Wooting 80HE+ is now orderable through Wooting’s product configurator, but Wooting’s own site still gives mixed launch signals. The public product page offers Configure and order with worldwide shipping, while the configurator data still labels the model as a preorder. That is enough to replace the old wait-for-orders advice, but not enough to claim that every version is shipping immediately.
Last updated: November 1, 2026
That distinction matters because the original already delivered the performance part. The Plus update is mostly about how the keyboard feels, sounds and fits into a daily workflow. Those are useful changes on a keyboard you may touch for eight hours a day, but they are still refinements rather than a new engine.
This is a specification analysis, not a review. No independent outlet has published an instrumented test of the 80HE+ yet. Wooting lists US$199.99 for the ABS prebuilt, US$289.99 for zinc and US$149.99 for the module. Check the delivery estimate for the exact configuration because the order path and preorder label coexist.
Table of Contents
- The verdict
- What actually changed
- The switch force difference
- Price and ordering status
- What existing owners should do
- Reasons to Skip the Wooting 80HE+
- Wooting 80HE+ FAQ
- The Short Version
Wooting 80HE+ Verdict
The Wooting 80HE+ has a live direct order path. The US$199.99 ABS prebuilt is the sensible starting point for most new buyers. The US$289.99 zinc version adds the large knob and more weight, while the US$149.99 module is for buyers who want their own case, switches and keycaps. Wooting still labels the product as a preorder in its configurator, so treat the displayed delivery estimate as part of the purchase decision.
If you own an 80HE, keep it. RTINGS measured exceptionally low latency on the original and praised its software and build, while identifying the fairly stiff gasket mount as a drawback. The Plus model may address the feel and sound, but no exact-model test has proved that yet. Buying a second expensive keyboard to fix an unmeasured difference is how a hobby quietly becomes a storage problem.
New buyers have a different calculation. Wooting now calls the 80HE+ available at US$199.99 for ABS, US$289.99 for zinc and US$149.99 for the module. Wooting also says it lowered the original 80HE price, so compare the actual configuration and delivery estimate instead of assuming the two generations still cost the same.
What Actually Changed
Wooting’s September 8 announcement identifies five practical changes. Lekker Tikken Medium switches replace the Lekker L60 v2 switches, the polycarbonate plate becomes FR4, case choices change, the Module gains a split spacebar layout, and the zinc prebuilt includes the new large rotary knob.
The split spacebar needs the most careful reading. It divides the usual bar into 2.75u, 1.25u and 2.25u keys, creating extra thumb inputs without turning the board into a split ergonomic keyboard. At launch it is available only with the module, not the completed prebuilts. You are choosing a build project, including switches and keycaps, if that layout is the reason you want one.
| Buying detail | Wooting 80HE+ | Original Wooting 80HE |
|---|---|---|
| Direct price | US$199.99 ABS / US$289.99 zinc / US$149.99 module | Reduced by Wooting; varies by remaining variant |
| Prebuilt switch | Lekker Tikken Medium | Lekker L60 v2 |
| Plate | FR4 | Polycarbonate |
| Large knob | Included on zinc prebuilt; optional for ABS | Not included |
| Split spacebar | Module option | No official module option |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Independent exact-model test | None found | Available from RTINGS and others |
| Order state | Direct order path live; configurator still says preorder | Remaining variants only |
The table also exposes what did not appear in the announcement: wireless. This remains a wired 80 percent board, and the compact layout still drops the number pad. That is fine for a fixed gaming desk. It is less convincing if you switch between a work laptop and desktop all day or enter numbers for a living.
The Wooting 80HE+ Switch Force Difference
The switch chart is the clearest numeric change. Wooting specifies the new Lekker Tikken Medium at 42 gram-force at the start and 54 gram-force at bottom-out across 4 mm of travel. Its Lekker L60 v2 specification lists 40 gram-force at the start and 60 gram-force at bottom-out, also across 4 mm.
In plain English, the new switch starts slightly heavier and adds less resistance as it travels. Its force rise is 12 gram-force rather than 20 gram-force. Wooting also claims the closed-bottom housing and tighter moulds reduce wobble and create a deeper, more muted sound. The numbers are specifications; the sound and feel remain manufacturer claims until independent testing compares complete boards.
That makes the change relevant to writing as well as gaming. A flatter force curve may feel more even during a long session, while the FR4 plate should change the bottom-out character compared with polycarbonate. It does not make the keyboard ergonomic by itself. Correct the desk setup first: adjust keyboard height and angle instead of asking a switch or plate to solve wrist extension.
Price and Ordering Status
Wooting’s product page and configurator now accept direct orders, and the public page says worldwide shipping. The underlying configurator still identifies the 80HE+ as a preorder, so I would not translate a live cart into a blanket claim that all variants are on a warehouse shelf. Use the delivery date shown for the exact configuration and destination.
Wooting lists the ABS prebuilt at US$199.99, the zinc prebuilt at US$289.99 and the module at US$149.99. Regional tax, shipping charges and the Canadian landed total depend on the delivery address and are shown during ordering.
Configuration can change the delivery estimate. The zinc version includes the knob, while the module unlocks the split spacebar and hands the rest of the build back to you. Choose the feature you actually need, then read the dated delivery estimate before paying.
What Existing Owners Should Do
The Wooting 80HE+ does not erase the original’s 8 kHz polling, adjustable actuation, Rapid Trigger or software features. Those were already the reasons to buy an 80HE. The new board concentrates on daily contact points, not a fresh performance tier.
Keep the original if you like its feel. If the L60 v2 switches are the problem, Wooting sells the Tikken Medium as a compatible Hall effect switch, so a switch replacement may address more of the complaint for less money. Wait for reviews before assuming the new switch-and-plate combination creates the exact sound you want.
The strongest upgrade cases are specific: you want a built-in knob on the zinc model, or you will use the module’s split spacebar every day. Everyone else gets more value from keeping the old board and spending five minutes in Wootility. For broader options, the site’s ergonomic keyboard guide covers fixed split, adjustable split and conventional layouts, while the AULA F87S analysis shows what a much cheaper wireless TKL gives up and gains.
Reasons to Skip the Wooting 80HE+
Skip it if wireless switching, a number pad or a true split layout matters more than competitive input settings. The board is also hard to justify for ordinary office work if you will never configure actuation or use Rapid Trigger. A less expensive keyboard can type the same email without checking the polling rate eight thousand times per second.
Existing 80HE owners should also skip the Plus unless the knob or split spacebar fixes a known problem. The exact-model review gap means nobody outside Wooting has measured the new complete board’s latency, acoustics or flex. Waiting for that evidence costs nothing.
Wooting 80HE+ FAQ
Is the Wooting 80HE+ shipping yet?
Wooting’s direct order path is live, but its configurator still labels the product as a preorder. Check the delivery estimate attached to the exact case, layout and destination rather than assuming immediate dispatch.
How much does it cost?
Wooting lists the ABS prebuilt at US$199.99, the zinc prebuilt at US$289.99, and the module at US$149.99. Those are manufacturer prices before regional tax and shipping.
Is the split spacebar included on every version?
No. Wooting says the three-part split spacebar is a module option at launch. The completed ABS and zinc prebuilts use the regular spacebar layout.
Has the new keyboard been independently tested?
No independent exact-model instrumented review was found in the November 1 check. Measurements from the original 80HE remain useful context, not test results for the Plus model.
The Short Version
New buyers can order the US$199.99 ABS version directly if the displayed delivery estimate works for them, but Wooting’s configurator still labels the model as a preorder and no independent exact-model test is available. Current owners should keep the original unless the large knob or module-only split spacebar solves a real daily problem.
