We continue our exploration of IO technology with this review of the new IO Type 68 Magnetic keyboard. Its features include a compact 65% form factor, high performance, ease of use, a pleasant sound and tactile feel, and flexible settings for personalization.
The IO Type 68 Magnetic keyboard comes in a black and gray cardboard box with an image of the device and its name on the front and a list of features on the back.
In addition to the keyboard, the package contains a 1.8-meter braided USB-C to USB-A cable, five additional keycaps, four replacement G3ms Magnetite Ice switches, a combination puller, a spudger for disassembling the case, screws and gaskets for converting the plate mount to Top-Mount, and detailed instructions in Russian.
I’d like to point out that most of the kit comes in individual bags and comes with small but informative booklets explaining its purpose and use with pictures and text. This is convenient.
The IO Type 68 Magnetic is available in two colors: white and black. Both have a matte finish, making them highly resistant to fingerprints and other wear marks. The case is made of ABS plastic.
The keyboard is designed in a 65% form factor, meaning it has compact dimensions of 350 x 123 x 43 mm, and its number of keys has been reduced to 68. Despite this, it weighs 960 grams, which means it will not slide on the table.
The new product has a classic design, meaning the buttons are slightly recessed into the body, the layout is ANSI, the location and size of the keys are familiar, but with a number of useful and convenient improvements.
First, the arrow keys have been slightly offset to the right of the main keys. Second, the right Shift key has been extended. Third, there’s a separate block of function keys. Unfortunately, their number has been reduced from nine to four (Del, PgDn, PgUp, Ins), but the manufacturer has compensated for this by allowing you to reassign their actions and providing five additional keycaps (End, Pause, Home, Print, Scroll). This means that if, for example, you don’t need the Ins key, you can assign the desired Print key instead and set a corresponding keycap to avoid confusion. In my opinion, this is practical and demonstrates that the company cares about its users.
Another useful element on the top panel of the case is a thin strip of RGB lighting located between the function keys and arrow keys. At first glance, it seems purely decorative, but it has more useful features.
Specifically, it can inform you when Caps Lock is enabled, the Win key is locked, and Snap Tap is activated, and/or display the keypress force or actuation point in real time. This means that by filling this bar, you can determine which actuation point is selected and how hard you need to press the key for the action to be registered.
If the RGB strip indicator doesn’t suit you, you can switch it directly to the buttons. For example, after activating Caps Lock, pressing Fn will light up only the backlight for it; if Windows mode is selected, the W key will light up, etc.
The new model’s keycaps are double-molded. This means they consist of two layers of different colors. The symbols are not printed, but rather cut into the top layer, meaning they won’t wear off over time. This method also makes them glow, improving readability in the dark.
The font is standard, with the only exception being the FN key, which bears the brand logo. The alphabet is Cyrillic and Latin.
The keycaps have a CSA profile, meaning they have a square base with a slight indentation for the fingertips. The advantage of these keycaps is a balanced height and improved finger position, which reduces typing errors and improves typing comfort.
The front end does not have anything interesting on it.
The side panels are customizable . By default, they feature small recesses engraved with the brand logo. 3D-printed panels can be installed if desired. The file with the dimensions is publicly available on the model page, and the panel design can be anything you like. You’re only limited by your imagination, as these can be not just flat panels with inscriptions or drawings, but three-dimensional art objects of various shapes, for example, with crab tentacles, Pegasus wings, and so on.
The back panel features a USB-C port in the center, flanked by two switches. The three-position switch selects the actuation point: 0.5 mm, 2 mm, or 1.2 mm, while the two-position switch activates Snap Tap. Note that finer adjustment of the actuation point is possible via software, but we’ll discuss that later. Out of the box, there’s a sticker around the switches with markings that can be removed over time. The good news is that even here, the manufacturer has taken user convenience into account and designed the sticker so that no adhesive residue remains after removal.
The base is equipped with three rubberized pads on the sides and in the center. This ensures the keyboard stays in place while you type and is completely non-slip, even when your emotions are running high. Additionally, it features folding, two-level feet that allow you to adjust the angle.
As for the internal structure, the model received a metal plate, a triple layer of noise insulation and a Gasket-mount design, which can be changed to Top-Mount if desired, thanks to the presence of special screws and gaskets in the kit.
The IO Type 68 Magnetiс supports one connection method: a USB-C cable. It boasts a generous 1.8-meter length, braided cable, and a ferrite filter.
You don’t need to install a driver to get started, but the manufacturer provides a web application for setup, a link to which you can find in the instructions.
