Accessories

The Keychron K2 HE feels incredible

Like typing on clouds

Published

September 2, 2024

I’m not exactly what people would call a keyboard enthusiast. That’s a rabbit hole I consciously tried to avoid. I did, however, purchase a Keychron K3 keyboard a little over two years ago just to try it and have been using it ever since. Although, more sparingly recently.

A new keyboard wasn’t in my “to acquire” list but to my surprise, Keychron reached out and asked if we were willing to check out their latest – that’s the Keychron K2 HE. I jumped at the opportunity.

The Keychron K2 HE is still a kickstarter project as of writing. Click here to check out the kickstarter page and back it. Every feature you want to know about the product should be there. That’s why in this article, I’m primarily going to focus on my brief experience with it.

Like typing on clouds

Naturally, the first thing you’ll check with keyboards is what it feels like to type on them. My only real point of reference are the many laptop keyboards I’ve reviewed and the Keychron K3 I own. None of them come close to the extremely satisfying feeling I get when typing on the Keychron K2 HE.

Initially, I thought the keys were a little small for my chubby fingers. But I gave it an hour or two and I quickly adjusted to the size of the keys. Of course, it helps that the “bounce” on each keypress feels incredible. I’m not sure how else to describe it, but it does almost feel like you are typing on clouds.

I’m more familiar with sneaker-cushion lingo. Using that as reference, the bounce and energy return on each keypress of the Keychron K2 HE feels absolutely elite. This will sound like hyperbole, but it’s literally unlike anything else I’ve typed on before.

Keychron said they used double-rail magnetic switches by Gateron on these and perhaps that’s why the bounce and feel on this thing is absolutely insane.

DualSense-like Keys

These magnetic switches do more than just provide an incredible feeling when typing. They also allow for what Keychron calls ‘Adjustable Actuation Points’ as well as ‘Dynamic Rapid Triggering’.

With ‘Adjustable Actuation Points’, you’re able to assign how much pressing effort is required to trigger a particular action. That means for certain apps or games, you can make sure you avoid accidental presses or touches.

With ‘Dynamic Rapid Triggering’ you can “activate and deactivate keys based on travel distance to gain a consistent edge over your opponents with dynamic rapid trigger technology” . I just lifted that from the Kickstarter page because I’m more of a controller than a keyboard and mouse player when gaming. And I didn’t have a chance to thoroughly test this prior to needing to publish.

The way I understand it functions almost like the Adaptive Triggers on the DualSense controller of the PlayStation 5. In certain games, a half press and a full press on the triggers perform different functions. The keys on the Keychron K2 HE can be programmed in a similar manner.

If you’re all about precision, this is something that will be a major boon for you.

Thankfully, you don’t need an app to make all these adjustments. Just connect the keyboard to your laptop or PC and fire up the Keychron Launcher Web App to customize everything you want to customize. That includes keypresses

A look that will match just about anything

The Keychron K2 HE’s design is elevated by its wooden highlights. It comes in predominantly white or black bodies but it’s the rosewood accents that’ll help it blend into whatever set-up you have.

I was secretly hoping Keychron would send over the black one but I’ve grown to love the white one they sent over.

Toggles, ports and more are your usual affair.

On the left-hand side you’ll find the loan USB-C button. Right next to it you’ll find the Android/PC and Mac/iOS toggle. And right next to that you’ll find the Wired or Bluetooth toggle.

Flip it and you’ll find the two kickstands with two available height adjustments.

The rosewood accents are found on the sides of the keyboard with the escape and enter keys colored in the exact same way.

The Kickstarter Page says there are 22 backlight modes that you can fine tune to your liking. The backlight key on the top-most-right corner of the keyboard lets you cycle through some of the modes.

I tried changing the static color like I would on the Keychron K3 but that didn’t seem to work. For more granular control, your best bet is to go to the web app.

Long-lasting, quick waking

If, like me, you’re the type who doesn’t like to keep his things plugged, you’ll be happy to learn that the Keychron K2 HE will last on battery charge for a pretty long time. I’m already on roughly my second week of use from a full-charge and as of writing, it’s only gone down to 55% – that’s with pretty heavy usage.

I’m typically in front of my laptop 80% of my work time responding to work emails, chats, and copy editing the team’s work. In between those, I also have heavy writing session days when I try to knock off as many reviews, features, and scripts as I can in one sitting.

It’s that reason that I can’t tell you just yet how long it takes to charge this thing from zero because I just haven’t gotten to that point yet. Rest assured I shall update this space when the time comes.

Another big leap I noticed is that the keyboard’s sleep-to-wake speed is almost instantaneous. It’s a stark contrast to the 3-4 seconds that I have to wait before the Keychron K3 starts functioning again from sleep. It’s been one of the most pleasant things about the Keychron K2 HE for me.

