The EPOMAKER HE68 is a 65% layout compact and stylish mechanical keyboard made for gaming and daily use. This keyboard is part of EPOMAKER’s HE series. We have already reviewed another keyboard from this series before the HE75 tri but that one did not come with magnetic switches.
The HE68, however, does have magnetic switches, which are specially made for fast and smooth gaming. It also has cool features like soft typing feel, bright RGB lights, and super quick response time. In this review, we’ll talk more about these gaming-focused features and what makes the EPOMAKER HE68 a great choice, especially for its price.
Unboxing
The EPOMAKER HE68 comes in a beautiful black and purple-themed box that immediately catches your eye. The front of the box features a drawing of the keyboard along with the strap, along with the EPOMAKER HE68 branding.
On the back, you’ll find a similar design with the keyboard and strap shown on one side and basic information about the keyboard on the other.
When you open the box, the keyboard is safely wrapped in a plastic sleeve under the transparent dust cover, and inside, you’ll also find a braided USB-A to USB-C cable, a keycap and switch puller, a plastic dust cover, a user manual, and two extra magnetic switches. The small strap is already attached to the left side of the keyboard. Overall, it’s a clean and simple unboxing experience with all the essentials you need to get started.
Pricing
EPOMAKER HE68 specifications
Also read: EPOMAKER Galaxy70 review: Compact, durable mechanical keyboard for gaming and productivity
Closer look
The EPOMAKER HE68 is a 65% keyboard, which means it doesn’t have a number pad or a full function row. Still, all the main keys are there and easy to reach. It has 67 keys in total. The keyboard looks very stylish and clean. The version we have is white with purple keys, and it really stands out. There is also a black and red version for those who like a darker colour theme.
The EPOMAKER HE68 feels strong and well-built. Even though it is made of plastic, it does not feel cheap at all. The keyboard body is firm, and there’s no bending when you press down on it. It feels solid on the desk, and it stays in place even when you type fast. The aluminum plate at the back adds more strength and helps the keyboard last longer. The purple keys add a fun and modern touch to the overall look.
It also has a small purple color strap on the left side, which gives it a unique look. These days, many big keyboard companies are also adding this kind of strap to their keyboards. It has become a nice trend, and people seem to like it. Even though this is a wired keyboard and you won’t carry it around too much, the strap still gives it a fun and modern look. It makes the keyboard stand out and look more stylish on your desk. You can remove the strap if you don’t like it.
On the bottom side of the keyboard, there are two-level kickstands for height adjustment. This allows you to set the keyboard at a comfortable angle while typing. To keep it steady on the desk, there are four rubber feet, and the kickstands also have rubber pads at the bottom. These help prevent the keyboard from sliding during use. In the centre of the bottom side, there is a silver-coloured nameplate with EPOMAKER HE68 written on it, which adds a nice touch to the overall design.
On the rear side, you’ll find a Type-C port and a Win/Mac switch. The design is clean and simple, without any unnecessary elements.
Keycaps
The keycaps on the EPOMAKER HE68 are made of PBT plastic, which is stronger and better than the normal plastic used in many cheap keyboards. These keycaps have a slightly rough texture that feels nice under your fingers while typing. The legends (letters and symbols) are in purple colour, which matches the theme nicely, but they are not shine-through, so light does not pass through them.
However, the letters do not fade easily. The keycaps are in Cherry profile, which means they are a bit lower and curved—this helps in comfortable and faster typing. The colours, especially in the white and purple version, look bright and fresh on the desk.
Switches
The EPOMAKER HE68 comes with EPOMAKER’s Magnetic Pink switches.
Specifications
| Switch Name | EPOMAKER Magnetic Pink Switch |
|---|---|
| Switch Type | Magnetic Switch |
| Total Travel | 3.5 ± 0.1mm |
| Force Travel | 45 ± 5gf |
| Initial Force | 30gf Min |
| End Force | 55gf Max |
| Initial Magnetic Flux | 95 ± 15GS |
| Bottom Magnetic Flux | 580 ± 50GS |
These are not regular mechanical switches. They work using magnets and are made for gaming. These switches are a bit heavier to press, but they feel strong and stable. Since they use magnetic technology, you can change how far you need to press the key before it types something. This is called actuation point adjustment, and it helps gamers react faster in games. The switches also have factory-applied lubricant, which makes them smoother, but sometimes they still feel a little scratchy. Even then, they work very well and give a different feel compared to normal switches.
The switches on the EPOMAKER HE68 can be removed very easily. You just need to use the keycap and switch puller that comes in the box. First, remove the keycap, then gently pull out the switch. It doesn’t take much effort, so even if you are new to keyboards, you can do it without any trouble. This makes it simple to clean the keyboard or change switches later if you want a different feel. The stabilizers are smooth and do a good job of reducing rattling and noise, providing a more stable and quieter typing experience. This contributes to the overall feel of the keyboard, making it feel more premium.
