Wooting 60HE v2 Review: The Apotheosis of Hall Effect Keyboards

British magazine Wired gave the Wooting 60HE v2 a high score of 9/10 in its review. The reasons for the rating include “smooth and consistent switches,” “8000Hz polling,” “intuitive and deep software,” and “compact and efficient layout.” The price is $180 (approximately ¥28,000). The magazine concluded, “The Wooting 60HE v2 isn’t just a great Hall effect keyboard; it’s a great keyboard, period.”

Technical Advantages of Hall Effect

The biggest difference between Hall effect keyboards and traditional mechanical keyboards lies in the operating principle of the key switches. In a mechanical design, a keypress is not registered until the key is fully pressed down and the circuit makes physical contact. In contrast, the Hall effect method registers input by detecting changes in the magnetic field between a magnet inside the switch and a sensor on the circuit board. This eliminates the need for physical contact, offering the advantage of reduced wear.

The Wooting 60HE v2 inherits the Hall effect switches from the first-generation v1 while fundamentally rethinking the materials and mounting method. Wired’s review praised it for “a significantly improved typing experience.” The switches are factory-lubricated, providing uniform resistance when pressing a key and stable return feel.

Design and Customizability

The 60HE v2 adopts a 60% layout, characterized by a compact design that omits the numpad, function row, and arrow keys. Wooting compensates for this limitation through its software. Arrow keys can be assigned to WASD, IJKL, or a cluster in the lower right as a function layer. Furthermore, the “Mod Tap” feature allows users to assign different functions to tapping and holding the Right Shift, Menu, Ctrl, and Fn keys.

Mod Tap works by having a light tap register normal character input, while a long press activates a different function (e.g., arrow keys). Wired’s reviewer stated, “It became my preferred way of using arrow keys,” but also pointed out a drawback: because it only supports quick taps, it is not suitable for sustained cursor movement, such as in a spreadsheet. Additionally, there is a trade-off of a slight increase in input lag.

Another point of discussion is the split spacebar. The left and right halves of the spacebar each provide a dedicated function key for the corresponding thumb. This allows shortcuts for gaming and productivity tasks to be executed without moving your hands from the home row. However, it requires an adjustment period; according to Wooting’s customer data, only about 20% of users choose this layout. The company continues to offer the traditional full-size spacebar as well.

A large carrying strap is attached to the side of the chassis. This strap is removable, and the included blocker plate can cover the mounting holes. This design choice may be polarizing, but the availability of options is commendable.

Community and Expandability

The Wooting 60HE v2 uses a standard GH60/Tofu60 PCB layout. This makes it one of the few Hall effect keyboards that accept aftermarket cases, switches, and community modifications. Users can customize the look and feel to their liking.

Wired’s review also highly rated its “easy disassembly.” The internal structure is easily accessible, allowing users to replace switches, lubricate, or change the plate themselves. This is an important factor for enthusiasts and also extends the product’s lifespan.

Software and Performance

Wooting’s software maximizes the characteristics of Hall effect switches. The actuation point (the position at which a key is registered) can be freely adjusted. Players can set a shallower point for faster response in high-speed games and a deeper point to prevent accidental inputs during long typing sessions.

The 8000Hz polling rate is state-of-the-art for a USB-connected keyboard. Considering that typical gaming keyboards operate at 1000Hz, this keyboard can transmit input information to the PC eight times more frequently. This is a meaningful specification for players who demand even the slightest speed advantage in competitive scenarios.

However, the connection method is wired only. Wired’s review cited “wired-only” as the sole drawback. This may be disappointing for users who prioritize wireless connectivity, but it reflects a design philosophy that prioritizes low latency.

Market Positioning

Wooting is a pioneer in Hall effect keyboards, and the 60HE v2 further solidifies that position. Competitors like the Razer Huntsman V3 and SteelSeries Apex Pro also use Hall effect (magnetic) switches, but Wooting leads in software precision, customization freedom, and community engagement.

Notably, the v2 directly incorporates community feedback into the product. Wired’s article noted that “the company is not afraid to make bold changes rather than incremental refinements to a successful formula.” For a product that was already highly praised in its first generation, the decision to significantly overhaul the typing experience clearly demonstrates the company’s technical commitment.

Editorial Opinion

In the short term, the Wooting 60HE v2 represents a pinnacle in the Hall effect keyboard market. The 8000Hz polling rate and precise actuation point adjustment set a benchmark that competitors must follow. Furthermore, the adoption of a standard PCB layout has the potential to expand the aftermarket ecosystem and, as a result, accelerate the overall adoption of Hall effect keyboards. It will be interesting to see if other companies adopt a similarly community-oriented design in the coming months.

From a long-term perspective, Hall effect switches have the potential to become mainstream, replacing mechanical switches. Their contactless durability and software-based flexible adjustment mechanisms benefit not only gamers but also general users. However, the limitation of wired-only connectivity narrows the product’s versatility in an era of increasingly wireless desktops. Whether Wooting will achieve wireless connectivity in its next product or maintain its wired-only stance will be a critical factor in gauging market reception.

From an editorial standpoint, we question whether the wired-only constraint truly represents the balance that users desire.

References

• Wired — Published 2026-06-21T11:01:00.000Z