Luminkey Magger68 HE review: A standout 65% hall effect keyboard

There’s never a better time to be interested in mechanical keyboards; dozens of new entrants are rolling out exciting products in this category, and there’s an exhaustive amount of choice if you need a new keyboard.

I tested the Glorious GMMK 3 Pro back when it launched last year, and while I still prefer traditional gasket-mounted designs, I’ll admit that hall effect switches make a real difference while gaming.

That’s what makes Luminkey’s Magger68 so interesting. It is a 65% keyboard with a striking design and hall effect switches, and its affordability gives it a clear edge.

I predominantly use 80% keyboards, but I’ve been using the iPad Pro M4 to write quite a bit these days, and the Magger68 became the go-to choice to pair with that device because of its smaller size.

The inherent advantage of hall effect tech — the ability to set custom actuation points — is available here as well, and the best part is that you get Gateron’s excellent Magnetic Jade Pro linear switches.

Combine that with the interesting design, and you have an intriguing keyboard that’s great for gaming as well as regular use.

Luminkey Magger68 HE: Pricing and availability

Luminkey introduced the Magger68 in October 2024, and the keyboard is now on sale in select global markets. It’s available on Amazon for $139, and on Luminkey’s website for $119. There’s a Professional variant of the keyboard that costs $149 on Luminkey’s website; this model has a heavier back plate and a slightly modified design, and it includes Gateron’s Magnetic Jade Pro switches.

Luminkey Magger68 HE: What I like

The Magger68 comes in a single 65% size, and it has the standard 68-key configuration. It is noticeably smaller than TKL and full-size keyboards, and the allure is that it doesn’t take up much room on your desk. It is good for portability as well, but as it has an all-metal enclosure, it is quite heavy. The keyboard angle is a bit high, so you’ll ideally need to use a wrist rest — there isn’t one bundled in the package.

I’m using the Professional variant of the Magger68, and it looks pretty distinctive. The E-Milky White color option in particular has an elegant look, with the cream white design contrasted by orange accents. The arrow keys have a see-through design, and they do a great job diffusing light.

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Interestingly, the E-Milky White model has Kanji sub-legends in orange, and they’re done well. The chassis itself is made out of metal, and it has a good heft to it; it stays planted on a desk without any issues. The construction sees two halves joined together, and thanks to the aluminum plate that sits below the keys and two silicone layers, you get a great acoustic sound, and better feedback than most other hall effect keyboards I used.

On that note, the Magnetic Jade Pro switch is fantastic; the linear actuation provides a smooth feedback, and the 36gF actuation is good enough that it doesn’t come across as too light. The switch is pre-lubed, and it has a POM stem with a polycarbonate housing that allows light to diffuse well, and a PA66 bottom shell.

If you need a lighter actuation, the regular model of the keyboard has the Magnetic White Pro switch, and it has a 30gF actuation; I prefer slightly heavier switches, so I went with the Jade Pro, but it’s good to see that there’s an alternative. Both switches have a linear actuation.

Like other hall effect switches, you get a magnet integrated into the Magnetic Jade Pro that allows you to tweak the actuation point. The total travel of the switch is 3.6mm, but you can set it to trigger from anywhere between 0.1mm to 3.5mm, and it makes a sizeable difference while gaming.

This is the key differentiator for the keyboard; the ability to adjust the actuation point gives it a distinct advantage over other gaming keyboards. Similarly, 8000Hz polling means it is in line with most mainstream gaming keyboards in this regard, and it connects via a detachable USB-C cable.

The keycaps don’t have shine-through legends, but they have a good build quality, and they’re made out of PBT. It has a good texture, and after three months of use, the keyboard still looks pristine. RGB lighting is pretty good too, and it diffuses well around the keys. You get custom lighting modes and a decent amount of configurability in this area.

The Magger68 does a fantastic job in regular use. While hall effect keyboards don’t have the same bounciness as gasket-mounted designs with traditional switches, Luminkey did a good job delivering a great feedback. The advantages of the hall effect switch make the keyboard a great choice for gaming; being able to trigger keys quicker makes an immediate difference, and Luminkey’s software makes it relatively easy to tailor actuation settings and macros.

Like most other mechanical keyboards, it’s straightforward to customize the Magger68; you can easily change the switches or the keys and add your own. As it uses hall effect switches, you’ll need to go with other magnetic switches, but other than that, there are no limitations.

Luminkey Magger68 HE: What I don’t like

I like the Luminkey software in general, but given how easy it is to use the web-based VIA utility that most mechanical keyboards now use, it was a little annoying not to have it on the Magger68. VIA makes it easier to modify settings and set up macros, and I use it to good effect on all my keyboards.

The only other thing is the switch selection; I prefer linear switches and have used Gateron’s excellent Box Ink Black V2 switches for most of the last two years, but a tactile option would have made the Magger68 just that little more enticing. In a similar vein, Bluetooth or 2.4GHz connectivity would have made it much more versatile; I mostly used this keyboard with my iPad Pro M4 via USB-C, and not having to use a cable would have been preferable.

Luminkey Magger68 HE: The alternatives

You’ll find a good selection of hall effect switches these days, and I’ll be reviewing a series of boards over the coming weeks. If you just need a reliable design from a well-known brand, Keychron’s Q1 HE is a solid choice — albeit a costly one at $219. It comes with Gateron’s Magnetic Nebula switch, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity, outstanding build quality, and the software is easier to use. I’ve had this keyboard for over six months, and it is a standout choice if you don’t mind shelling out the cash.

Luminkey Magger68 HE: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

✅ You want a hall effect keyboard that looks great

✅ You need a good value

✅ You want a smaller-sized gaming keyboard

You shouldn’t buy this if:

❌ You need a keyboard with Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity

❌ You want a tactile switch pre-installed

There’s a lot to like with the Magger68, and Luminkey did all the right things with the keyboard. The all-metal chassis gives it decades-long durability, and the smaller size means it doesn’t take up much room on your desk. The E-Milky White variant has a good presence thanks to the white and orange color scheme, and the keys are of a high quality.

The biggest reason to pick up this keyboard is because of the hall effect switches. Gateron’s Jade Pro is fantastic in daily use as well as gaming, and the adjustable actuation along with good linear feedback makes it a standout choice. The only key feature missing is Bluetooth connectivity, but if you don’t really need it and want a 65% mechanical board with the latest magnetic switches, the Magger68 still stands among some of the best keyboards as an easy recommendation.

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