The Syntech Chronos 68 is a extremely customizable magnetic swap keyboard that, with some small Mac-specific points apart, is just not 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 also be not unattainable with the choices accessible in the marketplace.
Add on new applied sciences like magnetic switches, and it turns into loads tougher to seek out one that may do all of it. Doing all that whereas probably not trying utterly 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 meant for gaming. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re prepared to make some sacrifices, it may possibly change into fairly a good selection.
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 choice adjustments these standout keys to black, whereas the gamer glyphs are faraway from sight for the all-black choice.
The 68 within the identify refers back to the 68 keys, with the usage of a 65% key format. You do not get the numpad, nor perform row keys, however the latter are accessed through the use of the Operate key.
The way in which the keyboard is assembled, the keycap edges reside simply above the sting of the enclosure, that means any RGB gentle results shall 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 number of rubber toes for grip. The underside additionally has a QR code that takes you to the assist web page for the keyboard, which is helpful to have.
It is also fairly light-weight for a keyboard, however these toes assist preserve it in place. As it’s a wired keyboard solely, there is no further battery weighing it down, but it surely stops in need of being too gentle to be helpful.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – There is not any wi-fi, however there may be USB-C
That additionally means there is no 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 vast, and 1.2 inches thick, it is definitely 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 saved 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 fabricated from plastic and is helpful sufficient if you happen to want further top on your wrist. There’s 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 special kind of swap. Inside is the Outemo Magnetic Sealed Change, although there may be additionally the potential for utilizing a Gateron Magnetic Jade Professional as an alternative.
In contrast to regular switches, magnetic switches function in a very totally different approach. Fairly than closing a circuit contained in the swap, the magnetic switches include a magnet.
The concept is {that a} sensor on the circuit board contained in the keyboard detects the magnetic area utilizing the Corridor Impact. As you press the important thing, the space between the magnet and sensor adjustments, 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 need to 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 important to launch the important thing to rely as now not “Urgent” it.
This will sound bizarre for typing, however this type of factor will be helpful for avid gamers to change to enhance their gameplay. Different options embody 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 common, you can too arrange extra customary 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 fairly than one for normal typists.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – The bottom view features a assist QR code
This may be all overwhelming, but in addition probably inconvenient if you happen to use the keyboard for each gaming and typing. Nevertheless, urgent Operate then Area switches between typing modes, as indicated by the nook LED.
That approach, you may have the keyboard arrange in a custom-made format with macros and totally different key sensitivities for gaming, or a extra typical model for regular typing.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – RGB and keycaps
As a gaming keyboard, it has lights constructed into it. These are normally set to be always-on, however you may change it within the configurator.
Apart from brightness, you can too introduce totally different animations and even do extra concerned lighting edits.
A neat RGB-related function seems whenever you press the Operate key. Doing so kills no matter RGB impact is, in favor of a format that has a white illumination round every key that can do one thing when pressed with the Operate key.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – The format with RGB shining by means 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. Not less than it narrows down the checklist of doable mixtures so that you can strive.
Usually, this may be the tip 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 additionally they shine the sunshine by means 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 endured for fairly a little bit of typing utilization.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – The facet view
In terms of really typing with it, the presses are passable, however the sound is simply too. This mixture of keycap, pre-lubed magnetic switches, and the layers of poron, PCB, and PET contained in the keyboard ends in 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 truth to the person.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Gamer, however virtually Mac-friendly
So far as mechanical keyboards go, the Syntech Chronos 68 does various issues nicely. As a magnetic swap keyboard, it’s an extensively configurable machine, able to establishing 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 vogue.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – The wrist relaxation is easy however works
Whilst you might 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 nicely. It is a Home windows keyboard, so there are CTRL, WIN, and ALT keys to cope with.
For finish customers, they will remap the keys in software program to get the Mac key mapping, however correct substitute keys can be wanted for a full conversion.
It could’ve been good for Syntech to have Mac-specific keys included within the field. It could not less than enable for key substitute with out having visibly odd keys, and rule out shopping for a very new keycap set to interchange every little thing.
These Mac-specific issues apart, there’s loads to love concerning the Chronos 68. It is not a premium-priced keyboard, however the magnetic switches make it punch approach above its weight.
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Professionals
- RGB shines by means of keycaps
- Minimal dimension with indicators in nook
- Magnetic swap configuration
Syntech Chronos 68 overview – Cons
- Just a little gentle in weight
- Gamer-centric spotlight keycaps
- Lack of overt Mac assist
Ranking: 3 out of 5
This rating is assuming you are an Apple person. There are cheaper mechanical keyboards that go well with 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 the event 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 accessible from the corporate straight, for a retail worth of $179.99. As this overview goes reside on June 24, 2025, it’s at present on sale for $139.90, which makes it a bit extra palatable to Mac customers.
