Keychron K4

amazon Keychron K4 reviews

At present, when mechanical keyboard models have become popular, with affordable prices for more people, users will need and want new products with new features, or new features. Unique features and details, to enhance the experience better.

Specifications

The Keychron K4 version I’m using to evaluate has the following specifications:

Material: aluminum shell

Dimensions and weight: 376 x 129 x 38 mm / 933g

Layout 96%, 96 keys including 12 multimedia keys

Keycap: ABS plastic (Single Shot)

Switch: Blue by Gateron

Connectivity: via USB type C port (to connect to external devices / to charge the battery) / with Bluetooth 3.0 connection

Battery: 4000mAh

Use time: according to the manufacturer, it is from 3 to 5 weeks if the LED background is not turned on, and from 20 to 80 hours if the LED is on, as well as depending on the frequency of use of the user.

Full charge time: almost 3 hours

There are 2 function switches:

1 button to switch Bluetooth mode / Cable mode / Off the keyboard

1 button to switch between operating system platforms: Windows + Android / Mac + iOS

Familiar general design, similar to the previous generation

Keychron K4 is like a “long-legged” version of its predecessor, Keychron K2 (K4 has 96 keys, and K2 has 81 keys), still, the familiar style is the layout of the keys close together, so even though the layout is 96% slightly better than the TKL standard, but the K4 still gives us a fairly complete full-size keyboard experience, with all the main keys and numeric keypad.

With the addition of the numeric keypad in my opinion as necessary and worthwhile, then K4 will be an option for customers who do professional jobs: accountants, data entry, programmers, or related to many fields the numbers,..can be referenced and considered. I do not use the numeric key cluster, work, or have to move to need a compact keyboard, but when I need to use computer input, I find it necessary !! So K4 in the process of my experience, I find it very convenient, and quite compact to carry.

The advantage is like that, and the disadvantage is that the layout is slightly changed, sometimes the wrong key is typed, the navigation key cluster is close to the main key cluster and the number key, every time you press it, you have to look to locate it! In general, new users will need a fair amount of time to get used to it.

The K4 keyboard frame is made from aluminum, the surface treatment is grainy, the finish is quite good, in the hand feels sturdy, firm, and not creaking, and the surface is limited to sweat, fingerprints, and scratches are quite good.

The underside has 2 rubber feet, with 2 kickstands that open to create a tilt, during use, I often have to open the anti-tilt, because the base of the K4 frame is a bit high, If you have to raise your wrist higher than usual, it will quickly fatigue your wrist.

So if you use the style of placing the keyboard directly on the table, the user will need to buy an additional palm rest.

Switch Blue has a hand, the keycap color scheme is good, but the quality is not high over time

Keychron K4 has a slightly curved keycap to hug the fingertips, the keycap material is still quite thin ABS plastic similar to K2, and the laser-engraved characters are quite sharp, can pierce the Led quite beautifully and gently not too flashy. K4 comes with additional Mac-specific keys such as Control, Command, and Option (Ctrl, Alt, Windows on Windows operating systems).

However, the quality of the keycap is the point I do not appreciate on the K4: the keys are thin, the characters on the surface are relatively easy to “miss”, and the keys are also easy to shine after a short time of use, especially for who sweaty hands, the font size is also a bit small, …

For fun, it seems that the manufacturer is trying to create conditions for users to play the keycap on their own to match their personality, and K4 is quite easy for you to “play” the keycap, I tried to set the PBT DSA Carbon keycap, feel The typing feel is much better!!

The K4 model I use is equipped with Gatero’s Blue switch (Clicky, Tactile, 60g), which gives a feeling of “muscular” typing, hands, stocky, fast response, the click sound is quite stimulating big !! According to my assessment, this switch balances quite well between gaming and typing work, but you need to pay attention to the usage environment !!

On this K4 model, in addition to the Blue switch, there are also Brown, Red, and Yellow options (linear, 50g) and most especially 2 optical switch models Optical Blue and Red manufactured by Flaretech, very diverse for users to choose from switches to suit your needs.

K4 has RGB LED backlight, press 1 button to switch between modes, and no adjustment software, but it seems that this part is not invested very much, when Led has not had great brightness, although adjusted to the highest level, the gradation effects are not too prominent.

I think with the style of K4, it is not advisable to do the background Led, or if there is Led, the monochrome white Led for evening use is enough, no need to be too flashy.

Fast and simple connection, up to 3 devices, Strong battery

Keychron K4 uses 2 modern connection methods: USB type C cable and Bluetooth, the left side of the keyboard has 2 very convenient function switches: 1 button to switch Bluetooth mode / Cable mode / Off keyboard, and there is 1 button to switch between operating system platforms: Windows + Android / Mac + iOS.

Users can connect to 3 different devices and store information, switching between devices via the combination of Fn + 1 / or 2 or 3.

The conversion time is very fast, in the process of trying to switch back and forth between an Android phone, a Windows laptop, and a MacBook, the connection only takes about 2-3 seconds. On the frame of K4 there are 2 status lights for Battery (lightning bolt) and Connection (Bluetooth character), when in the ready state, the connection light will blink continuously for easy viewing.

The Bluetooth connection experience I feel is good, stable, and has low latency, I have not tried playing games but I think to use it, it is best to use a cable.

Regarding the battery, the K4 has a battery capacity of up to 4000 mAh, the manufacturer says that the K4 can operate continuously for 3 weeks without plugging in the charger, possibly up to 5 weeks longer if the background Led is turned off. I do not keep the product long enough to test (due to borrowed goods !!) but the number given by the manufacturer is quite impressive to me, in fact, after 3 days of keeping K4 in use, the product still has a battery (status light is still green!). The charging time through the USB-C port of the K4 is also impressive when the battery is fully charged in only 3 hours (faster than the previous generation, it took more than 5-6 hours to be fully charged).

Summary

Keychron K4 is a mechanical keyboard product that offers an interesting, versatile, and convenient experience for many needs, external appearance and stable structure, a variety of switches and supports many operating systems for users. choice, the price, in my opinion, is quite reasonable and acceptable if you ignore some small disadvantages of the product.

where can you get a Keychron K4 online

Keychron K4 Wireless Bluetooth/USB Wired Gaming Mechanical Keyboard, Compact 100 Keys RGB LED Backlit Gateron G Pro Blue Switch N-Key Rollover, Aluminum Frame for Mac Windows, Version 2: Buy it now

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Keychron K4 Hot swappable Wireless Bluetooth/USB Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, 96% Layout 100 Keys Computer Keyboard with Gateron G Pro Brown Switch White LED Backlight for Mac Windows-Version 2: Buy it now

Keychron K4 RGB Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard, Wired USB C Gaming Keyboard with Optical Red Switch N-Key Rollover, Compact 100 Keys Computer Keyboard for Mac Windows PC Gamer – Version 2: Buy it now

Keychron K4 Wireless Bluetooth/USB Wired Mechanical Keyboard, 100 Keys RGB Backlit Gateron Brown Switch N-Key Rollover Anti Ghosting, Aluminum Frame for Mac Windows: Buy it now