Review on 🎮 Keychron K4 Compact Gaming Mechanical Keyboard, Wireless Bluetooth/USB Wired, 100 Keys RGB LED Backlit, Gateron Red Switch, N-Key Rollover, Aluminum Frame, Mac Windows Compatible - Version 2 by Stacey Taylor

I'm VERY picky about keyboards. I'm over 50. I know. it's an obsession. I travel and print a lot. My requirements for this keyboard in particular are that I wanted the keyboard to be compact enough to fit in my backpack, but still have mechanical keys and a number pad, which is essential for my work. I also wanted Bluetooth or at least a detachable cable. Most keyboards have a non-detachable cable, making them cumbersome when traveling. In order to combine all of these features into one keyboard, I realized I had to make concessions, but I don't want any concessions to interfere with my ability to print. That said, I needed a full-size keyboard and high-quality keys. This is truly the first keyboard that meets all of my keyboard needs. Full size with numeric keypad but compact. Bluetooth with detachable chord and quality assembly and key travel. what did you have to do without? First, I had to give way to a thicker keyboard. To accommodate the backlit mechanical keyboard with Bluetooth, the manufacturer had to add some weight and thickness to boost the battery to make it work. This affects the compactness to some extent, as well as ease of typing for some, although for me it doesn't affect my comfort or ability to type. Secondly, I've had to succumb to a keyboard that goes to sleep after a few minutes and I'll have to be patient while it wakes up again, as well as deal with some occasional Bluetooth lag. Third, I had to give way to the somewhat stiff cursor keys (which I rarely use anyway) and the "0" on the number pad to a regular button instead of a big thumb button. Fourth, I had to pay $104 for all of these features. So. I'm very happy with my purchase, but here's what I think (for me at least) would make this keyboard better.1. I would either put the keyboard to sleep defined by the user via the application or turn off Bluetooth altogether. By far my biggest complaint is how quickly this keyboard falls asleep. I have a business and review invoices and documents and then enter and update information as needed. 90% of the time when I'm ready to turn on my keyboard, it goes to sleep. It is not worth. This should be defined by the user as needed or simply eliminated. It cannot be used in its current state. So I always leave it on when I'm working. I LOVE the fact that it uses a detachable USB-C, making it easy to plug into my laptop for power and data.2. If Bluetooth was scrapped I would build a really thin version of it. Remove the battery, remove Bluetooth, and shrink this keyboard by half an inch or more by adding half-depth keys. It would be an extremely comfortable keyboard, light and compact, but only at the expense of Bluetooth, which doesn't work effectively anyway. I would return the big 0 key on the number pad. To be honest I'm not sure how to go about this; maybe lose the "control" button and embed that function somewhere else, maybe. But for people who need Tenkey, we NEED Tenkey. We're typing data and constantly looking at the keyboard to make sure I'm hitting the miniature '0' key (the most frequently pressed key when entering data), it's too distracting. If the company would make the Bluetooth sleep feature user-selectable and remap the keys to accommodate the 0 key on the large number pad, I'd be very happy. OR if the company makes a model that ditches bluetooth entirely and makes it a really skinny beast by removing the battery and making the buttons halfway AND remapping the number key (see above) I'd be just as happy. In fact, I would probably buy both and rate both 5 stars. Those issues aside, this keyboard is really good for a compact keyboard with mechanical keys and number pad.