Wooting, the company behind some of the best-known Hall effect keyboards, has shown with the new 60HE v2 that a successful formula can still take bold risks. This is not just a terrific Hall effect keyboard for gaming, it is a fantastic keyboard overall. Building on the already excellent v1, the company has dramatically improved the typing experience with better materials and a new mounting method, all while keeping an affordable entry option that gamers will love. It is refreshing to see a brand willing to make sweeping changes rather than settle for small, iterative updates.
Divisive design choices, but every one has a workaround
Some gamers may not appreciate a few of the design decisions behind the 60HE v2, but thankfully there is an easy workaround for each.
The first is the optional split spacebar. It carries a slight learning curve, but it hands both thumbs a dedicated function key, putting shortcuts within easy reach for both gaming and productivity. Even though only 20 percent of customers pick this layout, Wooting keeps offering it alongside a traditional full-length spacebar.
The second is the compact 60% layout. Gamers might miss the dedicated function row and arrow keys, but Wooting answers that through software. You can map arrow keys to a function layer over WASD, IJKL, or the bottom-right cluster, or use "Mod Tap" on the Right Shift, Menu, Ctrl, and Fn keys.
Mod Tap lets a key perform one action when tapped and another when held. It has become the preferred way to use arrow keys, but it comes with trade-offs: it only supports quick taps rather than sustained presses (making it less ideal for spreadsheets), and it adds a slight, though minor, increase in input latency.
The third point of controversy is the large carrying strap on the side. If it is not your style, you can remove it entirely and use the included blocker plates to hide the attachment points.
Built for customization
The 60HE v2 builds on the customization-friendly design of the original. By using a standard GH60/Tofu60 PCB layout, it remains one of the few Hall effect keyboards to offer mechanical-level personalization through aftermarket cases, switches, and community mods.
The biggest difference between a Hall effect and a mechanical keyboard is that the mechanical one needs a key to be fully pressed to complete the circuit and register a keystroke. Hall effect keyboards instead rely on magnets and sensors to detect changes in the magnetic field, letting inputs register without any physical contact.
With the v2, Wooting folds in community feedback by including improved versions of popular mods straight out of the box. The keyboard now ships as standard with an aluminum case, sound dampening, and a friction-fit mount. (The $180 version with a plastic case is a separate option.)
A new gummy mount and a fuller sound
To boost durability, Wooting redesigned the internal mounting mechanism. Instead of a standard O-ring mount, where a rubber ring sits under constant stress, the 60HE v2 uses a new gummy mount. According to CEO Calder Limmen, this improves durability and reduces separation between the switches and the PCB, all while keeping a comparable sound and feel.
For sound dampening, the 60HE v2 supports foam, silicone, or just air. Silicone produces the highest-pitched sound, while air delivers the lowest. The silicone profile is the standout, but all three sound shockingly good. Combined with the closed-bottom switches, the v2 achieves a full sound profile that lacks the typical hollowness of other Hall effect keyboards.
The split spacebar unit comes with smooth, silent stabilizers. The full-size spacebar, which naturally leaves more room for error, can't be vouched for directly, but the excellent build quality of this keyboard and the 80HE suggests it won't be a problem.
Performance and near-limitless customization
The main draw of the v2 is its performance, sharpened by an 8,000-Hz polling rate and near-limitless software customization.
All of it is managed through the browser-based Wootility app. There you can adjust actuation distances, fine-tune Rapid Trigger for faster inputs, and map multiple actions to a single key press. It also supports advanced features like Mod Tap and controller emulation, letting WASD mimic a joystick or specific keys act as a car's throttle, brake, and clutch.
For movement-heavy games like Destiny 2, a half-press can be mapped to walk (W) and a full-press to sprint (Shift+W) for seamless speed control. In games that support hybrid inputs, you can even map WASD to an analog joystick, so your movement speed scales with how far down you press the key. But since most modern games lock you into either a keyboard or a controller, this feature is limited to titles with multi-input support, like GTA V.
With a bit of tinkering, racing games like Forza Horizon 5, Art of Rally, and Assetto Corsa are fully playable on the keyboard, even with a manual transmission. The throttle, brake, and clutch can be mapped to Z, X, and C, with steering on J and L, and shifting on Ctrl and Space. It takes some getting used to, but it is a surprisingly comfortable and viable alternative to a controller.
SOCD: the most controversial feature
The most controversial feature is Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Direction (SOCD) customization. It lets one key override another rather than registering both at once, which is ideal for strafing in tactical shooters like Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant. The difference in reaction speed is immediately noticeable, making quick peeks far more consistent. But because of the distinct advantage it provides, the feature has been banned in some competitive games, since it cuts the delay between directional movements to near-zero levels without requiring any extra skill.
Testing these features across a range of shooters and racing games, the level of fine-tuning Wootility offers is consistently impressive, something simply not possible on a traditional mechanical keyboard.
The gaming experience and switch quality
The gaming experience here is simply impressive. The switches are incredibly smooth and consistent, delivering granular control with near-instantaneous, low-latency inputs. While older Hall effect keyboards from competitors like Keychron and Asus often lacked the tactile feel of traditional mechanical designs, Wooting's Lekker switches easily bridge the gap.
The RGB lighting also looks great and is deeply customizable. Like most LEDs, it tends to lean slightly blue, but that is easily corrected in the software (setting it to 203/192/180 produces a true white). It is a minor quirk in an otherwise impressive lighting setup.
Easy repairs and broad switch compatibility
The 60HE v2's simple internal design makes repairs easy, and the keyboard can be disassembled in seconds. Despite that easy access, Wooting's solid construction keeps everything securely in place. Inside, you will find a plate, switches, a silicone layer, a PCB with rubber feet on the underside, your choice of sound dampening layer, and the case.
Switch compatibility is often a weak point for analog keyboards, but here the 60HE v2 easily outpaces rivals from Keychron, Razer, and ROG, which typically support only two or three options. By adopting the widely used KS-20 design, the 60HE v2 works with switches from Gateron, Geon, and several other manufacturers, giving users a constantly growing range of choices.
The one real complaint is the adherence to the standard GH60 form factor, which places the USB-C port directly on the left side of the PCB. A centered port on a separate daughterboard would be better for convenience and repairability, but the choice is understandable. The benefits of standardization for both consumers and manufacturers ultimately outweigh this minor design gripe.
The verdict
It is genuinely impressive how well this keyboard performs across every metric. The build quality is robust, the switches are smooth and consistent, and nearly every aspect can be tailored to the individual player. Aside from the lack of wireless connectivity, it leaves nothing to be desired.
The 60HE v2 is easily one of the best gaming keyboards available today. It is currently back-ordered, but if you are willing to be patient, it is absolutely worth the $240 price tag.
