The keyboard market has been on fire lately, and if there is one technology that has truly changed the game, it’s magnetic switches (Hall Effect). We are not talking about just another marketing gimmick here, but a substantial upgrade in responsiveness and feel. The Epomaker HE108 arrives at our desk in a full-sized layout, promising to combine this instantaneous gaming performance with top-tier wireless freedom and a very well-thought-out, rock-solid build quality.
Let’s dive into practice and see what it delivers regarding materials, sound dampening, connectivity, and real-world behavior, far away from marketing slogans.
What’s in the Epomaker HE108 Box:
The experience begins right out of the box, as Epomaker provides all the essentials to get you ready from minute one:
- The Epomaker HE108 keyboard
- A high-quality, braided USB-C to USB-A cable for charging and wired use
- The wireless 2.4Ghz USB Dongle (hidden in a dedicated slot on the chassis)
- A premium, dual Keycap & Switch Puller tool
- The User Manual for quick shortcuts
Design & Materials: Robust without Compromises
The first thing you notice about the Epomaker HE108 is that it does not follow the mini keyboard trend (60% or 75%). Here, we have a complete Full-Size (100%) layout with 108 keys. If you need the Numpad and dedicated arrow keys for your daily routine, this is exactly what you are looking for, without having to mess around with clunky shortcuts.
A Frame That Inspires Confidence
The case is plastic, made of high-density reinforced ABS. I know what you’re thinking: “Plastic? Why not aluminum?”. Yet, the implementation here is a pleasant surprise. The walls are so thick, and the assembly is so tight that the keyboard doesn’t budge at all. There isn’t a trace of flex, even if you intentionally press down hard on the center. It has a very nice, hefty weight (around 1.6 kg) which, combined with the rubber feet, keeps it securely “glued” to your desk, no matter how intense your gaming session gets.
Keycaps for Non-Stop Use
For the keycaps, Epomaker clearly chose the right solution: Double-shot PBT keycaps. Forget about cheap plastic that gets shiny after a few weeks of use due to finger oils. These have a very nice, slightly textured, premium feel that remains unaltered over time. Their profile properly cradles your fingertips, making typing effortless, whether you are writing pages of text or grinding through a long gaming session.
Acoustic Architecture & Creamy Jade Switches
Let’s be honest: many Hall Effect keyboards on the market suffer from poor acoustics. They sound hollow, like a cheap plastic container. This is where Epomaker made a real difference, putting a lot of work into the interior of the case with a gasket-mount architecture and 5 layers of sound dampening. But the true secret lies in the switches.
The Magic of Creamy Jade Magnetic Switches
The Epomaker HE108 comes equipped with custom Creamy Jade magnetic switches. These linear switches are something else. They come exceptionally well factory-lubed, and their downward travel is smooth as butter, with zero friction or scratchiness. Combined with the internal dampening, they deliver exactly what their name promises: a perfectly creamy, deep, and “thocky” sound that reminds you of high-end custom builds costing hundreds of euros.
The interior is exemplary configured to support this sound profile:
- Poron Sandwich Foam & Latex: Absorbs the impact when the Creamy Jade switch bottoms out, rounding out the sound.
- IXPE Switch Pads & PET Film: A thin membrane under each individual switch that brings out the clean, “creamy” acoustic signature with every press.
- High-Density Bottom Silicone: A thick layer of silicone at the base that fills all empty space, completely eliminating metallic pinging and case reverberation.
Even the stabilizers on the larger keys, like the Spacebar, follow the same philosophy: they are tight, well-lubricated, and do not have a single trace of rattle.
Magnetic Performance: Gaming on a Whole New Level
Beyond their incredible sound, the Creamy Jades are Hall Effect, meaning they don’t operate using physical metal contacts, but with magnets. This unlocks features that completely change the gaming experience.
Custom Actuation Tailored to You
Through the software, you can set the actuation point for each key individually with incredible accuracy (ranging from an ultra-sensitive 0.1mm to 3.3mm). Want an instantaneous response for your movement keys in-game? Set it to 0.1mm, and the keystroke triggers almost by thought alone. Want to type text without accidentally hitting adjacent letters? Raise it up and enjoy peace of mind.
Rapid Trigger & SOCD
The Rapid Trigger feature is a total game-changer. The switch doesn’t need to return to a fixed reset point to register another press. The moment your finger starts lifting, the key deactivates instantly and reactivates with the slightest downward movement. At the same time, it supports Snap Key (SOCD), prioritizing the last input (ideal for perfect counter-strafing in FPS games).
Connectivity, Battery Life & Dual OS
This is where the Epomaker HE108 stands out from its magnetic keyboard competition, as it offers Tri-Mode connectivity (USB-C wired, 2.4Ghz wireless via dongle, and Bluetooth).
Physical Switches on the Top Side
You don’t need to look up weird shortcut key combinations for the essentials. On the back/top side of the frame, there are two physical, robust toggle switches:
- The first allows you to instantly change the connection mode between USB, 2.4Ghz Wireless, and Bluetooth.
- The second flips immediately between Windows and Mac layouts. Compatibility is seamless, and the Mac modifiers (Command/Option) are actually printed on the keycaps. This means you can use it on your Mac for work in the morning and switch to your PC for gaming at night.
A Monster 10,000mAh Battery
Magnetic switches pull a lot of power because sensors are constantly scanning. Epomaker solved this problem by dropping a mammoth 10,000mAh battery inside. With the RGB off, the keyboard delivers up to 500 hours of wireless use, an extraordinary number for a Hall Effect board. If you want absolute peak performance, using the cable or the 2.4Ghz dongle locks you into an 8000Hz polling rate for zero delay.
Peripherals: RGB and Software
As for the rest, the keyboard features south-facing RGB lighting, meaning the LEDs are positioned at the bottom of the switch, so the light shines directly toward your eyes and isn’t blocked by the keycap walls. The software (Epomaker Driver 4.0) is clean, minimalist, and lets you set up your profiles, macros, and magnetic thresholds without giving you a headache.
The Final Verdict on the Epomaker HE108
The Epomaker HE108 is not just another release in the long list of mechanical keyboards. It is an excellent, well-grounded offering that shows the company listened to what the community wanted.
They took the top-tier gaming technology of magnetic switches, married it with the amazing Creamy Jade switches for ultimate acoustics, provided tri-mode wireless freedom with a battery life you’ll forget to charge, and built a rock-solid chassis around it all.
If you are looking for a full-size layout that gives you the ultimate competitive edge in responsiveness, but you also want the convenience of physical toggle switches and a truly premium “creamy” sound, the Epomaker HE108 plays virtually without a rival in its category, whether you are playing Diablo or an intense FPS like Stalker. It is a clear choice of substance.
We would like to thank Epomaker for providing this wonderful keyboard for review.