfort and familiarity. The 60% layout is space-efficient, omitting the F row, number pad, and navigation cluster, which ultimately allows for greater mouse movement and overall ergonomics. However, this design means that functions like the F row, print screen, and navigation keys are hidden within a function layer, which may not suit everyone’s needs.

    Customization Options

    For personalizing its traditional features such as key remapping, macros, and backlighting, the Q4 HE utilizes Keychron Launcher or QMK, along with HE-specific gaming options like adjustable actuation distance, Rapid Trigger, SOCD, DKS, and Analog Mode. This last feature simulates gamepad controller input for finer controls. Based on our experience, Keychron Launcher has proven to be one of the more stable and user-friendly customization software available, only slightly behind Wooting’s Wootility in terms of functionality and ease of use.

    Availability

    Currently, the Keychron Q4 HE can be purchased solely from Keychron’s online store. However, Keychron offers a variety of HE and traditional mechanical keyboards at Best Buy, including the Q1 HE (currently priced at $215.00 at Best Buy), which is a 75% version of the Q4 HE.

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  • Keychron K4 HE: 96% Hall-Effect Gaming Keyboard with Num Pad

    Keychron K4 HE: 96% Hall-Effect Gaming Keyboard with Num Pad

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Keychron K4 HE is a 75% wireless keyboard designed for gamers, featuring Gateron’s Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula Hall-effect switches for improved stability and sound.
    2. It is available in two versions: Special Edition with stylish OSA keycaps and rosewood accent panels, and Standard Edition with Cherry profile keycaps and a more basic design.
    3. Both editions include sound dampening materials for a quieter typing experience and support wireless connectivity, although at a lower polling rate compared to some competitors.
    4. The K4 HE’s Hall-effect switches have a balanced actuation force of 40 gf to start and 60 gf at the bottom, with a total key travel of 3.8 mm, making it comfortable for gaming and typing.
    5. The keyboard is priced at $135 for the Standard Version and $145 for the Special Edition, available for purchase on the Keychron online store and expected to be sold at Best Buy later this year.

    Keychron has introduced the K4 HE, a new keyboard that builds on the features of the K2 HE model. The K4 HE is a 75% wireless keyboard that includes Hall-effect switches, specifically Gateron’s Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula switches, which provide better stability and a nice sound profile. This model is aimed at gamers who want a numeric keypad, making it a larger option compared to the K2 HE.

    Special Edition vs Standard Edition

    Similar to its predecessor, the K4 HE is offered in two versions: a Special Edition and a Standard Edition, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The Special Edition boasts Keychron’s OSA keycaps, which give it a more stylish appearance, deeper finger wells, and a more refined look. Additionally, it has unique rosewood side accent panels that can be personalized with laser-engraved designs for an extra fee on the Keychron website. This version comes in a white color scheme with light wood panels and a black color scheme with dark wood details.

    On the other hand, the Standard Edition features Cherry profile keycaps that provide a familiar typing experience. These keycaps are also shine-through, enhancing visibility in low-light conditions and allowing for more aesthetic customization. However, the Standard Edition does not include the fancy wood details, opting instead for an aluminum top frame and an ABS plastic bottom.

    Enhanced Sound Dampening and Connectivity

    Both editions of the K4 HE are packed with sound dampening materials inside the casing, such as EVA plate foam, EPDM PCB foam, a PET film, and a silicone pad in the bottom case. Unlike many other Hall-effect keyboards, the Keychron K4 HE supports wireless connectivity, although this comes with a trade-off of 8 kHz polling, which is a feature available in boards like the Iqunix EZ63 that we reviewed recently.

    The K4 HE features Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula Hall-effect switches that are linear and have a balanced actuation force of 40 gf to start and 60 gf at the bottom. With a total key travel of 3.8 mm, these switches should provide a comfortable experience for both gaming and typing. They also have an open bottom design, similar to the Wooting Lekker and Geon RAW switches, and the double-rail design aims to nearly eliminate keycap wobble.

    Pricing and Availability

    Starting today, the Keychron K4 HE can be purchased on the Keychron online store, retailing at $135 for the Standard Version and $145 for the Special Edition. It’s expected that the keyboard will also be available at Best Buy later this year, following the trend set by the Keychron K2 HE.

    Keychron K4 HE: 96% Hall-Effect Gaming Keyboard with Num Pad
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