You will hardly find major differences from one magnetic keyboard to another when it comes to the core features, considering you are comparing products in the same price range. Most magnetic keyboards usually cost between $120-$200, making them less affordable than traditional mechanical keyboards, but they have a significant upper hand when it comes to performance.
Having tested some magnetic keyboards from various vendors, I thought about trying the IQUNIX EV63, which has been marketed as an "entry-level" magnetic switch keyboard. Despite the entry-level tag, it costs a whopping $189, but seeing the faces of professional players on the official website makes you believe that the EV63 sits among high-performance offerings. Whether the claims are true or not, we shall find in this review by analyzing the EV63 keyboard, and we will take a close look at its build quality, features, performance, and the value it brings for its price tag.
Packaging and Content
The packaging is done wonderfully, and there are a couple of utilities inside the box. While IQUNIX didn't ship additional switches or a wrist rest, the box ships with essential utilities to get you started right away. Some vendors also ship an additional keycap combo that brings a unique identity. The EV63 box comes with the following utilities:
- IQUNIX EV63 magnetic keyboard
- Braided USB Type-C to Type-A cable
- Keycap/Switch puller
- User Manual
- Quick Start Guide
Specifications
- Model: EV63 Violet
- Layout：60% | ANSI(64 Keys)
- Type: Magnetic Switch Gaming HE Keyboard
- Keycaps: PBT/PC
- Switch: Magnetic X Pro/Ultra
- Polling Rate: 8000 Hz
- Latency: 0.125ms
- RT Sensitivity: 0.01mm
- Adjustable Actuation: 0.01~3.1mm
- Programmable Software: Web-based
- Compatible Systems: Windows, macOS
- Mode: Wired Only
- Hot Swappable: Yes
- N-Key Rollover: Yes
- LED: South-Facing LED
- Full Remap: Yes
- Dimension: 300.9mm * 126mm* 18.6mm (front height)
- Weight: 1206g
The EV63 uses the Hall Effect technology, making the input registers highly sensitive to key movements. EV63 brings the 63% form-factor (IQUNIX advertises it as 60%), and thankfully, it has dedicated Arrow Keys, which are uncompromisable. The keyboard boasts an 8000 Hz polling rate, which is only available using the wired connection. Thanks to the 8KHz polling rate, the keyboard operates at an ultra-low latency of just 0.125ms.
Similar to many magnetic keyboards, the keyboard can register inputs at an incredibly low actuation distance of just 0.01mm. However, users are free to customize it using the official software, which we will talk about later. Out of the box, the EV63 is configured to work at an actuation distance of 1.50 mm, which we usually see around 2 mm in most magnetic keyboards. Still, the actuation distance is irrelevant because most magnetic keyboards allow you to set your own.
The keyboard offers hot-swappable switches, which means you just need the switch puller to remove the stock switches to add your own. IQUNIX offers various switches for its keyboards, but for the EV63, the company provides either the Magnetic X Pro or the Magnetic X Ultra. I received the latter, but users are free to replace it with the Pro version.
Connectivity and Ease of Usage
The EV63 can only be connected via a wired connection. Unfortunately, at a time when most vendors are offering tri-mode connectivity for their magnetic keyboards, IQUNIX is only providing the wired connection. I understand that the wired connectivity is the priority for competitive gaming, but it's always good to have wireless connectivity to avoid the cable mess when not gaming. The Womier SK75 TMR is one of those excellent keyboards that bring various connectivity modes for a slightly lower price, and it would have been wonderful to see a wireless connectivity mode on the EV63 as well.
Since the keyboard utilizes a fully wired connection, you can start using the EV63 right after securing the connection. The keyboard doesn't require a driver out of the box to work on your system, but the official software is available on the official website if you want to test and squeeze the most out of the keyboard.
Build Quality and Performance
I am pretty impressed by the build quality and construction of the EV63. It's not just highly durable, it's stylish, featuring a design inspired by aerospace and motorsport hardware aesthetics. Unlike a traditional minimalist keyboard, the EV63 looks beautiful, featuring a black and purple color combination. The keyboard doesn't feel light, but it isn't as heavy as some 75% magnetic keyboards we have tested. Weighing at 1.2 kg, it offers a good balance of durability and portability.
EV63 uses a CNC-machined aluminum chassis with sharply defined edges, and the side profiles feature an angular design. IQUNIX has used a forged carbon-fiber insert that runs along the side channel and further reinforces the industrial look. The texture on the front housing is reportedly unique on every unit produced, which naturally comes as a result of high pressure. Unfortunately, the EV63 doesn't feature a wrist rest, which could have been another convenient utility for gamers.
