MelGeek VIVA63 HE review: Who needs a boring keyboard anyway?

Quick Review

The MelGeek VIVA63 HE is a premium 63-key Hall Effect gaming keyboard that gets the competitive fundamentals right while throwing in a few features that make it genuinely fun to use. Its TTC Pro KOM HE Magneto switches, adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger, and 8,000Hz polling rate make it an excellent companion for competitive FPS games.

But it’s the responsive OLED touchscreen, distinctive transparent design, and surprisingly enjoyable typing experience that give it personality. The compact layout, wired-only connectivity, and lack of adjustable feet are disappointing at this price, though. It’s not for everyone, but gamers looking for something a little different have plenty to like here.

MelGeek VIVA63 HE specifications

Design and build quality: Batman would approve

The VIVA63 HE makes a rather good first impression. From the moment I pulled it out of the box, the keyboard felt properly premium. Its transparent design, substantial construction, and illuminated OLED screen give it a rather distinctive appearance.

But my favorite detail has to be the black keycaps with yellow Escape and Enter keys. They give the keyboard a classic Batman vibe, and I’m absolutely here for it. The rotary volume knob deserves a mention too. It looks less like a keyboard control and more like something borrowed from a fancy desktop DAC.

The construction uses a combination of ABS, PC, and metal, with a gasket-mounted structure and multiple layers of internal sound dampening. There’s no noticeable flex, creaking, rattling, or poor finishing on my review unit. At approximately 890g, it also stays comfortably planted on the desk.

We’ve previously reviewed the MelGeek MADE68 Ultra V2, which takes a more industrial approach with its CNC aluminum chassis and elaborate RGB lighting. The VIVA63 HE goes in a different direction, swapping that industrial aesthetic for a transparent design and an OLED-equipped control section.

The 63-key layout takes some adjustment, though. For starters, coming from a 75% keyboard, I initially struggled with the smaller right Shift key. While the rest of the arrangement became comfortable within a day or two, missing dedicated productivity keys is something to consider. I wouldn’t hold that against this keyboard, though. It is, after all, a gaming-first keyboard, and it certainly behaves like one.

The OLED screen and RGB lighting are showstoppers

The 1.58-inch OLED touchscreen is arguably the VIVA63 HE’s biggest differentiator. MelGeek’s LumiDeck system combines the display with an infinite rotary knob and a dedicated profile-switching key.

The touchscreen is responsive, and I particularly enjoyed using custom GIFs, switching profiles, and accessing secondary keyboard functions such as Delete, Page Up, and Page Down. The knob handles volume and media controls, making it more useful than a decorative piece of hardware.

I did find myself leaving the screen on its default display quite often, though. So it’s safe to say that its usefulness ultimately depends on how much time someone spends customising it. Still, having these controls readily available is a nice touch.

The RGB lighting is equally impressive. Per-key illumination looks gorgeous through the transparent design, while the 270-degree lightbox adds glow around the keyboard. The lighting on the right side appears particularly bright, and it looks fantastic when gaming in a dimly lit room.

Typing experience: Surprisingly good outside gaming

The VIVA63 HE uses TTC Pro KOM HE Magneto magnetic switches, which feel light, smooth, and consistent across the board. More importantly, they’re highly customisable, allowing users to fine-tune actuation depending on their preferences.

The MCR double-shot PBT keycaps also feel premium, with a familiar OEM-like profile. They’re comfortable for extended typing, although their opaque legends mean the RGB doesn’t shine through the letters.

Acoustically, the keyboard leans towards a muted character in its stock configuration. After experimenting with the settings, I found it possible to achieve a more creamy-sounding profile. It isn’t particularly thocky, but the overall typing experience is satisfying.

My biggest complaint, however, is the lack of adjustable feet. MelGeek provides a fixed typing angle of approximately seven degrees, but I’d have appreciated the flexibility to elevate the keyboard further depending on my typing position. Of course, your mileage may vary, depending heavily on your setup, usual typing position, and style of typing.

Gaming performance: Rapid Trigger is the real MVP

This is where the VIVA63 HE really earns its gaming credentials. I used it for three to four competitive Valorant matches almost daily for close to a month, alongside sessions of Apex Legends, CS2, Control Resonant, and Cyberpunk 2077.

The difference was immediately noticeable in competitive shooters. Compared with my usual 8BitDo Retro Xbox keyboard and EvoFox Ronin X75, the VIVA63 HE felt considerably more responsive and fluid. Every movement input felt crisp, particularly when changing directions during intense firefights.

Much of that comes down to its Hall Effect switches and Rapid Trigger implementation. Unlike conventional mechanical switches that rely on fixed actuation and reset points, magnetic switches detect key movement using magnetic sensors. The VIVA63 HE lets users adjust actuation between 0.1mm and 3.4mm, with 0.01mm adjustment increments. Rapid Trigger can also be configured between 0.01mm and 2.5mm.

In simpler terms, Rapid Trigger allows a key to reset as soon as it moves upwards by the configured distance, rather than waiting for it to cross a conventional reset point. This makes repeated inputs and quick directional changes feel more responsive.

Add to that, the support for per-key customisation also means that movement keys can have different sensitivity settings from those used for regular typing. That said, just don’t blindly set everything to the lowest possible actuation. Extremely sensitive settings can register accidental inputs when fingers are resting on keys.