The utility is quite simple in appearance, but its operation is easy to understand. It allows you to reassign key functions, customize the backlight , record macros, adjust switch performance, change the polling rate, create multiple layers, and activate additional features.
The latter include:
Additionally, you can change the interface language , choose a dark or light theme, reset the device to factory settings, update its software, or use dynamic calibration to automatically correct extreme settings.
In addition to web app control, the IO Type 68 Magnetic keyboard supports key combinations for switching between Win/Mac modes, changing display settings, adjusting backlighting, controlling music and volume, and performing office tasks. I won’t go into detail about these, as this information is well-documented in the information booklet.
Like most modern keyboards, the IO Type 68 Magnetic features customizable RGB backlighting with a south-facing LED layout. In this case, the backlighting is visible not only between the keys but also through the symbols, making it not only visually appealing but also very useful – ensuring excellent readability in the dark.
Fine-tuning the backlight is possible through the app, but good customization options are also available via key combinations. Specifically, you can use them to change the speed, brightness, mode, and color. There are 20 modes and four brightness levels. The backlight can be turned off completely if needed.
The IO Type 68 Magnetic is a keyboard that catches your eye with its design from the very first glance. It doesn’t have any unique design features, but it looks high-quality and stylish, which, in my opinion, is more important than flashy accents. If you still want to stand out, you can 3D-print side panels and customize the device. It’s pretty cool.
Beyond its appearance, the new model impresses with its build quality, reliable materials, and thoughtful design. Specifically, while maintaining its compact size, it features adequately sized Shift keys, a stripped-down but configurable function key block, and informative LED indicators. The latter, in addition to standard functions, can display the key pressure level and actuation point in real time, which is quite convenient, as this model can perform multiple functions depending on the force applied. I’ll admit right away that this feature takes some getting used to, but once you do, the device’s capabilities reach a whole new level.
Additionally, it features convenient switches on the back for activating Snap Tap and selecting the activation point. In other words, there’s no need to constantly navigate to settings to adjust performance—simply slide the switch to the desired position. All this is complemented by a long, durable detachable cable, additional keycaps included, adjustable tilt, and rubber feet for improved stability, which is already excellent given its compact size and weight of just under 1 kg.
The device also features comfortable CSA-profile keycaps, triple noise isolation, and an easily swappable plate mount, allowing you to switch from a flexible Gasket Mount to a more rigid Top Mount. This not only changes the typing experience but also the sound, so choosing the IO Type 68 Magnetic keyboard gives you ample room to experiment.
Another positive aspect is the user-friendly and functional setup software. Besides being easy to use, you don’t need to download it to your computer, meaning you can easily optimize the device for your needs even on someone else’s PC while you’re away from home. This is quite practical.
The keyboard’s backlighting is also a plus. Its advantages include uniformity, brightness, excellent character readability, and flexible customization options, both via key combinations and software.
In terms of performance, the new product features factory-lubricated g3ms Magnetite Ice magnetic switches with a 100 million-click lifespan. In addition to their long lifespan, they impress with excellent sensitivity, high precision, selectable actuation point, and a very pleasant thocky sound, typical of premium devices.
Regarding the latter, I’d like to emphasize that absolutely all the keys sound identical, meaning the Spacebar or Shift key won’t irritate you with unusual clicks. Furthermore, the switches support Hot Swap, meaning you can quickly swap them out if you don’t like them for some reason, which, in my opinion, is highly unlikely.
All this is complemented by a polling rate of 8000 Hz, a board scan rate of 128,000 Hz, a response time of 0.128 ms, as well as a whole set of advanced functions, including NKRO (unlimited number of clicks), Rapid Trigger (the button registers a second press, even if it was not fully released), Snap Tap (when pressing two keys, the one pressed later is registered) and the above-described Rappy, Snappy, SOCD, DKS, MT, TGL.
As a result, the IO Type 68 Magnetic is a very fast, responsive, and incredibly functional model that can be fine-tuned visually, programmatically, and structurally.
The IO Type 68 Magnetic is a keyboard made with love for its users, as attention was paid to even the smallest details. I won’t list all its advantages, as I’ve already covered them in detail, but I’ll highlight the key points:
All of this is sold for 3,599 rubles, so given the lack of any downsides, this model can be recommended to literally everyone, including casual users looking for a high-quality device at a reasonable price, enthusiasts who want the ability to customize everything to their liking, and eSports athletes who value precision, speed, responsiveness, advanced features, and user-friendly software for fine-tuning.
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