A gaming keyboard is a completely different animal from the standard office keyboard. While you can certainly type a report with a gaming keyboard, a regular office keyboard can’t deliver the kind of elite-level gaming performance needed to win an esports tournament.

The boom in esports has fuelled demand for hyper-responsive keyboards using the latest technology and fully customisable magnetic switches. This fast-growing market is being driven by the increasing amount of prize money in esports, making a better keyboard a crucial factor for gamers if they want to win the top tournaments.

The latest gaming keyboard from Keydous is aimed directly at those elite gamers. The NJ80-CP V3 HE uses next-generation Hall-Effect switches, which deliver ultra-low-latency performance that can be set with customized actuation points. The keyboard also has signature acoustics designed to appeal to competitive gamers as well as regular typing enthusiasts.

Based on the 75% layout of the Keydous NJ80 series, the new V3 HE keyboard utilizes cutting-edge HE magnetic switch technology, offering advanced customization options, super-fast response times and acoustics that have been tuned to sound immensely satisfying.

The NJ80-CP V3 HE keyboard is primarily designed for elite-level, competitive esports players, as well as content creators and keyboard enthusiasts. It introduces hardware-level performance features engineered to deliver a distinct competitive edge without compromising on either ergonomics or looks.

At the core of the NJ80-CP V3 HE is a proprietary Hall-Effect magnetic sensor array. Unlike traditional mechanical switches that rely on physical contact to actuate, magnetic switches measure the precise distance that a key is pressed by measuring its magnetic field fluctuations. The result is a technology that offers unprecedented speed and endless adaptability on a key-by-key basis.

To start with, the HE technology used in the NJ80-CP V3 HE has a polling rate of 8,000Hz, which translates to a latency of just 0.125ms. While that may not matter if you’re typing a manuscript for a bestselling book, it can make a massive difference in competitive gaming.

Each of the keys is scanned 32,000 times a second at a sampling rate of 256,000. The maximum 8,000Hz polling rate is available when the keyboard is connected via a USB cable or the supplied 2.4GHz USB wireless dongle. With Bluetooth, the figure is considerably lower and it’s why many professional gamers don’t use Bluetooth.

The sample rate of the keyboard can be switched on the fly with settings of 1, 2, 4 or 8kHz. There is also a 0.001mm Rapid Trigger feature and Zero Dead Zone toggle. Meanwhile, the actuation distance of each key can be set to fire off at distances ranging from 0.1mm and 3.3mm in 0.1mm increments.

The NJ80-CP V3 HE has the classic Keydous design DNA while also offering some acoustic and structural upgrades on previous models. There is a choice of three connection modes: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.0 and wired USB-C. The keyboard is also compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems. Mac keycaps are available with certain colorways.

The switches used in the NJ80-CP V3 HE are hot-swappable magnetic types for maximum flexibility, depending on the type of feel the user wants. When ordering from Keydous, there’s a choice of linear, silent or professional HE switches from brands like Kailh and Gateron. Each key also has RGB backlighting with a wide range of effects and colors.

Users can also choose from a range of colorways for their gaming keyboard, including Black Samurai, Star Dream, Dark, White Moon and Green Shadow. If you are a Mac user, then the Black Samurai and Green Shadow versions aren’t supplied with Mac modifier keycaps. I opted for the Star Dream colorway and that didn’t have any macOS keycaps either, but that could have just been an oversight.

Finally, there is a full row of function keys and a multi-function metal rotary knob providing intuitive and tactile control for setting volume levels, backlighting display brightness and system modes. The function keys need a little programming to get them to work with the operating system functions like volume control and media player. The function key settings, along with the other customization options, can all be accessed using the Keydous web-based configurator and a HID-compatible browser like Google Chrome. The software doesn’t have the most intuitive of interfaces, but it’s usable.

The Keydous NJ80-CP V3 HE gaming keyboard with magnetic Hall-Effect switches is available now from the official Keydous store as well as authorized global retailers. The guide price is $99.99.

  • Layout: 75%.
  • Switches: Hall-Effect Magnetic.
  • Hot Swappable: Yes.
  • Battery: 4,800mAh Li-ion.
  • Battery life: 13 hours (RGB LED on) / 160 hours (RGB LED Off).
  • Polling Rate: Bluetooth 125Hz / 2.4GHz and Wired Modes: 8,000Hz.
  • Contents: NJ80-CP Keyboard x 1 / Switch and keycap puller / USB Type-C Cable x 1, Dust Cover x 1 / 2.4GHz Dongle x 1.
  • Wired Mode: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7 and above / macOS / Linux.
  • Wireless Mode: Win 7 / iOS 7/ macOS 10.10 / Android 4.4 and above.
  • Dimensions: 380 x 138 x 40mm.
  • Weight: 800g.