MageGee Portable 60% - Blue Whale Switch Review

The MageGee Portable 60% is a serious contender even against full-sized keyboards due to its dedicated function and arrow keys. Longtime fans of compact gaming keyboards will appreciate how much functionality they can extract from this discrete yet magical board. To see how it compares in every other aspect, though, we put the MageGee Portable through our full array of exhaustive gaming keyboard tests.

Performance Comparison

Performance

The MageGee Portable 60% is a high-performing keyboard that even puts many full-sized options to shame. Hardcore gamers who want to save some desk space will appreciate this keyboard's responsiveness and 68-key layout. Fans of simulation, strategy, and MMO games know all too well that more buttons are always better.

This keyboard only connects to a device via wired connection, but we measured its latency at a mere 12 milliseconds. This puts it behind some of the higher-end gaming keyboards we tested, but will more than suffice for the vast majority of serious gamers. In our rollover tests, we determined that the MageGee has an indefinite N-key rollover. This means that there will be no conflicts, regardless of how many keys you press at once. We managed to hit 38 keys at once, and they all registered without issue.

With a 1000 Hz polling rate, this keyboard certainly sends input information to the connected device at an acceptable rate for high-end gaming. However, we measured a scan rate of only 500 Hz. This means that the keyboard itself is checking for inputs at a slower rate. In practice, though, this is negligible outside of the most extreme rhythm gaming sessions. We found the lower scan rate to only add an occasional 2ms delay.

Comfort

What the MageGee Portable boasts in convenience, it unfortunately loses in comfort. After testing over a dozen of the leading gaming keyboards, our methodology placed this product side-by-side with some of the most awkward-to-use options on the market.

The lack of comfort naturally stems from the keyboard's small size. The hands practically beg for a palm rest to make it work, but the MageGee does not come with one in the box. While you can adjust the angle to 3º, 7º, or 11º, these options don't quite make up for the board's steep standard profile. “The shorter distance to the first row of keys somehow seems to help,” our tester added.

The keystroke is a double-edged sword on the MageGee. We measured an average operation force of 39.38 gram force, which lets you effortlessly input commands during a gaming session, but the bottoming-out of each press is harder than we would like. It takes some practiced finesse to avoid pressing these keys with a heavier touch than needed.

Hardware Options

There is an unbelievable alchemy to the way the MageGee Portable 60% bestows so much customizability in such a compact form. For gamers who want the most amount of control over their hardware, this is an impossible-to-ignore option so long as the size is not a dealbreaker.

We tested the MageGee Portable with its prebuilt linear Blue Whale switches, but there are actually five other switch types available for you to choose from. The Blue Whale prioritizes smoothness and foregoes the tactile feedback that many people love from mechanical keyboards. Consider brown switches for a more tactile feel, or standard blue switches for something more clicky. Hotswap between these various switch types as much as you want to build your ideal experience. Of course, the keycaps are completely swappable as well. The MageGee features double shot injection keycaps with some wobble to them. Swap as you see fit, whether you're aiming for a certain color scheme or an optimal typing feel for your distinct style.

Typing Noise

Like a small dog whose bark is worse than its bite, the MageGee Portable is a compact keyboard that's much louder than expected. While we don't hate the sound, it's enough to be a distraction while working or gaming. One tester commented, “It's fairly loud and I can hear it clearly through my open-back headphones.”

We noticed that the loudest part of a press is when the key aggressively pops back to the top. The worst offender, surprisingly, seems to be the left shift key. Another tester commented on the sound, saying it “reminds me of an old keyboard” and described it as clacky, crunchy, and chattery. The average decibel volume of the MageGee Portable, measuring from two feet away, was 50 dBa. We compared the sound of the Blue Whale switches to clicky blue switches and found the decibel readings to be basically identical.

Type Experience

The Blue Whale switches gave us a decent enough typing experience with this keyboard. MageGee describes these switches as having a “buttery smooth keystroke and no tactile feedback,” but our testers did experience a slight tactile feeling. It provides a hybrid sensation between that of a linear and tactile key.

MageGee also describes the Blue Whale switches as being lubricated and “unbelievably smooth,” though we did sense a hint of scratchiness while typing. Even so, the keys are light and easy to press. Almost too easy, considering our tester's tendency to press more than one key at a time. We can also attribute this to the keyboard's small size and the unusual spacing of the keys.

A crucial point for gamers to keep in mind is that the tilde (~) shares a key with Escape, minimizing practical real estate for button-hungry players. However, gamers will likely appreciate this board's ease of use. With a low operating force of 39gf and a bottoming out force of 50gf, this is a solid choice for fast-paced gamers who like to confirm their strokes by pressing the key all the way down. Just keep in mind that there is nothing to soften the blow, so bottoming out hard can become strenuous during long sessions.

Lighting

The MageGee Portable earns praise for its hardware versatility but falls short on its lighting customization. Gamers who want to achieve a certain lighting aesthetic for their desktop environment will struggle to get exactly what they want from this keyboard.

There are 16 light settings to choose from, which you can toggle through using a dedicated key on the board. The settings all feature a rainbow of colors, with each one animating the lights with different effects such as ripples or waves. There is no option to choose a single static color, nor is there a compatible software you can use to customize the lights further. The intensity of the light is medium to dim, not too blinding even in a dark environment. It's generally not possible to customize which area of the board will light up, but it's worth noting that there is a setting to only illuminate the WASD and arrow keys.

Should You Buy the MageGee Portable 60% - Blue Whale Switch?

This is a gaming keyboard designed first and foremost for someone who specifically needs or wants a more compact product. Enthusiasts who are very particular about their switches and keycaps can also appreciate the MageGee Portable for its hardware customizability. It's a whiz-kid in terms of gaming performance too, especially at its price point, but look elsewhere if comfort and everyday typing are your priorities.

What Other Gaming Keyboard Should You Consider?

MageGee is a solid manufacturer of gaming keyboards, but the 60% style isn't for everyone. Consider one of their full-sized keyboards for a similar experience with more real estate. We also recommend the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 for gamers willing to pay a premium for the best possible experience. If it's the price tag of the MageGee Portable that has you spellbound, take a look at the Logitech G213 Prodigy as a full-sized gaming keyboard on a budget.