Epomaker HE30

We are reviewing the Epomaker HE30, the first one-handed gaming keyboard from the brand.

The Epomaker HE30 is part of the HE series of keyboards and specifically part of the analog variants but it is the smallest and very first sub-40 from the company.

In the past months, the HE series has seen a couple of other recent releases such as the Epomaker HE108, which proved to be a phenomenal in our review.

With some solid analog models being part of their catalog and a constantly evolving experience with the manufacturing of hall-effect keyboards, we are having high hopes for the Epomaker HE30.

FIND ALL: Headphones Scores Compared

MORE: Best Headphones Charts

Epomaker HE30 Review

Tests & Scores

ACCESSORIES & PACKAGING
^4.5^_/5

The Epomaker HE30 comes in a small packaging including the following accessories:

2x extra hall-effect switches
1x screwdriver
1x USB-C cable
1x key/switch puller
1x strap
1x assembly pieces

DESIGN
^3.75^_/5

The Epomaker HE30 is a 30% keypad/keyboard with 36 keys and no knobs.

The better way to explain what the Epomaker HE30 looks like is to think of cutting a 75% in half and keeping the left half or thinking of just the left part of a split keyboard – Epomaker has split keyboards like the Epomaker Split70 and Epomaker Split65.

The small size and particularly low-weight of the HE30 makes it an ideal carry-on, high-performing gaming-exclusive keyboard/keypad – the actual weight is barely 350g.

On the left upper edge you will find a protruding hook that serves to install the (included) carrying strap, you can decide whether you want it with or without the strap in place and you can always re-attach it or detach it. The strap of the black model follows the same orange accent style of the spacebar and ESC key, making it cohesive with the intended theme.

On the right end of the case you will notice a vertical strip light, this one is fully RGB with dynamic colors and effects.

The case has a 45 degree angled end near the bottom where your hands rest, making the overall fit and use more ergonomic-friendly.

The bottom case holds an orange plate that connects to a space gray 2nd metal plate, adding a nice refinement to the overall aesthetics.

We would not have minded seeing a knob or rocker incorporated to the unit, yet seeing all that you are getting for a MSRP below $50 makes it pretty much a crazy deal for serious gamers.

CONSTRUCTION & BUILD
^3.5^_/5

The keyboard has an ABS case with sort of a more hollow and featherweight feel. Inside, though, the HE30 is equipped with a hot-swappable analog PCB that allows to change the magnetic switches without soldering (only compatible switches), further internals include an aluminum alloy plate, quint sound dampening layers and a tray mounted structure.

Moreover, the board has south-facing RGB LED lights that can be controlled per key.

Probably to cut down costs and being able to offer the gaming community a crazy affordable price, the brand opted for some details falling behind most of the quality standards of other Epomaker keyboards. For example, the case material and thickness that highly reminded the team to the Epomaker HE68 Lite construction feel.

Seeing that another analog keyboard as the HE30 was released more or less in a similar period (the Epomaker HE108) and it was using an installable/local driver, we thought that the HE30 would do too. Instead, the HE30 depends on a web-based online driver – which we are not the greatest fan of. A sidenote: the driver launches in Chinese but you can easily change the language. Also if you use once the web-based driver and you do not clear your browsers history/cache/temp files then you will be able to access the web-driver URL and full driver operation offline.

To be fair, though, the web-driver is based on the same one that companies such as Gateron and Wooting use for some of their hall-effect keyboards and is well-designed with plenty of in-depth customizations and no limitations.

On this regard, the web-based driver vs installable drivers is a polarizing argument with people loving/hating one or the other

KEYCAPS
^3.75^_/5

Another clear costing reduction comes from the keycaps, which are substantially thinner than most other Epomaker keycaps and despite being PBT have a tactile sensation closer to ABS keycaps from SteelSeries and Razer than from the much better typical PBT sets from Epomaker themselves.

On the other hand, being PBT ensures fade free printings and oil resistance.

Moreover, the OEM profile with a classic white fonts over black keycaps provide an all-classic style and easy readability in all lighting conditions.

