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For some reason, mainstream mechanical keyboard makers are too scared to make keyboards from huge bits of metal. That's a real shame, as keyboards that are heavy enough to use as a weapon (like that one scene in Wanted) also tend to be a joy to type on.
That's certainly the case with the Iqunix EV63, which is a compact 300x126mm keyboard that nonetheless weighs 1.2 kilograms or nearly three pounds, thanks to its full aluminium shell, aluminium plate and forged carbon fibre inserts. Inside, there's a full assortment of tray-mounted magnetic switches, permitting rapid inputs and some FPS-specific features, with premium double-shot PBT keycaps on top. The whole thing costs $169, which feels reasonable given the huge build quality and typing feel advantage that the keyboard holds over nearly every mainstream rival at a similar price.
The EV63 follows in the footsteps of the firm's EZ63 that I previously recommended for Eurogamer, with a 65 percent layout (so no f-key row or numpad) that contains the bare minimum number of keys to play games and edit documents. I find 75 percent designs with the f-key row to be a little more usable in a wider range of game genres, but I don't mind the smaller footprint from an aesthetic point of view. The whole keyboard looks great to my eyes, with an interesting burgundy, black and grey colour scheme, and I especially dig the visible cutouts on the side and underside of the board. As you'd hope from a keyboard entirely encased in metal, the build quality here is exceptional, with no hint of flexion under load, and that rigidity translates into an improved typing experience as well.
By having that sturdy foundation, the keyboard doesn't rebound even a fraction of a millimetre when a key is pressed. Add on pre-lubricated switches, pre-lubricated stabilisers and multiple layers of sound dampening, and typing feels extremely precise and measured - with a deep, mechanical report that sounds fantastic. The EV63 is one of the nicest keyboards I've ever typed on, and approaches significantly more expensive custom keyboards from even more niche firms in terms of quality.
From a performance perspective, the EV63 is also right on the cutting edge. The Hall Effect switches allow for analogue inputs, rapid trigger, adjustable actuation points, SOCD, mod tap and other features that are useful in fast-paced competitive games. I won't cover these in detail here, as you'll likely either already know about them or not be interested in them, but the most common boxes for esports are all ticked.
There's also 8000Hz polling, in case you want to trade a minor reduction in input latency for higher system demands. Most people will likely stick with 1000Hz or 2000Hz and forget about it, but high-level competitors might glean a small advantage from the higher polling rate modes.
The software experience is reasonable too, which makes a big difference when it comes to actually using these advanced features. The Iqunix web app permits firmware updates, key rebinding, macro recording, RGB adjustment and performance toggles, and works without any downloads. The English translation here is excellent, though the app doesn't always do a good job at explaining what each feature does - some additional tooltips would be welcome. I do like that the web app points you to the /r/ev63 subreddit, where you can find support and talk to other users of the same keyboard.
Ultimately, the EV63 is a good choice if you want a magnetic switch keyboard for gaming - like those from Wooting, Razer or SteelSeries - but you also want an excellent typing experience. There's not that many keyboards that manage to do both so well, and for that reason it's worth stepping outside the bounds of mainstream brands.
I think I'll find it difficult to move back to a plastic keyboard - and I have several piled up to review next - so I hope that 2027 will be the year that big Western brands realise that these metal boards have real value. Sure, they're less convenient to carry and more expensive to produce, but that feeling of quality is hard to pass up.