Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard review
We tested the Endgame Gear KB65HE gaming keyboard, which comes with magnetic hall-effect switches with programmable actuation.
Share this article...
WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
The KB65HE is the first ever keyboard released by Endgame Gear, a relatively new peripheral company who primarily specialises in high-end performance mice for gamers. The German brand has impressed so far with its mouse range, and has even won over the notoriously hard to please Reddit mouse enthusiasts, so we were eager to see if it would do the same with their first foray into the gaming keyboard space. Read on to see if it was worthy of inclusion into our best gaming keyboard guide.
Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard
- Hall Effect switches with custom actuation
- Excellent build quality
- Ducky PBT Doubleshot keycaps
- User-friendly onboard software
- Hot swappable (but only for Hall effect switches)
- Reasonably priced for a premium board
- No printed characters on keys for secondary functions
- No fold-out feet
- No onboard memory
- Not the lightest
Design & Features
The Endgame Gear KB65HE is a 65% size, 69-key, wired-only keyboard. Unlike the smallest, most stripped down 60% layout, the 65% size comes with arrow keys, plus the Delete, Page Up, Page Down, and End keys, though it lacks the function keys of the larger 75% size: it’s becoming an increasingly popular size/layout option in the gaming keyboard space. There’s no multimedia knob or controls besides your standard keys, but multiple different secondary functions can be programmed via the onboard Endgame Gear software.
Form-factor
65%
Key-switches
Gateron KS-37B switches
Actuation Force / Travel
30g/4mm
Actuation Point
variable (as low as 0.1mm)
Dimensions
315 x 108.8 x 37.2mm
Weight
1.050kg
Keycaps
PBT Doubleshot
Connection
USB 3.0 Type-A (180cm braided Cord with silicone cable tie)
The key draw of the KB65HE is the Hall Effect switches it supports: these utilise a magnetic mechanism rather than a mechanical one, though they do feel similar to mechanical switches under the fingers. Each key has a magnet within it which, when the key is depressed, causes a change in the magnetic field that is detected by the sensor in the keyboard, which can then know exactly how far the key has been moved to a high level of precision – specifically 0.1mm of accuracy. The actuation point can actually be set manually within the onboard software (the Endgame Gear software) to increments of 0.1mm, which is the best degree of variance on the market in any Hall Effect keyboard. This means you can have a feather light actuation distance of 0.1mm, which is very low indeed.
The standard switches that come with the keyboard are the Gateron KS-37B Hall Effect switches, though these can be swapped out for other Hall Effect switches if need be (you can’t swap in non-Hall Effect ones though it’s important to note). These switches are linear (non-tactile with no bump), pre-lubed and have a dual-rail design which makes them more stable and consistent than the more common single-rail design. They have an actuation force of 30g and bottom-out at 50g, with a total travel distance of 4mm. As discussed the actuation point can be varied within the onboard software.
The chassis of the keyboard is made from CNC-milled aluminium, making it as tough as you like: there’s no detectable flex to the board at all. This does make it a bit on the weighty side at 1.05kg though; some people like a heavy board, but if you’re after something a bit more portable this might put you off. Aesthetically the KB65HE isn’t anything to shout about: it’s a pretty nondescript looking black (though there’s a swappable yellow EndGame branded escape key included in the box) and it doesn’t really compete with the nicer looking premium boards out there, though you can always buy alternative keycaps to spice it up a bit.
In terms of how they are to the touch though, the doubleshot PBT keycaps, made by Ducky no less, feel great under your fingertips, and their quality of material construction means they should outlast those on most competing models available at this price point (such as the Corsair K65 Plus wireless that we recently reviewed), which normally come with the more common single-shot dye-sublimated caps. Another great feature you typically would only find on a premium product.
The KB65HE doesn’t come with the fold out feet you usually find on a keyboard, instead having detachable rubber feet which can be replaced with the alternative ones in the box, essentially giving you the choice between a flat position or one that’s slightly elevated; ideally we would have liked a more elevated option in addition to this. The ports are limited to the single wire connection port and that’s it. Additionally, there’s no memory/storage capacity on the keyboard, so you can’t save any of your custom profiles to the device and have to load up the software and manually change them whenever you’re using a new device, which is less than ideal.
A mechanical keyboard box labeled “Endgame Gear KB65HE” on a table with computer hardware packaging on shelves in the background.
A graphics card and an Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard review in anti-static packaging inside an open box.
A mechanical Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard with a USB cable and user guide arranged on a wooden surface.
A usb cable, keycap puller, and quick start guide for the Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard on a wooden desk.
Hand holding a small, black Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard USB plug above a wooden surface, with unfocused background showing another similar object.
A person’s hand attaching a small clamp to the edge of a tabletop for an Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard review.
A person’s arm resting against the corner of a laptop with a protective edge guard, near the Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard under review.
A laptop with the brand “endgame gear” on its surface, placed on a wooden table, alongside the Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard review.
A portable external SSD with its brand logo displayed, resting on a wooden surface with colorful shelf lighting in the background, awaiting an Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard review.
Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard review on a wooden desk with blurred background.
A mechanical Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard review in the foreground with blurred computer hardware packaging in the background.
Close-up of the Endgame Gear KB65HE black mechanical keyboard with focus on arrow keys, with blurred colorful packaging in the background.
Close-up of the Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard with a focus on the arrow keys.
Endgame Gear KB65HE mechanical keyboard review: A distinctive yellow escape key on a wooden surface.
Price
At the time of writing, the MSRP of the Endgame Gear KB65HE is $149.99 / £139.99, which is very reasonable indeed considering what you get: it’s not a cheap keyboard obviously, but it is a premium-grade product for a price approximately $50 lower than you’d typically expect. Obviously this is a smaller board that doesn’t have dedicated media keys and the like, but in terms of build quality, typing, and gaming performance it is top-notch.
Performance
Our experience using the KB65HE with the standard Gateron KS-37B linear switches was top-notch. We’ve yet to test a lighter, more responsive keyboard in gaming, particularly after you fiddle around with the actuation in the Endgame Gear software. The software in question is one of the best we’ve ever had the pleasure of using: it’s very easy to navigate and completely free of bloat – a pleasingly efficient experience.
The pre-lubed linear switches were as smooth as silk, they had some bounce to them thanks to the dual layers of silicone padding, sounded great (with a nice THOCK but not too loud) and felt very stable, thanks to the dual-rail setup. Indeed the whole keyboard felt stable, durable, and as solid as any keyboard we’ve tested. The feet are pretty solid and grippy and gave good purchase though we did find ourselves missing out on the usual extendable feet and higher raised position. The key backlighting does the job, making key identification in darker conditions perfectly easy, with all the standard RGB customization available in the onboard software, though it’s not quite as impressive as that of some of the recent Corsair models we’ve reviewed.
For typing it really depends on your personal preference – the very low actuation settings probably aren’t the best for most typists but you can always adjust these in the software settings. If you like a more tactile typing experience (like me) then these linear switches likely aren’t for you, but that’s not really a criticism of the keyboard, given it’s a subjective preference. Ultimately this is a gaming keyboard first, and it’s a truly great device if you’re looking to maximise your reaction times.
Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard
