Anne pro 2 battery indicator1/6/2024 ![]() Though mechanical keyboards have exploded in popularity in recent years, the vast majority of them are not low-profile. ![]() Go to your local electronics retailer or shop around Amazon and you’ll see that it’s a “normal” mechanical keyboard supremacy. It may be because normal-sized mechanical keyboards have been around since the ‘70s that the chunky form factor remains so popular. But low-profile keyboards are having a moment, led by products like the Keychron K7 that I’ve been testing for the past few weeks. Low-profile mechanical keyboards are obviously thinner, but they also use much shorter, almost flat, keycaps and switches. It used to be the case that low-profile mechanical keyboards compromised big time, but with better low-profile switches available these days, you can still get a similar experience to typing on a regular mechanical keyboard. The only downside is that you may not find as many options for keycaps, wrist rests, and other accessories. If you look past all the typical mechanical keyboards, though, there are companies that tailor to the low-profile mechanical keyboard market such as Logitech, Cooler Master, and most notably, Keychron, the Kickstarter-savvy keyboard brand that’s rapidly wiggled itself into the keyboard space with a range of affordable and customizable products. The height is actually more like 24mm when you take into account the rubber stoppers. The Keychron K7, announced back in July, is a 65 percent keyboard that’s only 22mm (about 0.86 inch) at its thickest with keycaps (the rubber stoppers add another 2mm, which are not counted in the official height). The 68-key Keychron K7 has dedicated arrow keys, and two function keys to access media controls and lighting effects. There’s a ton of switch variety, and you can pick between three Gateron low-profile mechanical switches or five low-profile Keychron optical switches. The cheapest Keychron K7 configuration ($69) comes with soldered Gateron low-profile mechanical switches and white backlighting, but the most expensive model ($89) has hot-swappable switches (only swappable with the same brand) and RGB backlighting. If you’re the owner of one of Keychron’s other models, everything else is standard. Same gray-colored keycaps, switch for Bluetooth and wired modes, switch for connecting to Windows or Mac, and partial-aluminum case. There are no extra embellishments on the Keychron K7 - just a well-made mechanical keyboard from a company focused on making really great mechanical keyboards and nothing else. Input may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article. We only include products that have been independently selected by Input’s editorial team. I’ve been using the Keychron K7 as my main keyboard for the past three weeks. ![]() ![]() Keychron provided me with two review units with different hot-swappable optical switches. As an owner of a Keychron K2, this new low-profile keyboard maintains the same level of quality packaged in a smaller frame. It’s not ideal for every situation, but I’ve found it versatile enough for all-day typing, editing video, and gaming. The 65 percent form factor is my favorite of all the others, with ( tenkeyless) TKL at a close second, and after switching from a 60 percent Anne Pro 2, it’s just so nice to have dedicated arrow keys again. If you’re familiar with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, the Keychron K7 has a similar layout, and it even comes with Apple-dedicated keycaps installed. Sit down my Windows users, Keychron also includes Windows-dedicated keys that you can quickly replace. Even the media keys are in the same location as the Magic Keyboard, and while you do have to use the Function keys, the legends are clear and easy enough to memorize. ![]()
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