Epomaker H80 Magnetic Keyboard Review: Is This $55 Hall Effect Board the Budget Wooting?
In the ever-evolving world of mechanical keyboards, Hall Effect switches have traditionally lived in the high-end space, with brands like Wooting setting the gold standard. But now, here comes Epomaker, rolling in with a keyboard that might just change the game: the Epomaker H80 Magnetic. Priced around $55–$69, this board promises a true Hall Effect experience, full per-key RGB, and web-based software… all without breaking the bank.
Sounds too good to be true, right? Let’s break it down and see if the H80 is the real deal—or just another budget keyboard with flashy lights and empty promises.
📦 What’s in the Box?
- Braided USB-C cable
- Extra magnetic switches
- Extra modifier keycaps
- Keycap and switch puller
- The board itself, preassembled with clear keycaps and Hall Effect switches
It’s not a lavish unboxing, but for the price point, the inclusion of extra switches and keycaps is a welcome touch. The clear caps also showcase that bright south-facing RGB very well out of the box.
🛠️ Build Quality & Design
Let’s address the elephant in the room: this thing looks premium.
The 75% layout offers just enough keys without crowding your desk, and Epomaker made the smart choice of spacing the arrow keys away from the rest of the cluster—huge quality-of-life improvement. No more accidentally hitting Enter when you meant to tap an arrow.
On the bottom, you’ll find massive rubber feet that actually work. Whether you’re gaming or typing aggressively, this thing isn’t sliding anywhere. There are two levels of adjustable feet with rubberized ends too. Minor con? The smaller feet sometimes don’t hold their position if bumped.
Despite the plastic case, the H80 feels solid. There’s even a bit of gasket-like bounce, something not typically found in budget Hall Effect boards. Typing on it doesn’t feel like slamming into a rock.
⌨️ Typing Feel & Sound
These aren’t your old-school magnetic switches. The Epomaker MagX Hall Effect switches feel smooth and are surprisingly satisfying to type on. Yes, there’s a bit of wiggle, especially if you’re coming from a tighter board like an IQUNIX, but nothing deal-breaking.
The stock sound is decent: not thocky, but not overly hollow either. Still, if you’re picky about acoustics, a quick keycap swap improves things immensely—especially if you ditch the clear caps for some PBTs with a bit more density.
⚙️ Software Features
Okay, here’s where the H80 gets really interesting: the web-based configuration software.
🔹 Features:
- Per-key remapping
- Per-key RGB customization
- Rapid Trigger (aka Fast Trigger)
- Dynamic key travel adjustment
- SOCD Cleaning, Toggle Modes, Dual Actions
- Macro manager
- Firmware updates
- Dark mode UI
All of it runs smoothly, with no installs required—just plug it in and go. Adjusting actuation distance is simple and intuitive. You can even calibrate the board with a single click.
🔸 Only gripe? The font size is microscopic. On a 4K monitor, even at 200% scaling, it’s almost unreadable in places. Epomaker, if you’re listening: please give us better font scaling. Otherwise, your software is stellar.
Gaming Performance
This is where Hall Effect boards shine, and the H80 is no different.
I played Dune Awakening and other titles, testing everything from movement combos to double-tap avoidance. There were zero double inputs, no latency, and rapid trigger adjustments made a clear difference in feel. The board felt fast, snappy, and responsive across the board.
It’s wired only, so no Bluetooth or wireless dongle, but that also means you’re getting true 8000Hz polling rate support, which is wild for a board at this price.
🧾 Specs Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Layout | 75% |
| Switch Type | Epomaker MagX Hall Effect |
| Keycaps | Clear ABS (PBT replacements recommended) |
| Connectivity | USB-C Wired only |
| RGB | South-facing, per-key configurable |
| Software | Web-based, supports remapping & RGB |
| Actuation Range | Adjustable 0.2mm–3.8mm |
| Gasket Mount | Yes (with noticeable bounce) |
| Price | $55–$69 depending on platform |
| Warranty | 1, 2, or 3-year options |
👍 Pros
- Shockingly affordable for a Hall Effect board
- Adjustable actuation, rapid trigger, and dynamic key travel built-in
- Solid construction with great rubber feet and layout spacing
- Per-key RGB and macros via clean web software
- Includes extra switches and keycaps in box
- Creamy bounce from gasket mounting
👎 Cons
- Wired only – no Bluetooth or wireless options
- Keycap sound is a bit hollow (but fixable)
- Switch wobble exists, especially noticeable coming from tighter builds
- Tiny font in the software UI – needs scaling support
- RGB on board doesn’t sync with software dark mode
Final Verdict
Is this the Wooting killer? No. But it doesn’t have to be.
The Epomaker H80 Magnetic isn’t trying to dethrone the premium kings—it’s carving out its own space: affordable, responsive, and packed with features. If you’ve been curious about Hall Effect keyboards, this is a phenomenal entry point. And if you’re a gamer looking for fast response without latency, it’s hard to beat this value.
This board proves that you don’t need to spend $200+ to get modern features like Rapid Trigger, per-key remapping, and real customization.
Final Score: 8.5/10 — A budget Hall Effect keyboard done right.
