Wooting’s 60HE v2 is a solid upgrade to the best gaming keyboard
Recorded: Dec. 2, 2025, 4:02 p.m.
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Wooting’s 60HE v2 is a solid upgrade to the best gaming keyboard | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Wooting’s 60HE v2 is a solid upgrade to the best gaming keyboardComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingKeyboardsCloseKeyboardsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All KeyboardsWooting’s 60HE v2 is a solid upgrade to the best gaming keyboardWooting has done a great job improving the sound and feel of its popular keyboard.by Tom WarrenCloseTom WarrenSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom WarrenDec 2, 2025, 2:45 PM UTCLinkShareTom WarrenCloseTom WarrenPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom Warren is a senior editor and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.Over the past couple of years, I’ve tried to switch to many different gaming keyboards and always ended up back with a Wooting 60HE. Wooting changed PC gaming with the 60HE, popularizing the use of Hall effect switches and a Rapid Trigger system that speeds up how quickly you can activate keys. Now it’s back with a v2 that upgrades the best gaming keyboard to improve its sound and feel.I’ve been testing the $239.99 Wooting 60HE v2 over the past week, and I’m impressed with my early hands-on, but I don’t know if I would rush to upgrade from an original modded 60HE.The Wooting 60HE v2 has the same 60 percent layout as the original, so there are no dedicated function keys or an F row. There are also no arrow keys, but Wooting has a clever “mod tap” system that lets you enable arrow keys in the right shift section of the board.Wooting 60HE v2$240$240Wooting’s 60HE v2 is an upgrade to the popular 60HE. It has true 8K polling, a new closed-bottom switch, and an aluminum case that together improve the sound and feel.Read More$240 at WootingThe big changes with the 60HE v2 are all about what comes as standard now. Wooting has really focused on improving the sound and feel of the v2 so it’s a lot closer to a modded 60HE with custom switches, dampening, and more.Wooting has ditched the screws for the v2, opting for a pressure fit instead. I’ve been testing the aluminum case that looks and feels a lot like the alumaze cases Wooting sold as optional extras for the 60HE. The case includes a new silicon dampening option, or the regular EDPM foam. Here's what typing sounds like on the 60HE v2 with EDPM foam and Lekker Tikken switches(opens a new window) Here's what typing sounds like on the 60HE v2 with silicon and Lekker Tikken switches: Here's what typing sounds like on the 60HE v2 with EDPM foam and Lekker Tikken switches(opens a new window) Here's what typing sounds like on the 60HE v2 with no dampening and Lekker Tikken switches: Here's what typing sounds like on the 60HE v2 with EDPM foam and Lekker Tikken switches(opens a new window) I felt like the silicon option dampened the sound of the switches too much, so I preferred the EDPM instead. You can also just not use any dampening if you prefer that type of sound. Wooting is also using PET film to prevent the switches from making contact with the PCB, and a factory tape mod on the rear of the board. Both of these help improve the overall sound.The switches on the 60HE v2 have also been upgraded to Wooting’s new “Lekker Tikken” switch, a closed-bottom Hall effect switch with a 4.0mm actuation range. Hall effect switches use a magnet so the board can track how far a switch has been pressed, but the sound profile has typically been worse than Cherry MX-style switches.Wooting’s new switches have definitely improved the sound profile, but they use a longer 22mm spring that makes the switches feel a little heavier than the Geon Raws I’ve been using for months. I can usually adapt to different switches after a few hours of use, but I found myself quickly moving back to the Geon Raws as I preferred both the sound profile and feel. Wooting’s switches are still a great default switch though, and the stem wobble of the original switches has been greatly improved here.The new Lekker Tikken switches.The upgraded 60HE v2 is also faster than the original model, thanks to true 8kHz polling and a low input latency of just 0.125ms. That’s the same latency as the 8kHz USB polling on Wooting’s larger 80HE that I reviewed last year. I don’t think you’d actually notice this latency improvement unless you measured it, but it’s nice to have either way.I opted to test the split-spacebar 60HE v2, and I’m still a bit undecided on whether I like it. It allows you to have three keys where you’d normally only have the single space bar. I like the idea in principle, but