Never shy about making keyboards that look as good as they perform, Keychron just pushed that idea into genuinely unexpected territory. Launched Tuesday, the K2 HE Special Edition comes in two versions — one with a body made entirely of concrete, and one cast in resin. Both cost $199.99.
“Mechanical keyboards have advanced significantly in switch engineering, but enclosure materials have remained largely unchanged,” said Paul Tan, Co-founder at Keychron. “With K2 HE Special Edition, we applied magnetic switch performance to a material-driven redesign, expanding how a keyboard can look and feel.”
Keychron K2 HE concrete or resin keyboards
In a surprising development, Keychron went beyond its handsome wood-and-aluminum version of the K2 HE model with new special editions cast in concrete and resin housings. These keebs with Hall Effect switches (of particular interest to gamers) are not cheap, but they just might be interesting enough to attract plenty of buyers. They expand on the very fine original model, made of wood and aluminum.
They all look like worthy additions to our list of the coolest (and weirdest) keyboards in Mac setups.
Wait — a concrete keyboard?
Photo: Keychron
Yes, really. The concrete edition features a full concrete body/housing with a metal-reinforced frame underneath to keep everything structurally sound. It’s not the very first of its kind, but it appears to be the first mainstream release.
“Material selection was approached as an engineering decision, not just an aesthetic one,” Tan said. “We tested multiple compositions before finalizing concrete and resin as materials capable of meeting structural, acoustic, and durability requirements alongside magnetic switch technology.”
Keychron describes the exterior finish as marble-smooth. So despite being literally made of cement, it isn’t rough or unpleasant to the touch. The keycaps are cement-gray double-shot PBT, chosen to match the material’s muted, industrial palette.
Resin special edition
The Resin Edition, though not unique in the market, takes a different approach. Each keyboard is cast in black resin, and because of the way resin cures, no two units will look exactly the same. The silver-gray flowing patterns inside are a byproduct of the manufacturing process itself. The keycaps here are a frosted smoke-gray. It has the feel of something handmade, according to Keychron — even if it’s a keyboard you’ll be hammering away at during your next Zoom call.
Keychron co-founder Paul Tan says the unusual material choices weren’t just cosmetic. The company reportedly tested multiple compositions before settling on concrete and resin as materials that could meet the company’s requirements for structural stability, consistent acoustics and long-term durability, alongside the keyboard’s magnetic switch hardware.
What’s under the hood
Photo: Keychron
Underneath the striking exteriors, both editions share the same internals. The K2 HE uses magnetic switch technology, which allows you to adjust actuation points. That means you can tune exactly how far a key needs to travel before it registers. This is particularly useful for gamers who want rapid-trigger capability. But it also appeals to writers and power users who are particular about how their keyboard feels.
For Mac users specifically, the keyboard includes a system toggle and keycap support for macOS, so you won’t need to remap anything to get Command, Option and other Mac-specific functions working correctly out of the box. It also pairs over Bluetooth for multi-device use, or connects via 2.4 GHz wireless for lower latency. That’s handy if you’re switching between your MacBook at a desk and an iPad on the couch.
The keyboard is hot-swappable, which means you can swap out compatible switches without needing a soldering iron. It means the keyboard can evolve with your preferences over time rather than becoming obsolete if you change your mind about switch feel. Just be careful to research which switches are compatible.
Keychron K2 HE concrete or resin keyboards: Who are they for?
Photo: Keychron
The K2 HE Special Edition sits squarely at the intersection of keyboard enthusiast culture and design-conscious computing. At $199.99, it’s not a casual purchase, but it’s competitive for a wireless mechanical keyboard with adjustable actuation. The concrete and resin finishes give it a sculptural quality that most keyboards — even premium aluminum ones — simply don’t have.
If you work from a setup where aesthetics matter as much as performance, or you’re simply tired of every keyboard looking the same, the K2 HE Special Edition is a genuinely unusual option. Both editions are available now at keychron.com (and probably on Amazon soon, where you can get the regular model in wood/aluminum).
This Keychron K2 HE special edition features a body/housing made of concrete, of all things. The 75% layout keeb also sports Hall Effect magnetic switches and backlighting.
- Premium concrete body
- Fast acting HE magnetic switches
- Connects to 3 devices via Bluetooth
- Only works with magnetic switches
- Somewhat pricey
This Keychron K2 HE special edition features a body/housing made of black resin with interesting highlights. The 75% layout keeb also sports Hall Effect magnetic switches and backlighting.
- Premium resin body
- Fast acting HE magnetic switches
- Connects to 3 devices via Bluetooth
- Only works with magnetic switches
- Somewhat pricey
This wood-and-aluminum wireless custom mechanical keyboard includes Hall Effect Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Switches, 2.4 GHz QMK Bluetooth 5.2 and RGB backlighting. Compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux.
- Premium wood and aluminum body
- Fast acting HE magnetic switches
- Connects to 3 devices via Bluetooth
- Only works with magnetic switches
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