RGB Lighting
The EPOMAKER HE68 comes with subtle RGB lighting that adds a nice touch to its overall design. The RGB is south-facing, meaning the light shines towards you from below the keycaps, creating a clean and smooth glow. While the lighting is not too bright or flashy, it is still customizable, so you can adjust it to match your style or mood. You can easily turn off the backlight with FN + BACKSPACE, and toggle through various effects with FN + |. The keyboard also allows you to switch the backlight colour by pressing FN + DEL.
For more control, you can adjust the brightness using FN + ↑ to make it brighter, or FN + ↓ to dim it. Additionally, you can control the speed of the backlight effects with FN + ← to slow it down, and FN + → to speed it up. If you prefer a more minimalist look, you can easily turn off the RGB lighting altogether. The RGB effects offer a range of colours and effects, but they don’t overpower the overall aesthetics of the keyboard, keeping it stylish and not too distracting during use. Whether you’re gaming, working, or just browsing, the RGB lighting can be a fun feature without being overwhelming.
Connectivity
The EPOMAKER HE68 offers an impressive 8K polling rate through its Type-C wired connection, ensuring ultra-fast data transmission and minimal input lag. This means your key presses are registered almost instantly, with a latency of just 0.125ms.
Compared to other gaming keyboards, which typically have a latency of around 1ms and a polling rate of 1000Hz, the HE68 delivers much faster performance. This is a significant advantage for gamers, offering a smoother and more responsive experience, especially during fast-paced games where every millisecond counts.
The high polling rate also contributes to greater typing accuracy, making the HE68 a solid choice for both gamers and those who need precision in their typing tasks. The wired connection ensures that this level of performance is stable and uninterrupted, reducing any concerns about wireless interference or connection dropouts.
Software
The EPOMAKER HE68 comes with its own software, which gives you the ability to customize many features of the keyboard. You can change the RGB lighting, adjust key functions, and even set how the keys respond when pressed. For gamers, this is especially useful because you can fine-tune the keyboard’s performance, including adjusting the actuation point for faster responses or enabling features like SOCD (Simultaneous Opposite Key Detection), which helps in gaming scenarios.
The software also lets you create custom shortcuts and tweak other settings to suit your style. However, the interface might feel a bit complicated for first-time users, and it could take some time to learn all the different features. Despite that, once you get the hang of it, the software offers a lot of useful options to personalize the keyboard to your preferences.
While it’s not the most intuitive software out there, it does provide a good amount of flexibility for those who want to get the most out of their EPOMAKER HE68.
Performance
The EPOMAKER HE68 is designed with gamers in mind, offering several features that enhance its performance during intense gaming sessions. One of its standout features is the adjustable actuation Hall Effect switches. These switches allow you to customize the actuation point, meaning you can adjust how far you need to press a key for it to register. This leads to faster response times and quicker actions, which can make a big difference in competitive gaming, where every millisecond counts.
Another helpful feature is the Snap Tap function, which provides tactile feedback when you press a key. This adds an extra layer of responsiveness, making your key presses feel more precise and giving you a better sense of control while gaming. You can also customize the dead zone, which lets you define a range where no input is registered. This is useful for improving accuracy, as you can fine-tune it to your personal preferences, reducing accidental key presses.
The keyboard also supports SOCD (Simultaneous Opposite Key Detection), which is a game-changer for movement control. With SOCD, when you press two opposing keys (like moving left and right at the same time), the keyboard will register only the intended action, eliminating unwanted inputs. This ensures smoother, more accurate control, particularly in fast-paced games where precision is key.
All in all, the EPOMAKER HE68 provides a solid, responsive performance, making it a great choice for gamers who want customization and quick, precise input. Whether you’re playing competitively or casually, the keyboard’s features help to enhance your overall gaming experience.
Final thoughts on the EPOMAKER HE68
The EPOMAKER HE68 is a strong contender in the budget mechanical keyboard market, offering impressive features that make it a great choice for both gamers and everyday users. With its stylish design, sturdy build, and a 8K polling rate that ensures lightning-fast response times, it stands out as one of the best value-for-money options in its price range. The addition of magnetic switches and customizable actuation points takes the gaming experience to another level, offering precision and responsiveness that many keyboards in this price range can’t match.
While the software may need some improvements, and the lack of wireless connectivity might be a downside for some, the wired connection ensures stable performance without any interruptions, making it ideal for gamers. The RGB lighting, customizable keycaps, and smooth typing experience add to the overall appeal. In conclusion, if you’re looking for an affordable, high-performance keyboard with magnetic switches and a sleek design, the EPOMAKER HE68 should definitely be on your list. Despite a few minor drawbacks, it offers excellent performance, especially for gaming, at an accessible price point.
You can find more details about the keyboard and purchase it from the EPOMAKER website. While you wait for yours to arrive, why not check out more of our hardware reviews by clicking here