The Syntech Chronos 68 is a extremely customizable magnetic swap keyboard that, with some small Mac-specific points apart, shouldn’t be a foul alternative for avid gamers.
Gaming keyboards do their greatest to supply an aesthetically pleasing bodily interface, whereas additionally tending to be fairly visually loud. Discovering a keyboard that is additionally compact and usable can be not unattainable with the choices out there available on the market.
Add on new applied sciences like magnetic switches, and it turns into rather a lot more durable to seek out one that may do all of it. Doing all that whereas probably not trying fully misplaced on a Mac desktop turns into a problem.
Doing so with out breaking the financial institution is even harder.
The Syntech Chronos 68 is a magnetic keyboard that’s, mainly, one supposed for gaming. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re prepared to make some sacrifices, it could turn out to be fairly a sensible choice.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Design
Housed in an aluminum alloy chassis, the Chronos 68 is decidedly a keyboard made for avid gamers. There are apparent indicators from the outset, together with “Warning” on the area bar, an Exit icon on the Enter key, and a radioactive icon on the Escape key.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – The gamer aesthetic is in full show
The model despatched for overview is in a yellow and white colorway, with the yellow used for simply these three keys. A white and black possibility modifications these standout keys to black, whereas the gamer glyphs are faraway from sight for the all-black possibility.
The 68 within the title refers back to the 68 keys, with the usage of a 65% key structure. You aren’t getting the numpad, nor perform row keys, however the latter are accessed through the use of the Perform key.
The way in which the keyboard is assembled, the keycap edges reside simply above the sting of the enclosure, which means any RGB mild results can be a bit bit extra seen.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Tasteful branding and the key-case hole
Across the again is a single USB-C port, recessed barely, whereas the bottom has a couple of rubber ft for grip. The underside additionally has a QR code that takes you to the help web page for the keyboard, which is helpful to have.
It is also fairly light-weight for a keyboard, however these ft assist preserve it in place. As it’s a wired keyboard solely, there isn’t any additional battery weighing it down, nevertheless it stops wanting being too mild to be helpful.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – There is not any wi-fi, however there’s USB-C
That additionally means there isn’t any Bluetooth or 2.4GHz dongle to make use of right here, simply the USB-C connection on the again.
Measuring 12.2 inches lengthy, 4.13 inches huge, and 1.2 inches thick, it is actually a compact keyboard, with little wasted area for the casing itself.
Whereas many keyboards are shying away from together with indicators for caps lock and others of their designs, Syntech has stored them right here. A trio of white LED indicators are within the high proper nook, used to point capslock, the FN Lock mode, and “Typing Mode.”
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Very neat indicators within the nook
Included within the field is a wrist relaxation, which is product of plastic and is beneficial sufficient if you happen to want additional peak to your wrist. There may be additionally a USB-C cable, 4 substitute switches, a keycap puller, and a small brush within the field too.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Magnetic switches and configuration
As a magnetic keyboard, it depends on a distinct sort of swap. Inside is the Outemo Magnetic Sealed Swap, although there’s additionally the potential of utilizing a Gateron Magnetic Jade Professional as a substitute.
Not like regular switches, magnetic switches function in a very completely different manner. Quite than closing a circuit contained in the swap, the magnetic switches comprise a magnet.
The thought is {that a} sensor on the circuit board contained in the keyboard detects the magnetic discipline utilizing the Corridor Impact. As you press the important thing, the space between the magnet and sensor modifications, and so do the magnetic fields.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Spare switches, a keycap puller and a brush, included within the field
In impact, the keyboard can measure the space the important thing has travelled, which can be utilized in varied methods. For a begin, you should use the web configuration software program to regulate how far every key will be pressed earlier than it counts as an actuation.
The web configurator helps you to say how far within the 0.1mm to three.5mm of journey that constitutes a press, in addition to how far up once more it’s a must to launch the important thing to rely as now not “Urgent” it.
This will sound bizarre for typing, however this form of factor will be helpful for avid gamers to change to enhance their gameplay. Different options embrace Snap Faucet, which can be utilized for course switching, whereas Tremendous Faucet helps you to arrange 4 macros or actions on one key, relying on the way you press it.