SWITCHES
^4.5^_/5

The Epomaker HE30 is an analog keyboard, thus it uses magnetic switches; to be more precise, the switches assembled in the HE30 are the Purple Magnetic switches.

Epomaker does not label any brand related with these switches but we can tell you that these Purple Magnetic hall-effect switches are from VTER.

Inline with other modern hall-effect switches, the Epomaker HE30 benefits from levels of adjustability, customization and programmability way ahead of any mechanical keyboard and unleashes superior gaming features like:

Dynamic keystroke
Mod tap
Toggle key
Snap key
Rapid trigger (referred as Rappy Snappy in the web driver)
Actuation personalization

Actuation can be finely adjusted and tuned with a precision of 0.01mm and in a range of 0.1mm to 3.4mm.

VTER Purple Magnetic Switches
Switch Name
Purple Magnetic Switch
Switch Type
Magnetic Hall Effect Switch
Trigger Force
37±5gf
Bottom-out Force
45gf
Trigger Travel
Adjustable in HE30 Software from 0.1mm to 3.4mm, per 0.1mm
Total Travel
3.4±0.1mm
Initial Magnetic Flux
90±15Gs
End Magnetic Flux
550±50Gs
Lubed or Not
Lubed in Factory
Life spans
1,000,000,000

CON

CONNECTIVITY
⁴^_/5

You might be surprised to find out that this is an Epomaker keyboard that is not wired and wireless and, instead, is solely a wired one.

Nonetheless, this can have a coherent explanation to keep the weight down, enhancing portability and ensuring that the best performing and more reliable connectivity of all times (wired) is well designed and operating at peak levels.

Indeed, the Epomaker HE30 boasts a remarkable polling rate of 8000Hz (the brand recommends to stick to the original cable) and latency as low as 0.125ms – of course, do not worry, the wired connection has a detachable USB-C design and not a fixed cable.

SOUND
³^_/5

It might sound like we have something against the Epomaker HE30 but we do not at all, we actually consider it a superb budget companion for gamers wanting high-end performance for little money but with some compromises; such as in the quality of the external construction materials and consequently expanding to other departments like Sound.

In fact, the sound profile of the HE30 is far from the refined thocky, poppy, marbly or creamy qualities that you can find on most Epomaker models.

Being completely fair, the main letter and number keys have a decent clack profile but the rest of the keys are just not on par and exhibit a clear leap down from the rest.

SEE PRICEAmazon

SEE PRICEALIEXPRESS

Epomaker HE30 Technical Specifications

Brand
EPOMAKER
Model
HE30
Layout
One-Handed Keyboard, Single-Handed Keyboard, Half Keyboard.
Number of Keys
36 Keys
Battery
No Battery. Wired Keyboard.
Connectivity
USB A to C Wired Only.
Compatibility
Windows and Linux
Front Height
2cm
Back Height
2.8cm
Typing Angle
6 degrees
Case Material
Plastic
Plate Material
Aluminum Alloy Plate
Flex-Cut
No Flex-cut
Stabilizers
Plate-Mounted Stabilizer
Mounting Structure
Tray-Mounted
Sound Dampening
Sandwich Foam, IXPE Switch Pad, PET Sound-Optimizing Pad, and EPDM Bottom Foam
Keycaps Profile
OEM Profile
Keycaps Material
PBT Keycap
Keycaps Manufacturing Technique
Double-Shot Keycap
Switch
Hall Effect Magnetic Switch
RGB
The HE30 gaming keyboard has Per-Key adjustable RGB backlight with South-facing LEDs.
Polling Rate
8K polling with original cable.
Latency
0.125ms with original cable.
Adjustable Trigger
0.1mm to 3.4mm per 0.01mm
Custom Software
Web-Based software for Windows and Linux (online and offline). Press FN+Space to access the software when keyboard is wired and connected.
Anti-Ghosting
Yes, the HE30 gaming keyboard supports N-Key Rollover.
Keyboard Dimensions
15.3*13.3*2.9cm
Keyboard Weight
0.35kg