The EPOMAKER HE80 is a budget-friendly 75% mechanical keyboard equipped with Hall Effect magnetic switches. Designed with gamers and enthusiasts in mind, it promises ultra-low latency, full programmability, and a premium typing experience—without a premium price tag.

Unboxing & First Impressions

Inside the box, we found everything we’d expect from a well-thought-out keyboard package:

A detachable braided USB-C cable
A keycap and switch puller
A set of extra magnetic switches
Optional all-black keycaps to replace the purple accent keys
Documentation for getting started

Right out of the box, the HE80 gives a solid first impression. Its minimalist black design looks clean and understated, and the inclusion of shine-through keycaps is a nice touch, although visibility under certain RGB colors could be improved due to the south-facing LED configuration.

Build Quality & Design

Despite its plastic shell, the keyboard feels well-built and solid. The HE80 follows a 75% layout with 82 keys—offering a great balance between compactness and usability. We appreciated the clean front profile and the slightly curved top edges, which help with ergonomics and give the board a more refined appearance.

The gasket-mount structure and multiple layers of dampening material (Poron and silicone foams) make a noticeable difference. Out of the box, the keyboard delivers a satisfying, “thocky” typing experience with minimal ping or hollowness.

Hall Effect Switches & Gaming Performance

The star feature here is the magnetic Hall Effect switches. These are linear switches with adjustable actuation points—down to 0.1mm—allowing precise control over every keystroke. Whether you’re gliding through fast-paced FPS matches or combo-heavy RPGs, the fast trigger response and zero debounce latency (thanks to the 8000Hz polling rate and 32000 scan rate) give a real edge.

We tested EPOMAKER’s MagneX switches, and the typing experience was smooth and surprisingly refined for this price range. The keys feel consistent, and there’s no noticeable wobble. For users looking to fine-tune their gameplay input, features like Snap Key (SOCD) and Dynamic Keystroke (DKS) are excellent additions.

Customization & Software

Software setup is refreshingly simple. The EPOMAKER driver runs directly in the browser—no installation required. From there, users can adjust actuation points, remap keys, create macros, and fine-tune the per-key RGB lighting. The web interface is responsive and functional across both Windows and macOS, though more advanced Linux support is missing.

RGB lighting is vibrant and customizable, with smooth diffusion across the board. While the clear keycaps look great, the shine-through effect could be better aligned with the south-facing LEDs to improve legibility, especially in lower light.

Battery & Connectivity

The HE80 offers tri-mode connectivity:

Wired via USB-C
2.4GHz wireless
Bluetooth 5.0 with up to 3 device profiles

There’s a handy dongle compartment tucked under the adjustable foot—a simple but thoughtful detail. The 4000mAh battery is rated for 15 hours with full RGB enabled, and up to 400 hours without. In real-world use, regular charging is only needed if you’re using wireless with full brightness RGB.

Final Thoughts

The EPOMAKER HE80 hits a sweet spot for budget-conscious gamers and enthusiasts. Its Hall Effect switches, excellent acoustics, customizable actuation, and polished software experience combine to deliver high-end performance at a very accessible price.

Also Read: Epomaker G84 Review