Wooting just dropped the 60HE v2, a $240 upgrade to what many consider the best gaming keyboard on the market. The Dutch company that revolutionized PC gaming with Hall effect switches and Rapid Trigger technology has refined its flagship board with better sound dampening, new 'Lekker Tikken' switches, and true 8K polling. For gamers who've been put off by modding their own keyboards, this feels like getting a fully customized board straight out of the box.
Wooting has been the gold standard for gaming keyboards ever since it popularized Hall effect switches with the original 60HE. Now the company's back with a v2 that addresses every complaint enthusiasts had about the original - without losing what made it special in the first place.
The 60HE v2 lands at $239.99 with what feels like a greatest hits collection of keyboard mods already installed. Tom Warren from The Verge spent a week testing the new board and found himself impressed but not entirely convinced it's worth upgrading from a modded original.
The biggest change is Wooting ditched screws entirely for a pressure-fit design that makes swapping components effortless. The aluminum case feels premium - basically identical to the alumaze cases Wooting used to sell separately for $100+. But the real magic happens with the sound dampening options. You get silicon dampening (which Warren found too muted), regular EDPM foam, or no dampening at all.
'I felt like the silicon option dampened the sound of the switches too much, so I preferred the EDPM instead,' Warren noted in his hands-on review. The board also comes with PET film to prevent switch-PCB contact and a factory tape mod on the rear - modifications that usually cost enthusiasts hours of work.
Wooting's new 'Lekker Tikken' switches represent the company's biggest hardware upgrade. These closed-bottom Hall effect switches pack a 4.0mm actuation range with significantly reduced stem wobble compared to the originals. The 22mm springs make them feel heavier than popular aftermarket options like Geon Raws, but they're a massive improvement over stock switches from competitors.
Hall effect technology remains Wooting's secret weapon. Unlike traditional mechanical switches, these use magnets to track exactly how far each key travels. That enables features like Rapid Trigger, which lets keys reset the instant you start lifting your finger - a game-changer for competitive gaming where milliseconds matter.
The performance upgrades run deep. True 8kHz polling delivers 0.125ms input latency, matching Wooting's larger 80HE model. Warren admits you probably wouldn't notice the latency improvement without measuring it, but for esports professionals, every fraction matters.
Wooting's also experimenting with layout options. The split-spacebar variant Warren tested replaces the traditional spacebar with three separate keys. It's controversial - Warren found himself accidentally hitting the middle button constantly and noted the limited keycap compatibility. But for competitive players willing to adapt, having an extra programmable key right next to space could be valuable.
The timing couldn't be more interesting. Logitech, Razer, SteelSeries, and Chinese manufacturers have all launched Hall effect keyboards trying to match Wooting's formula. None have succeeded completely, but they've driven prices down and forced Wooting to justify its premium positioning.
'None are good enough to dethrone the 60HE v2, but if you're on a tighter budget, then there are plenty of more affordable options now,' Warren observed. The competitive pressure shows - this v2 feels like Wooting's response to an increasingly crowded market.
For existing 60HE owners with modded boards, the upgrade case is murky. Warren, who runs a pair of fully modded 60HE keyboards, isn't upgrading yet. The v2's improvements are meaningful but not revolutionary. Enthusiasts who've already invested time and money in modifications might not see enough new value.
But for newcomers or users intimidated by keyboard modding, the 60HE v2 hits differently. It delivers what previously required hours of research, ordering custom parts, and careful assembly work. The friction-fit design makes experimenting with different configurations trivial instead of tedious.
The 60 percent layout remains unchanged - no function row, no arrow keys, maximum desk space for mouse movement. Wooting's 'mod tap' system lets you activate arrow keys through the right shift area, though it takes adjustment. This isn't a board for users who need dedicated function keys or number pads.
The Wooting 60HE v2 represents the evolution of gaming keyboards - not through revolutionary breakthroughs, but by perfecting an already winning formula. At $240, it's undeniably premium, but it delivers something unique: a fully modded enthusiast keyboard experience without the enthusiast learning curve. For competitive gamers who want the absolute best performance and are willing to pay for it, the 60HE v2 sets the bar. For everyone else, the growing field of Hall effect alternatives offers compelling value. Wooting's challenge now is staying ahead as the technology it pioneered becomes mainstream.
