Software

There are no software drivers for the Hexgears Impulse, with all functionality hardware based. As such, I have chosen to combine this section with the performance section below.

Performance

The Impulse supports full N-key rollover USB, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. Fn+~ switches between NKRO and 6KRO for those who need it. No key chatter was detected on any of the keys using Switch Hitter. As with just about any keyboard these days, there is no right Windows key, it having being substituted by an Fn key instead.

When first connected, the keyboard lights up in a static white color for all keys, and a white wave effect for the side lighting. The white is a touch warmer than true white, with a pinkish hue to it that is the result of RGB LEDs having a harder time putting out a true white. This also gives the user a good idea of what to expect when it comes to the side lighting available on the keyboard.


There are more preset lighting options, with onboard control over the brightness, speed of the lighting effect, and type of static/dynamic/reactive effect. Seen above are some more such examples, and we see how the combination of the side lighting and the pudding keycaps makes for an impressive light show. I would have liked more granular control over the lighting options, especially given there does not appear to be a way to easily set up static lighting in the color of your choice throughout the keyboard without using the per-key light setting and then changing colors, but this has the Hexgear Impulse operational and configurable without any software drivers, which also makes it OS-independent since the settings are all saved on the device itself.

There are other such onboard controls for functionality, including the aforementioned toggle between NKRO and 6KRO and also macro recording (only for Y,U,I,O, and P keys in macro mode) which, while functional, is also held up by the sheer limitations of onboard-only controls. The manual is also extremely basic in stating which keys do, so more could be done to help better explain this to the average customer. There is no doubt good customer service available through Hexgear to help with this as needed, but the need to contact customer support to figure it out shouldn't arise in the first place. Other controls include Win lock and volume control, which are self-explanatory and work fine in adding to the overall user experience.


This particular version uses the Kailh (Kaihua) BOX White switches, which are tactile and clicky while adopting the same BOX design that enables the IP56 rating to the keyboard. The other switch options are also BOX switches, and you can take a look here for more on what makes them different from other Cherry MX-style switches. These switches are rated for 1.8 mm actuation at ~45 gf force and 3.6 mm total travel at ~55 gf peak spring force, with the click bar providing a satisfying, crispy, tactile, and clicky feedback. I have become a fan of the Kailh BOX switch design, and the option to go for the BOX Brown (tactile), BOX White (tactile and clicky), or Hako Clear (pronounced tactile) switch for the Hexgears Impulse makes for a good user experience, especially for typing. The thick PBT keycaps subjectively add to the typing experience as well, but this is contentious in that some may well prefer thinner keycaps.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the Hexgears Impulse keyboard sample at ~105 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Kailh BOX White switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with tactile and clicky switches. I did bottom out often given the comparatively lower travel and medium force spring in these switches, but it is fairly easy to avoid with some practice.