Qwertykeys Hex80 Keyboard Review – The New Hall Effect King?
Buy me here! ⌨️ Hex80 Hall Effect Keyboard
The mechanical keyboard space has been heating up for Hall Effect switches, and the Hex80 just entered the arena swinging. A collaboration between ATK and Qwerty Keys, this TKL board isn’t just another “me too” entry—it’s a fusion of premium design, serious performance chops, and some clever quality-of-life features that push it into my top three Hall Effect keyboards of all time.
Let’s break it down.
Unboxing – More Than Just a Pretty Box
The Hex80 ships in packaging that screams gamer aesthetic—appropriate given Hall Effect’s strong foothold in competitive gaming, but this board also carries productivity chops. Inside, you’ll find:
- Padded travel pouch – A nice inclusion if you’re taking this to LANs or the office.
- Extra Owl Lab switches – These are some of the smoothest, thockiest magnetic switches on the market, rivaling even Geon Raws for feel and sound.
- Keycap & switch pullers – The included keycap puller works fine, though I’m still not a fan of the “auto-grabber” style.
- Braided USB-C cable – High quality, but color-matched accents would’ve been a nice touch.
- Documentation, keybind card, warranty info – Easy to read and actually useful.
One small gripe? The unnecessary sheet of plastic wrap around the board inside the case. The pouch already protects it—ditch the plastic.
Design & Build Quality
This is Qwerty Keys design language through and through—clean anodized aluminum chassis, no awkward “love it or hate it” design choices like the IQunix feet, and an overall premium feel.
- Form factor: TKL layout (87 keys)
- Connection: Wired only (left-side USB-C port)
- Colors available: Grey anodized, sand gold, purple (my pick), red/white/blue, baby pink
The anodizing is gorgeous and consistent, with my purple unit pairing beautifully with a bright orange custom cable. On the bottom, a weight and accented cutouts give it a unique personality, and the typing angle—though fixed—feels just right without a need for adjustable feet.
Switches – Owl Lab Magnetic Hall Effect
The Hex80 ships with Owl Lab magnetic switches pre-installed, and I’m just going to say it: these are currently the smoothest Hall Effect switches on the market.
- Feel: Buttery-smooth travel, no scratch
- Sound: Thocky with a hint of clack depending on keycap material
- Comparison: Geon Raws are slightly more clacky, Owl Labs lean into deeper thock
- Bonus: Comes with extras right in the box
If you want a thicker sound, swap the stock gamer-style caps for something denser like PBT OSA keycaps. The stock caps sound great but lean toward a hollow crispness due to their translucent design.
Performance – The Fastest Hall Effect Keyboard?
Here’s the headline spec that ATK/Qwerty Keys will want you to remember:
120% overclocked polling rate – making the Hex80, technically, the fastest Hall Effect keyboard on the market right now.
Is this difference perceptible in real gameplay? Probably not for most people—it’s more of a bragging rights feature. But in side-by-side latency tests, it does edge out heavy hitters like the Wooting 80HE and IQunix OG80.
During the Battlefield beta, the Hex80 felt incredibly responsive, with no double-press issues, flawless rapid trigger response, and crisp input registration.
Software – Finally, Hall Effect Done Right
A lot of Hall Effect keyboards stumble hard when it comes to software. The Hex80 doesn’t.
Highlights:
- Adjustable actuation points
- Rapid trigger & SOCD (be careful—banned in some games)
- Per-key RGB customization (accurate to what you set)
- Profile creation with on-board storage (game, work, and fun profiles can all live here)
- Key remapping (except for two fixed side buttons—sadly, can’t map them to volume)
- Easy firmware updates that don’t wipe your profiles or RGB settings
If I could wave a magic wand, I’d make those two unprogrammable buttons volume up/down and call it a day. That’s the only real missed opportunity here.
Sound Profile
Stock tuning is impressive—deep, satisfying thock without mods. The stabilizers are tight and lubed well from the factory.
With stock caps: Slightly hollow high end due to translucent material, but still pleasant.
With dense PBT caps: Significantly deeper and fuller sound—borderline endgame territory for Hall Effect acoustics.
Compared to the IQunix OG80, this is more solid and less pingy. Compared to the Wooting 80HE, it’s richer and less plasticky.
Everyday Use & Gaming
The Hex80 isn’t just for gamers—it works equally well for typing and productivity thanks to its stable TKL layout and comfortable typing angle. That said, if you’re a pro who prefers ultra-compact 60–65% layouts for gaming, you may want to wait—rumor has it a 65% Hex80 variant is in the works.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Premium anodized aluminum chassis in multiple colorways
- Smooth, thocky Owl Lab magnetic switches included
- Fastest Hall Effect keyboard on the market (120% overclocked)
- Excellent factory tuning—no mods required
- Per-key RGB with accurate color reproduction
- On-board profile storage for gaming, work, and typing
- Solid stabilizers and build quality
- Available for direct purchase (no group buy wait times)
- Great price-to-performance ratio for a Hall Effect
Cons
- Wired only, with left-side USB-C port placement
- Gamer-style keycaps may not be to everyone’s taste (legends can be hard to read)
- Two fixed side buttons can’t be remapped—no volume control option
- TKL size might be too large for competitive FPS players who prefer smaller layouts
- Stock keycaps sound slightly hollow—PBT upgrades recommended
Final Verdict
The Hex80 isn’t just another Hall Effect keyboard—it’s a statement piece that delivers on aesthetics, performance, and usability without making you wait six months for a group buy.
Between the buttery Owl Lab switches, overclocked responsiveness, excellent software, and that premium Qwerty Keys chassis, this thing nails almost everything I want in a Hall Effect TKL. The only real drawbacks are minor—swapping keycaps and wishing for a knob or programmable side buttons.
If you’ve been considering a Hall Effect board and want something available now that blends gaming performance with enthusiast build quality, the Hex80 is an easy recommendation.
Buy me here! ⌨️ Hex80 Hall Effect Keyboard
Crafting Worlds Score: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – Nearly perfect, with just a few small tweaks needed for absolute endgame status.
