Anne Pro 2 vs GK61
While many gamers prefer to use a full-size keyboard, it doesn’t mean the smaller 61 keys are less capable because they can be better for some people too. With the rise of PC gaming, there are more to choose as well, such as the Anne Pro 2 Vs GK61. These keyboards are very comfortable, responsive, but also versatile for other than gaming. If you wonder which of the two popular keyboards will be the best choice, let’s see below about what they can offer.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Which Gaming Keyboard to Choose
- What are Anne Pro 2 and GK61
- How are the Design of Anne Pro 2 and GK61
- What are the Switch of Anne Pro 2 and GK61
- What else Anne Pro 2 and GK61 can offer
- How to Program the Anne Pro 2 and GK61
- Anne Pro 2 Vs GK61
Gaming Keyboards
Gaming peripherals can be very crucial to the experience because we are interacting with them all the time. Left hand on the keyboard and right hand on the mouse, making these pieces are equally important to upgrade when you want to improve the gaming experience. Today’s topic is about gaming keyboards and just like many know, this can be very confusing because we have so many of them and not all of us have the same opinion about the best gaming keyboard.
When it comes to gaming keyboards, the most important is probably the switch used and this can be either mechanical or membrane. There is also scissors too but this is often used in laptops and not specifically currently developed for gaming purposes. Mechanical keyboards such as Razer Huntsman V2 are the most common for gaming applications. It is also the oldest in terms of technology and very durable too with that classic clicky sound that can be both satisfying but annoying for some.
Membrane, as the name suggests, is that switch that feels soft when you press them or feels like there is a cushion below the keycaps. This is because there is a rubber membrane under each key which is put close to the contact of the typing plate. It is cheaper to make and has a sour reputation that they can often lag as when the user presses the button yet the contacts don’t close. However, nowadays companies can make much better membrane switches like Razer Cynosa Vs Cynosa V2.
Gaming keyboards can have different types of connection too and it is highly subjective to what you will want to pair them with. Typically a regular wired keyboard is enough for most people but some of us may want to have the convenience of using it with other devices and here is where Bluetooth keyboard comes in handy. However, for a fixed setup it is wise to use the wired option or just plug the cable all the time to remove the risk of losing power when you are in the middle of a battle.
In addition, gaming keyboards come in varying sizes and material too which should be in your consideration. Low-quality keyboards can have wobbly keys for example which can be very annoying not only for gaming but in general applications too. Also, the material and design such as the amount of keys that you need is important to consider because we have different setup and just personal preference. If a full-size keyboards like Huntsman is too space consuming, we have more than plenty to opt for on the smaller side.
| Anne Pro 2 | GK61 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 11.18 x 3.82 x 1.57 inches | 11.5 x 4.02 x 1.57 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 1.4 pounds | 1.18 pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Anne Pro 2 and GK61
There are lots of amazing options that you can count on but it is probably more convenient to get one from the brand or company that you trust. It is faster since we know that their products will be reliable so we can spend more time thinking about what to look for from the keyboard itself. You can shop based on the factors above or budget too because we may have a limit or plan on how much to spend.
If you are here then we assume that a compact keyboard is what matches with the application the most and for this option, there are several names that come to our mind, some of them are Anne Pro and HK Gaming. There are actually more to consider such as Ducky one but the rest tend to be quite expensive with similar quality and ability. We love these brands because they are often more affordable than the rest but are still very reliable and solid options for gaming.
Some of the favorites from the brands are Anne Pro 2 and GK61 by HK Gaming. If you are asking which will be the more affordable, it is clearly the latter but the two are not exactly the same as well so we do think it is wise to see what they can offer first. One of the most attractive parts that make these keyboards amazing for a wide range of gamers is probably because you can decide what switch to put on the set.
We guess they are cheaper because they don’t use Cherry MX switches but even so these mechanical keys still feel great. In comparison the Anne Pro 2 and GK61 by HK Gaming are already different from the outside or how they designed the keyboard’s outer. If you will be customizing all of the keycaps, we may recommend the GK61 instead because it can save quite some but if you prefer convenience, we will recommend the Anne Pro 2.
Anne Pro 2 and GK61 Design
First let’s see the keyboard and while most 60% variants look the same, there must be some differences as well and here the most noticeable thing is that the GK61 is wired only so you have to plug it in all the time. The keyboards look very similar from the top and they are the type that has a solid base so the height or angle will be the same. We found that it is comfortable with how the keys are not exactly flat.
They are available in various different colors but Anne Pro 2 only has either black or white while for GK61 you can choose Red, Lavender, Blue or even Pink to match with the aesthetic of the setup. You will get USB cable in the box with either of these keyboards but only Anne Pro 2 will also include a set of customization keycaps, it is colorful and probably mixed randomly with every keyboard.
Anne Pro 2 and GK61 Switch
Moving further, switch is probably the most important part for Anne Pro 2 and GK61 by HK Gaming but as it has been mentioned above, you can choose from varying options as Anne Pro provide both Gateron and Kailh switches while HK Gaming lets you choose from Gateron mechanical or optical switch. The options we have here are the mechanical keyboards and Gateron Brown. Since they are the same switch, they also feel the same, pretty good but not identical to Cherry MX.
What’s interesting is that GK61 is actually hot swappable if you choose the mechanical PCB variant so we can change the switch into Kailh or Cherry MX for example without the need to soldering it but, this is not possible with the optical switch variant unless you will swap it with the same optical switch too. From the stability these keycaps are good but GK61 uses typical ABS caps and have this glossy finish too on the sides while Anne Pro already uses PBT that we personally like better.
Anne Pro 2 and GK61 Features
Next is for the feature and the best thing about Anne Pro 2 is probably the Bluetooth connectivity because it allows you to use the keyboard wirelessly with laptop or tablets, etc. and it can be connected simultaneously for up to 4 different devices while the battery itself can last for up to 8 hours. Of course in a fixed setup plugging to the USB will be the most convenient but the option is there if you need it. It also has Magic Fn to let you use the F keys conveniently.
On the other hand in GK61, there is another interesting feature here and it is a microphone located inside the space bar. It is very uncommon and kind of concerning but on the bright side you can play around with the RGB lighting.
Anne Pro 2 and GK61 Programming
In addition we want to talk about the programming with the Anne Pro 2 and GK61 keyboards. Unlike the Anne Pro that comes from Obinslab so we use the software to program the key, GK61 has software as well but it is not as good as the other. Some people even report that the software messed up the keyboard and it is also not as clearly put on the website like most named brands. But overall we can use these software to program the keys like macro and RGB lighting.
Anne Pro 2 vs GK61
Both keyboards are great if you want a compact and simple layout with mechanical switches behind it. We can even choose which switch to go for and with GK61 we can also change the switch later, making this keyboard have the better ease of upgrade. On the other hand Anne Pro 2 is great out of the box. It is not hot swappable in case you want other switches like Cherry MX but, the caps are PBT already so they feel great. It also has better software and doesn’t put questionable features like a microphone on the unit.
Conclusion
The choice is all yours but if you plan on upgrading the keyboard with new caps and switches, GK61 is the more convenient and cheaper option but if you want a great keyboard, ready to use, and also Bluetooth capable out of the box, we will recommend the Anne Pro 2.