The latest trend in sports facilities is to move to Hall effect again changing the magnetoresistance technology. It started on controllers a few years ago, and it was only a matter of time before it made its way to gaming keyboards. There are now tons of great HE and TMR keyboards to choose from. So, as regulators, the question becomes: Is it worth the upgrade?
There are certainly advantages to magnetic locks, but there are also compromises. Granular levels of customization and ultra-short response times can make a big difference in competitive games. On the other hand, the typing experience takes some getting used to, battery life can be shorter and they are often more expensive than their traditional mechanical cousins.
When you’re on the fence about upgrading, it can be hard to know if and when it’s worth it. However, for me, the answer is now a resounding “Yes, but”. Let me explain.
The Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL uses Hall effect switches.
What are the advantages of magnetic switching?
The concept of a magnetic switch is simple: Instead of pressing a physical spring or a rubber membrane as part of the mechanism to send an electrical signal that means to press a key, magnetic sensors are used to detect when the key is pressed more precisely and with less friction. This leads to some significant benefits.
Strength
The most obvious benefit to most casual players is the sheer durability. Without mechanical friction caused by friction, HE and TMR replacements can last a long time. Mechanical switches are estimated to last anywhere between 50 and 100 million keystrokes, which averages out to 10 to 15 years (of course, this can vary greatly depending on your usage). HE and TMR switches, on the other hand, are rated for over 100 million button clicks, so 15 to 20 years or more. It is possible that some parts of the keyboard will come out before being replaced.
Granular customization
Keychron K4 HE.
The second benefit is technically more profound, but also not nearly as useful for most players. Some HE and TMR switches can, according to their manufacturers, register an input (called actuation point) as small as 0.05 millimeters of travel. By comparison, most traditional switches have an actuation point between 1 and 2mm. This means that the key needs to move very slowly before the keyboard and computer register the movement, which greatly increases response times. That may not seem like a huge difference, but in the world of competitive sports, that short actuation point is important.
What’s even more interesting is that these changes are suddenly more customizable than their mechanical counterparts. So, not only can the trigger point be set to almost nothing, but most HE and TMR keys can store four trigger points. by pressing the key. That means you can perform four different actions with one key press; two actions on the downstroke and two on the release. For example, you can use the same key press to go from crouch to normal, prime and throw a bomb. Or start the car, turn on the lights and start the engine, all with the click of a single key.
This advanced setting can be useful for all kinds of games, including archers, role-playing games, online multiplayer battlegrounds and online multiplayer role-playing games such as Elden Ring, League of Legends and World of Warcraft. Imagine being able to use medicine, cast a shield, cast an attack buff, and attack all with the press of a single key. There is a whole world of possibilities. Also, most gamers probably won’t need that much control, and the amount of benefit depends largely on which genre you choose. But that level of customization can really change the way you play your favorite games.
Rapid fire
Meletrix Boog75 keyboard with Hall effect switches.
Shorter operating levels also mean that response times are much shorter than conventional mechanical switches. Also, to introduce this, if you are not a serious gamer or someone who plays FPS games a lot, you might not notice the difference. However, the more you notice and practice it, the harder it is to go back. Once you’ve built up the muscle memory of not pressing the keys fully to perform an action, going back to a traditional mechanical keyboard can start to feel like a chore.
The best pianists learn how to bounce their fingers across the keys, especially when playing fast, challenging works, and it’s the same here. Once you learn to bounce your fingers on the keys, you will be faster and more able to react to what is happening in the game. While 0.05mm vs. 2mm may not seem like a huge difference, in most games, just starting your attack or pulling the trigger before the other guy always decides who wins (or how much health you lose during a fight).
It doesn’t end there. Many magnetic keyboards have a feature that ensures that all key presses are registered, even if two keys overlap. With normal switching, the first key must return to the top before the next key registers. With the magnetic switch, the second key press can register when the first key reaches the start point. This allows you to do things like rip and peek around corners much faster.
Is there something wrong with the magnetic switch?
With all the potential advantages, the Hall effect and the magnetoresistance switch pull have some drawbacks.
Costs
Redragon FIDD K683.
Like many technologies that haven’t spread so far, magnetic keyboards are generally more expensive than traditional keyboards. That is not entirely true. There are magnetic keyboards like Redragon FIDD K683 for as little as $30, but on average, you’ll pay less for magnetic switches, especially TMRs.
Keep in mind that keyboards vary widely in their features and switch types. Undoubtedly, the biggest factor that determines the price of a keyboard is the overall keyboard material (you can get one made of concrete if you want). So, if you want to just test magnetic switches before investing in a more premium keyboard, pick up a few cheap ones to make sure you like the feel of them before upgrading to a nicer model.
Everyday typing
Keychron K6 HE keyboard.
Ever since I started experimenting with magnetic keyboards (about two years ago, when they were widely available), it’s been hard to find one that I can use as my everyday typing keyboard. The typing experience on almost all of them has never matched the feel and sound of my mechanical keyboards. They have gotten better, and I know a lot of enthusiasts are clamoring to hear that you can replace the springs on the switches. However, there is still a way.
I say “almost all” because there are some glaring exceptions, i Keychron Q3 HE 8K. I say this unequivocally: the Q3 HE 8K is the best keyboard I’ve ever typed on. I’ve written on many keyboards in my lifetime, and I’m well aware that there are hundreds, if not thousands, I’ve never tried, but the Q3 HE 8K is my absolute favorite of the ones I’ve tested.
The Q3 uses Keychron’s custom, interchangeable Lime Magnetic Switches. It has a full metal body, gasket mount design and polybutylene terephthalate, or PBT, keycaps. I don’t know why or how, but the unique combination of everything on this keyboard adds up to a great typing experience. Plus, the gaming benefits of magnetic switches make it one of the best gaming keyboards you can buy.
Close-up of Keychron Q3 HE 8K changes.
Battery life
Most magnetic keyboards have a much shorter battery life than their mechanical brethren. That’s largely due to the way the technology works: Magnetic switch keyboards have to constantly test their sensors. They have to keep processing the precise position of each switch, and those with fast trigger and slow delay characteristics (most of them) use a higher polling rate, usually around 8,000 Hz.
All of this includes a large battery, which is why most magnetic keyboards, like the Q3, are wired only. This is also why these wireless ones suffer from short battery life. While most replacement keyboards can last more than 1,000 hours with the backlight off, magnetic keyboards typically last between 100 and 200 hours. This will vary depending on what features you keep on or off, but it’s still a fraction of the battery life of a mechanical keyboard.
Should you buy a magnetic keyboard?
As I said earlier, “Yes, but…” Extreme levels of customization, fast response time and great durability are amazing benefits for any gamer. However, in general, they are benefits that only the most competitive players will be able to truly appreciate. There are tons of great gaming keyboards that don’t have magnetic switches, and any gamer can enjoy them.
If you have money or really want to invest in improving your games, a magnetic keyboard is absolutely for you. It took a few years for them to get this good, but it’s safe to say that if you’ve thought about upgrading, they’re ready.
