Keychron K2 HE vs K5 UltraMagnetic or Full-Size
Choose the K2 HE for magnetic-switch gaming controls in a compact layout, or the K5 Ultra for a low-profile full-size layout and longer stated battery life.
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4.8 (49)4.8 · 49 reviews
from$129at Keychron
4.8 (5)4.8 · 5 reviews
from$114at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K2 HE
Hall effect
Build quality in the top 5% of 75% boards under $150.
- Magnetic switches offer adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 3.8 mm and Rapid Trigger.
- Dynamic Keystrokes can assign up to four actions to a key based on press depth.
- 75% layout is more compact than the K5 Ultra's 100% layout.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- Missing ISO-IT, ISO-PT. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron K5 Ultra
Build quality in the top 15% of 100% boards under $150.
- 100% full-size layout includes a numpad.
- Low-profile design with an integrated aluminum rotary encoder for volume control.
- 8000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes.
- Low-profile switches and keycaps only. Standard MX keycaps will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- Missing ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Pick the K2 HE if you want adjustable magnetic actuation, Rapid Trigger, and a compact 75% layout. Choose the K5 Ultra if a numpad, low-profile design, integrated knob, or longer vendor-listed battery life matters more. Before buying, check the regional layout and switch/keycap compatibility rules for your preferred setup.
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.
Keychron K2 HE
Keychron K5 Ultra
Layout size
75%
100%
Hall effect (magnetic)
Yes
No
Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing
Rapid trigger
Yes
No
Faster resets help in games and not in normal typing
Battery
4,000 mAh
2,600 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Low profile
No
Yes
- Keychron K2 HE
- Keychron K5 Ultra
- Performance
- 9391
- Build quality
- 9175
- Productivity
- 9793
- Customizability
- 9889
- Portability
- 8156
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Knob
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The K2 HE has the clearer gaming and customization case, thanks to magnetic-switch controls and its smaller layout. The K5 Ultra better fits desk setups that need a numpad, low-profile typing, or an integrated knob. Programming is a close choice because both offer remapping and support the major desktop operating systems listed by their vendors. For travel, the K2 HE takes less desk space, while the K5 Ultra has the lower listed weight.
Pick the Keychron K2 HE
- The K2 HE's magnetic switches support adjustable actuation from 0.2 to 3.8 mm and Rapid Trigger.
- Its Dynamic Keystrokes feature can assign up to four actions to a key based on press depth.
- The K5 Ultra specifies 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, but uses mechanical Milk POM switches rather than magnetic switches.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K2 HE
49 owner reviews
“Lowering the actuation depth improved my reaction time in competitive games. Analog mode in racing titles feels surprisingly natural. The mouse glide is smooth.”
Keychron K5 Ultra
5 owner reviews
“This keyboard is exactly what I was looking for. Low profile, great switches, not uber gamery. Very happy so far, hopefully it keeps working for a long time.”
Keychron K2 HE vs K5 Ultra specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
14 of 30 specs differ
Keychron K2 HE
Keychron K5 Ultra
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Low profile
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.
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
Keychron K5 Ultra
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-IT
In stockDoes not ship to you
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Keychron K2 HE vs K5 Ultra: your questions
The K2 HE is the more direct fit for magnetic-switch gaming features, with adjustable actuation and Rapid Trigger. The K5 Ultra instead offers 8000 Hz polling in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, but uses mechanical Milk POM switches.
Yes, the K2 HE metadata lists Hall Effect and Rapid Trigger, and the vendor describes Dynamic Rapid Trigger. Its adjustable actuation range is listed as 0.2 to 3.8 mm.
Yes, the K5 Ultra has a 100% full-size layout, which includes a numpad. The K2 HE is a 75% layout and has no numpad.
The K2 HE is listed at 1000 Hz, while the K5 Ultra is listed at 8000 Hz in wired and 2.4 GHz modes. The vendors list Bluetooth polling at 125 Hz for both products.
The K5 Ultra has the longer vendor-listed battery life, up to 370 hours with the backlight off. The K2 HE is listed for up to 110 hours, and its battery capacity is 4000 mAh compared with 2600 mAh for the K5 Ultra.
No, the K2 HE requires magnetic switches, so standard MX switches will not fit. The vendor says switch compatibility also varies by version: Version 1 supports Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches, while Version 2 also supports Keychron Ultra-Fast Lime Magnetic switches.
The K5 Ultra requires low-profile switches and keycaps, so standard MX keycaps will not fit. Its north-facing LEDs can also interfere with Cherry-profile keycaps.
Yes, both keyboards are listed as hot-swappable. The K2 HE accepts compatible magnetic switches, while the K5 Ultra uses low-profile Keychron Milk POM switches.
The K2 HE's 75% layout takes up less space than the K5 Ultra's 100% layout. The K5 Ultra has the lower listed weight at 720 g ± 10 g, compared with the K2 HE standard version's 980 g in the vendor description.
Both vendor descriptions list macOS and Windows support, and also list Linux compatibility. The K2 HE includes Mac and Windows keycaps according to its vendor description, while the K5 Ultra vendor description also mentions included Mac and Windows keycaps.
The K5 Ultra has an integrated aluminum rotary encoder that controls volume by default, and Keychron Launcher can customize its commands. The K2 HE metadata lists knob support, but does not specify an integrated knob.
The K2 HE is listed in ISO-UK, ISO-DE, ISO-ES, ISO-FR, ISO-CH, ISO-Nordic, ANSI, and JIS layouts, but not ISO-IT or ISO-PT. The K5 Ultra includes ISO-IT and ISO-PT, but not ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, or ISO-CH.
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