Usually, I avoid very small form-factor keyboards, and while I still prefer/recommend at least 75% models, I am willing to downgrade to 65% due to the presence of the arrow keys. Still, it's up to the users, and I have seen many users complaining even about tenkeyless keyboards due to fewer keys. That said, there are users who would love to have a high-performance 60-75% keyboard on their desks to do both gaming and work efficiently.
Syntech's Chronos G-68 appears to be one of those that don't miss out on some additional keys, but tries to keep the footprint as small as possible using the 65% form-factor. Since mechanical keyboards don't appeal to me much, I only want a magnetic keyboard on my desk, which is what the Chronos G-68 promises. I have been using the keyboard for several days now, and if you are looking for a compact and high-performance keyboard, you should take a look at what the G-68 offers.
Packaging and Contents
This is one of the few keyboards that come with quite number of accessories. Apart from its decent packaging, the keyboard brings a dedicated manual showing the other layer, getting you started right away. There are a few additional switches as well, and the best part is the brush cleaner, which you often don't see bundled with keyboards, but is really convenient. Here is all the stuff the box comes with:
- Chronos G-68 keyboard
- Long braided USB-C to USB-A cable
- 4x additional Outemu magnetic switches
- Padded wrist rest
- Manual
- Key and switch puller
- Cleaner brush
Connectivity and Setup
The Chronos G-68 features only wired connectivity. It uses a Type C to A cable for the connection and it's plug and play. However, the company provides the driver and a dedicated software, which we will talk about later in some detail. It's kinda disappointing to see an expensive keyboard like this relying on just wired connectivity, but we saw the same with Lemokey L5 HE 8K. However, that is a bigger 75% keyboard.
Quick Specs And Core Features
- Layout: 65% / 68-key ANSI compact
- Switches: Hall-effect / magnetic switch options (Outemu Magnetic sealed by default; Gateron Magnetic Jade Pro optional upgrade)
- Case: Full aluminum alloy frame
- Keycaps: Double-shot PBT with translucent legends
- Polling rate: Up to 8,000Hz (advertised)
- Foam: Poron / IXPE / PET layered foam for acoustics
- Connectivity: Wired USB-C only
- Weight: ~850 g
The keyboard offers 68 keys, including the Home, Delete, Page Up, and Page Down row on the right. Then we have the dedicated arrow keys, which are what distinguish the 65% keyboards from 60% keyboards. The G-68 is available in three different color schemes, but I liked this Chernobyl-themed one that has the Escape button with a nuclear symbol, the space bar with the caution logo/labelling, and the Enter key with the door exit sign.
The G-68 is advertised to boast an 8000 Hz polling rate, which makes it competitive with its rivals in the $100-$150 price range. The keyboard is available with different switches, but we have the Outemu Magnetic switch version, which is pre-lubed and offers the hall effect technology for quick and accurate input registers. Syntech advertises that the keyboard switches are rated with a lifespan of tens of millions of keystrokes. Their operation and functions can be tweaked via dedicated software, which is available on the official website.
The G-68 brings features like super tap, snap tap, and an actuation range of 0.1mm-3.5mm, which is the standard on such magnetic keyboards. The total travel distance is 3.5mm for the keys and requires nearly 30 gf of initial force. All in all, the Chronos G-68 is advertised for esports gaming and even for work since the travel distance can be adjusted according to needs.
Build Quality and Feel
The keyboard has a thin and small footprint and is also lightweight. It weighs under 1 kg, which makes it easily portable, but there are other 65% magnetic keyboards in the market that weigh even less. I am used to heavier magnetic keyboards, and while these have their own limitations, the build quality of these keyboards is generally superior.
The Chronos G-68 also looks well-built, using a heavy aluminum alloy frame that keeps the board rigid and stable. With nearly 850 grams of weight, it remains in place and resists unintentional sliding. If you take a look at the chassis, it's simple and plain, and has a single USB Type-C on the top.
The keyboard uses double-shot PBT kecaps, and the legends are transparent, enabling the LED backlighting to shine through these. This is how I like my RGB keyboards, since many don't benefit from the lighting shining underneath in a practical manner. Underneath these, you will find the Outemo magnetic switches, which we have talked about in the previous section.
As far as the casing goes, the keyboard uses a foam sandwich (Poron/IXPEPET), using Poron for compressive damping, PET for stabilizing the plate, and the IXPE+other foams to fill the cavities to eliminate reverb. The result is a wonderful and silent typing experience that I really liked. It's top-notch, but definitely not the best. I would say that the feel and the sound are 8.5/10. It's less noisy than the Lemokey L5 HE and offers smoother presses, but if you love that strong thuddy sound, it's not for you.
The Womier SK75 TMR has really raised the bar for offering perhaps the best key presses, but the Chronos G-68 doesn't disappoint either. I felt the G-68 to be lighter in presses, and it will be a perfect keyboard for late-night work or gaming if you don't want to disturb others. Moreover, the keyboard has a dedicated cushioned wrist rest, which is a good way to maintain ergonomics, but it isn't magnetic and cannot be attached to the keyboard's base. This essentially makes it frustrating to adjust the wrist rest every time you reposition the keyboard, even slightly.
Software and Customizations
The Chronos G-68 offers versatile software, which is web-based and brings numerous customization options. The G-68 already has hot-swappable switches similar to its competitors, but with the software, you can customize the function layer and macros from dedicated tabs. The keyboard gives you the freedom to customize it on a per-key basis, and the software interface is easy to understand and highly responsive.
You can adjust the dead zone, adjust the key travel distance, and enable/disable rapid trigger, which offers a competitive advantage in fast-paced titles. You can add four different functions to each key by assigning the functions based on the travel distance, and you can increase/decrease the distance in steps of 0.01mm.
For RGB customizations, you can change the light modes via FN+\ key combination, but through the software, the customizations are comprehensive. And then we have the "Share" tab, where users can upload or download other users' presets. This is similar to what Womier provided, but there isn't much in the community shared tab.
I liked how the keyboard lights up the keys that are linked to the Fn layer when you press the Fn button, making it easier for you to know what to press and what not. The Caps Lock key also turns red when you press it, which allows you to know if it is on/off.
The Verdict
Syntech Chronos G-68 might be small, but it is well-built, offers plenty of customizations, and is on par with its competitors. It isn't the best in its category since you can also find slightly more attractive options, offering similar specifications and even more convenient features for even a lower price. For a discounted price of around $139, the G-68 feels decent, and it offers a wonderful typing experience.
For both gaming and work, the G-68 has plenty to offer and is mostly ideal for those who prefer gaming/working in silence. Of course, the caveats it brings pull it down for being the best choice in the 65% category, such as the absence of wireless connectivity, somewhat heavier construction, no adjustable height, and a few such minor stuff. At the same time, we can't ignore how outstanding it performs, the customizations it brings, and the number of accessories it comes with. It would be great if the Chronos G-68 could sell in the $100-$110 range, which will make it a solid choice for compact gaming setups, but at $139, it feels a bit on the expensive side.
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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