AULA Hero84 HE Review – A Budget Hall Effect Keyboard With Gamer Energy
⌨️ BUY THE AULA Hero84 HE HERE!
Hall Effect keyboards are no longer a niche. With brands like Wooting, Keychron, and Epomaker pushing out rapid-trigger boards, the market is buzzing with innovation. But what about budget boards? Can you really get into Hall Effect switches without dropping $200+?
That’s where the AULA Hero84 HE comes in. Priced around $70–$80, this compact 84% keyboard promises gaming performance, vibrant RGB, and even some surprising design quirks. But does it deliver, or is it just another budget experiment?
Design and Build
At first glance, the Hero84 HE looks like your standard 84% layout board: function row, arrows, and compact footprint. But then you notice two things:
- The USB-C port is on the side. This is polarizing. For people who like custom cables, the placement makes your setup look awkward, with cables jutting out sideways instead of flowing naturally.
- The strap attachment. Yes, AULA includes a strap you can clip to the board, a throwback to early Wooting aesthetics. Whether you see this as fun or unnecessary depends entirely on taste. Personally, it feels like a gimmick, but hey, some will love it.
Beyond that, the board feels surprisingly sturdy. The top plate is either aluminum or carbon fiber, giving the Hero84 a stiff, gamer-focused typing experience. It’s lightweight, portable, and clearly built with performance in mind rather than flex or typing comfort.
RGB and Aesthetics
The RGB on this board is excellent, bright, customizable, and actually visible from the top thanks to a semi-translucent housing. AULA even included a logo sticker on the backplate that glows with the lighting, giving it a “Batman signal” vibe. Odd? Absolutely. But it works.
Lighting modes include:
- Always on
- Continuous flow
- Breathing
- Neon cycle (my personal favorite)
- Per-key customization
For a sub-$80 board, this level of RGB control is impressive.
Switches and Sound
Inside, the Hero84 HE runs on Black King Hall Effect switches. These switches are smooth, responsive, and, surprisingly, sound great out of the box.
Even more shocking: the stabilizers sound fantastic. They’re almost unlubed yet manage to feel and sound stable with minimal rattle. Many boards at this price point require immediate modding; the Hero84 does not.
Typing produces a solid, satisfying sound profile that sits somewhere between a traditional mechanical board and higher-end Hall Effect offerings. For gamers, it feels sharp and responsive. For typists, it’s pleasant, though the stiff plate may lead to fatigue during long writing sessions.
Gaming Performance
This board is clearly aimed at gamers. The rigid plate, rapid trigger support, and high polling rate make it a responsive choice for FPS players. During testing in the Battlefield beta, it kept up flawlessly with fast-paced action.
However, that same stiffness means it’s not ideal for programmers or writers who spend hours typing. Long sessions can feel fatiguing. Still, for pure gaming, it hits the mark.
Software
Budget keyboards often stumble when it comes to software, but the Hero84 HE manages to surprise. While not perfect, the UI doesn’t scale well on 4K monitors, and some translations are clunky, it’s user-friendly and functional.
Features include:
- Per-key RGB customization
- Multiple profiles
- Macro creation & remapping
- Rapid trigger adjustments
- Dead zone settings
- Firmware updates
- Windows/Mac compatibility
It even explains what features like rapid trigger and SOCD cleaning do, which is fantastic for newcomers to Hall Effect tech.
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Affordable at $70–$80
- Bright, customizable RGB with fun design accents
- Black King Hall Effect switches sound great
- Shockingly good stabilizers out of the box
- Gamer-focused stiffness and responsiveness
- User-friendly software with per-key RGB and macros
- Compatible with both Windows and Mac
❌ Cons
- Side USB port limits cable options
- Wired only, no wireless/Bluetooth option
- Stiff typing feel not ideal for long sessions
- Kickstand feet are flimsy
- Software translations and scaling issues
Final Verdict
The AULA Hero84 HE is not trying to be a perfect all-around keyboard. It doesn’t aim to replace your custom build, nor does it offer the versatility of higher-end Hall Effect boards. Instead, it focuses on one thing: gaming performance at an affordable price.
For $70 on Amazon, you get solid switches, shockingly good stabilizers, strong RGB, and responsive software. Yes, the side USB port is weird. Yes, the strap is gimmicky. But those quirks don’t overshadow what is ultimately a surprisingly competent budget Hall Effect keyboard.
If you’re a gamer who wants rapid trigger responsiveness without dropping $200+, the Hero84 HE is worth a serious look.
