Endgame Gear KB65HE review – Hall Effect keyboard tech done right

Endgame Gear is greatest identified for making gaming mice, nevertheless it’s made a welcome foray into gaming keyboards with the wonderful Endgame Gear KB65HE. This plain-looking, however high-performing keyboard is the newest to get much-vaunted Corridor Impact sensors, offering stiff competitors to magnetic-mechanical efforts from huge hitters like SteelSeries and Corsair.

Whereas not a brand new know-how, Corridor Impact sensors are nonetheless a rarity amongst keyboards with not one of the entries on our greatest gaming keyboard information together with it. Nevertheless, it’s truly been utilized in controller thumbsticks for many years, with the SEGA Saturn 3D and Dreamcast controllers being a few of the first notable examples. Nevertheless, as a result of it’s comparatively costly, it has taken a while for keyboards – the place over 100 sensors are required for a full-size board – to begin utilizing the know-how. Fortunately, although, the KB65HU doesn’t break the financial institution whereas bringing this sensible know-how to bear.

Endgame Gear KB65HE specs

Endgame Gear KB65HE options

By way of options, the Endgame Gear KB65HE’s magnetic-mechanical switches are the headline, after all. Reasonably than a bodily change, a Corridor Impact change detects magnetic subject modifications to register key inputs. It’s named after Edwin Corridor, a pupil at Johns Hopkins College, who found the phenomenon in 1879.

And the way can this centuries-old concept assist fashionable keyboards? In some ways, truly. For a begin, there’s no bodily contact between the change and the important thing, which means the switches can have a for much longer lifespan. Endgame Gear says the KB65HE is sweet for 150 million actuations, which is 50 million greater than typical high-end mechanical switches.

Keyboards with Corridor Impact switches can even profit from faster activation, as they don’t require a debounce delay, which is especially useful in aggressive FPS the place a speedy enter can imply the distinction between securing a useful kill and leaving your staff an individual down.

One other function the KB65HE and its innovative switches brings is adjustable actuation factors, which means you possibly can customise the gap you need to push the keycap earlier than it registers an enter. The Endgame Gear app allows you to set the actuation level anyplace from 0.1 to 4mm depth. It doesn’t finish there, both: the switches are hot-swappable besides.

One factor to notice is that this can be a 65% dimension keyboard, a reality more likely to please some and dismay others. It makes for a dinky, transportable package deal with a small footprint in your desk, however that comes on the expense of the numpad, F keys, or any media keys.

One other key element is that the Endgame Gear KB65HE is wired solely. No Bluetooth or 2.4GHz connections are on provide right here, which is a disgrace, however commonplace for magnetic-mechanical keyboards. It comes packaged with a sturdy 1.8m USB-A braided cable, and never the plasticky-feeling form both.

Endgame Gear KB65HE design

Let’s simply get one thing out of the best way: the Endgame Gear KB65HE isn’t going to win any awards for its seems to be. Obtainable in plain black solely, this keyboard has little to tell apart itself from a thousand different keyboards on the market at first look.

The keyboard defaults to all-white RGB out-of-the-box which, whereas welcome from a practicality perspective, sells the keyboard considerably brief. Though I wasn’t thrilled to obtain yet one more piece of peripheral assist software program, booting the Endgame Gear program gave me entry to a spread of RGB lighting results. The vary of results aren’t something particular, however they showcased the design just a little higher than plain white lighting.

The Endgame Gear KB65HE rocks Ducky doubleshot PBT keycaps, that are pleasantly textured. Nevertheless, as is usually the case with this kind of keycap manufacture, the shine-through on sure keys is poor, giving the impression of a producing error. The precise-most column of keys are badly affected, particularly PgUp and PgDn. For a keyboard that prices effectively over $100, that is disappointing.

One other subject is that the rubber ft don’t maintain the keyboard in place in any respect effectively. It doesn’t take a lot stress to slip the case throughout my desk, regardless of it being manufactured from wooden, a fabric often immune to slippery peripherals. The field contains spare rubber ft to vary the angle from the default 5° to 7.5°, which is a smaller customizable vary than we’ve come to count on from gaming keyboards.

However it’s not all unhealthy information. Regardless of its diminutive 65% stature, this keyboard weighs a good 1,050g due to its high-grade aluminum body. That’s not fairly on the extent of the ludicrously heavyweight Monsgeek MW1 SP however is 200-300g heavier than some 60 p.c boards. The case has no flex in any respect no matter any efforts to bend it, making for a reassuringly safe and reliably steady typing and gaming platform.

Endgame Gear KB65HE efficiency

On the subject of efficiency, the Endgame Gear KB65HE is an absolute powerhouse. It leaves even different magnetic-mechanical keyboards within the mud with its pin-point precision and unimaginable response time. No matter recreation I used to be taking part in, I discovered it to be a completely reliable companion, rendering unintentional or unreliable inputs a factor of the previous.

It’s additionally an absolute pleasure to kind on. The keyboard defaults to a 1mm actuation level out-of-the-box, and it seems like your fingers glide throughout the keys whilst you’re punching the keys.

And that’s all with out the standard incessant clacking that accompanies keypresses on a mechanical keyboard. Since Corridor Impact switches don’t depend on a bodily connection and may be adjusted to a feather contact actuation, they’re fairly quiet. The Endgame Gear KB65HE’s Gateron KS-37B switches are particularly so, due to a pioneering dual-rail construction and self-lubricating POM materials. This has the added bonus of fast-rebounding inputs.

Nevertheless, some people would possibly discover the 1mm actuation level lighter than they’re used to. To not fear, simply obtain the Endgame Gear app and you may change that in a flash, with every key individually customizable.

For these unsure as to the opposite advantages of this customizable actuation level, it will probably are available notably helpful for a number of situations. As an illustration, you might favor an extended journey for correct typing however need a shorter journey when gaming. Additionally, when you’re in any respect susceptible to hitting sure keys unintentionally, you possibly can barely lengthen the keypress for that key, making certain you solely press it when supposed.

Since Endgame Gear isn’t precisely a family identify, it’s unlikely a lot of you’ll have the app already downloaded, and I doubt anybody’s overjoyed at one other peripheral app to clog up their laptop. Fortunately, Endgame Gear’s one is easy-to-use and simple.

Endgame Gear KB65HE conclusion

Whereas not precisely low-cost at $139.99, the Endgame Gear KB65HE in all fairness priced for a keyboard that boasts Corridor Impact switches. Its no-nonsense design could also be simply the type you want too, and its construct high quality is great.

That stated, this board’s quite simple design and 65% structure do make it appear rather less of a discount as in comparison with, for example, the equally priced Akko MOD007DB Tokyo with its TKL structure and extra attention-grabbing design.

Endgame Gear KB65HE alternate options

Corsair K70 Max

In order for you a keyboard with excessive efficiency, Corridor Impact implementation, and loads of bells and whistles, the Corsair K70 Max is a good possibility, though it’s considerably dearer at $229.99 / £219.99.

Learn our Corsair K70 Max assessment.

Mountain Everest 60

In case you’re after a compact keyboard however aren’t bothered concerning the speedy response instances (and inflated price ticket) a magnetic-mechanical keyboard brings, try the Mountain Everest 60. Even smaller than the Endgame Gear KB65HE at 60% dimension, this dinky keyboard boasts a intelligent, modular design that makes including a numpad simple when you remorse plumping for a smaller dimension.

Learn our Mountain Everest 60 assessment.