Is the Keychron K2 HE your GadgetMatch?

The Keychron K2 HE has reached well-over its target in the Kickstarter campaign. The product starts at US$125 but you’ll need to shell out US$ 135 to get the special edition one with the rosewood accent.

For what you’re getting, I think that’s an absolutely fair price. And with the keyboard’s customizability, you’ll surely get plenty of mileage for it especially if you’re the type who really uses their keyboard a lot.

This is an easy recommendation for me. The Keychron K2 HE is a keyboard that feels absolutely light on your fingers with advanced features and looks to elevate your typing and gaming. It’s a worthy accessory to add to your arsenal and one that deserves GadgetMatch’s Seal of Approval.

Related Topics:K2 HE Keychron Keychron K2 HE

Accessories

CASETiFY Match: Finding the right case for your Galaxy Z8 Series phone

Cases that match your personality

Published

October 23, 2026

GadgetMatch

CASETiFY cases for Galaxy Z8 series phones

A phone case can be more than protection. It can also be a way to show off your interests, personality, and the little things that make you, well, you.

For our CASETiFY Match for the Galaxy Z8 Series, we asked the team one question: Why was this CASETiFY design your Match?

From Spider-Man fandom and capybara obsession to feline-inspired art and snake motifs, here are the designs that found their way into our team’s everyday carry, plus a couple of bonus picks worth checking out.

Rodneil: A little New York energy for a certified web-head

If it wasn’t obvious enough, I’m a certified web-head. I love anything and everything Spider-Man, especially the iconic red-and-blue motif. Though, if we’re being honest, I’m more partial to the red.

I had my eyes on the Spider-Man suit design for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and the Spider-Man Mask Snappy Grip Stand. Unfortunately, those designs aren’t available for the Galaxy Z Fold8.

So, I went with a design that gives off a bit of New York energy instead. It still pairs nicely with the Spidey Snappy Grip Stand, letting me bring a little of that Spider-Man vibe to my everyday setup.

V: Keeping it cool with capybaras

I’ve been a capybara stan since 2020, long before the world finally caught up with just how cute and chill these animals are. Seeing them get the recognition they deserve has been a source of much excitement.

Finding cool and cute capybara cases and accessories for the phones I use every day, however, hasn’t always been easy.

That’s where Deville Dewil’s capybara collection comes in. It fills that gap while making my Galaxy Z Fold8 feel like an even more personal accessory.

At this point, I’d like to identify as a capy/bara.

Luigi: A cat design that’s playful without being too loud

There’s no shortage of cat-themed cases out there. If you’re a cat lover like me, chances are you’ve considered one at some point.

The tricky part is finding a design that isn’t too whimsical or loud. I love the little furballs, but I still want something sleek and clean.

CASETiFY’s cat collection speaks to that balance. In particular, this design by Catwheezie blends artistry with a touch of whimsy. It lets me show off my personality without being too flashy.

MJ: A little reputation energy

I’ve always had a soft spot for snake motifs, and CASETiFY’s Transparent Kingsnake case gives me Taylor Swift’s reputation era energy.

I love how snakes symbolize transformation. As someone who’s always evolving and never afraid to reinvent himself, that meaning feels personal.

The black-and-white design also brings a sleek, rebellious edge. Paired with my Galaxy Z Flip8, it’s giving statement accessory with a little bite.

Bonus Match: Sunglasses at Night

Sometimes, keeping it simple is the way to go. The Sunglasses at Night design is tasteful and understated, letting me show off the actual color of my phone without competing with it.

Bonus Match: Pink Weekly Planner

For the girls (and gaes) who plan their days–and life–ahead. And of course, for when they need to keep their Wednesdays pink.

Find your Match

There’s no single way to find a phone case that feels right. It might be a favorite character, an animal you’ve loved for years, a piece of art, or a symbol that means something to you.

For our team, the right CASETiFY design is the one that brings a little more personality to a device we carry every day.

So, which design would be your Match?

Accessories

Bose acquires Skullcandy

But both are still separate brands.

Published

October 22, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

As one of the wisest sages of the 2000s once said, “He was a punk, she did ballet. What more can I say?” Sometimes, opposites attract. Now, two of those opposites in the audio space are coming together: the punk Skullcandy and the ballet-loving Bose.

Today, Bose has announced its acquisition of Skullcandy. The latter will continue to operate as a separate brand but now officially under the Bose umbrella. Although, it’s not a new collaboration as the two brands have previously worked together on devices before. Skullcandy will just have more access to Bose’s technologies moving forward.

