FINALLY, a real Wooting competitor!

Summary

The iix EZ 63 is a new contender in the world of Hall effect gaming keyboards. It claims to outperform popular models like the Wooting 60 H, boasting high-quality materials and unique switch options like the Gateron Magnetic Jades and Star Trails. Despite impressive hardware, the keyboard's software is a major downfall, affecting user experience with confusing layouts and bugs. While the hardware delivers a superior typing and gaming experience, the disappointing software ultimately hinders its potential, making it hard to recommend despite the promising features and competitive price.

Highlights

• The iix EZ 63 keyboard boasts unique features and challenges major market players like Wooting at Computex 🤔.
• Comes with a comprehensive accessory kit, enhancing its appeal and practical use 🎁.
• Features high-quality Gateron switch options that improve typing and gaming experience noticeably 🏆.
• Despite solid hardware, the keyboard's software falls short, with language inconsistencies and functionality issues 🌍.
• Overall performance is dragged down by poor software, although hardware impresses at its price point 💸.

Key Takeaways

• The iix EZ 63 offers bold performance claims, challenging well-known competitors like the Wooting 60 H 🎮.
• High-quality accessories and build with features like gasket mounting for a more cushioned typing feel 🔧.
• Switch options include Gateron Magnetic Jades and Star Trails, known for smoother operation and reduced rattle 🌟.
• Software issues significantly impact user experience, detracting from the keyboard's high-quality hardware offerings 🖥️.
• The keyboard excels in hardware but requires major software updates to unlock its full potential 🚀.

Overview

The iix EZ 63 Hall effect keyboard makes quite the entrance, positioning itself as a competitor to established names like Wooting. From a hardware perspective, it dazzles with options for Gateron Magnetic Jades and Star Trails switches, both offering a smooth and satisfying typing experience. The build quality is high, employing gasket mounting for a more forgiving typing plane compared to more rigid tray mounts.

Upon unboxing, users are treated to an impressive bundle of accessories which include a carrying case, extra key caps and switches, among other useful tools. These additions make the keyboard not only appealing as a technical gadget but practical for everyday use, encouraging a sense of preparedness and completeness from the start.

However, the experience takes a dip when it comes to software. Despite the hardware’s capability of outclassing competitors, the software hinders user satisfaction with its confusing interface and reliability issues. Key features and functionality suffer from this oversight, making it hard to endorse despite its attractive feature set and price. Until the software side is remedied, this keyboard stands as a monument to potential, not yet fully realized.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to the IIX EZ 63 Keyboard The chapter introduces the IIX EZ 63 Keyboard, a new hall effect gaming keyboard acclaimed for its speed and performance. It claims to be faster than competitors, including the wooting 60 H model, as evidenced by in-depth comparisons showcased at Computex. The initial overview sets a tone of competitiveness and innovation in the gaming keyboard market.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Included Accessories In the chapter titled 'Included Accessories,' the transcript details a variety of accessories that are included with the product being discussed. These accessories are intended to enhance the user experience and add value to the purchase. They include a carrying case designed to fit a mouse, a high-quality key cap and switch puller, a brush, spare key caps for Mac users, spare switches featuring Gateron Magnetic Jades, and stickers. Additionally, the package contains a stylish coiled cable and an allen key, which is useful for disassembling the keyboard, hinting at a design that allows for some level of customization or maintenance.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Switch Types and Performance The chapter explores two types of switches available for a keyboard: the Gateron Magnetic Jades and the IX version of the Gateron Star Trails. The focus is on the tactile experience and sound of these switches. The Star Trails are highlighted as being smoother and more refined compared to the Gateron Magnetic Jades, as well as having less scratchiness than the Leer switches on the Wooting keyboard. This improvement in design leads to a superior typing experience and enhances the overall performance, particularly in terms of sound and tactile feedback.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Keyboard Construction The chapter discusses keyboard construction, focusing on mounting mechanisms. It compares tray-mounted keyboards, where components are screwed into the case, leading to a stiffer typing feel, with gasket mount systems like those in E63 and 60, which use silicone mounts to cushion keypresses and reduce harshness. Tray mounting is noted as cost-efficient and easier to produce, while gasket mounting offers a more comfortable typing experience.
• 02:00 - 03:00: Disassembly Process The chapter provides a detailed description of the process involved in disassembling a keyboard. The process begins by addressing the stiffness of the keyboard, noting its limited movement. The steps for disassembly are relatively simple, involving the removal of eight screws located in the aluminum side walls. These screws are connected to aluminum rails positioned at the top and bottom of the keyboard, which secure the gasket mount. Once the screws are removed and the sides are detached, the keyboard components come apart easily. Included in the disassembled parts are a bottom plate connected to a PCB with a wire, and some poron foam lining.
• 03:00 - 04:00: Sound Test and Comparison The chapter 'Sound Test and Comparison' explores the process of reassembling a device with dampening foam situated between the PCB and the top plate. It highlights the challenges faced during reassembly, such as screws not settling properly and the complications due to the thin grooves on the top and bottom rails into which the case fits. It provides a slight solution by suggesting fitting the top first, followed by a few screws before securing the bottom. While it can be fiddly, this design feature facilitates easier cleaning.
• 04:00 - 07:00: Software Challenges The chapter titled 'Software Challenges' seems to focus on a metaphorical discussion or casual advice about handling 'degeneracy' or chaos, perhaps in a workflow or system. The playful tone suggests an informal approach to problem-solving, using imagery of spilling and cleaning up as a way to manage issues. The sound test mentioned at the end could imply a setup or troubleshooting process that might follow. Overall, it highlights a relaxed and somewhat humorous approach to software challenges.
• 07:00 - 08:00: Rapid Trigger and Performance Issues This chapter discusses the advantages of newer keyboard models over older ones, focusing on sound and performance. The improved microphone quality makes a significant difference, providing better sound due to high-quality materials. The newer models are also equipped with more stable and smoother switches, enhancing the typing and playing experience. Comparatively, the product discussed is much superior to the older 60 H model in terms of quality and build. While the old model might be modded to possibly match the new one, such modifications would incur additional costs.
• 08:00 - 10:00: Conclusion and Final Thoughts In the final chapter titled 'Conclusion and Final Thoughts,' the author addresses the critical issues faced by hall effect keyboards, highlighting the major hurdle as the problematic software. He shares a personal and frustrating experience with iunx's software, which contributes significantly to the challenges, along with a separate issue that completely bricks the keyboard. The chapter concludes by stressing the importance of overcoming these software-related obstacles to improve user satisfaction.