That said, the EV63 retains a practical layout despite featuring a compact footprint. While it lacks the Function row, it has the arrow keys, which are essential for daily tasks. As for the keycaps, they use double-shot PBT construction, which is known for its reliability, and the legends are opaque. Thankfully, the LEDs are south-facing, which still makes the RGB lighting shine clearly from beneath the keycaps.
Performance-wise, I haven't seen any keyboard as fast as the EV63. It's not just the quick actuation or the incredible Hall Effect technology, which IQUNIX has refined enough to make the voltage range wider than ever. But it's how the switches behave. Of course, the "400%" wider voltage range brings better signal resolution; the Magnetic X Ultra switches are buttery smooth. It's smoother than anything I have tried till now, and I was amazed by how quickly I can perform jiggle movements in CS2.
The switches offer the Rapid-Trigger feature, and when combined with the Gaming Mode profile, you get to see an ultra-fast actuation that really helps you in the gaming scene. I don't know how exactly an 8KHz polling rate helps the masses, but the Magnetic X Ultra switches are unbeatable in fast-paced gaming. However, when it comes to office work, I don't personally prefer ultra-smooth switches like these.
I do a lot of typing, and even after several days of using the EV63, I am unable to adjust properly to its layout. This has become particularly difficult due to the smaller right-side Shift key, as I keep accidentally pressing the "/" or the 'UP' arrow key. Nonetheless, it's a small con, and while it will work just perfectly for typing work, I think the EV63 is almost perfect for gaming.
Customizations
The keyboard is highly customizable, and whether you want to swap the switches or customize the performance, everything is possible quite effortlessly. A key/switch puller is provided with the EV63, which can be used to swap the switches. However, the EV63 might be the only keyboard where I had incredible difficulty removing the switches. Even though the keyboard ships with a high-quality switch puller, I couldn't remove one without chipping some plastic, and it's not that I am doing it for the first time. Therefore, I recommend a premium quality switch puller like the GATERON Twins Switch puller for this task.
Apart from this difficulty, the customizations it offers through the software are unmatched. I thought the SK75 TMR was unbeatable, but EV63 proved me wrong. To access the software, you will need to open the web-based software from the official website, and it will automatically detect the EV63. After clicking "Get Started", you will see several tabs on the left, featuring all sorts of customizability options.
You can access the Main and the FN layers and can select your saved profiles from the interface. The Lighting tab comes next, where you can select from 40+ available presets and the choice to manually customize the lighting on a per-key basis.
I think that the RGB lighting is decently bright, but not the brightest. Even with opaque legends, the RGB lighting looks gorgeous on this keyboard. Moving on to the Performance tab, it allows you to set the actuation distance on a per-key basis as well, but you can choose between the Custom, Office, and eSports Profiles from the top if you want to save some time.
When you select the eSports Profile (can be selected by FN+P), the W, A, S, D keys will have their actuation distance set to just 0.05 mm for blazing-fast actuation. In the eSports Profile itself, you will find eSports mode, Tournament Mode, Fury Mode, and Infinite mode, which customizes the Rapid Trigger settings. Of course, you can tweak the settings manually as per your needs as well.
The EV63 brings a dedicated Pro Keys customizability, which I haven't heard before, but it basically offers some additional customizations related to how the key presses behave. There are RS, MT, TGL, SOCD, and DKS modes for those purposes. For example, the RS function allows you to give priority to a key based on the actuation distance. Then we have the Macro Record for setting macros, and the Professional Presets tab, which gives you access to the profiles of some popular Valorant players.
With just a single click, the settings will be imported, and you can now enjoy the profiles of your favorite players. However, as of now, there aren't many pro profiles available in the dashboard. So, it isn't something I see as a big advantage of EV63 over others. But the Crosshair Center tab is something I absolutely loved in the software. Basically, it gives you the Crosshairs of numerous professional CS2 and Valorant players to import into your game.
The Verdict
If you are strictly looking for a "gaming" keyboard that gives you numerous advantages, particularly in fast-paced games like Counter-Strike, PUBG, Valorant, etc., I think the IQUNIX EV63 is unbeatable. Even though I have yet to test the dozens of great magnetic keyboards out there, the EV63 had much better first impressions than any other magnetic keyboard when it comes to gaming.
EV63 brings a plethora of customizations for every type of gamer and an easy-to-use, lightweight web-based software to take the performance to the next level. It's compact, easily portable, has a solid build quality with ultra-fast switches and an 8KHz polling rate for competitive gaming. All of it makes the EV63 the best "gaming" keyboard for serious gamers, particularly for competitive gaming where every millisecond matters.
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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