I found myself constantly hitting the button in the middle of the split space bar.I found it better to assign that to a function key that would have to be paired with another key to activate, but if you can get used to this layout, then having that extra button right next to the space bar could certainly be useful in competitive games. The right-hand side of the split felt a little too far to reach to make it useful in a pinch, though.The aluminum case comes in silver or black.The biggest issue with a split-spacebar for me is just the lack of keycap sets that support it, but if you’re happy with the double-shot PBT ones that Wooting supplies, then it’s less of an issue.Overall, the 60HE v2 feels like a solid upgrade to the original, but it’s not a revelation like Wooting’s first Hall effect keyboards were. The thing I like the most about the 60HE v2 is that it feels like a fully modded keyboard out of the box, so you don’t have to play around with different switch options unless you want to, and the sound dampening options are super easy to switch between, thanks to the friction fit.At $239.99, it’s a premium PC gaming keyboard, especially now that Wooting has competition that has finally caught up. Logitech, Razer, SteelSeries, and plenty of Chinese brands now have more affordable Hall effect boards that aim to match Wooting both in terms of hardware and software. 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.As I have a pair of fully modded 60HE keyboards, I’m not upgrading to the 60HE v2 just yet, but if you’ve been put off doing mods yourself and want the best gaming keyboard available today, then the 60HE v2 will be well worth the investment.Photography by Tom Warren / The VergeFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Tom WarrenCloseTom WarrenSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Tom WarrenGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingHands-onCloseHands-onPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Hands-onKeyboardsCloseKeyboardsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All KeyboardsPC GamingClosePC GamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PC GamingReviewsCloseReviewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ReviewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularNetflix kills casting from phonesThe Nintendo Switch 2 got its first-ever discount during Cyber MondayThese last-minute Cyber Monday deals will likely be gone tomorrowMKBHD is taking down his wallpaper appApple’s smallest iPad just got its biggest price cut for Cyber MondayThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Wooting’s 60HE v2 represents a refined iteration of its popular gaming keyboard, primarily focused on enhancing the sound and tactile feel, bringing it closer to the experience of a fully customized, “modded” 60HE. Tom Warren’s hands-on review highlights several key upgrades. The core design remains consistent with the original 60HE – a 60-percent layout devoid of dedicated function keys and arrow keys. However, Wooting has implemented a clever “mod tap” system, allowing users to enable arrow keys via a shift function, addressing a common limitation. The v2 introduces a pressure-fit construction, eschewing screws, alongside silicone dampening options – either EDPM foam or a silicon layer – and PET film beneath the switches to mitigate noise. Wooting has transitioned to the “Lekker Tikken” switch, a closed-bottom Hall effect switch with a 4.0mm actuation range, marking a notable shift in switch technology compared to earlier iterations. While the 22mm spring in these new switches creates a slightly heavier feel, the author found they were manageable after adapting. The split spacebar design, available in both silver and black cases, accommodates a third key, though the author expressed some reservations regarding keycap availability and the usability of the right-hand side key. The v2 benefits from true 8kHz polling and low input latency (0.125ms), directly mirroring the top-tier performance of Wooting’s larger 80HE keyboard. Ultimately, the 60HE v2 provides a near-modded experience out of the box, simplifying the customization process. Despite these improvements, the reviewer notes that the v2 isn’t a revolutionary upgrade like Wooting's initial Hall effect keyboards; however, it represents a considerable refinement, offering a polished and refined gaming keyboard experience. The competition has intensified with more affordable Hall effect boards emerging, though the 60HE v2 maintains its position as a premium offering, especially considering its near-modded status, making it appealing for users seeking a premium, customizable experience without the commitment of extensive DIY modifications. |