FINALLY, a real Wooting competitor! Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 it's another day and another hall effect gaming keyboard has arrived and this one comes with some very bold claims this is the iix EZ 63 whole effect keyboard also available as a 60% and it's Unique from all the whole effect keyboards I have tried they claim that their keyboard is one of the fastest even outperforming the wooting at H at computex and I'll tell you now It embarrasses the wooting 60 H in some areas iunx even provides the receipts to prove this which which
• 00:30 - 01:00 I'll go through later immediately iunx presents you with a load of accessories to sweeten you you get a carrying case which you can fit a mouse in so it's got some practical use and inside the case is a high quality key cap and switch puller a brush spare key caps if you use a Mac spare switches which are gatun magnetic Jades stickers one of those snazzy coiled cables which I believe only exist because they look cool and an allen key to take the keyboard apart which I will also be doing later as their design is actually pretty
• 01:00 - 01:30 interesting but first let's take a look at these switches and I'll do a sound test after there's a choice of two switch types for this keyboard you can either have the gator on magnetic Jades or ix's version which is the gator on Star Trails these feel very smooth and they don't have that scratchiness that I felt with the Leer switches on the wooting the star Trail switches just feel like they are more refined and have less rattle which vastly improves the type and experience and even when playing with it and the feeling of this
• 01:30 - 02:00 keyboard is improved further by its quality most 60 to 65% keyboards that I've seen and used are tray mounted which means the main guts of the keyboard are screwed into the case this can make the keyboard feel a bit stiff to type on but it's a cost-efficient option and it's easier to make the E63 and 60 is using a gasket Mount so the main components are held in place with these silicone mounts this kind of mounting creates a bit of a cushion and removes some of the harshness when bottoming out the keypress despite this
• 02:00 - 02:30 it's still rather stiff you can see there's very little movement here but enough of this let's take it apart thankfully that's kind of easy there's just eight screws for this keyboard that need to be removed which are located in these aluminum side walls the screws are going into these aluminum rails that are on the top and the bottom of the keyboard and this is where the gasket Mount is when you remove both of the sides everything just comes apart we have a bottom plate with a wire that goes into the PCB and some poron foam on top of that as well there's also some
• 02:30 - 03:00 dampening foam in between the PCB and the top plate putting this back together is an experience I don't know what the issue is but sometimes these screws just don't seem to settle back in properly even with the side walls lined up I found putting the top on First and fitting a couple of screws and then doing the bottom was slightly easier these top and bottom rails have a very thin Groove that the bottom case goes into which it can slide out of so it can be a bit fiddly with this design though it should be easy to clean is you can
• 03:00 - 03:30 just remove one of the sides and just tilt your keyboard to allow the flow of degeneracy spill out onto your desk and then you can just brush away your filth now let's get to the sound [Applause] test I am using my camera microphone for this because I just find that the big
• 03:30 - 04:00 chunky microphone makes this sound unnatural but you can hear a significant improvement over the 60 H this is because of the higher quality materials that's being used here and I think also the more stable and smoother switches quality-wise this thing blows away the 60 H completely it's a higher quality and well-made product that results in it feeling amazing to type and play with you might be able to get the 60 H to sound and feel better or similar to this but you'll have to model which will cost
• 04:00 - 04:30 you a lot more this is completely stock but just like with all whole effect keyboards there's still one final hurdle and I'd say the biggest challenge that all hall effect keyboards face and that is the software and regrettably in the software Department iunx have pooped the pants my experience has been nothing but frustrating for many reasons so let me walk you through some of them I also experienced an issue that's not related to the software but bricks the keyboard all all together this software is all
• 04:30 - 05:00 online only on the main page you select English but then there's still parts that are in Chinese the first section is keymap which looks rather similar to Via I'm not a fan of this layout as there's no explanation of how anything works here the performance section has the main features we're looking for there's a fixed actuation mode this is just changing the actuation point and it would operate like a regular non-rapid trigger keyboard then there's the recommended settings option which gives you some default set setups if you're
