Wooting has officially revealed the Wooting 80HE+ keyboard, a refreshed version of its tenkeyless magnetic switch board that carries over several hardware improvements first introduced on the 60HE V2. The update focuses on feel and sound rather than a visual overhaul, with a stiffer plate, revised acoustic dampening and a new switch option leading the changes.
The announcement follows a period where the original 80HE quietly disappeared from Wooting’s lineup, prompting speculation from fans about whether the board was being discontinued or reworked. The 80HE+ answers that question by positioning itself as a direct successor rather than a side release, inheriting the analog input tech Wooting is known for while addressing some of the finer complaints levelled at the earlier model.
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What’s changed on the Wooting 80HE+ keyboard
The headline change is a move to an FR4 plate, a stiffer material than what shipped in the original 80HE. Wooting says this delivers a firmer, more consistent typing feel, paired with reworked internal foam and dampening to quieten the board’s overall acoustics. Anyone who found the standard 80HE a touch hollow-sounding should notice the difference immediately.
Alongside the plate, Wooting has introduced new Lekker Tikken switches with a closed-bottom housing, designed to produce a more muted, tactile-leaning sound compared to the brand’s existing Lekker switch options. Because Wooting’s boards rely on Hall effect magnetic sensing rather than physical actuation points, switch changes like this affect feel and sound far more than they affect the analog performance gamers actually care about, such as rapid trigger and adjustable actuation.
The other standout addition is the Lekker Large knob, a 4u rotary control that now ships standard on prebuilt zinc versions of the 80HE+. Buyers who opt for the ABS variant can still purchase the larger knob separately, and Wooting has also revised its zinc coating process after some users reported finishing issues on earlier metal-topped keyboards.
Split spacebar and build configurations
For the first time on this form factor, Wooting is offering a split spacebar layout in a 2.75/1.25/2.25u configuration. That option is exclusive to the 80HE+ module at launch, giving enthusiasts who want extra keys in the bottom row, for macros, media controls or layer switching, a reason to build rather than buy prebuilt.
Wooting is also expanding its cosmetic options with a dark translucent top case for the ABS Dark variant, plus a fully assembled Frost colourway for buyers who would rather skip the build process entirely. The table below breaks down how the main configurations differ.
| Configuration | Material | Knob included | Split spacebar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prebuilt Zinc | Zinc alloy top | Lekker Large (4u) standard | No |
| Prebuilt ABS / ABS Dark | ABS plastic | Optional, sold separately | No |
| Prebuilt Frost | ABS plastic, translucent finish | Optional, sold separately | No |
| 80HE+ Module | Buyer-supplied case | Not included | Yes, exclusive at launch |
According to reporting from TechPowerUp, pricing for the prebuilt Wooting 80HE+ models lines up with the existing 80HE range, so nobody upgrading to the new plate and switches should pay more for the privilege. The module version, aimed at custom builders, is priced lower and comes bundled with a daughterboard so it can be dropped into a third-party case.
How the 80HE+ stacks up against rivals
Wooting built its reputation on being early to Hall effect magnetic switches, but the category has become crowded fast. Keychron’s own magnetic switch upgrades to the K4 HE and K10 HE show how quickly rivals have matched the core rapid trigger feature set, while budget-focused entries like the Attack Shark R86 HE bringing magnetic switches to a 75% layout have pushed the technology down into cheaper boards.
What still separates Wooting is the depth of its software and the maturity of its analog implementation, refined over several board generations rather than bolted on for a single release. At the premium end, boards such as the ASUS ROG Azoth 96 HE compete on build quality and customisation, but Wooting’s focus on tuning the acoustics and plate feel on the 80HE+ suggests the company is chasing typing feel as its point of difference rather than just chasing spec sheets.
The community around this switch type has also grown beyond big-name brands, as seen in a modder’s open-source Hall effect split keyboard project. That kind of grassroots interest signals just how mainstream magnetic switch tech has become since Wooting helped popularise it.
Release timing and what it means for buyers
Pre-orders for the Wooting 80HE+ range open on 17 September, with shipping pencilled in for mid-October. That gives existing 80HE owners a reasonably short wait if they decide the FR4 plate and new switches are worth jumping to, and gives newcomers a clear entry point into Wooting’s tenkeyless lineup without the uncertainty that surrounded the original board’s temporary disappearance from sale.
For anyone weighing up the 80HE+ against a current 80HE, the case for upgrading comes down to feel rather than features. The rapid trigger performance and adjustable actuation that make Wooting’s boards popular with competitive players remain unchanged. What’s different is how the board sounds and feels under the fingers, plus the option to go custom with a split spacebar layout that wasn’t available before. Buyers who prioritise acoustics and typing feel over raw novelty are the ones most likely to notice the difference day to day.
More detail on specific configurations, colourways and the daughterboard used in the module version is available on the 80HE+ product page, while general information on Wooting’s wider keyboard range can be found through Wooting’s official site.
