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Head to head · Prices checked Oct 31, 2026

Epomaker HE30 vs Magcore 87Pad vs Aluminum TKL

Choose the HE30 for a compact one-handed gaming pad with Hall-effect features, or the Magcore 87 for a complete TKL keyboard with an aluminum case and inductive-switch hot-swap.

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EPOMAKER HE30

Pad

Epomaker HE30

4.3 · 4 reviews

from$29at Epomaker

90-day low

EPOMAKER Magcore 87

Aluminum TKL

Epomaker Magcore 87

4.8 · 64 reviews

from$109at Epomaker

90-day low

Quick verdict

Which one should you get?

Get the

Epomaker HE30

Pad

Build quality in the top 45% of Numpad boards under $50.

If you want

  • Compact 350g body measuring 29 x 153 x 133 mm.
  • Hall-effect magnetic switches with per-key adjustable actuation, listed by the vendor from 0.1mm to 3.4mm.
  • Vendor-listed Rapid Trigger, Snap Key (SOCD), DKS, and Mod-Tap features.

Rules this board out

  • Magnetic switches only. Standard MX switches will not fit.
  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
  • Numpad only. This is not a full keyboard.

Get the

Epomaker Magcore 87

Aluminum TKL

If you want

  • 85% ANSI layout in a 357 x 136 x 40 mm wired keyboard.
  • Aluminum case, gasket mount, and aluminum plate listed in the metadata.
  • Hot-swappable with inductive switches and VIA support.

Rules this board out

  • South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

Bottom line

Choose the HE30 if you want a lightweight, one-handed gaming pad and value its Hall-effect controls and compact size. Choose the Magcore 87 if you need a full TKL typing layout, aluminum construction, and inductive-switch hot-swap with VIA support. Both are wired and list 8000Hz polling, so base the decision on layout and the kind of switch customization you need.

What actually differs

The differences that matter

Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.

Epomaker HE30

Epomaker Magcore 87

  • Layout size

    Numpad

    85%

  • Hall effect (magnetic)

    Yes

    No

    Adjustable actuation helps in games and not in normal typing

  • Hot-swappable

    No

    Yes

    Switch changes without soldering

  • Case material

    Plastic

    Aluminum

  • Mount style

    Tray Mount

    Gasket Mount

KeebFinder scores

How we score
  • Epomaker HE30
  • Epomaker Magcore 87
Performance
89
89
Build quality
64
81
Productivity
73
91
Customizability
57
78
Portability
70
53

What they share

  • Connection: Wired
  • Max polling rate: 8,000 Hz
  • Sound dampening
  • Keycaps: PBT
See every spec side by side

Best for

What will you mostly use it for?

The HE30 is the more suitable pick for travel and focused gaming, while Magcore 87 fits everyday typing, programming, and content creation better. Modding favors Magcore 87 because it lists VIA support and inductive-switch hot-swap. Both have wired connections and 8000Hz polling, so the central choice is compact gaming specialization versus a complete TKL format and more substantial construction.

For gaming

Pick the Epomaker HE30

  • The HE30 is described as a one-handed gaming pad and includes Hall-effect switches with per-key adjustable actuation.
  • Its vendor description lists Rapid Trigger, Snap Key (SOCD), and DKS and Mod-Tap functions.
  • Both keyboards list 8000Hz polling, so the HE30's edge here comes from its compact gaming format and extra input features.

From real owners

What owners say

Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.

Epomaker HE30

4.3

4 owner reviews

Praise
“It was a perfect product to review on my channel and it was easy to use , and so convenient for the price and was a whole different experience 😍”
Yazeed A.Verified buyer· via Epomaker
Critique
“First, typing sounds and feels great. High quality build. HID detection does not work on the publicly linked software Support had to provide an updated link via Discord That, and an "unofficial" web driver on GitHub The software is very confusing and in need…”
EnriqueVerified buyer· via Epomaker

Epomaker Magcore 87

4.8

64 owner reviews

Praise
“Just got my hand on this beast gaming keyboard and trust me.. its the most solid keyboard out there with its inductive switches it makes gaming next level.”
Ahtisham A.Verified buyer· via Epomaker
Critique
“The keyboard is excellent, and the build quality is great. But I have an issue with its weight—it’s very heavy. Also, if the design were more attractive, had additional features, and was wireless, it would be an amazing product for its price. In its current…”
Khaled M.Verified buyer· via Epomaker

Full specs

Epomaker HE30 vs Magcore 87 specs

Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.

13 of 24 specs differ

Epomaker HE30

Epomaker Magcore 87

Typing & switches

Switch options

Magnetic
—

Hall effect (magnetic)

Yes
No

Hot-swappable

No
Yes

Mount style

Tray Mount
Gasket Mount

Sound dampening

Yes
Yes

Screw-in stabilizers

No
Yes

Layout

Layout size

Numpad
85%

Layout standard

Dvorak
ANSI

Ergonomics

Standard
Standard

Display

LCD
None

Connectivity & battery

Connection

Wired
Wired

Max polling rate

8,000 Hz
8,000 Hz

USB-C

Yes
Yes

Build & materials

Case material

Plastic
Aluminum

Plate material

Aluminum
Aluminum, FR4

Keycaps

PBT
PBT

Weight

350 g
2,000 g

Dimensions

29 x 153 x 133 mm
40 x 357 x 136 mm

Typing angle

6°
—

Backlight

RGB, south-facing
RGB, south-facing

Firmware & software

VIA

No
Yes

N-key rollover

Yes
Yes

Mac & Windows

Yes
Yes

Extras

Released

2026
2025

Where to buy

Compare prices

Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.

Prices in USD are converted to your currency and can change at any time. KeebFinder may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.

FAQ

Epomaker HE30 vs Magcore 87: your questions

No. Its product description calls it a one-handed, 36-key layout, and its compatibility rules specify that it is not a full keyboard. It is intended as a compact pad rather than a complete typing layout.

Both list 8000Hz polling and N-key rollover. The HE30 adds Hall-effect switches, adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger, and Snap Key (SOCD), while the Magcore 87 provides an 85% TKL layout.

The Magcore 87 is the more practical choice for everyday typing because it has an ANSI TKL layout. The HE30 is a one-handed gaming pad, not a full keyboard.

No. The HE30 compatibility rules specify magnetic switches only, and standard MX switches will not fit. Its vendor description identifies its switches as Hall-effect magnetic.

No. The Magcore 87 is hot-swappable with inductive switches, but the vendor states that 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches are not supported. Plan switch replacements around inductive models.

The HE30 is much lighter, with a listed weight of 350g compared with 2000g for the Magcore 87. The HE30 vendor description also lists a removable wrist strap, while both keyboards require a wired connection.

Yes. VIA support is listed for the Magcore 87. The HE30's vendor description instead identifies web-based software and does not list VIA support for that model.

No. Both keyboards are listed as wired-only. The HE30 vendor specifies USB A-to-C wired connectivity, and the Magcore 87 uses a Type-C cable.

The HE30 has a plastic case, aluminum plate, and tray mount. The Magcore 87 has an aluminum case, gasket mount, and aluminum construction listed in its product details.

Yes. Both list south-facing RGB. Their compatibility rules caution that shine-through legends may stay dark and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.

The Magcore 87 is the more straightforward choice for programming because it has an ANSI TKL layout, VIA support, and inductive-switch hot-swap. The HE30 has a one-handed layout and is not a full keyboard.

The HE30 compatibility rules specify magnetic switches only, so standard MX switches will not fit. They also warn that some sculpted keycaps can clip its south-facing LEDs, and that shine-through legends may stay dark.

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