The GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE stands out for its polarizing design — but its rivals outperform it at much lower prices

What happens when you drop a can of spray paint on a keyboard? You get the GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE. The Chinese brand is no stranger to divisive designs, as we’ve seen so with the likes of the Mercury K1 Lite, but I think GravaStar has gone a bit too far with the Mercury V75 Pro HE’s polarizing design.

Don’t get me wrong: this is a great keyboard for gaming. It packs 8,000Hz polling, Rapid Trigger and Last Key Prioritization (A.K.A ‘Snap Tap’), and it’s built extremely well. It’s decent to type on too, and its web-based companion software is a welcome addition. However, it faces stiff competition from the likes of Lemokey and NuPhy, and its wired-only divisive design as well as the paint-like textured keycaps just aren’t good enough.

To find out if this is the best gaming keyboard for you, read my full GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE review.

GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE review: Specs

GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A Hall Effect gaming keyboard with a 75% layout
• Who is it for? Competitive gamers who want… a lot of color in their setup
• How much does it cost? The GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE retails for $239 / £229
• What do we like? The solid build quality, 8KHz polling, array of magnetic features such as Rapid Trigger, and web-based companion software
• What don’t we like? The divisive design, the paint-like texture of the keycaps, no wireless connectivity, and limited stock switch choice

GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE review: The ups

The GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE is built to stand the test of time and it boasts awesome gaming performance thanks to 8K polling and its array of magnetic features.

Premium build quality

If there’s one thing GravaStar keyboards don’t give me much to complain about, it’s the keyboards’ build quality — and the same applies to the GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE. Similar to the GravaStar Mercury K1 ($129) and the GravaStar Mercury K1 Pro ($149), the Mercury V75 Pro HE is very well-built and is sure to withstand years of use. An aluminum alloy “exoskeleton” frame runs along the keyboard’s ABS plastic body, and both combined make the keyboard feel high-quality and sturdy.

Just like the Mercury K1 Pro, the Mercury V75 Pro HE features two spider-like legs, attached to the board’s top left and right corners. These act as adjustable feet to prop the board up at two different angles. They snap into place with a satisfactory click, and when I was sitting idly, I was just pulling them out and snapping them into place — like a fidget toy. The legs are sturdy too, so you don’t need to worry about knocking the keyboard unintentionally.

Also aiding the Mercury V75 Pro HE’s solid construction is the gasket design which provides a cushioned feel and reduces key vibrations, and they bolster the keyboard’s structural integrity. The Mercury V75 Pro HE is a little heavier than its mechanical stablemates as it weighs 2.6lbs, but it doesn’t feel too bulky, so you could probably carry it in your backpack. The keyboard sports a 75% layout so it measures 16.34 x 7.38 x 2.27 inches — again, good for portability.

While I’m not a fan of the design (more on that later), I like the Mercury V75 Pro HE’s dual independent RGB lighting systems. Alongside the keys being lit up, the keyboard’s edges are lit up too thanks to wraparound RGB, and both feature different colors, giving the keyboard more personality.

8K polling and customizable actuation points

The GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE is a powerful keyboard for gaming, whether you play casually or competitively. Its GravaStar x Gateron Jade magnetic switches are fantastic, requiring a force of 36g to activate, and each switch’s sensitivity can be adjusted all the way down to 0.005mm and up to 3.5mm. That low a sensitivity seems like overkill: I can’t imagine myself using it much as I usually stick to 0.1mm for ultra-responsive gameplay — but it’s good to have the option.

Aiding the Mercury V75 Pro HE’s gaming performance is its 8,000Hz polling rate, which you’ll find on many other Hall Effect gaming keyboards today. This is more than plenty for competitive players as it negates any input lag or latency issues, neither of which I experienced while testing the keyboard. All of my commands were promptly registered in every game I played.

To test the Mercury V75 Pro HE, I played Cyberpunk 2077 and participated in a few online rounds in Counter-Strike 2. As I always do to test magnetic gaming keyboards, I dropped the sensitivity of the WASD movement keys down to 0.1mm which meant they became very responsive, and all they required was a feather-touch to activate, making me faster and more competitive. Swapping between movement keys and action keys felt like a walk in the park, as I could quickly return to lightly pressing the WASD keys after my hand had left them to use other keys.

