Epomaker HE108 Full Sized Keyboard Review - For Those Who Like To Type
It is pretty hard to get excited about a keyboard these days. I mean, there is a range of great mechanical boards that do the job perfectly and most of the time, which one you choose is down to personal preference. Some might have flashier lights, better multimedia controls or a slightly different form factor, but for the most part, there is really not much to separate them. But what happens when you replace mechanical innards with Hall Effect ones? You know, the same tech used in high-end video game controllers? Well, if the Epomaker HE108 is a typical example of the technology, I am never going back to mechanical.
I have to be honest, this is a glowing review. I mean, I have never been this excited about a keyboard. But a little backstory, Epomaker reached out to me, asking if I wanted to check out some of their gear. Now, up until that point, I had never even heard of them. After a bit of research, I discovered they are a relatively small group that has been making keyboards and using things like Kickstarter to fund and sell their products. Looking at the price of their gear, I didn’t really have high hopes. It seemed a little too cheap when compared to the market for gaming keyboards, so when I agreed to review the HE108, I was hoping for a cheap and cheery alternative to the high-end stuff from SteelSeries, Razer and the like. I was wrong. So very wrong. This keyboard, simply put, is the nicest thing I have ever typed on, and as for gaming, it doesn’t miss a beat.
Unassuming as it comes out of the box, the HE108 comes in both white and black. I have a white one, and frankly, nothing was exciting about its appearance. It was heavy, a bit chunky and pretty plain. That doesn’t change too much when you plug it in (or use wireless connections if you are so inclined), but it does light up with some nice rainbow LEDS. The Enter and ESC keys are transparent, which is a nice early 00s’ throwback, but otherwise the design and look could be described as practical. This isn’t a keyboard that is shaking things up in the looks department. But boy, did my mind change when I sat down and used the thing.
So, how I understand it is that the difference between Mechanical and Hall Effect internals comes down to the switches. Mechanical uses individual switches for each key, while Hall Effect uses a magnetic system that allows for more adjustability and faster response times. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods, but from what I gather, a Hall Effect keyboard is potentially more customisable for the end-user, but it comes with a little bit more of an expectation of technical prowess. To support this, Epomaker has some excellent guides on their website to make sure you get the most out of the keyboard if you are coming in blind (which I certainly was), and some easy-to-use software to make adjustments easy and hassle-free.
What it all boiled down to was simply the nicest keyboard to type on that I have ever used. I am a trained touch typist (yes, I am bloody old), and this keyboard is just a dream to bash out my reviews and musings on. I was worried due to the nature of the magnetic insides that the board wouldn’t be as tactile as a mechanical one, but I can absolutely say that is not true. It feels wonderfully responsive, it can keep up with my typing with no worries at all, and everything feels perfectly spaced, even for someone with giant hands such as myself. I am finding it hard to describe just how great it feels to type on, but trust me when I say, if you are looking for something that will feel perfect for both work and play, this is the keyboard for you. The board also offers three different connection options: USB, Bluetooth, or 2.4 GHz via a dongle. If the board is being used wirelessly, it boasts up to 500 hours of charge time on battery (without the LEDs turned on). This is enormous and probably goes some way to explaining the weight of the board.
Speaking of play, the response time on this keyboard is excellent. I ran it through a gamut of games, titles like Doom Eternal, Dying Light: The Beast and Bulletstorm, all games that require fast reactions and multiple buttons pressed at the same time. The HE108 didn’t miss a beat. I didn’t have any issues at all, and with the ability to adjust the pressure and timings with the supplied software, I can see this being a keyboard that esports pros would be wise to consider. For a Joe Blow like myself, it performed beautifully, but if I am honest, its gaming performance is matched by the good high-end mechanical keyboards out there.
What doesn’t match the high-end boards is the price. Currently, on the Epomaker website, the HE108 is listed at $135 AUD. When you compare that to the top-of-the-range models out there, that is an absolute steal. That price should automatically force the HE108 to become a consideration for all gamers or writers out there. Most good mechanical boards top the $200 ($300 if you want the really high-end stuff) mark at the very least, and I can tell you this keyboard matches every single one I have used and even surpasses them in many ways. The HE108 is also fully customisable, with the keys all being able to be swapped out for different designs if you are so inclined, with Epomaker themselves offering a huge range of options to pretty up your board.
It is so stupid, I am sitting here gushing about a keyboard. It is incredibly nerdy, probably a little unprofessional and frankly something I never thought I would do, but the Epomaker HE108 deserves it. Simply put, the features, feel and, most importantly, price make this a complete package and nothing I have used in the same price range even comes close. If the worst thing I can say about it is that it is heavy and it looks a little plain, well, I’ll take that any day of the week to get everything else that the HE108 offers. If you are looking for a new keyboard, I cannot recommend this one enough. It does everything a $200+ board does, and some things it does even better. The HE108 is simply the best board I have ever used, and I can’t see myself replacing it any time soon.
