Keychron K2 Max vs K4 HEMX or Hall Effect?
Get the K2 Max for a compact 75% layout and broad MX-switch swapping, or the K4 HE for Hall Effect actuation controls, Rapid Trigger, and a numpad.
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4.5 (2)4.5 · 2 reviews
from$94at Keychron
4.9 (8)4.9 · 8 reviews
from$118at MK
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K2 Max
Build quality in the top 10% of 75% boards under $100.
- Hot-swap support for almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.
- 75% layout in a 940 g keyboard.
- Steel plate with IXPE, PET, and EPDM acoustic foam layers.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-CH. The other board is sold in those layouts.
- No numpad.
Get the
Keychron K4 HE
Hall effect
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $150.
- Hall Effect switches with adjustable actuation points and Rapid Trigger.
- Dynamic Keystrokes can assign up to four actions per key based on press depth.
- 96% layout includes a numpad and is offered in ISO-CH, ISO-ES, and ISO-FR.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Choose the K2 Max for its smaller 75% layout and broader MX-style switch swapping, plus its steel plate and layered IXPE, PET, and EPDM foam. Choose the K4 HE for Hall Effect actuation controls, Rapid Trigger, Dynamic Keystrokes, and a numpad. Its magnetic-switch compatibility is narrower, while the K2 Max does not provide the K4 HE's Hall Effect features.
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 Max
Keychron K4 HE
Layout size
75%
96%
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
Connection
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Bluetooth, Wired, 2.4 GHz
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
ABS, Aluminum
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic, Wood
- Keychron K2 Max
- Keychron K4 HE
- Performance
- 8192
- Build quality
- 8587
- Productivity
- 9594
- Customizability
- 9189
- Portability
- 7956
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- QMK
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The K4 HE has the edge for gaming and number-heavy work because of its Hall Effect controls and numpad. The K2 Max is the more compact option and offers wider MX-style switch swapping for users who like to change switches. Office use is a closer call, with both boards offering wireless and wired connections and Mac and Windows support. For travel, the K2 Max's smaller layout and lower listed weight are practical advantages.
Pick the Keychron K4 HE
- Hall Effect switches support adjustable actuation points and Rapid Trigger.
- Dynamic Keystrokes can assign up to four actions to a key based on press depth.
- The K2 Max has a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, but its listing does not specify Hall Effect controls.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K2 Max
2 owner reviews
“Négatif: Le temps de livraison et la clareté des infos”
Keychron K4 HE
8 owner reviews
“So far it have met my expectations for the use i wanted it for, had a small hic up the first day i started ysing it but got easily resolved with the provided user manual”
Keychron K2 Max vs K4 HE specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
15 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K2 Max
Keychron K4 HE
Switch options
Hall effect (magnetic)
Rapid trigger
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Screw-in stabilizers
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
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
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron K2 Max
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-SW
In stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-SW
Out of stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron K4 HE
- Go to Keychron
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH
In stockShips to you
- Go to Keychron (DE)
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-CH
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron K2 Max vs K4 HE: your questions
The K2 Max is a 75% mechanical keyboard with hot-swap support for almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches. The K4 HE is a 96% magnetic-switch keyboard with adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger, and a numpad.
The K4 HE is the more feature-focused choice for gaming, with Hall Effect switches, adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger, and Dynamic Keystrokes. The K2 Max also lists a 1000 Hz polling rate in wired and 2.4 GHz modes, but does not list those Hall Effect controls.
No. The K4 HE is designed for compatible Gateron double-rail magnetic switches, and standard MX switches will not fit.
The K4 HE has a numpad in its compact 96% layout. The K2 Max has a 75% layout and no numpad.
The K2 Max is the smaller layout at 75% and weighs 940 g. The K4 HE is a 96% board weighing 1090 g.
Yes. Its Hall Effect switches support adjustable actuation points from 0.2 to 3.8 mm, with 0.1 mm sensitivity.
Yes, the hot-swappable version supports almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, according to Keychron. The vendor description identifies hot-swapping as an optional version feature.
Both product listings include Mac and Windows support. Keychron says both include an additional set of customized keycaps for Windows and macOS.
The K2 Max's south-facing LEDs are described as free from interference with Cherry-profile alternative keycaps. The K4 HE has north-facing LEDs, and its compatibility notes warn that Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
The K4 HE listing includes ISO-CH, ISO-ES, and ISO-FR layouts, which are not listed for the K2 Max. Both are listed with several other ISO layouts, including ISO-DE and ISO-UK.
Both support Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, as well as a wired connection. Each listing specifies a 4000mAh battery.
The K4 HE has Rapid Trigger and Dynamic Keystrokes, which can assign up to four actions to a key based on press depth. Those features are not listed for the K2 Max.
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