I'll mention right away how the LUMINKEY Magger68 HE and the previously reviewed Varmilo Muse65 HE sure seem to share a lot in common, including the use of common hardware inside and the software program, to where it may well be the same OEM/factory at play. Given both are also 65% form factor keyboards and have very similar features, LUMINKEY also has to contend with Varmilo being more well-known. I do not know if the Muse65 has been updated to have SOCD and other such features, although it does have five different themes on offer. LUMINKEY's Magger68 HE, on the other hand, feels more polished and also uses some of the best magnetic switches to date. In fact, it also costs less even with the Pro version and is more likely to go on sale too. Case in point, the keyboard is currently on a timed holiday sale with the Magger68 HE Pro going for $140. The equivalent Muse65 HE with the Jade Pro switches will cost $190, so this is clearly a win for LUMINKEY.

But it is a small win though, as the Magger68 Pro HE still has shortcomings. I hope the brand will go through this review, because naming software features clearly after Wooting's features—just because Wooting is arguably the benchmark in the HE keyboard software game—is not going to win you any laurels. I get that you may want to have them sound similar to help customers know what they do, however using initials such as RS (for Wooting's Rappy Snappy) is a sad joke that makes it hard to take your products seriously, and just propagates the copycat stereotype that Chinese brands are trying to overcome. You can clearly do better, as evident with the overall hardware and build quality here, so let's not see this anymore. While you are at it, consider also providing replacement keycaps for the five translucent ones pre-installed, as they can be just a distraction in the dark with the LEDs on—assuming anyone will be having the LEDs on despite the keycaps being opaque. There are of course specific circumstances with lighter colors which make it easier to read the keycap legends, but I really don't get why so many gaming keyboards are having opaque keycaps which make the keyboard harder for people to use during night gaming sessions. Likewise, offer more switch options and don't put them and the case designs under a paywall. I get that the Gateron Magnetic Jade Pro switches cost more, but I am not sure why the case designs have to be specifically paired with these switches.

Thankfully, LUMINKEY does have a good product for the price despite these nitpicks. The stabilizers being uneven is sadly almost guaranteed to be the case these days, with factories just lubing cheap plate-mounted stabilizers a lot to try and hide their shortcomings. The Magger68 Pro HE is one of the less offensive ones in this regard. I also feel the sandwich assembly used in this keyboard works far better than many pseudo-gasket mount designs we've seen lately, with this keyboard being one of the better ones to type on too. Helping tremendously are the switches themselves, given that so many magnetic switches wobble and chatter like extremely cheap MX clone switches from over a decade ago. This alone should make the Magger68 Pro HE near the top of many purchase lists if you are in the market for a 65% keyboard. I've also spoken to great length before on my thoughts about SOCD and other related features, and whether you use them or not is your prerogative. LUMINKEY does provide them here for you to try out, in addition to a vast plethora of other features we take for granted in a good keyboard these days. I'd say the feature set is fairly complete, although no doubt many would like to see a Magger75 Pro HE sooner than later.