The Keychron V2 is the company’s latest entry into the 65% keyboard space. Unlike the flagship Q series, the V series are more affordable, and uses a tray mounted design with a plastic case.
What’s In The Box?
- Keychron V2 Keyboard
- USB Type-C to Type-C cable
- Type-C to Type-A adapter
- Switch puller
- Keycap puller
- Hex key
- Screwdriver
Keychron V2 Specifications
| Dimensions | 123.25mm x 329.9mm x 26.75mm (with keycaps) |
|---|---|
| Feet Height | 2.4 mm |
| Angle | 3.5° / 7.91° / 10.88° |
| Weight | 855 ± 10 g (Fully Assembled Version) |
| Body Material | ABS Plastic |
| Plate Material | Steel |
| Polling Rate | 1000 Hz |
| Mount Style | Tray Mount Design |
| Switches | Keychron K Pro (Fully Assembled Version) Hot-swappable (5 pin & 3 pin) |
| Backlight | South-facing RGB LED |
| Connectivity | Type-C |
Design
The Keychron V2 is a 65% keyboard with hot-swappable switches. It has a tray mounted design in a plastic housing. You get to choose between Carbon Black or Frosted Black (translucent) for the case, and it also comes in knob or knob-less options. Customers can get the keyboard either fully-assembled or barebones if they want to assemble with their own switches and keycaps.
Our review sample is in Frosted Black and came with Keychron K Pro Blue clicky switches. I prefer this colour over Carbon Black as it reminds me of the translucent Game Boys of old. The plastic case makes it lightweight, but still feel sturdy enough.
The keyboard is dampened by a sound absorbing foam and silicone pad sandwiching the PCB. You get screw-in stabilisers which are unlubed, but they still feel decent to type with. A little of lube and holee mod can take this to the next level.
The feet offers three incline adjustments, making it easy to find a comfortable typing position. As with other Keychron keyboards, you get OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps, which is a cross between OEM and SA profiles.
The Keychon V2 only offers wired connectivity via USB-Type C, and the cable is nothing to shout about. The Mac/Windows mode switch is located right beside the USB port. You get spare keycaps for Mac keys as well.
User Experience
The Keychron K Pro Blue switches are not my first choice when it comes to typing as it is quite loud and pingy. Fortunately, it is hot-swappable with other 5-pin and 3-pin switches. I would recommend getting the Red or Brown switch options if you want something more quiet.
On the other hand, the OSA keycaps feel great, and are a great alternative to OEM / SA keycaps. The legends are sharp and each keycap feels consistent. However, as OSA profile keycaps are quite high, I highly recommend getting a wrist rest separately to improve ergonomics.
The knob comes in handy too, allowing me to adjust the volume and play/pause. I recommend getting the knob version unless you already have a control knob or a macro pad for media controls.
As the Keychron V2 only offers wired connectivity, it is not as versatile as its pricier siblings. If you want to use it on laptops or other devices, I suggest you look at the Keychron K series instead.
Customisation
The Keychron V2 is one of the few budget keyboards in the market that offers QMK and VIA customisation, which offers tons of opportunities to make the keyboard uniquely yours. The customisation extends to the control knob too.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Keychron V2 is a great budget option for newcomers looking for their first customisable keyboard. It offers great build quality as expected from Keychron products and lays a solid foundation for future upgrades if users plan to get the best out of it. It also has QMK and VIA support and is one of the few products in this price segment to do so.
However as it lacks wireless connectivity, making it not as versatile as its competitors in this price range, such as the Gamakay LK67. If you plan only to use it on your desktop, you won’t lose out on much.
To learn more about the Keychron V2, please visit the official website here.