The keyboard also supports Dynamic Keystrokes and Snap Tap, although I decided to keep my hands off the latter. Competitive games are getting increasingly serious about SOCD-assisted movement, and I wasn’t particularly interested in turning my keyboard review into a Valorant ban appeal.

Rapid Trigger was already doing plenty of heavy lifting, anyway.

My advice? Check your preferred game’s rules before getting adventurous with Snap Tap or similar features. What’s a fancy keyboard worth if it gets your account sent to the shadow realm, right?

As for the advertised 8,000Hz polling rate and 0.125ms latency, those numbers certainly look spicy on paper. That said, I haven’t independently measured them, so I’ll leave the benchmark bragging to MelGeek. What I can say is that the VIVA63 HE delivered an absolutely excellent gaming experience throughout my testing.

Hive software and connectivity

Unlike other keyboards that require a third-party app, the VIVA63 uses MelGeek’s Hive Web App for actuation settings, Rapid Trigger, key remapping, profiles, RGB lighting, and OLED customisation. My experience with it on Windows 11 was entirely smooth, with no crashes or configuration headaches. The keyboard also supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, although my testing was limited to Windows 11

As far as connectivity goes, that’s where things get slightly less exciting. The VIVA63 HE is wired-only, using USB-C, with no Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wireless option. But is that a big deal-breaker? Not really, at least in my opinion.

See, I understand why some buyers might complain about this omission at approximately $199. Personally, though, I don’t find it particularly inconvenient. The keyboard weighs nearly 900g, so it’s hardly something I’d regularly carry around. I also keep a charging cable on my desk for my wireless keyboards anyway. Unless switching between multiple devices is important, wired connectivity on a keyboard isn’t a deal-breaker for me.

Should you buy?

The MelGeek VIVA63 HE gets a whole lot right. Its Hall Effect switches and Rapid Trigger make it a seriously capable gaming keyboard, while the premium build, gorgeous RGB, OLED touchscreen, and surprisingly good typing experience give it more personality than your average esports peripheral. It’s fast, flashy, and clearly doesn’t believe in blending into the background.

Of course, it isn’t without a few compromises. The compact layout takes some getting used to, the fixed typing angle could use adjustable feet, and wireless connectivity is missing. What’s more, at around $199, it also goes head-to-head with the Wooting 80HE+, which offers a more practical layout and a more established software ecosystem. It’s safe to say that while Wooting might be the sensible pick for competitive purists, the MelGeek has considerably more flair.

I’d recommend the VIVA63 HE to gamers who want serious Hall Effect performance without settling for another boring black rectangle on their desk. It’s premium, responsive, ridiculously good-looking, and packed with personality.

Why not try?

Wooting 80HE+

At approximately $199.99, the Wooting 80HE+ is the more conventional competitive-gaming choice. Its 80% layout retains dedicated function and arrow keys, while Wootility offers extensive per-key actuation and Rapid Trigger customisation. It also supports True 8K polling. The VIVA63 HE counters with its OLED touchscreen, distinctive transparent design, and more elaborate lighting.

Keychron K2 HE Wireless

Want Hall Effect gaming without spending $200? The K2 HE is a compelling alternative at $129.99. It offers Gateron magnetic switches, Rapid Trigger, adjustable actuation, a 75% layout, and tri-mode connectivity with Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and USB-C. It also has adjustable typing angles, making it a better fit for someone juggling work and gaming. That said, its 1,000Hz polling rate is lower than MelGeek’s 8,000Hz, and it misses out on the OLED touchscreen and fancy lightbox.

MelGeek MADE68 Ultra V2

Another excellent Hall Effect option from MelGeek, the MADE68 Ultra V2 offers a larger 65% layout, CNC aluminum construction, and spectacular 360-degree RGB lighting. It shares the brand’s gaming-first approach but skips the VIVA63’s OLED touchscreen and rotary knob. It’s worth considering if a more substantial metal chassis and additional keys are priorities.

How I tested

I used the MelGeek VIVA63 HE as my primary gaming keyboard for close to a month, playing three to four competitive Valorant matches almost daily. I also tested it with Apex Legends, CS2, Control Resonant, and Cyberpunk 2077, paying particular attention to movement responsiveness, Rapid Trigger, and overall input consistency.

Outside gaming, I used it for everyday typing and writing, experimented with its actuation settings and sound profile, and explored the OLED touchscreen, custom GIFs, media controls, RGB lighting, and Hive web app. I also compared its everyday usability with my usual 75% keyboard and other keyboards in my setup.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Is the MelGeek VIVA63 HE a Hall Effect keyboard?

Yes. It uses TTC Pro KOM HE Magneto magnetic switches with adjustable actuation and Rapid Trigger.

Does the MelGeek VIVA63 HE support Rapid Trigger?

Yes. Rapid Trigger is adjustable between 0.01mm and 2.5mm, allowing keys to reset and register inputs with very little movement.

Is the MelGeek VIVA63 HE wireless?

No. It is a wired-only gaming keyboard that connects through USB-C.

Is the MelGeek VIVA63 HE good for Valorant?

Yes. Its Hall Effect switches, adjustable actuation, and Rapid Trigger make it particularly well-suited to competitive FPS games such as Valorant and CS2.