Keychron K4 HE vs K4 MaxMagnetic Switches vs Broader Modding
Choose the K4 HE for cutting-edge magnetic switch features and gaming performance, or the K4 Max for broader mechanical switch compatibility and a potentially lower cost.
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4.2 · 10 reviews
from$118at MK
5.0 · 1 reviews
from$99at Keychron
Which one should you get?
Get the
Keychron K4 HE
Magnetic Switches
Build quality in the top 10% of 96% boards under $150.
- Advanced Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Switches with adjustable actuation points (0.2-3.8mm).
- Includes gaming-focused features: Rapid Trigger, Analog Mode, and Dynamic Keystrokes.
- Premium construction with an aluminum top case and optional wood accents on the Special Edition.
- Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
- North-facing LEDs. Cherry-profile keycaps can hit the switch housing.
Get the
Keychron K4 Max
Broader Modding
Build quality in the top 20% of 96% boards under $100.
- Broad hot-swap support for nearly all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches.
- South-facing RGB LEDs prevent interference with Cherry-profile keycaps.
- Includes multiple layers of acoustic foam (IXPE, PET, EPDM) for sound dampening.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Missing ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic. The other board is sold in those layouts.
Your priority should guide your choice. If you want the pinnacle of customizable switch performance for gaming and are comfortable with a more niche switch ecosystem, the Keychron K4 HE is the innovative pick. If you prefer the vast compatibility and traditional feel of standard mechanical switches for typing and modding, the Keychron K4 Max is the more practical and versatile option. Both are excellent, fully-featured wireless keyboards at their core.
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 K4 HE
Keychron K4 Max
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
Connection
Bluetooth, Wired, 2.4 GHz
Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
Wireless for several devices and wired for lower latency
Case material
ABS, Aluminum, Plastic, Wood
ABS
Switch options
Clicky, Linear, Magnetic, Tactile
Clicky, Linear, Tactile
- Keychron K4 HE
- Keychron K4 Max
- Performance
- 9282
- Build quality
- 8780
- Productivity
- 9489
- Customizability
- 8992
- Portability
- 5651
- Layout size: 96%
- Hot-swappable
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- QMK
- VIA
What will you mostly use it for?
The K4 HE is the clear choice for gamers seeking the latest magnetic switch technology with customizable actuation. For hardware modders who want to experiment with a wide variety of standard mechanical switches, the K4 Max is more versatile. For office work, programming, and content creation, both keyboards are equally capable, sharing core productivity features like multi-device Bluetooth, programmability, and a compact numpad-included layout.
Pick the Keychron K4 HE
- The K4 HE features Hall Effect magnetic switches with adjustable actuation points from 0.2 to 3.8 mm.
- It includes gaming-specific features like Rapid Trigger and Dynamic Keystrokes for assigning multiple actions per key.
- The manufacturer cites industry-leading latency performance based on third-party testing.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Keychron K4 HE
10 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”
“The keyboard is smooth to the touch, and has the nice feel. For me, it's almost an ideal keyboard but the one thing that gets me and it's a hard issue is that when connected, it takes away input from my controller when I game, especially for live service…”
Keychron K4 Max
1 owner reviews
Keychron K4 HE vs K4 Max specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
14 of 28 specs differ
Keychron K4 HE
Keychron K4 Max
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
ISO layouts by store
Which stores sell ISO-DE, UK, and the other regional layouts.
Keychron K4 HE
Keychron
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-Nordic, ISO-CH
In stockShips to you
Keychron (DE)
ISO-DE, ISO-UK, ISO-FR, ISO-ES, ISO-CH
In stockDoes not ship to you
Keychron K4 Max
Keychron
ISO
In stockShips 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.
Keychron K4 HE vs K4 Max: your questions
The K4 HE uses Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic (Hall Effect) switches. These use magnetic sensors instead of physical contacts, allowing for adjustable actuation points and features like Rapid Trigger. The K4 Max uses standard mechanical Keychron Super switches, which are compatible with a wide range of MX-style switches.
No. According to the manufacturer, the K4 HE's hot-swap sockets are compatible exclusively with Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic switches. It does not support standard mechanical switches like Cherry MX, Gateron, or Kailh.
Yes. Keychron states the K4 Max's hot-swappable version supports almost all 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style mechanical switches, including brands like Cherry, Gateron, and Kailh.
Both aim for comfort with sound-dampening foam and PBT keycaps. The K4 Max offers three adjustable typing angles (3°, 7°, 10°) and uses OSA-profile keycaps. The K4 HE offers angles of 5°, 8°, and 11° and comes with either OSA or Cherry-profile keycaps depending on the edition.
Yes. Both the K4 HE and K4 Max include dedicated keycap sets for Mac and Windows and have a system toggle switch to switch between layouts saved on the keyboard.
Both keyboards are equipped with a 4000mAh rechargeable battery. The K4 HE vendor description lists a wireless working time of up to 110 hours based on lab tests. A specific battery life estimate for the K4 Max is not provided in the available information.
The K4 Max has south-facing RGB LEDs. This orientation prevents the LED housing from interfering with the lower profile of Cherry-profile keycaps, making it the better choice if you plan to use such aftermarket keycap sets.
Yes, both are highly programmable. They support open-source QMK firmware and VIA for advanced key remapping and macros. They can also be configured through the Keychron Launcher web app without installing software.
The Keychron K4 HE is more portable. It weighs 1090g compared to the K4 Max's 1290g, and it has a slightly smaller depth (126mm vs 140mm), making it easier to fit in a bag.
The K4 HE includes 3.5mm thick EVA foam, EPDM foam, a silicone acoustic pad, and a bottom case PET film. The K4 Max features multiple layers including IXPE acoustic foam, PET foam, EPDM film, and a silicone acoustic pad.
Both keyboards offer a 1000 Hz polling rate in their 2.4 GHz wireless and wired modes, which is suitable for responsive gaming. The K4 HE vendor page specifies a 125 Hz polling rate in Bluetooth mode.
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