As normal, you too can arrange extra normal macros within the software program, in addition to handle the lighting.
There’s even 8 KHz polling, to maximise the response time between your button press and one thing taking place on-screen. Once more, that is extra of a gaming function slightly than one for basic typists.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – The bottom view features a help QR code
This may be all overwhelming, but in addition probably inconvenient if you happen to use the keyboard for each gaming and typing. Nonetheless, urgent Perform then Area switches between typing modes, as indicated by the nook LED.
That manner, you possibly can have the keyboard arrange in a personalized structure with macros and completely different key sensitivities for gaming, or a extra standard model for regular typing.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – RGB and keycaps
As a gaming keyboard, it has lights constructed into it. These are often set to be always-on, however you possibly can change it within the configurator.
Other than brightness, you too can introduce completely different animations and even do extra concerned lighting edits.
A neat RGB-related function seems if you press the Perform key. Doing so kills no matter RGB impact is, in favor of a structure that has a white illumination round every key that may do one thing when pressed with the Perform key.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – The structure with RGB shining by way of the important thing glyphs
That is nice for remembering that there is a shortcut for a perform, however you do not essentially know the place it’s. A minimum of it narrows down the record of potential mixtures so that you can strive.
Usually, this could be the top of the dialogue for RGB, however the keycaps come into play this time.
The PBT double-shot keycaps mix opaque white with clear plastic, which is used for the glyphs on the highest of the keys. With RGB turned off, they’re good and clear darkish gray glyphs, however in addition they shine the sunshine by way of the glyphs too.
The texture of the keys is pretty typical, with a barely concave high to them. There’s a bit little bit of texture on the tops, which has continued for fairly a little bit of typing utilization.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – The facet view
In the case of really typing with it, the presses are passable, however the sound is just too. This mix of keycap, pre-lubed magnetic switches, and the layers of poron, PCB, and PET contained in the keyboard leads to a mid-tone tapping sound, which is not too loud but in addition not too high-pitched to sound hole.
It is bodily light-weight as a keyboard, however the audible components do not betray that reality to the person.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Gamer, however nearly Mac-friendly
So far as mechanical keyboards go, the Syntech Chronos 68 does various issues effectively. As a magnetic swap keyboard, it’s an extensively configurable machine, able to organising macros and different modern-day necessities of computing.
It is also acquired a really minimal styling. One that’s distinctly nonetheless gamer in nature, however in a barely muted trend.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – The wrist relaxation is easy however works
Whilst you may cover essentially the most onerous gaming components by switching the escape and enter keys for others, additionally, you will have to vary some extra as effectively. It is a Home windows keyboard, so there are CTRL, WIN, and ALT keys to take care of.
For finish customers, they’ll remap the keys in software program to get the Mac key mapping, however correct substitute keys could be wanted for a full conversion.
It might’ve been good for Syntech to have Mac-specific keys included within the field. It might no less than permit for key substitute with out having visibly odd keys, and rule out shopping for a very new keycap set to interchange all the pieces.
These Mac-specific issues apart, there’s rather a lot to love concerning the Chronos 68. It isn’t a premium-priced keyboard, however the magnetic switches make it punch manner above its weight.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Professionals
RGB shines by way of keycaps
Minimal measurement with indicators in nook
Magnetic swap configuration
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Cons
Slightly mild in weight
Gamer-centric spotlight keycaps
Lack of overt Mac help
Ranking: 3 out of 5
This rating is assuming you are an Apple person. There are cheaper mechanical keyboards that swimsuit Apple customers higher out of the field. These magnetic switches are good, however an overt lack of Mac keycaps within the field is an issue for Apple customers.
In case you do not care concerning the Command keycap, then the keyboard is a 4 out of 5.
The place to purchase the Syntech Chronos 68
The Syntech Chronos 68 is obtainable from the corporate immediately, for a retail worth of $179.99. As this overview goes reside on June 24, 2025, it’s at the moment on sale for $139.90which makes it a bit extra palatable to Mac customers.
