EPOMAKER HE68 Lite

$49.99

 Compact, colourful and functional – these are the three words I’d use to describe the Epomaker HE68 Lite keyboard. Designed as a compact gaming keyboard, the HE68 Lite delivers next-level responsiveness, complete customisability, and superior aesthetics. Plus, with a price tag below $50, this really is an impressive keyboard from Epomaker.

The Epomaker HE68 Lite we got to test out came in a lovely all white colourway. My first impression of the keyboard was that it was more minimalist and simpler in design, with a compact layout, especially when compared to many of the other models under the Epomaker brand. However, once turned on, the keyboard comes to life with the A-RGB backlighting, which combines the best of dynamic under-key lighting with traditional key backlighting to deliver a 2-layer lighting system. This gives a lovely rainbow glow to the keyboard and illuminates the letters and symbols of each key from underneath, thanks to their slightly see-through design. This means that when using the keyboard at night, the keys are illuminated to help you hit the right one every time.

The switches on the HE68 Lite are brilliant, each key features a Clear Mag Switch, which are factory-lubed magnetic linear switches designed for quick responsiveness. The keys support DKS and MT functions, which allow for each key to deliver up to 4 actions depending on how much you press and release a key. These are ideal for common actions and key combos, especially those used during gaming to speed up your manoeuvres and outsmart your opponents. In fact, you can adjust your keys to fine-tune their sensitivity to help customise the exact point at which keypresses are registered and where they stop. This ensures there are no dead zones, so every click counts. Plus, with SOCD software, the keyboard is designed to prioritise your last key press when selecting opposing commands to ensure that every command is completed accurately and quickly.

Much like many of Epomaker’s other keyboards, the HE68 Lite delivers an 8k polling rate, which ensures a near-instantaneous key registration. This is then paired with the keyboard's 128khz scan rate, which ensures that your actions on screen directly line up with your keyboard commands to allow you to complete complex manoeuvres and fire off rapid combo moves without any delays or lag. With all of these high precision and responsiveness specs, the keyboard is perfect for gaming sessions, and with the glowing lights, it looks extra pretty during late-night campaigns. However, even for use as an everyday keyboard, it's perfectly functional, and each key feels comfortable and responsive.

Pros: 

• Double-layer lighting for a great look and easy visibility at night
• Super responsive keys that are designed for gaming
• Compact design ideal for working on the go or smaller desks/gaming setups

Cons:

• The compact size can take a little getting used to – but is ideal for saving space