Similarly, dropping the sensitivity of specific weapon and command keys down to 0.1mm or even 0.5mm meant that I could quickly execute a chain of actions. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077, I could swap between weapons in no time as all I had to do was lightly tap the key, and I could instantly duck in and out of cover to maintain my advantage over oblivious NPCs.

Rapid Trigger and Last Key Prioritization

In addition to 8K polling and adjustable actuation, the GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE also features Rapid Trigger and Last Key Prioritization (A.K.A ‘Snap Tap’). These can be toggled via the web-based companion software (more on that in a sec). Rapid Trigger ensures that all your inputs are registered. For instance, if you’re pressing both the A and D keys in Counter-Strike 2, your inputs are still registered as the switches are instantaneously reset when lifted, enabling you to counter-strafe or quickly peek around corners.

Last Key Prioritization (LKP) is useful too, as it resolves two keys with opposing outcomes that actuate at the same time and conflict. It’s a type of Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Direction (SOCD) resolution and with it enabled, you can draw to a complete stop from a sideways strafe by pressing the opposite directions key — W and S or A and D — in first person shooter games like Counter-Strike 2. This is called counter strafing and removes accuracy penalties in games where movement comes to a stop (and accuracy penalties are removed) gradually.

I tried it in Counter-Strike 2 and within mere seconds I was booted out of the online match. That’s because the use of LKP in Valve’s official servers is banned as it’s basically a cheat code, so be wary of that.

Decent for typing

If you have just one keyboard for gaming, chances are you’ll be using it for typing and productivity too. The GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro is decent for typing. I say “decent” and not “great” because I personally don’t like how its keycaps feel, and I’ll elaborate on that soon. Let’s talk about the positives first. The Mercury V75 Pro HE’s Gateron Jade switches feel nice to type on, and as they require just 36g for force to activate, they’re light and don’t feel fatiguing to use.

I like the 36g of force of these switches, as it isn’t too light and isn’t nearly as heavy as switches that require 50g of force. As typing is my bread and butter, heavy switches are a no-go for me, and the Mercury V75 Pro HE is a good keyboard in this regard. To test the keyboard, I took a few typing tests at 10fastfingers.com, with the board set to different sensitivities for each test.

As you can see in the table above, the Mercury V75 Pro HE performs well, even when compared to other magnetic keyboards I’ve tested recently. However, my accuracy took a hit at 3.2mm and 1.5mm sensitivities. Usually, my accuracy is above the 90% mark. I’m not sure why this is, but it might have something to do with the finish of the keycaps.

Finally, web-based companion software

For nearly two years, I’ve been moaning about GravaStar’s Windows-only companion software for its mechanical keyboards, which limits customization for macOS users. Finally, GravaStar has introduced a web-based companion app to accompany its lineup of Hall Effect keyboards. GravaStar Hub is similar to Keychron Launcher, and it’s your one-stop shop for customizing the GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE. It’s much cleaner and looks more modern than the brand’s proprietary downloadable software.

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Through GravaStar Hub, you can adjust each switch’s sensitivity between 0.005mm and 3.5mm, toggle Rapid Trigger and Last Key Prioritization, personalize the dual independent RGB lighting systems, and remap keys and record macros. The web launcher is easy to use and straightforward, and everything is clearly signposted so even if this is your first time using a Hall Effect keyboard, you should have no issues getting to grips with it.

GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE review: The downs

From its highly divisive design and the paint-like texture on its keycaps, to its limited stock switch choice and premium price tag, the GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE falls just short compared to the competition.

Divisive design

I’ll preface this by saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it’s highly subjective. What’s pretty to me won’t necessarily be pretty to you. Unfortunately, I cannot see the beauty in the GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE’s design. I can best describe it as divisive — and that’s being kind. The keyboard comes in one of three colors: Neon Graffiti, Cyberpunk, and Iron Purple. I tested the Neon Graffiti model which, as its name suggests, looks like someone graffitied all over it — or someone ate a pack of Skittles and threw up all over it, as one of my colleagues put it.

The paint splatters look a little cringe to me, and the Goosebumps-esque text on the Function row and the piece number don’t help the keyboard. The Mercury V75 Pro HE looks very loud and although it would be fit for gamers and their neon setup, I’d recommend the Cyberpunk or Iron Purple models over the Neon Graffiti one any day. I think the MelGeek CYBER01 ($149) finally has competition for the world’s least attractive keyboard.

