GravaStar Mercury K1 vs Keychron K2 HEGaming Tech vs Battery Life
Choose the Keychron K2 HE for its advanced magnetic gaming features and deep customization, or the GravaStar Mercury K1 for superior wireless battery life.
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No reviews
from$139at WhatGeek
4.3 (55)4.3 · 55 reviews
from$129at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
GravaStar Mercury K1
Gaming Tech
Build quality in the top 50% of 75% boards under $150.
- Large 8000mAh battery for extended wireless use.
- Lighter weight (1080g) enhances portability.
- Gasket mount structure for a potentially more cushioned typing feel.
- No ISO layout. ISO-DE, UK, and other ISO variants are not offered.
Get the
Keychron K2 HE
Battery Life
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $150.
- Advanced Gateron double-rail magnetic switches with adjustable actuation points (0.2-3.8mm).
- Full support for QMK and VIA open-source firmware for deep customization.
- Includes gaming features like Rapid Trigger, Analog Mode, and Last Key Priority.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
For most users, especially gamers, tinkerers, and power users, the Keychron K2 HE is the more capable and future-proof investment due to its unparalleled switch technology and software ecosystem. Choose the GravaStar Mercury K1 if your primary need is a stylish, well-built wireless keyboard with exceptional battery life for daily use and travel, and you are satisfied with standard linear switches.
The differences that matter
Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.
GravaStar Mercury K1
Keychron K2 HE
Hall effect (magnetic)
No
Yes
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
No
Yes
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Battery
8,000 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
Aluminum
ABS, Aluminum, Resin, Wood
Switch options
Linear
Linear, Magnetic
- GravaStar Mercury K1
- Keychron K2 HE
- Performance
- 6693
- Build quality
- 6791
- Productivity
- 6797
- Customizability
- 6498
- Portability
- 9281
- Layout size: 75%
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
What will you mostly use it for?
The Keychron K2 HE is the clear choice for gaming, programming, modding, and content creation due to its high-performance magnetic switches, extensive software support, and advanced features. The GravaStar Mercury K1 wins for travel thanks to its lighter weight and larger battery, making it more portable. For general office use, both are competent, with the K2 HE offering better international layout support and the K1 providing longer battery life.
Pick the Keychron K2 HE
- The Keychron K2 HE features a 1000 Hz polling rate in its 2.4 GHz and wired modes for low latency.
- It includes gaming-specific features like Rapid Trigger, adjustable actuation points (0.2-3.8mm), and Last Key Priority (LKP).
- Its magnetic switches with TMR sensors are designed for ultra-fast response and stability.
GravaStar Mercury K1 vs Keychron K2 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
18 of 29 specs differ
GravaStar Mercury K1
Keychron K2 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Media keys
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
GravaStar Mercury K1
No ISO layout at the stores we track.
Keychron K2 HE
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH
In stockShips to you
Input Gear
ISO-DE
Out of stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-CH
In stockDoes not ship to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
GravaStar Mercury K1 vs Keychron K2 HE: your questions
The GravaStar Mercury K1 has a significantly larger 8000mAh battery compared to the Keychron K2 HE's 4000mAh battery. This should translate to longer wireless usage times between charges for the Mercury K1.
No. According to Keychron, the K2 HE is compatible exclusively with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches. It does not support other magnetic switch types or traditional mechanical switches.
The Keychron K2 HE is better suited for competitive gaming. It has a 1000 Hz polling rate, magnetic switches with ultra-low latency, and features like Rapid Trigger and adjustable actuation points that are designed to provide a performance edge.
Yes, both the GravaStar Mercury K1 and the Keychron K2 HE list Mac and Windows support. The Keychron K2 HE specifically includes keycaps for both systems and allows you to save separate layouts for each.
The GravaStar Mercury K1 uses a gasket mount, which typically aims to isolate the plate from the case for a softer, more cushioned feel. The Keychron K2 HE uses a tray mount (plate mount) system, which is a more traditional mounting style.
The Keychron K2 HE offers extensive reprogramming via QMK and VIA firmware and its Launcher web app. The GravaStar Mercury K1 listing mentions a driver but does not specify support for QMK or VIA, suggesting more limited customization options.
The GravaStar Mercury K1 is more portable. It weighs 1080g, which is over 600g lighter than the Keychron K2 HE (1743g), and its larger battery means less worry about charging while on the move.
The Keychron K2 HE comes with double-shot PBT keycaps, in either Cherry profile (shine-through on Standard Version) or OSA profile (on Special Edition). The GravaStar Mercury K1 vendor description does not specify the keycap material or profile.
According to its description, the Keychron K2 HE includes multiple layers of sound-dampening material: 3.5mm thick EVA acoustic foam, EPDM foam, a silicone acoustic pad, and a bottom case PET film to reduce noise and vibration.
The vendor description for the GravaStar Mercury K1 mentions a three-sided streamer RGB effect but does not specify if the LEDs are north-facing. The Keychron K2 HE explicitly states it uses north-facing RGB LEDs.
The Keychron K2 HE offers far more layout options. It supports ANSI, ISO-UK, ISO-DE, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH, JIS, ISO-ES, and ISO-FR layouts. The GravaStar Mercury K1 is listed with an ANSI layout.
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