Keychron launches yet another retro budget mechanical keyboard — this time with a num pad, 8 kHz polling, and Snap Tap

The Keychron C2 Pro 8K features many of the same characteristics as the higher-end Keychron mechanical keyboards, like compatibility with Keychron Launcher, high-quality double-shot PBT keycaps in the unique OSA profile, and Keychron Super Red, Brown, or Banana switches. However, in order to get the price down, Keychron has opted for a wired-only connection, although there is still a replaceable USB Type-C cable for repairability’s sake, and the keyboard features a case made entirely of ABS plastic. 

That's not to say that the ABS case should be a knock on the build quality of the C2 Pro 8K, since there are a few advantages to using ABS instead of aluminium. For starters, it makes it easy for Keychron to include features like the flip-out feet — which enable 4°, 8°, and 10° typing angles for ergonomic purposes— and the cutouts for the indicator LEDs above the num pad. The weight is also reduced compared to a full aluminium build, with the C2 Pro 8K weighing in at roughly 975 g. 

Nevertheless, many of the specifications are familiar, like the five-layer acoustic treatment and the handy hardware OS selector switch that makes it easy to switch between macOS and Windows layouts. In terms of build, the C2 Pro 8K is a lot like the Keychron C3 Pro 8K that launched as recently as last month, thanks to its tray mount design and retro looks. While it doesn't have the same shine-through convenience as the Keychron C1 Pro 8K, the C2 Pro 8K has a lot of character in its beige and brown colourway. Unfortunately, the C2 Pro uses south-facing RGB backlighting, which doesn't help for readability in dark rooms unless you find side-printed legends.

As mentioned previously, the Keychron C2 Pro 8K is compatible with Keychron Launcher ­— a highlight in all of our Keychron keyboard reviews so far — and the open-source QMK ecosystem, which means it is possible to customise the keyboard with macros, custom lighting effects, and key maps. One unorthodox feature Keychron opted to include on the C2 Pro 8K is Snap Tap — or Snap Action, as it is called in Keychron Launcher — something usually only found in Hall-effect keyboards. This allows you to counter-strafe far more easily in certain shooter games, effectively allowing you to prioritise one key press over the other depending on when the keys are activated.