A common complaint about mechanical keyboards is that they are too expensive. Options are even more limited for buyers on a budget if they need a wireless device, especially if they’re looking for a Mac board. But the market has come a long way, and you can now get mechanical keyboards, including cableless ones, for less than $100.
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 a keyboard that comes with a Mac layout out of the box (don’t worry, keycaps for Windows are also included).
The K14 is a 70 percent wireless mechanical keyboard, which means it lacks a number pad (but not navigation keys) and lacks a dedicated function row. The result is a compact nutcracker with white or RGB lighting options and hot-swappable switches to give you exactly the feel you want when typing.
The K14 even offers some wireless luxuries, like the ability to pair the board with three Bluetooth devices and switch between them, as well as USB-C charging and the ability to use a keyboard with a cable. Priced between $59 and $99, the K14 is a good candidate for those looking for a budget to mid-range wireless mechanical switch keyboard, and it’s even better for those who want the legendary Apple. However, for keyboard enthusiasts seeking the highest craftsmanship from look to sound, some of the K14’s features are not up to par.
| Features at a Glance: Keychron K14 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Worst | Best | As verified | |
| Switches | Keychron red, blue or brown | Gateron Red, Blue or Brown, hot swappable | Keychron red, blue or brown, hot swappable |
| Keycaps | Double ABS | ABS plastic | ABS plastic |
| Connection options | Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C to USB-A cable | ||
| Backlight | Nobody | RGB | Nobody |
| Size | Plastic: 13.11 x 4.09 x 1.53 inches (333 x 104 x 38.85 mm) | Plastic with aluminium: 13.27 x 4.25 x 1.53 inches (337 x 108 x 38.85 mm) | Plastic with aluminium: 13.27 x 4.25 x 1.53 inches (337 x 108 x 38.85 mm) |
| Weight | Plastic: ~1.34 lb (611 g) | Aluminum: ~1.62 lb (735 g) | Aluminum: ~1.62 lb (735 g) |
| Guarantee | 1 year | ||
| Price (suggested retail price) | $59 | $99 | $79 |
| Other perks | Additional keys: 1 Esc, 1 Windows, 2 Alt; 1 USB-C to USB-A cable; 1 key puller | Additional keys: 1 Esc, 1 Windows, 2 Alt; 1x USB-C to USB-C cable; 1 key cap remover; 1x switch puller | Additional keys: 1 Esc, 1 Windows, 2 Alt; 1x USB-C to USB-C cable; 1 key cap remover; 1x switch puller |
Options with different prices
Prices for the K14 vary 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 dark gray keycaps. Keychron sells the keycaps separately, but they do not have the same layout as the K14, allowing a row of numbers to serve as a row of function and multimedia keys.
The cheapest version of the K14 has no backlight (except for the red light for Caps Lock) and comes with soldered Keychron branded switches. This means that you will need a soldering iron and a lot of patience to change the keyboard’s mechanical switches. Pricier WeUs, including the mid-range K14 I tested, let you add hot-swappable mechanical switches so you can easily slide them out with the included tool. Gateron Red, Blue or Brown switches are also available.
Oddly enough, backlighting causes the keyboard to be downgraded. Backlit K14s have ABS keycaps, while non-backlit models use stronger double ABS.
Finally, to get Gateron-branded mechanical switches instead of Keychron, you’ll need to order the K14 with darker keycaps.
Disappointing caps
Keychron sent me a non-backlit K14 with white keycaps, as well as the most expensive variant with dark gray keycaps and RGB lighting. I like the look of the non-illuminated version better. Both color schemes seem retro, but white is even more so. In addition, the non-backlit white version has a bright look, making it easy to see thicker lettering – even gray lettering for the function bar and multimedia keys.
The white version means no backlighting, but the keys are so bright that I didn’t miss any backlighting. In addition, the lack of backlighting helps extend the keyboard’s battery life, and the non-backlit keys are double lettered so they don’t fade (the gray lettering on the top row is laser-etched).
However, it’s a pity that Keychron is forcing you to decide instead of offering a backlit white version.
The K14 is one of the few mechanical keyboards (and even rarer wireless mechanical keyboards) that are suitable for Mac users. The keyboard supports both macOS and Windows, as well as iOS and Android. But all K14s ship with a Mac layout, which means there are Option and Command keys where Windows and Alt are on Windows-based keyboards. Keychron includes Windows alternatives in a box.
Meanwhile, Keychron offers a user group “to help with the experience”for Linux users.