• 05:00 - 05:30 not used to Rapid trigger keyboards with low actuation points this is actually a good addition for people who aren't used to these kinds of keyboards then you have rt mode which is where you turn on rapid trigger and some of this is in Chinese there was a time when it was all in English but it changed at some point maybe it's my fault for not being bilingual this layout is needlessly confusing looking at this layout you'd think that rapid trigger is on the first number is the actuation point that has no relation to the fixed actuation mode by the way underneath that is the reset
• 05:30 - 06:00 point for Rapid trigger but this tab needs to be in the on position for it to actually be turned on and this doesn't affect the layout on the top if you want rapid trigger on certain keys so for example if I want it on 1 to 4 and WD there's no visual difference telling me that I've done that you have to click on each key individually to see which one has rapid trigger turned on or not now there's pre-aeration protection distance I don't know what its purpose is for for obvious reasons then you have the Press
• 06:00 - 06:30 actuation distance so this is your actuation point the release distance is the sensitivity of the rapid trigger there's an option to turn on super rapid stop which will reset the switch after just 0.05 mm and lastly you have bottom out protection distance which I guess will add a safe Zone from 4 mm to whatever distance you set it to where the rapid trigger won't take effect next there's a lighting section great then there's a professional preset section where you
• 06:30 - 07:00 can use the same presets as professional players out of the eight that are currently available there's testing as well to test stuff but it's pretty Bare Bones it just shows you your inputs it doesn't show you the distance of the keypress there's no information on software updates either it gives you instructions on how to perform a software update but doesn't tell you where you get them from and really this needs a software update and the software needs a software update this is below steel series and C
• 07:00 - 07:30 okay this issue I'm cutting in because it's a bit of a weird one if I put on the Windows lock the keyboard will work the windows lock will work but then after a certain amount of time the keyboard will just stop working completely so I'm putting a timer up I'm going to press Windows lock and I'm going to sit here and wait until it does it so Windows is working sorry the Windows key is working I can type
• 07:30 - 08:00 I'm going to press FN and the Windows key um I know it's turned on because the caps lock will flash you can't see at that angle and I'm going to start the timer just so you can see the keyboard's still working and the windows lock is functioning there it's done it
• 08:00 - 08:30 1 minute and 27 seconds and I can't type so it won't work and I unplug it and it's reconnected types but the windows lock is now turned off it does happen I'm not crazy I am not crazy some of the other hall effect keyboards I've tried haven't had the best software but it did the important
• 08:30 - 09:00 parts like setting pery actuations and adjusting rapid trigger easily and clearly this does the base stuff but it doesn't do it well I think an important part of Rapid trigger keyboards is making changes easily to cater to your preferences often you'll experiment with settings whilst playing and this keyboard can't do that and it makes this keyboard very frustrating because playing with this has been amazing once it's all been set up to my liking it feels really responsive and the quality components make this a joy to use and
• 09:00 - 09:30 also highlights the shortcomings of the 60 h i Unix also shared a data sheet showing how it outperforms the 60 H head-to-head I'll link this in the description and they also said things like snaptap wrappy Snappy and other features are going to be supported in the future but with the current state of the software I just can't recommend it but I really want to it cost around $179 which I think is around $5 more than the 60 H and from a hardware standpoint you're getting the best of the best
• 09:30 - 10:00 however from a software and firmware standpoint you're not to put my words into a mediocre at best meme we were on the verge of greatness we were this close this might be worth keeping an eye on in case there are significant improvements made to the software I'd recommend checking out our Discord as I'll likely provide updates if my opinion changes at all until the software and firmware get some much needed attention it's another case of wooting still clears good video smiley
• 10:00 - 10:30 face but if things like gaming keyboards and hall effect are a bit overwhelming for you there's a video on screen now that should help you