Epomaker HE80

Epomaker HE80, the newest hall-effect keyboard from Epomaker with a friendly price.

We are happy seeing that the brand is starting to use the “HE” naming of their keyboards in a less confusing way; labeling the HE named models to actually hall-effect keyboards instead of classic mechanical (non-magnetic) keyboards.

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Epomaker HE80 Review

Tests & Scores

ACCESSORIES & PACKAGING
^4.5^_/5

The Epomaker HE80 comes in the classic cardboard box of most keyboards from the brand.

Included with the keyboard, you will also get:

• 4 additional magnetic switches
• 4x extra keycaps
• Braided USB cable
• Key/switch puller

DESIGN
^4.25^_/5

The Epomaker HE80 is a 75% keyboard with a ANSI US layout, including 82 keys but no knob.

Regarding the overall look of the Epomaker HE80, it shares such a similar aesthetic style and keycaps that it looks like a smaller identical twin of the premium Epomaker Magcore 87 that we reviewed in the past.

Aesthetically, beside the layout, the HE80 has a small pill-shaped RGB LED light sitting below the “extra navigation” keys column on the far right of the case.

On the bottom you will 4 rubberized feet, of which the 2 bottom ones add up to around 80% of the width of the case itself.

Also on the bottom there are two adjustable kickstands with dual positions to adapt the angle of the keyboard to your preference.

CONSTRUCTION & BUILD
^4.5^_/5

The Epomaker HE80 is a noticeably light weighted keyboard for a 75% sized model, this is because there is no internal battery and due to the use of plastic for the construction of the case.

The board of the HE80 is not only equipped with hall-effect switches but it is also hot-swappable and able to fit other compatible magnetic switches without soldering.

Under the hood, the HE80 also hides a quad-layered sound dampening system with a gasket-mount design and additional quality components such as a FR4 plate and plate-mount stabilizers lubed from factory.

A detail that we noticed is that the bottom case plastics feels a bit thinner and less sturdy than we have seen on many other Epomaker keyboards.

KEYCAPS
^4.5^_/5

The keyboard might have a very black-centered theme but as soon as the south-facing RGB LED of the board are turned on, the keyboard gains a more colorful and alive spirit, while also showcasing the beauty of the transparent accent keycaps.

These accent keycaps are made of polycarbonate instead of the PBT material used for all the rest of the keycap set.

The main keycaps are not only PBT but also have a double-shot manufacturing processing to ensure long lasting and fade free durability.

The set has Cherry profile and fine, minimal texturized finish for the exception of the transparent purple keys that are texture-less.

SWITCHES
⁵^_/5

It is surprising seeing the price tag of the Epomaker HE80 and discovering that it holds hall-effect switches inside; most probable this is thanks to the introduction of their self-branded Epomaker magnetic switches, the EPOMAKER MagneX switches that come pre-assembled with the keyboard.

Spec-wise, the new Epomaker MagneX switches have nothing to envy more established magnetic switches competitors as they offer the same level of programmability and adjustment while keeping up with the same accuracy as premium switches (0.01mm)

Regarding the programmability and customization of the MagneX switches; users can have the total freedom to set and re-adjust the actuation as many times as wanted and per-key; from 0.1mm to 3.3mm.

Also users will be enabled to benefit from advanced functions, exclusively achievable by magnetic switches, like:

• RS
• SOCD
• Dynamic Key Travel DKS
• MPT
• Dual effect click MT
• Toggle switch TGL
• END
• RT

Important to note that these new generation of keyboard uses an online driver by Epomaker, so there is no need to install any software.

Switch Name
EPOMAKER MagneX Switch
Switch Type
Magnetic Hall Effect Switch
Initial Force
30gf Min
Trigger Force
37±5gf
Bottom-out Force
45gf Max
Trigger Travel
Adjustable per 0.01mm in EPOMAKER Web Driver
Total Travel
3.4±0.1mm
Initial Magnetic Flux (if PCB is 1.6mm thick)
90±10Gs
End Magnetic Flux (if PCB is 1.6mm thick)
550±55Gs
Material of Top Cover
PC
Material of Bottom Base
PC
Material of Stem
POM
Spring Length
18mm
Lubed or Not
Lubed in Factory
Life spans
1,000,000,000

CON

CONNECTIVITY
⁴^_/5

As many other hall-effect keyboards, the Epomaker HE80 is a wired-only keyboard without any internal battery and option to use it wirelessly.

Nonetheless, the wired connection uses a detachable cable with modern USB-C interface and sports top-tier specs for competitive and hardcore gaming such as:

• 8000Hz polling rate
• 0.125ms
• N-Key Rollover
• 128000 scan rate

SOUND
^4.5^_/5

Unexpectedly, the Epomaker HE80 showed a better and somewhat different sound profile than some other similarly priced hall-effect keyboards that we have recently reviewed.

In fact, for less experienced enthusiasts, the HE80 could easily camouflage as a classic mechanical keyboard with a more gentle mechanical sound.

Despite this, hardcore enthusiasts will recognize that this is a magnetic switch equipped keyboard as there is always a distinct pitch, tone and sound profile in hall-effect keyboards that the HE80 also shares up to some extent.

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Epomaker HE80 Technical Specifications

Brand
EPOMAKER
Model
HE80 Wired Hall Effect Keyboard
Layout
75% Layout, US QWERTY
Number of Keys
82 Keys
Battery
No Battery
Connectivity
Wired Only (USB A to USB C)
Front Height
2.2cm
Typing Angle
6, 8.5 and 11.5 degree
Case Material
Plastic
Plate Material
FR4 Plate
Flex-Cut
No Flex-Cut
Stabilizers
Plate-Mount Stabilizer
Mounting Structure
Gasket-Mount
Sound Dampening
4 Layers of Paddings, including Latex Sandwich Foam, IXPE Switch Pad, Bottom Silicone and Bottom Foam
Keycaps Profile
Cherry Profile
Keycaps Material
PBT Keycap and Extra PC Transparent Keycap
Keycaps Manufacturing Technique
Double-Shot
Hot swappable
Yes, with other south-facing magnetic switch
RGB
Yes, per-key south-facing RGB backlight
Polling Rate
8000hz polling in wired mode
Scan Rate
32,000 scanning and 128,000 per-key scanning
Latency
0.125ms
Anti-Ghosting
Yes, HE80 supports N-Key Rollover
Compatibility
Mac/WIN/Android/Linux/PS4/PS5/Switch
Keyboard Dimensions
33.2*14.6*4.2cm
Keyboard Weight
0.83kg