Charon Harding
A common complaint about mechanical keyboards is that they are too expensive. Options are even more limited for budget-conscious buyers if they want a wireless device, especially if they’re looking for a Mac-specific card. But the market has come a long way, and now you can get mechanical keyboards, including cable-free options, for less than $100. And not only can you buy a wireless mechanical keyboard that works with Apple computers, but in the case of the Keychron K14, you can get one that comes with a ready-to-use Mac layout (don’t worry, Windows keys are included too).
The K14 is a 70 per cent wireless mechanical keyboard, which means it ditches the numeric keypad (but not the navigation keys) and forgoes a dedicated row of functions. The result is a compact clacker with a white or RGB lighting option and hot-swappable switches to get the exact typing feel you want.
The K14 even offers some wireless luxuries, like the ability to pair the board with up to three Bluetooth devices and switch between them, as well as USB-C charging and the ability to use the keyboard with a cable. AT $59 to $99, the K14 is a good candidate for someone looking for a mid-priced wireless keyboard with mechanical switches, and it’s even better for those who want Apple-ready Legends. For keyboard enthusiasts looking for the best craftsmanship from sight to sound, however, some of the K14’s features fall short.
| Specifications at a glance: Keychron K14 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Worse | Better | As reviewed | |
| Switches | Keychron red, blue or brown | Gateron red, blue or brown, hot-swappable | Keychron red, blue or brown, hot-swappable |
| Keys | Double injection ABS plastic | ABS plastic | ABS plastic |
| Connectivity options | Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C to USB-A cable | ||
| Backlight | Nothing | RGB | Nothing |
| Cut | Plastic: 13.11 × 4.09 × 1.53 inches (333×104×38.85mm) |
Plastic with aluminum: 13.27 × 4.25 × 1.53 inches (337×108×38.85mm) |
Plastic with aluminum: 13.27 × 4.25 × 1.53 inches (337×108×38.85mm) |
| Weight | Plastic: ~1.34 lbs (611g) | Aluminum: ~1.62 lbs (735g) | Aluminum: ~1.62 lbs (735g) |
| guarantee | 1 year | ||
| Price (MSRP) | $59 | $99 | $79 |
| Other advantages | Additional keys: 1x Esc, 1x Windows, 2x Alt; 1 USB-C to USB-A cable; 1x key puller | Additional keys: 1x Esc, 1x Windows, 2x Alt; 1 USB-C to USB-C cable; 1 key puller; 1x switch puller | Additional keys: 1x Esc, 1x Windows, 2x Alt; 1 USB-C to USB-C cable; 1 key puller; 1x switch puller |
Options at different prices
The price of the K14 varies depending on the features you choose. The feature set will also affect the color scheme: white with light gray and red or dark gray with light gray and orange. You can get the K14 with white or RGB backlighting, but only with the dark gray keys. Keychron sells keys separately, but they don’t have the same layout as the K14, allowing the number row to double as the function and media key row.
The cheapest version of the K14 has no backlight (except for a red light for caps lock), and it comes with Keychron-branded switches that are soldered on. This means that you would need a soldering iron and a lot of patience to change the mechanical switches on the keyboard. More expensive SKUs, including the mid-priced K14 I tested, let you add hot-swappable mechanical switches so you can easily pop them out with an included tool. Gateron red, blue or brown switches are also available.
Curiously, a backlight results in a demotion of the keycap. K14s with backlighting have ABS plastic keycaps, and those without backlighting use tougher double-shot ABS plastic.
Finally, to get Gateron-branded mechanical switches instead of Keychron, you’ll need to order the K14 with the darker keys.
Disappointing keycaps
Keychron sent me a non-backlit K14 with white keys as well as the most expensive option, which has dark gray keys and RGB backlighting. I much prefer the look of the non-backlit version. Both color combinations look retro, but the white is even more so. Additionally, the white/non-backlit version has a bright appearance that allows you to easily see the thicker legends, even the gray legends for the function line and media keys.
Charon Harding
The white version means no backlighting, but the keys are so vibrant that I didn’t miss the lighting. Additionally, skipping a backlight helps extend keyboard battery life, and non-backlit keys have double legends, so they won’t fade (the gray legends on the row top are laser engraved).
It’s still unfortunate that Keychron forces you to make the decision instead of offering a white version with backlighting.
The K14 is one of the few mechanical keyboards – and even rarer, wireless mechanical keyboards, which cater to Mac users. The keyboard supports macOS and Windows, as well as iOS and Android. But all K14s come with a Mac layout, which means there are Option and Command keys where Windows and Alt are on Windows keyboards. Keychron includes Windows alternatives in the box.
Charon Harding
At the same time, Keychron offers a user group “to help experience” for Linux users.
