K4 HE Wireless Magnetic Switch Custom Keyboard

Make sure you get the hot swappable version, a soldered board is 2025 is practically a war crime.

It's Logitech, so no. Banana is a slightly heavier and smoother tactile switch. For the K4 you need to get the RGB backlight version with the hot-swappable switches. The default is soldered which is practically a war crime.

Avoid epomaker and royal kludge, they are generally awful ( though there are exceptions like the galaxy 100) . If you are in the US, and keep an eye out, the keychron k4 rgb (the second Gen hot swap version) will often be used for under $40 sold by keychron. I've bought two like that in the last year as gifts and they're a damn solid board for that price

Got the Keychron k4HE 2 days ago from Amazon Prime Day. It is my first >$100 keyboard and I am so damn amazed by it.

If I may give you a suggestion towards reliability rather than higher specs, my current setup entails a 96% size hot-swappable keyboard (Keychron K4) and a mouse with optomechanical switches (Logitech G502X, wired version). The K4 you can swap an individual switch with a new one should one start to fail The G502X works in such a way that the currently way too common misuse of microswitches isn't a problem (voltage and whetting current too weak, leading to double clicking and the like down the line) because the mechanical switch is only there for feel, while the actual switching is performed optically (piece that interrupts a beam of light).

Second this but the K4 HE, hall effect switches are OP for gaming

Honestly, unless you're looking to dump $100+ into a keyboard, HE doesn't make sense. Cheap HE boards are just not it in terms of reliability, build quality, and software experience. The cheapest HE board I can actively recommend is something like a NuPhy Field 75 HE or Air60/75 HE. Keychron's K2 HE or K4 HE are also a steal for what they cost. But it's all preference. Generally speaking, mechanical keyboards still have the upper hand when it comes to sound, and to a degree build quality. But if you're not particular about sound, and you can handle more or less only having linear switch options, HE is fantastic for both work and play.

I mean, in FPS games that still allow it, SOCD is a pretty solid advantage, apparently. There are other features, like DKS that allows you to input like four different keys with one keystroke, or analog mode for games that support dual input. But those can take getting used to. I wouldn't say you're gonna need to train to get used to any of it, but it'll feel a bit wonky for a while, as with any change. As for actuation point, I actually find it quite easy to get used to shorter actuation points — until a point. As soon as I drop below like 1.2 mm, I start making hella errors in my typing. Honestly, you might just be better off getting a keyboard that feels really nice to use and calling it a day. I have four HE keyboards available to me (Wooting 80HE, Keychron K4 HE, Iqunix EZ63, Epomaker HE75 Mag), and I still mostly game and type on my mechanical keyboards. They sound better to me, so they're less distracting, and that motivates me to use them.

I've had a good experience with my K4 HE, and that's been great. I'd much rather use a Q HE series or a Lemokey L or P HE keyboard, because the aluminium chassis sounds and feels a decent bit better, but the K HE series is great nonetheless. The K10 HE is a solid affordable option for full-size HE.

I've had a good experience with my K4 HE, and that's been great. I'd much rather use a Q HE series or a Lemokey L or P HE keyboard, because the aluminium chassis sounds and feels a decent bit better, but the K HE series is great nonetheless. The K10 HE is a solid affordable option for full-size HE.

Im a big fan of keychron, but there are some better value options out there as far as I've been told. I don't have a ton of experience with keyboards and mice but my keychron k4 has been fantastic 

Yes! My k4 has a numpad and theres plenty other models from them that do. They have sales relatively often so id see if you can catch one on sale