When it comes to gaming keyboards, we often hear words like “fast,” “responsive,” and “customizable.” These features sound great, but not every keyboard delivers on them. The Epomaker Magforce 68 is a compact 65% keyboard that claims to offer all of these and more. It features Gateron Magnetic Jade Pro switches, adjustable actuation, 8000Hz polling rate, and a CNC aluminum case.
I have been using this keyboard for a while now. In this detailed review, I will talk about everything: design, switch performance, typing feel, gaming experience, and all the small things that matter.
What’s in the Box?
Epomaker ships the Magforce 68 with the following things:
- User manual
- Epomaker Magforce 68 keyboard
- A branded hex key for disassembly
- Extra magnetic switches
- A keycap puller
- A high-quality braided USB-C cable
Epomaker Magforce 68 Review
Design and Build
The first thing you will notice about the Epomaker Magforce 68 is its sleek, industrial design. It features a full CNC-machined aluminum body with a matte black anodized finish that feels smooth and premium to the touch. There are no distracting logos or flashy labels, just clean lines and subtle elegance.
It follows a 65% layout with 68 keys, making it compact yet functional. This layout retains the arrow keys and some navigation keys, so you do not miss out on usability even in a smaller form factor. Measuring 314.5 × 113.9 × 38.6 mm, the keyboard is compact enough to save desk space but still feels full-sized when typing or gaming.
Inside, it uses a top-mount structure and a stiff FR4 plate that contributes to a firm, stable typing feel. Underneath the plate, there are several layers of dampening foam—Poron sandwich foam, bottom foam, and EVA—added to reduce resonance and deliver a solid, muted sound signature.
The keyboard weighs around 1.5 kilograms, which gives it a satisfying heft. It stays put on the desk, even during intense gaming sessions. The bottom has four long silicone feet that provide excellent grip.
Another subtle but thoughtful design choice is the 45-degree bevel on the front edge. It helps your hands rest comfortably while typing without straining your wrists. The keyboard has a fixed 7° typing angle, which is great for most people, though there are no adjustable feet if you want to change the height.
When it comes to RGB, the Magforce 68 takes a minimalist but effective approach. It has south-facing per-key RGB lighting, which makes it compatible with Cherry-profile keycaps while avoiding interference with the switch housing.
The RGB itself is bright and vibrant, and the lighting effects are smooth. You get several built-in lighting modes like wave, ripple, breathing, and reactive typing. All of these can be controlled directly from the keyboard using key combos. While there’s no software for fine-tuning, the built-in controls are surprisingly flexible.
Overall, the lighting adds personality without being too flashy, perfect for a desk setup that balances productivity and gaming aesthetics.
The USB Type-C port is placed at the center back, neatly integrated into the case. The included cable is braided and matches the overall premium vibe of the keyboard.
The Magforce 68 is a wired-only keyboard, and while some might consider this a downside in a wireless world, there is a good reason for it. This keyboard supports an impressive 8000Hz polling rate, which drastically reduces input delay and makes it ideal for competitive gaming. It keeps latency at 0.125 milliseconds.
Gateron Magnetic Jade Pro Switches
Now, let’s talk about the most notable feature of the keyboard: the Gateron Magnetic Jade Pro switches. These are Hall Effect magnetic switches. That means they use magnets to detect key presses instead of metal contacts.
Here are some key specs:
- Linear feel (no tactile bump or click)
- Actuation force: 36g (initial) to 50g (bottom-out)
- Travel distance: ~3.5mm
- Adjustable actuation point: 0.1mm to 3.3mm
- Factory pre-lubed
- Lifespan: 100 million keystrokes
These switches are fast, ridiculously fast. The lack of mechanical contact means there’s zero debounce delay, and the magnetic sensing allows for incredibly precise actuation. What really sets them apart is the adjustability. You can customize the actuation point per key. Want a light tap to register a movement key in your FPS game? Done. Want your backspace key to register only on a full press to avoid accidental deletes? Also possible.
Software Features and Customization
The Magforce 68 can be customized using a web-based software accessible at epomaker.longeplay.cn.
You can fine-tune the actuation point of each key from 0.1mm to 3.3mm. This is great for gamers — for example, you can set WASD keys to trigger with the lightest touch for faster response in FPS games, while making other keys need a deeper press to avoid accidental inputs.
There’s also Snap Tap, also known as Rapid Trigger. This instantly resets a key after you release it, making quick strafes or peeks in games like Valorant or CS2 feel much more responsive.
Another advanced feature is Dead Zone Control. You can define a zone at the bottom of the key press that ignores further movement. This helps prevent double inputs and makes the keyboard feel more stable during intense use.
The software lets you customize more than just actuation. You can also adjust dynamic travel and travel safe zones. There are options for switch calibration and optimization to get even more consistent performance. You can remap keys on both the main and Fn layers, set a custom polling rate, adjust sleep timing, and choose from several RGB lighting effects to match your setup.
The keyboard is hot-swappable, but keep in mind it only supports Hall Effect magnetic switches. You cannot swap in traditional MX-style mechanical switches, but you can use other Gateron magnetic switches if you want to experiment.
Internally, the keyboard is very mod-friendly. The case is easy to open with the included hex key, and the foam layers, plate, and PCB are all accessible for mods like tape-modding, switch lubing, or adding more dampening.
The Jade Pro switches also include design improvements over previous Gateron magnetic switches, like a redesigned housing for better RGB diffusion and a slightly longer spring for more bounce and control.
Typing and Gaming Experience
Typing on the Magforce 68 is an absolute delight. The combination of linear switches, a solid top-mount build, foam-dampened internals, and Cherry-profile PBT keycaps creates a very satisfying experience. The keystrokes feel smooth, stable, and consistent across the board. The factory-lubed stabilizers are well-tuned out of the box, with no rattles or mushiness on larger keys like the spacebar or enter.
Sound-wise, the keyboard produces a deep, soft “thock” that is pleasant and quiet, perfect for both work and play. There’s no metallic pinging or hollow sound, which is often an issue with aluminum boards. Epomaker did a great job of sound tuning this keyboard. There’s no rattling, no case ping, and no cheap clicky noises. It sounds great out of the box, and if you want to fine-tune it even more, there’s plenty of modding potential.
The fixed angle is comfortable for long typing sessions. While some may miss adjustable feet, I personally did not feel any wrist strain.
This keyboard is built for gamers. With adjustable actuation, Snap Tap, and dead zone settings, this keyboard gives you a level of control that traditional mechanical keyboards cannot offer. Combined with the 8000Hz polling rate, the Magforce 68 gives you top-tier performance that will benefit both casual gamers and competitive esports players.
Final Thoughts
The Epomaker Magforce 68 is not just another compact keyboard. It is a showcase of what next-gen gaming keyboards can be. It delivers on speed, performance, build quality, and sound, all in one beautifully crafted package.
Who Should Buy This?
- Competitive gamers who want ultra-fast response
- Typists who love a smooth, deep-sounding board
- Tinkerers and modders who want a solid base to build on
- Anyone who values a premium typing experience
Who Should Skip?
- People looking for wireless functionality
- Those who need software-based macros and key remapping
- Users who prefer tactile or clicky switches (you’ll need to swap the switches)
At a price of around $159, it is not cheap, but when you consider the build quality, performance, and long-term durability, it is absolutely worth it.
Epomaker Magforce 68 is one of the most advanced and satisfying keyboards I have used in a long time. From its CNC aluminum body to its customizable magnetic switches and 8000Hz polling, it is a keyboard built for power users.
If you are serious about your typing experience or competitive about your gaming, this keyboard deserves a spot on your desk.
Buy Here: Epomaker
