// WIRED US/UK — GAMING
Wooting 60HE v2: Peak Keyboard Perfection
The Wooting 60HE v2 does everything right. It takes the already excellent v1 and massively improves the typing experience with better materials and a new mounting method, all while maintaining an affordable entry option that will surely please gamers.
The 60HE v2 isn’t just a terrific Hall Effect keyboard for gaming. Wooting created a fantastic keyboard period. It is refreshing to see a company willing to make bold changes to a successful formula rather than settling for minor, iterative updates.
Gamers may not appreciate that Wooting made some divisive design decisions with the 60HE v2, but fortunately there are plenty of workarounds.
The first is the optional split spacebar. While it requires a bit of a learning curve, it gives both thumbs a dedicated function key, putting shortcuts within easy reach for gaming and productivity. Even though only 20% of customers choose this layout, Wooting continues to offer it alongside a traditional full-length spacebar.
The second is the compact 60% layout. While gamers might miss the dedicated function row and arrow keys from this design, Wooting addresses this through software. You can map arrow keys to a function layer over WASD, IJKL, or the bottom right cluster, or use "Mod Tap" on the Right Shift, Menu, Ctrl, and Fn keys.
Mod Tap allows a key to perform one action when tapped and another when held. While it has become my preferred way to use arrow keys, it does have tradeoffs: it only supports quick taps rather than sustained presses (making it less ideal for spreadsheets), and it introduces a slight, though minor, increase in input latency.
The final design controversy is the large carrying strap attached to the side. Fortunately, if it isn't your style, you can remove it entirely and use the included blocker plates to conceal the attachment points.
The 60HE v2 builds on the customization-friendly design of the original. By using a standard GH60/Tofu60 PCB layout, it remains one of the few Hall Effect keyboards to offer mechanical-level personalization through aftermarket cases, switches, and community mods.
The biggest difference between a Hall Effect and a mechanical keyboard is that the latter requires a key to be fully pressed to complete the circuit and register a keystroke. Hall Effect keyboards instead rely on magnets and sensors to register changes to the magnetic field, which allows inputs to register without physical contact.
With the v2, Wooting officially incorporates community feedback by including improved versions of popular mods straight out of the box. The keyboard now comes standard with an aluminum case, sound dampening, and a friction-fit mount. (I did not test the $180 version with a plastic case.)