The SKYLOONG GK68 HE is evidence that Hall-effect keyboards’ prices are coming way down. For $99 – often less, if you find it on sale – SKYLOONG is offering a compact 65% layout tricked-out with magnetic switches. It’s hefty, too, avoiding the fully plastic build that many other budget-friendly keyboards opt for. After working and gaming with it for the past few weeks, here is my review.
Hall-effect switches are cheap now
It should go without saying that the main attraction of the SKYLOONG GK68 HE is in the “HE” part of the name – the Hall-effect switches. These boast adjustable actuation points, allowing users to fine-tune exactly when the switches perform different actions.
This technology is a game-changer for video games, especially first-person shooters, and offers an advantage that many are saying is the next evolution for gaming keyboards. Simply put: It’s a must-have feature to look for if you’re in the market for a new keyboard.
8K, too!
Looking beyond the Hall-effect switches, there’s another modern must-have: 8,000 Hz polling rate. That’s right, on a keyboard at the sub-$100 price point, you’re getting 8K polling! SKYLOONG has successfully implemented two of the biggest features gamers look for in a keyboard, and it’s $99!
It even sounds and feels good!
Somehow, it only gets better from here. While many other HE keyboards struggle to nail the typing experience outside of games, as the keys can feel overly mushy, which is just a trade-off of the Hall-effect switch and prioritizing that new tech over good typing and feel, the GK68 HE actually sounds and feels pretty good. All keys have a similar noise and feel, keeping it all consistent and uniform.
Don’t get me wrong, these HE switches still don’t compare to a creamy linear or satisfying tactile, but there is something nice about SKYLOONG’s switch choice here. It avoids being overly mushy, which I think is a win.
The app experience
Where the SKYLOONG GK68 HE begins to falter is in the app. It’s not the most polished experience and it can be tough to understand what exactly each function does. Combine that with how the software failed to recognize my keyboard until after multiple restarts, and it was a less-than-stellar experience.
Hopefully the software experience continues to improve, as the hardware itself is top-tier.
Disclosure: Review sample provided by SKYLOONG.
Final Verdict
At $99, the SKYLOONG GK68 HE is a superb keyboard. It delivers two flagship features – Hall-effect switches with adjustable actuation and an 8,000 Hz polling rate – at a price point where they’re rarely seen, all while providing a surprisingly solid typing experience. Its only real shortcoming is the clunky software, but the hardware performance and overall value make it an easy recommendation.
Positives and Negatives
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Affordable sub-$100 HE keyboard
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Adjustable actuation for precision
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8K polling enhances responsiveness
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Consistent sound and feel typing
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Avoids typical HE mushiness
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Software interface lacks polish