Alternatively, Bose will now have access to Skullcandy’s more varied audience. Compared to Bose’s focus on premium products, Skullcandy caters to more alternative lifestyles. Though the brand has since mellowed from its more radical roots, it is still known as one of the alternative brands.

Bose, on the other hand, is still a household name for home audio and noise-cancelling headphones. The new relationship between two polar opposites might be seen as a weird one, but it’s ultimately beneficial to both parties. Besides, both brands were very strong in the 2010s. Keeping both brands going is a boon to audiophiles of the past decade.

Accessories

Fujifilm’s new instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 make room for more creative memories

A new pocket camera and a collage-making printer join the instax family.

Published

October 18, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Seeing a memory take shape beyond your screen changes how it feels. A favorite photo becomes a print you can tuck into a journal or pin beside your desk, and the everyday moments you capture get a little more room to live.

That was the spirit of Fujifilm’s instax Playhou2e launch in Makati, where visual artist Jill Arteche brought her signature illustrations into the event space.

Her artwork surrounded the latest additions to the instax family, the instax Pal 2 and instax Link WIDE 2. Both devices treat photography as a form of personal expression, from the snapshots you take throughout the day to the printed memories you want to keep close.

A pocket-sized camera that goes wherever you do

The original instax Pal made the case for carrying a camera without a full-sized setup. Its successor, the instax Pal 2, builds on that with a refreshed design and improved image quality.

The palm-sized camera is built for everyday adventures and can capture angles that are awkward to get with a smartphone. Its compact body also makes it easy to bring along if you like documenting your day as it happens.

Fujifilm gave the Pal 2 a semi-matte finish. A new monitor on top lets you review shots right after you take them, and the added viewfinder, control dial, and lever give it a more tactile feel to shoot with.

The specs have moved up, too. The Pal 2 captures 10-megapixel images, double the original’s five megapixels, and its internal storage holds up to 100 images compared with 50 before. A separately sold microSD card adds more room.

The creative options are where the Pal 2 gets playful. It offers 30 effects, so you can give images different moods without editing each one from scratch. Its instax Animation mode strings up to 10 consecutive shots into a flipbook-style animated video.

Transferring your photos is straightforward. The Pal 2 supports wireless Bluetooth transfers, and a USB Type-C connection offers faster transfers to compatible smartphones. From there, you can edit the images and post them to social media or keep them in your camera roll.

Because the Pal 2 is part of the instax ecosystem, its digital photos can also be printed on instant film through compatible instax printers. That means you can shoot first and decide later which moments deserve a physical copy.

Turning your camera roll into something worth keeping

Taking photos is only half the fun. The other half is deciding what to do with the hundreds of images that pile up on our phones.

The instax Link WIDE 2 is Fujifilm’s answer for anyone who collects travel photos or documents celebrations. As the brand’s WIDE-format smartphone printer, it prints at twice the image area of the instax mini format, which leaves more space for group photos and landscapes.

Its biggest new feature is Photo Mixer, which builds scrapbook-style collages from multiple images you pick in the dedicated app. Instead of printing a single photo, you can combine highlights from a trip or a gathering into one larger keepsake.

The app suggests layouts based on your chosen photos and adjusts image sizes, angles, text placement, and fonts to keep the design cohesive. You can then add your own text and stamps. A cutout function identifies people and objects in your photos so you can layer them into the collage.

With Photo Mixer, printing becomes part of the creative process, and your camera roll turns into material for building a visual record of an experience in a single print.

The Link WIDE 2 also gets a design refresh, with two-tone finishes in Duo Beige and Duo Blue. The light and dark surfaces give it a polished look on a shelf or desk, and an illuminated instax logo glows while it prints.

Connectivity has expanded, too. Beyond smartphones and tablets, the printer works with PCs, Fujifilm X Series cameras, and the instax Pal 2, so digital artwork and other compatible images can become physical prints.

A more personal way to keep your memories

The instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 share the idea that photography is a way to express yourself. The Pal 2 makes it easy to capture moments as they happen, and the Link WIDE 2 gives those images a place in the physical world.

Jill Arteche’s artwork at the launch backed that idea up. Her illustrations filled the space with personality and showed how photos and art can make an environment feel more personal. The event also made a case for revisiting and reinterpreting the images we collect.

Taking a photo takes seconds, and printing one can make the memory feel more special. The instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 bring that into everyday life and give your snapshots room for creativity, from the moment you press the shutter to the moment you find a place for the print.

In the Philippines, the Fujifilm instax Pal 2 retails for PhP 10,599, while the Fujifilm instax Link WIDE 2 is priced at PhP 10,999. Both devices are now available on Fujifilm’s authorized stores and retailers nationwide.