Great ideas, too many cut corners: Epomaker HE75 Mag wireless Hall-effect gaming keyboard reviewed

The Epomaker HE75 Mag ticks many boxes, promising the convenience of wireless connectivity, the adjustability of Hall-effect switches, and a low $99 price. However, we found that the build quality just wasn't up to scratch, and the Gateron KS-20 Magnetic White switches delivered a rather disappointing sound and feel. The programmable knob can be removed and replaced with two keys, but this feels more like a gimmick than a useful feature. 

Wireless connectivity on the HE75 Mag is convenient, and battery life seems respectable, but it exhibited issues with repeated inputs, making it unusable. The HE75 Mag's sound profile is severely compromised by rattly stabilisers, and the stiff aluminium plate and firm gasket mounts make for a harsh typing feel. 

Ultimately, you're better off paying more for a better Hall-effect keyboard or opting for a mechanical keyboard, that will deliver a better user experience. 

The Epomaker HE75 Mag is available on Amazon at $89.99 (currently $10 off) or $99 via Epomaker. While we don't recommend the keyboard, if you are planning on buying the HE75 Mag, we recommend buying through Amazon to avoid potential shipping delays or complicated return processes. 

If you're looking for a reliable 75% keyboard suitable for gaming, we recommend spending $35 extra on the Keychron K2 HE at Amazon. You could also consider the MonsGeek Fun60 Ultra TMR, which costs $94.99 on Amazon.

The Epomaker HE75 Mag is a 75% wireless Hall-effect gaming keyboard with Gateron KS-20 Magnetic White switches and a programmable knob. It features 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, and USB Type-C connectivity, along with per-key south-facing RGB backlighting. The HE75 Mag is customisable via a desktop application that is available for Windows and macOS. 

The Epomaker HE75 Mag's unboxing experience is what we've come to expect from Epomaker's budget mechanical keyboards. Unlike the Keychron K4 HE's included tools or Iqunix EZ63's premium experience, the HE75 Mag only includes the basics. However, the keyboard is well packaged, and the necessary keycap and switch puller, USB cable, and 2.4 GHz dongle are all included. There are also two extra switches and keycaps that can be used to replace the knob. 

The Epomaker HE75 Mag is unabashedly plastic, which isn't usually an issue, but the ABS blend used here feels cheap. The same is true for the gloss-finish chamfer along the top edge of the keyboard's top case.

The HE75 Mag checks plenty of boxes: two-stage flip-out feet, hardware switches for connectivity mode and OS selection, a built-in magnetic dongle storage slot, indicator lights for caps and scroll lock and battery charge, and a hidden cable channel. The switches, cable channel, and dongle storage are all on the bottom of the keyboard for aesthetic purposes. 

The cable channel keeps things neat, but it prevents you from using coiled USB cables or cables with thicker ends. Similarly, the knob is metal, and it's nice to be able to customise the functionality of the knob — it controls system volume by default — and swap the knob for extra switches, but the backlighting in the knob module is not configurable. You are stuck with an RGB cycle on the hole pattern. When using the switches instead of the knob, the RGB control works. 

Wireless connectivity on the HE75 Mag was frustrating at best. Battery life seems to live up to Epomaker's promised 120 hours, but repeated inputs were frequent on 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth, making it unusable. 

The keycaps on the Epomaker HE75 Mag have good specs, with a thick double-shot PBT construction, but the implementation again suffers. The lettering on some keycaps is skew, and the bottom edges are warped. This doesn't affect the typing feel, but it is an indicator of quality. 

The Gateron KS-20 Magnetic White HE switches are a light, budget offering from Gateron, and it shows in the typing sound and feel. The keystrokes are smooth, and the factory lubrication feels consistent, but there is significant keycap wobble, and the top-out sound is loud and jarring. The HE75 Mag's stabilisers are also very rattly, especially the space bar. 

There is a sound test included below. 

Despite browser-based keyboard customisation software becoming more popular, the Epomaker HE75 Mag uses a custom driver to set up features like SOCD or customise the actuation point and RGB backlighting. The Epomaker software works fine and doesn't set off any malware alerts, but it's only available on Windows and macOS. The UI and usability also need work. Explanations for features are poorly translated, and the UI is clunky.

Overall, the Epomaker HE 75 Mag feels like a missed opportunity; a lot of lofty promises and an attractive price tag that fails to deliver. Between the unreliable wireless connectivity, stiff gasket mount, and unsatisfying typing sound and feel, the Epomaker HE75 Mag is difficult to recommend over its contemporaries.