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The recent trend in gaming accessories is moving to Hall effect and Tunnel magnetic resistance technology. It started on consoles a few years ago, and it was only a matter of time before it made its way to gaming consoles. There are now dozens of great HE and TMR keyboards to choose from. Now, as with consoles, the question becomes: is it really worth the upgrade?
There are certainly advantages to magnetic switches, but there are also some compromises. Fine-grained levels of customization and significantly shorter response times can make a huge difference in competitive gaming. On the other hand, the typing experience takes some getting used to, the battery life can be shorter and they are often more expensive than their traditional mechanical counterparts.
If you’re on the fence about upgrading, it can be difficult to know if and when it’s worth it. But for me, the answer now is “yes, but.” Let me explain.
the Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Uses Hall effect switches.
What are the benefits of magnetic keys?
The concept of magnetic switches is simple: instead of pressing a physical spring or rubber membrane as part of a mechanism to send an electrical signal indicating that a switch has been pressed, magnetic sensors are used to detect when a switch is pressed more accurately and with less friction. This leads to some noticeable benefits.
durability
The most obvious advantage to most casual players is greater durability. Without the mechanical friction caused by hardware friction, HE and TMR switches can last longer. Most mechanical switches are rated to last between 50 and 100 million keystrokes, which averages about 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 keystrokes, so 15 to 20 years or more. It is possible that other components of the keyboard will turn off before the keys.
Granular customization
the Kikron K4 is.
The second feature is more technologically profound, but it is also not useful for the vast majority of players. Some HE and TMR transducers, according to their manufacturers, can record inputs (called the operating point) as small as 0.05 mm. In comparison, most traditional mechanical switches have an actuation point between 1 and 2 mm. This means that the key needs to travel much less before the keyboard and computer register the movement, which greatly increases response times. This may not seem like a huge difference, but in the world of competitive gaming, this shorter trigger point is important.
What’s even more interesting is that these switches can be customized in more detail than their mechanical counterparts. So, not only can the actuation point be set to almost nothing, but most HE and TMR switches can store up to four actuation points For every keystroke. This means you can perform four separate actions with a single key press; Two actions on stroke and two on release. For example, you can use the same single keystroke to go from a crouched position to a prone position, then equip and then throw a grenade. Or get into the car, turn on the lights and start the engine, all with the push of a button.
This advanced customization can be useful in all types of games, including shooters, RPGs, MMORPGs, and MMORPGs like Elden Ring, League of Legends, and World of Warcraft. Imagine being able to use a potion, cast a shield, cast an attack boost, and then attack everyone with the press of a single key. There is a whole world of possibilities. Again, most players probably won’t need that much control, and the amount of benefit depends largely on the genre you prefer. But this level of customization can really change the way you play your favorite games.
Rapid fire
the Melitrix bug75 Keyboard with hall effect keys.
Shorter actuation levels also mean that response times are much shorter than traditional mechanical switches. Again, on top of this, if you’re not a hardcore gamer or someone who plays FPS games a lot, you might not notice a difference. However, the more you notice it and practice it, the harder it becomes to go back. Once you build the muscle memory of not having to fully depress the keys to perform an action, going back to a traditional mechanical keyboard may actually start to feel like a chore.
The best pianists learn how to move their fingers across the keys, especially when playing faster and more challenging, and it’s similar here. Once you learn how to move your fingers on the keys, you will become faster and be able to react to what is happening in the game. Although 0.05mm versus 2mm may not seem like a huge difference, in most games, simply initiating the attack or pulling the trigger before the other person always determines who wins the encounter (or how much health you lose during combat).
That’s not all. Most magnetic keyboards have a feature that ensures all keystrokes are recorded, even if two keystrokes overlap. With traditional switches, the first key must return to the top before the next press can be registered. With magnetic switches, the second press of the switch can record the moment the first press reaches the actuation point. This allows you to do things like strafing and peeking around corners more quickly.
Are there downsides to magnetic keys?
For all their potential benefits, Hall effect and tunneling magnetoresistance switches have some drawbacks.
It costs
Redragon FIDD K683.
Like most technologies that are not yet widespread, magnetic keyboards are generally more expensive than traditional mechanical keyboards. This is certainly not true across the board. There are some magnetic keyboards like Redragon FIDD K683 Priced at $30, but on average, you’ll have to pay a little more for magnetic switches, especially TMR switches.
Keep in mind that keyboards vary greatly in their materials as well as in the types of switches. Arguably the biggest deciding factor in the price of a keyboard is the materials needed for the rest of the keyboard (you can even get one Made of concrete If you like). So, if you just want to test out the magnetic keys before investing in a more premium keyboard, pick up a couple of the cheaper switches to make sure you like the feel of them before upgrading to a better model.
Daily writing
Keychron K6 HE keyboard.
Ever since I started testing magnetic keyboards (about two years ago, when they became more widely available), it’s been difficult to find one that I can also use as a keyboard for everyday typing. The typing experience on almost all of these devices didn’t quite match the feel and sound of my mechanical keyboards. They’re getting better, and I know enthusiasts are screaming loud enough for me to hear that you can change the springs on the switches. However, there is still a way to go.
I say “almost all” because there is one glorious exception, which is… Kikron Q3 HE 8K. I say this unequivocally: The Q3 HE 8K is the best keyboard I’ve ever typed on. I’ve typed on many keyboards in my life, 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 lemon magnetic switches, which can be swapped out on the fly. It has an all-metal chassis, gasket-mounted 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 an absolutely fantastic typing experience. Additionally, the gaming benefits that magnetic switches provide make it one of the best gaming keyboards you can buy.
Close-up of the Keychron Q3 HE 8K keys.
Battery life
Most magnetic keyboards have a much shorter battery life than their mechanical counterparts. This is mostly due to how the technology works: keyboards with magnetic switching have to constantly scan their sensors. They must continuously process the exact location of each switch, and switches with fast operation and low latency features (most) use a high polling rate, typically around 8000 Hz.
All of this puts a lot of strain on the battery, which is why many magnetic keyboards, like the Q3, are wired only. This is also why wireless devices suffer from short battery life. While many mechanical keyboards can last over 1,000 hours with the backlight off, magnetic keyboards typically last between 100 and 200 hours. This will vary depending on which features you turn on or off, but it’s still a small fraction of a mechanical keyboard’s battery life.
Should you buy a magnetic keyboard?
As I said at the beginning, “Yes, but…” The extreme levels of customization, fast response time, and greater durability are great benefits for any gamer. However, overall, they are benefits that only the most competitive players will be able to appreciate. There are plenty of great gaming keyboards that don’t have magnetic switches, and any gamer can enjoy them.
If you have the money or really want to invest in improving your gaming, a magnetic keyboard is totally worth it. It took a few years for them to get this good, but it’s safe to say that if you consider upgrading, they are ready for you.
