Syntech Chronos 68 Review: A Speed Demon in Gamer Clothing
The Hall Effect race is on—and the Syntech Chronos 68 is sprinting to the front. But in its race toward performance perfection, did it forget to pack its user interface?
Let’s break this down.
🛠 Build Quality & Design
Right out of the box, Syntech delivers a surprisingly premium unboxing experience. A soft-touch wrist rest, extra switches, a braided cable, a keycap puller, and even a cleaning brush—all included in the price. That’s not just a solid value add—it’s a pleasant surprise in a market where even basic accessories are often upsold.
The keyboard itself is striking. A 68% layout in aircraft-grade aluminum gives it heft without bulk. The design screams Portal-core with futuristic gamer accents that somehow still feel minimal. The RGB is vivid, clean, and tastefully executed. The PBT keycaps are durable, shine-through, and oil-resistant.
🎮 Performance & Features
This thing is fast—like “my desk moved and it typed 4 W’s” fast. With a polling rate of 8000Hz, rapid trigger, Snap Tap, and Super Tap, this is clearly built for competitive gamers.
The OTMU magnetic switches are snappy and consistent, and for those who want a deeper feel, the Jade Pro switch option is available. Even better? The spacebar and stabilizers come pre-lubed and sound tight right out of the box. No mods necessary.
One standout feature is the Fn + Spacebar profile switch. Instantly flip between a typing and gaming profile—no software required.
🧩 Software: The Achilles Heel
Now let’s talk software.
You must download and install a driver, then open a browser-based interface. It’s not truly web-based, not truly standalone—it’s a hybrid approach that ends up being the worst of both worlds. The interface is a clone of existing Epomaker-style apps, which are notoriously unfriendly to beginners.
Even worse, it requires admin privileges and doesn’t offer clear guidance for key features like Snap Tap customization or macro mapping. It’s functional but dated, clunky, and unnecessarily complex. In a world where Wooting, Keychron, and NuPhy have elevated software to a high standard, Syntech’s approach feels like a huge step backward.
🔊 Sound & Feel
Typing on the Syntech Chronos 68 feels fantastic. The key press is light and fast, but thanks to the layered build—PET, foam, POM, and aluminum—the acoustics are impressively dampened.
✅ No pinging
✅ No hollowness
✅ No double triggers
This is one of the better-sounding Hall Effect boards I’ve tested—especially impressive at this price point.
✅ Pros
- 🔋 Incredible speed & responsiveness
- 🎮 Snap Tap, Super Tap, and custom actuation
- 🔧 Excellent out-of-box tuning (no mods needed)
- 🎁 Tons of included accessories
- 🌈 Vibrant RGB and clean layout
- 🔄 Fn + Space quick profile swap
- 🔉 Surprisingly great sound profile
❌ Cons
- 🧱 Confusing, clunky software that requires installation
- 🔌 Wired only (no Bluetooth or 2.4GHz)
- 📦 Limited long-term software support unless they invest more
- 🤔 “Browser” software that’s not truly web-based feels deceptive
🎯 Final Verdict
The Syntech Chronos 68 is a beast of a keyboard with all the right specs for competitive play. It looks great, sounds great, and comes packed with smart features—many of which work without ever touching the software.
But that software… it needs a serious overhaul.
If Syntech can bring their UI experience up to par with their hardware, this keyboard could become a standard in the Hall Effect space. Until then, it’s a high-performance tool best suited for users willing to tolerate bad software in exchange for cutting-edge speed.
