Magnetic switches look like they might just be the new big trend in gaming keyboards. Wooting was one of the first brands to offer glassy, magnetic switches in its keyboards and it still one of the most popular today with its Wooting 60HE, but Steelseries, Corsair, and now Akko are official on the Hall Effect train as well. The competition is hot!
Courtesy of our friends at MechKeys, we’ve received word that Akko is launching a new version of its popular MOD007 keyboard using magnetic Hall Effect switches. This new keyboard is called the MOD007B-HE and features customizable actuation. It will also come completely pre-built in three different colors, Cream White - Palace, Cream White - Herb Garden, and Black – Starry Sky.
The MOD007 first gained attention due to its impressive build quality and typing experience, making it a good value for the money. This new version continues both trends with a sturdy aluminum chassis and double-shot PBT keycaps in Akko’s sculpted OSA profile. It also uses a 75% layout, which has a full function row, arrow keys, and a navigation and editing column, making it a great middle ground between productivity and gaming. It also supports tri-mode wireless connectivity, so you can connect over USB, Bluetooth, or fast 2.4GHz wireless.
Why do magnetic switches matter? Apart from allowing you to change your actuation point for more or less sensitivity (turning the keyboard into a transformer between typo-reduced writing and ultra-responsive gaming), they are also some of the most durable and fast switches on the market today. Using a special sensor, the keyboard is able to tell in real-time exactly how far the key is being pressed without the need for physical, mechanical contacts. Less wear and tear and less contact means smoother, longer lasting switches.
As a smaller company, the MOD007B-HE isn’t likely to offer the same level of programmability as Corsair with its dual-actuation switches (which can tie two commands to a single key press). But what it might lack in software, it will surely make up for in build quality. We missed the original MOD007 in our review cycle but did take a look at the MOD005 and MOD006 and both were very impressive for the money. While much of its competition falls squarely into the “gaming keyboard” category, the MOD007B-HE looks to be much closer to a custom keyboard that’s also great for gaming.
The MOD007B-HE will retail for $249.99 and is available now from MechKeys.