If neither of the aforementioned variants of the Mercury V75 Pro HE are your speed, I’d recommend the Lemokey L5 HE ($220), the Wooting 80HE ($199) or the NuPhy Air60 HE ($139) — all of which sport designs that are pleasing to the eye.

Keycaps have a weird paint-like texture

Another thing I don’t like about the GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE is the keycap set the keyboard uses. The keycaps are made of PBT+PC with dye-sublimation. This is a similar material that the GravaStar Mercury K1 uses which is fine, but for some reason, GravaStar has decided to put an odd finishing touch to the Mercury V75 Pro HE’s keycaps.

They feel like they’ve been painted over with actual paint, so when you touch the keycaps, they feel a little rough. I felt like my fingertips were getting dirty while using the keyboard, like running them over a freshly painted and dried wall. It isn’t a pleasant feeling and takes away from the otherwise good typing experience. Again, any of the keyboards previously mentioned don’t have this problem.

Limited stock switch choice

The GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE can be bought with only one set of stock switches, and that’s the GravaStar x Gateron KJade magnetics. While these are great switches, it would have been nice to have a couple more options for those who want heavier switches or tactile ones, for instance.

The good news is that the Mercury V75 Pro HE is hot-swappable which means you can swap the switches for your desired type without de- and re-soldering them to the PCB. GravaStar notes that this keyboard is compatible with select TTC and Gateron models, so it’s worth double-checking on the official GravaStar website before you buy a new set.

This isn’t an isolated issue either. We’ve seen it with the likes of the Keychron Q6 HE 8K ($239) and even the NuPhy Air60 HE. As magnetic switches gain popularity and become mainstream, I’m sure this will change and there will be more stock switches for everyone to enjoy.

Wired only

This is more of a pre-purchase consideration and not a massive flaw, but the GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE cannot be used wirelessly. It’s a wired-only keyboard so there’s no Bluetooth or 2.4GHz connectivity available. If you prefer wireless connectivity, perhaps this board isn’t for you. I will, however, say that given the keyboard’s 75% layout, you may wish to travel with the Mercury V75 Pro HE or use it on the go for work and gaming, and it’s times like those when you might miss having Bluetooth.

While at the time of writing there aren’t many Hall Effect keyboards with 8K polling that can be used wired and wirelessly, they’re on their way and we will be testing them as and when they become available. If you want a wireless magnetic keyboard with 8K polling, I’d recommend the Epomaker HE65 Mag ($99) but you’ll be dropping down to a smaller layout, so weigh up what’s the most important to you.

Expensive

Lastly, the GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE is a rather expensive keyboard, and I’m not entirely convinced by the price. The Mercury V75 Pro HE retails for $239 / £229 at Amazon, and given the divisive design, strange-feeling keycaps, wired-only design, and limited stock switch choice, I’m not sure it’s worth the money. Don’t get me wrong: its gaming performance is solid as magnetic keyboards go, and if the Mercury V75 Pro HE wasn’t part of such a crowded market, it would be a standout.

Unfortunately, the Mercury V75 Pro HE faces fierce competition from the likes of Lemokey, NuPhy and Wooting. Its competitors boast stellar gaming performance and magnetic features and, more often than not, at a lower price than the Mercury V75 Pro HE. Instead of GravaStar’s offering, I’d suggest getting the NuPhy Field75 HE ($169), the Lemokey L5 HE ($220), the Wooting 80HE ($199) or the NuPhy Air60 HE ($139). These alternatives offer much better value for money, in my opinion.

GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE review: Verdict

As gaming keyboards go, the GravaStar Mercury V75 Pro HE is great. Its 8,000Hz polling means there are no latency issues in competitive play while the adjustable actuation means you can tailor the keyboard to your gamestyle, and features like Rapid Trigger and LKP give you a competitive edge. The deck is built very well and the dual independent RGB lighting systems add a nice touch.

But is that enough? Unfortunately not. The Mercury V75 Pro HE falls just short when compared to similar keyboards from Lemokey, NuPhy and Wooting. GravaStar’s offering, frankly speaking, feels overpriced when its rivals are creating better boards for under $200. I’m also not a fan of the Neon Graffiti and wired-only design, and its paint-like textured keycaps put a damper on the typing experience.

I’ve rarely been disappointed by GravaStar keyboards but there’s a first time for everything. The Mercury V75 Pro HE is good and it could have been great, and its rivals just offer much better value for money.