Marshall Mobley
So first off, a few disclaimers. One, I am no mechanical keyboard expert so take everything I say as experience, not expertise. Two, this is my very first mechanical keyboard purchase so I have no other mechanical keyboards I can compare this to. Three, if you know nothing about mechanical keyboards - go and read at least a couple articles about what the different aspects to them are. Especially the different types of switches. Depending on what type of sound and feel you want, knowing the switches will potentially make the difference between a happy purchase and an unhappy one. I’m glad I did the research because I ended up very happy with both the sound and the feel. Ok, all that said… on to the review.
After using my last keyboard for about three years, I decided it was time to replace it. I had been hearing a lot about mechanical keyboards for a while and had been talking to others about their experience. I decided it was time to take the plunge. The challenge here is that there are A LOT of options out there. Here’s how I chose.
I’m a big fan of the folks at the Wirecutter (don’t love that they sold out to NYT, but whatevs). So I read their research and testing on best options. Their pick felt way over my head, both in terms of acquisition (had to go some mechanical keyboard online shop), costs, options, and wait time. Their budget pick, the Keychron C1 caught my eye. But this was a wired KB and I wanted wireless. I also noticed that their upgrade pick was also a Keychron - so when I found this one, I thought it couldn’t be too bad. Plus it had the two main features I wanted (bluetooth and backlight). Plus it looked pretty awesome.
The overall package - I have to admit for a brand I had never heard of before, the whole package - keyboard and all - was made with a considerable amount of quality. The construction feels solid and sturdy. The instructions were understandable and clear. It included extra keycaps if you wanted to use this keyboard with a windows machine. You could even change the keys in the corner to gray or orange. Your choice.
But the most important question - how does it feel to type? Mind you I’m not wildly picky nor a typing snob - but I thought it was great. I love the feel of it and it has just the right amount of feedback and sound. I got the brown switches for just this reason. Again, I will stress the importance of knowing what kind of switches you want.
What I like - Typing feels awesome. It looks amazing on my desk and blends well with my Mac and all my accessories. Holds a charge for a long time. Lots of fun backlight options. Easy to configure. Can use as wired or wireless. Everything is high quality.
What I don’t like - It goes to sleep a little too frequently for my taste. Mind you, this is configurable and you can change the amount of idle time before sleep or turn off auto sleep altogether.I tried this, but I think I got something wrong and now it seems to go to sleep even faster. But this is truly a PEBKAC and not a problem with the keyboard itself.
Who would I recommend this for - I would definitely recommend this keyboard for anyone looking for their first foray into the mechanical world. Nothing to overthink here. Just pick the type of switches you want (thank goodness there are only three available as opposed to the dozen or so that are out there) and order and you’re on your way to clickety-clackety nirvana.
| Brand | Keychron |
|---|---|
| Item model number | Keychron K2A3 |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | MAC |
| Item Weight | 0.035 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 12.32 x 4.84 x 1.52 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 12.32 x 4.84 x 1.52 inches |
| Color | Brown Switch |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Manufacturer | Keychron |
| ASIN | B07QBPDWLS |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Date First Available | October 20, 2019 |
Paul Turner