The Keychron K8: A Simple Yet Effective Mechanical Keyboard

In a world filled with touch screens, VR, and paper-thin laptops, sometimes it’s necessary to go back to the basics. The Keychron K8 is a keyboard that brings back the efficacy of something simple yet undeniably effective – a solid mechanical keyboard. The tenkeyless design isn’t reinventing the wheel, but it does offer tons of options and plenty of reliability for those who spend most of the day hammering away at their keyboard.

At first glance, the retro aesthetic of the Keychron 8 might fool you into thinking it’s a relic of the 80s or 90s. Underneath its gradient grey and black color scheme, this keyboard offers a stunning range of features at the cutting edge of keyboard design.

Let’s start with the fun stuff. The Keychron 8 offers backlit keys with over 15 colors to choose from. Not only that, but you can choose from a range of different patterns and combinations to make your keyboard look like something your favorite DJ would use.

But that’s not the only thing you can customize. The Keychron 8 is hot-swappable, which means you can change your keys around whenever you want. You won’t even need a soldering gun to make this happen, as all of the keys pop in and out effortlessly.

If you’re serious about creating the perfect keyboard, the Keychron 8 allows you to customize your hardware even further. You can choose between optical and Gateron key design for a level of responsivity that reflects your personal preferences. Not only that, but you can also choose between three different types of Gateron switches; Red, Blue, or Green. If Gateron isn’t really your style, the Keychron 8 is compatible with many other mechanical switches, including Cherry and Kaihl.

One of the coolest features of this keyboard is that it can be either wired or wireless. Operate the keyboard wirelessly, and it’ll last for 4 weeks before you need to recharge it. You can use this wireless keyboard on three separate devices, and not being constrained by wires allows you more freedom of movement. When you need to charge, all you have to do is connect the wire and wait three hours for the battery to replenish.

Further features include Mac and Windows compatibility, a Type C USB plug, a dedicated Siri/Cortana button, and two adjustable rubber feet that help you create the perfect angle.

So why splurge on the Keychron 8? After all, you probably already have a keyboard built into your laptop, right? Take it from someone who writes all day from a living – there’s a massive difference between using a reliable mechanical keyboard and one that’s built into your laptop. The responsiveness of an external, mechanical keyboard can raise your productivity significantly, and you probably won’t want to go back once you’ve tried it. The tenkeyless design also keeps this keyboard compact, which means you can easily transport it wherever your laptop goes.

Elliot Figueira is an audiophile, a video game enthusiast, and a lover of all things science fiction. In the past, he has written extensively about audio devices, cameras, and film production equipment.