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About six months ago, I switched to mechanical keyboards, mainly because of the keycap profile and the excellent sound dampening they offered. At the time, I paid little attention to the switches themselves. Ironically, nearly eight years earlier, I had been fascinated by the idea of magnetic switches like those used in the Bloody MS76. Why did I lose interest? Simply because keyboards equipped with such switches were prohibitively expensive, and the only application I could realistically justify them for was racing games – a genre I eventually stopped playing. Since then, however, and in no small part thanks to the Bloody MS76, my perspective has changed.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Specifications
- Keycaps: PBT + ABS Keycaps
- Switch lifespan: 100 million keystrokes
- Actuation force: 25 to 48 g
- Total travel distance: 3.5 mm ± 0.1 mm
- Rapid Trigger: 0.02 mm–3.5 mm
- Actuation depth range: 0.1 mm to 3.5 mm
- Multimedia hotkeys: FN + F1–F7
- Software: Bloody Unified
- Dimensions: 326×135×39 mm
- Weight: 953 g
- USB cable length: 180 cm, non-detachable
Bloody MS76 video review
Price and Positioning
The Bloody MS76 is one of the most affordable keyboards on the market equipped with Bloody MS magnetic switches. Priced at around $60, it brings Hall-effect technology into a segment that was, until recently, dominated by far more expensive models.
And no, this does not mean that Hall-effect switches have suddenly become inexpensive to manufacture. The MS76’s aggressive pricing is the result of other compromises and design choices, which we’ll get to later.
A Brief Explanation
So, what exactly is the Hall effect? In simple terms, it refers to the change in voltage across a conductor when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to it. The strength of that voltage varies depending on the distance to the magnet. This means that, with the right sensor capable of measuring those voltage changes, it becomes possible to determine distance with a high degree of precision and very little latency.
In recent years, Hall-effect technology has become extremely popular in consumer electronics, largely thanks to its adoption in game controllers. Although Hall-effect sensors are relatively power-hungry, the durability they provide – particularly in analog sticks – is on an entirely different level compared to conventional potentiometer-based designs. he difference is so substantial that it is almost hard to overstate. Hall-effect sticks are far less susceptible to wear and drift, making them significantly more reliable over the long term.
Why is that? Because contact detection is performed without direct electrical contact. There is no conductor rubbing against another conductor, no physical contact surfaces gradually wearing each other down. And if there is no friction, there is effectively nothing to wear out. In reality, some mechanical friction still exists because the moving parts themselves are not contactless. However, it is reduced by an order of magnitude compared to traditional contact-based mechanisms, which translates into a similarly dramatic increase in long-term reliability.
Advantages of the Switches
The Bloody MS switches offer several notable advantages. The first is durability. They are rated for 100 million keystrokes, which is an exceptionally high figure for a $60 keyboard. In practical terms, the switches are likely to remain functional for many years of use. The actuation force ranges from 25 to 48 centinewtons (cN).
In terms of registration depth, the switches also offer clear advantages. Measurement accuracy is within tenths of a millimeter, with a total travel distance of up to 3.5 mm and an actuation range from 3.5 mm down to 0.1 mm. They also support Rapid Trigger, which enables near-instant reset response as soon as the finger begins to lift off the key.
This actuation depth is also adjustable. In other words, if you need a keyboard that registers a keypress at a 2 mm travel depth and registers release at 1.5 mm, you don’t need to fully press the switch down or fully lift your finger for the input to trigger. In that case, the Bloody MS76 is a suitable option for this use case.
The MS76 is also a suitable choice if you want to customize the behavior of nearly every key individually. For example, pressing W can activate a sprint mode, while holding it enables slow movement. Keys can function as multi-stage switches, and depending on the travel depth they can support up to four different functions.
Software
All of the above, and more, can be configured in Bloody’s proprietary software. More specifically, in the new Bloody Unified Software. The good news is that it is truly universal – as the name “Unified” suggests – and it offers a wide range of features, from macros to RGB customization, and even includes a web-based version.
This final aspect is, in my view, an indicator that Bloody is genuinely paying attention to current industry trends and is moving in the right direction.
Other features of the Bloody MS76
The overall design of the keyboard is also impressive. It is compact, with an 82-key layout, and weighs 953 g. It features full-spectrum RGB backlighting, which can be customized in the software. It also includes two sets of adjustable feet, PBT keycaps for the WASD cluster, and an additional set of keycaps for shortcut combinations.
The package also includes an instruction manual, spare keycaps, replacement switches, and even a puller tool for both keycaps and switches.
The design of the Bloody MS76 in my version, Iron Gray, is overall quite solid and noticeably more restrained than what is typically associated with Bloody products. However, the Crystal White variant looks especially impressive, with its transparent keycaps giving it a much more striking appearance. All versions are also water-resistant, with drainage holes positioned on the bottom.
Drawbacks
Now for the downsides. And yes, a large part of the budget clearly went into the magnetic switches. The cable, while nearly 2 meters long and braided, is not detachable. There is no wireless support at all, and no built-in battery. About 90% of the keycaps are made of ABS rather than PBT, and it is the first time I have seen ABS keycaps without translucent legends.
The keycap profile here is OEM, the standard one, not something like KAT or other custom profiles. Overall, the typing experience is… decent. Judge for yourself.
Conclusion
This keyboard is built around the expensive, high-quality, premium Bloody MS switches, and in terms of their functionality it is simply outstanding. Unfortunately, most of the other aspects one would expect from $60 model are either missing or clearly compromised. Overall, if you are looking for Hall-effect switches, I can hardly recommend a better option – either from a well-known brand or at a more affordable price point than the Bloody MS76.
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