The Gamdias Hermes E3 keyboard is a minimalistic design keyboard that comes in a 60% mechanical keyboard layout.
There are many other 60% keyboards available in the market these days, but should you spend the ₹3500 on this?
Should you buy the Gamdias Hermes E3 keyboard?
Well, the straightforward answer to this is yes! This is a good keyboard, but there are some things that you should know before buying.
To make this clear for you, I have ordered the keyboard myself and am posting my review after 1 month of rigorous usage in gaming, and office work.
Gamdias Hermes E3 60% keyboard Review
Out of the box, you will get a keycap puller, a USB type C cable, and of course our mechanical keyboard.
- Build Quality: The keyboard feels sturdy and there is no flex in the chassis and the cable that comes along is not braided. But it is a good quality thick cable, this can easily last for a couple of years, then you can replace the same with another USB to type c cable.
- Design: The keyboard design is minimalistic, and it looks great! Anyone willing to add a minimalist keyboard can buy this. The keyboard is available in two color options i.e., white and black. The keyboard has 61 keys, following the desired 60% mechanical keyboard design language.
- RGB: The keyboard comes with inbuilt 19 RGB modes, and of course, you can turn them off when you want. The one we ordered came in white to test out the quality. Although software would have been great as there would be many users who want to customise the look of their keyboard with custom effects.
- Mechanical Switches: The Gamdias Hermes E3 Keyboard comes with certified optical switches that can last up to 50 million clock cycles. These are Outemu mechanical switches, the keycaps also feel good and provide excellent grip while working and gaming. It is available in two different switch options i.e. red mechanical switch and blue mechanical switch.
The Blue switch is tactile and makes that clicky sound, On the other side, the red switches are linear, and they are silent and make a thick sound.
Gaming Experience:
The keyboard provides excellent grip and comfort while gaming. It comes with anti-ghosting, n key rollover. On the back, it has anti-skid bumps that ensure that your keyboard stays in place during your gaming sessions.
Working/typing Experience:
The keyboard is compatible with all three operating systems i.e. Windows, Mac and Linux. The experience while working is great and you will not have any problem with this 60% mechanical keyboard.
Although there are some shortcuts that you need to remember:
To use the arrow keys :
- F1 + W, S, A, D (Up, Down, Left & Right respectively).
- Switch RGB Modes : Fn2 +F9( Change RGB effects).
- Turn Off RGB: Fn2+F10 key.
- To use Home, Printsc, End, INSert Delete, page up, and page down, you have to use them combined with Fn2.
The keyboard takes very less space, due to its 60% form factor ideal for anyone who wants more space on their desk. Also, it is best for people who like to travel and take their mechanical keyboards with them.
Summing Up: The Good & The compromise
Over the past months, I have used the Gamdias Hermes E3 keyboard for gaming and typing.
The Good:
- Looks good, clean and minimalistic. It will blend with any setup and look gorgeous.
- Switches are good and they do their job well. You can choose either the blue switch or the red switch based on your preference.
- A detachable USB Type C cable makes it easier to do cable management on your setup. It works well for frequent travellers, as you can use the same cable for your keyboard and charge your phone/gadgets as well.
The Compromise:
- The only shortfall of this keyboard is that there is no software support for RGB. All the controls are on the hardware level. If Gamdias would have given software controls, then this would have been the 60% gaming keyboard in this budget.
This was my review of the Gamdias Hermes E3 mechanical keyboard. I would say that if you are looking for a good quality 60% mechanical keyboard under 3500, then this is the best under this category.