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When attempting to create the ideal mechanical keyboard, specifically is a wireless keyboard, there are numerous factors to take into account. In additionally to mounting designs, switches, keycaps, and sound, you must provide reliable connectivity. Keychron’s Q-series of gasket-mount gaming keyboards, which offer a great degree of customization, a pleasurable gasket-mount-enabled typing experience, and a reasonable price, nailed its physical build in late 2021.
The Keychron K8 Pro now tries to bring some enthusiast features, such as hot-swappable switches, to the wireless and generally less expensive Keychron K range. Unfortunately, this leads to a board with poor quality control and more shortcuts than even a mid-range “Pro” model ($79 for a basic model and $109 for it completely constructed) ought to have.
Keychron K8 Pro Review: Design
Office keyboards from the Keychron K Pro Series are acceptable. Bluetooth-enabled wireless variants can communicate with up to three other devices. They have excellent typing quality and an inner layer of noise-canceling foam. However, the clicky Gateron G Pro Blue switches make more noise than linear or tactile switches.
The toggle on the upper left side of the keyboards allows users to switch between Windows and mac, and the keyboards feel extremely solidly constructed. The program is accessible on all popular operating systems as well. Unfortunately, they don’t come with a wrist rest, which could make them uncomfortable to use for extended periods of time. You can buy this keyboard from its official website
Keychron K8 Pro Review: keys
As a tenkeyless (TKL) layout board, the Keychron K8 Pro contains everything but the numpad. Therefore, the K8 Pro is for you if you require everything (number row, function key row, arrow keys, cursor control keys) except the ten key. Since I don’t frequently need to input numbers, I generally keep with 75% or TKL, however I can go as low as 65% if there are extras like rotary knobs. By adjusting the toggle on the side of the Keychron K8 Pro to the appropriate mode, you can use it in wired or wireless mode.
There is a toggle for switching between Mac and Windows (along with some Windows-specific keycaps in the box to help avoid confusion). Depending on how thick your existing USB-C cables are on the USB-C side and how much the USB-C port is recessed, it may or may not work with your existing USB-C cords. Keychron thankfully provides a braided L-shaped USB-C to USB-A cable that functions flawlessly, but use caution when handling it since not all cables will fit. Fortunately, the pink coiled wire I’ve been using, which was initially included with my NK65 Milkshake Edition, has not caused me any problems.
Keychron K8 Pro Review: RGB lighting
The K8 Pro will be a favorite among those who also enjoy RGB backlighting. It has 19 backlight settings, and VIA allows you to even tailor them if you choose. Although I used to love RGB, I’ve grown to accept boards without them because the majority of my keycap sets don’t shine through. Unless you have some pudding caps or something, the K8 Pro’s south-facing RGB is not a big concern because the keycaps that arrive with a completely completed K8 Pro are not shone t
hrough. Additionally, the light key makes it easy to turn off the lights. The K8 Pro comes with everything you need, just like other Keychron keyboards. This kit comes with keycap and switch pullers, a USB-C connector, extra Windows keycaps, a hex wrench, and a small screwdriver.
Keychron K8 Pro Review: Connectivity
We also looked at two other Keychron keyboards that could be competitors. At the moment, the Keychron Q1 is my favourite. However, the Q2 would also be great, depending on whether you need a 75% or 65% layout. Even though they aren’t wireless, these are Keychron’s best products.
They have solid aluminium bodies, hot-swap functionality, VIA/QMK compatibility, versions with rotary knobs, and a range of colours. Even though they are a little more expensive, it’s because of how well they work. Since they aren’t travel boards, you can only use them if you don’t need to connect to the internet wirelessly.
Keychron K8 Pro Review: Battery life
If you lose the K8 Pro’s cord and can’t find it when you need to charge the cheap keyboard, the recessed USB-C connector could become a problem. which, incidentally, has a 4,000 mAh battery. It has the same capacity as the K8, but Keychron’s lab testing shows that it can last up to 300 hours with the backlight off or 100 hours with the RGB on. In the same two tests, the K8 only lasts up to 240 hours and up to 68 hours, respectively.
Keychron provided its resin wrist rest when I evaluated the Q2, and this time they matched the K8 Pro with its wooden equivalent. The height is about one-quarter inch less than the K8 Pro, but the length is the same. I am aware that the palm rest must fit a variety of Keychron keyboards, but many reviewers seem to find the shortness to be a constant tradeoff.
Keychron K8 Pro Review: Performance
The standard frame for the K8 Pro is made of plastic, but for an extra $10, you can get one made of aluminium. The aluminium frame that came with my review sample worries me because it could have messed with the way Bluetooth works. The K8 Pro can connect wirelessly to three devices at once, but I often had trouble connecting. I’ll talk more about this in the section about how fast you can type.
My unit is a prototype, and Keychron did warn me that it might have problems that regular models don’t. Even though I flashed the firmware patch that the company gave me, my problems didn’t go away. I’m now making plans to get a replacement, and after I test it, I’ll update my review.
Keychron K8 Pro Review: Conclusion
The Keychron K Pro Series is a good choice for office keyboards. Wireless versions that have Bluetooth can talk to up to three other devices. They are great for typing and have a layer of noise-cancelling foam on the inside. But the Gateron G Pro Blue switches that click make more noise than switches that are either linear or tactile.
The toggle in the top left corner of the keyboards lets users switch between Windows and macOS. This makes the keyboards feel very solidly built. The programme can also be used on all of the most common operating systems. They don’t come with a wrist rest, which could make using them for long periods of time uncomfortable.
KEYCHRON K8 PRO Ratings