MelGeek Centauri80 Hall Effect Gaming Keyboard Review: It's (Inter)Stellar

1 hour ago 2

Published May 16, 2026, 9:17 PM EDT

Ethan Krieger is an Editor at DualShockers, where he covers reviews, guides, lists, features, previews, interviews, and gaming news. He began writing professionally in 2017 as a sports writer before moving into games coverage with DualShockers in 2024.

Before joining DualShockers, Ethan wrote for the FanSided Sports Network, including 8 Points, 9 Seconds, where he covered the Indiana Pacers, and Pelican Debrief, where he covered the New Orleans Pelicans. His background in sports writing, editing, and content strategy now informs his approach to gaming coverage, especially around reviews, rankings, guides, and event reporting. Ethan studied English at Arizona State University, with a focus on writing and text editing.

As someone who admittedly was console-only in the gaming space for decades, I'm still occasionally learning some new names in the PC hardware space as I continue to make my final, complete transition into a PC gamer. China-based MelGeek wasn't on my radar a few weeks ago, but after getting approached to check out their flagship keyboard, the Centauri80, you can be sure they have now gotten my attention.

Even at a glance, the Centauri80 is a board that is going to catch your eye. But of course, style over substance can only get you so far in the PC gaming space, and for those serious about their craft, this is no secret.

So, with a premium price point and such a clear emphasis on style, how does the MelGeek Centauri80 actually stack up in terms of having a shot at becoming your new forever keyboard? Well, spoiler alert, but after spending a couple of weeks hands-on with this board, I've already made the switch and committed to this unit, and I couldn't be happier so far.

Out of the Box Great, But Fine-Tuned to Your Liking

Upon receiving the MelGeek Centauri80, I was immediately impressed and drawn in by the premium feeling of the entire experience. The box was expertly packed, I had no issues with shipping whatsoever, and the keyboard box itself felt premium, stylish, and highly secure all at the same time.

The outer space/sci-fi branding of the board is obvious even from the box, and I found it had that "extra mile" type of touch to really drive home that you're unboxing a premium product. From there, it was your standard fare: a key puller, a startup manual, some swappable keys, your USB-C connection cable, some cute stickers, and a nice little bonus of a microfiber bag/cover if you need it.

The Centauri80 doesn't have wireless/Bluetooth connection options, so USB-C is your only practical option. I don't care at all about wireless keyboards, but just be aware if you do. From here, it was as simple as plugging the board in, having it immediately function, and being on my way to total customization/tinkering with settings.

Pressing the big red button on the Centauri80 takes you to the webpage version of MelGeek Hive, the app used for tweaking your board just how you like it. Here, you can also download the desktop version of the app, which I did since I prefer having the shortcut on my home screen. Compared to others I've used, the MelGeek Hive app is incredibly user-friendly from a UX/UI perspective, while also giving all the depth you require. Really, this is my favorite keyboard setup/customization app I've ever used.

Nothing here is crazy different from what you've seen before if you've had other gaming boards with apps as such: remapping keys and functions, tweaking actuation points, adjusting colors and lighting effects, setting up different profiles, and so on. There are a couple cool differences on display here, though. You can set up your board just like some eSports pros if you please, tweak the control wheel and red button on the board, even customize as granularly as adjusting how the app itself presents itself.

After spending a couple of weeks hands-on with this board, I've already made the switch and committed to this unit, and I couldn't be happier so far.

It's here where you can also adjust the features of the Centauri80's touchscreen, which is a big talking point. I have another board with a screen, but it's not touch-enabled. Here, I actually find the touchscreen a wonderful addition, as not only can you use it to tweak settings on your board on the fly, but it can also be set up to serve as four additional buttons on the keyboard. This is incredibly cool, and a breeze to configure.

One last shout-out in this section is that I was prompted in the app that I had a firmware update to download and install. This was perfectly seamless, and also gave me a pop-up explaining exactly what the update was going to address, and in language that essentially any PC user would be able to understand. Again, it's these "extra mile" details that really go a long way in the premium keyboard space.

Out of This World Form Factor

Before we dive more into the nitty, gritty details and performance of the board, let's talk about its form factor. The MelGeek Centauri80 is the coolest keyboard I've ever seen in real life. Of course, aesthetics are subjective, but if you're a fellow sci-fi/outer space lover like me, you're going to adore how the Centauri80 looks. It feels straight out of Star Trek, going so far as to even have a "USS-Centauri" plaque screwed into the back of the board. Ways to Win Me Over 101.

From the space gray design to the aluminum alloy case shell, as well as the toggle switches/buttons and little messages on certain keys like "ENTER to the universe," and "Back to the SPACE," MelGeek seems to know the target audience here, and it's fellow sci-fi nerds that want a highly functional, premium keyboard to add to their setups that is also a hard 10 on the coolness scale.

I also can't really talk enough about how well-constructed this board feels, and that's in large part thanks to the previously mentioned aluminum case. I have other premium boards from other companies that are great in their own right, but now suddenly feel just a bit cheaper in comparison to how rock-solid and hefty (in a good, reassuring way) the Centauri80 presents itself.

Since the keys themselves are semi-transparent, the light show you can orchestrate (and completely customize) on the board is a spectacle. There are, as you'd expect, a high number of standard light patterns to select from, but you can even synch color flashing to things like music or in-game action with enough tinkering in the MelGeek Hive settings, which is pretty insane.

The touchscreen can have the image of your choice placed on it, and there is also a lightbar that wraps around both sides and the back of the board, which, like the keys, is fully customizable with different colors and movement patterns.

My backlight setting of choice is simply called "Random," which does what it sounds like. Instead of a set pattern or chosen colors always displayed, my keys just flash and rotate between a rainbow of colors independently, and it is totally rad.

Geared for Gamers, But Still Incredible for Everyday Use Too

Which brings us to performance, of which, once again, I have minimal gripes to mention. When testing it with a variety of mouse and keyboard titles, I found the Centauri80 a joy to play with. I'll be honest, I am not a professional eSports PC gamer, so I won't try to give you the feel of the keystrokes down to the nanometer. But I can tell you that compared to anything I've ever used before, the Centauri80 is right up there with the best keyboards on the market.

The caveats you need to know are twofold, in my opinion. The keys themselves, with their transparent, hard plastic design, are a little bit more "slippery" compared to other boards I've mained, which might opt for a bit of texture on top of the keys to add in grip and finger placement security. The other thing is key size, as the Centauri80's keys feel more full-sized like a regular keyboard, as opposed to some slightly scaled-down key sizes I've used on other gaming keyboards.

Both of these can very well just come down to preference. I like the feel of the keys myself, and I'm also someone that enjoys slightly larger/more standard feeling key sizes. It was an adjustment temporarily moving from my previous keyboard to the Centauri80, but I was back in my bag quickly. The keys here are as responsive as my other premium boards, and of course, you can adjust each one individually in the MelGeek Hive app that we talked about before.

You can also order different keycaps with different finishes and feels via MelGeek directly if you'd like to.

On all fronts, as long as you're okay with the size and layout on a personal preference level, the Centauri80 simply feels familiar, yet exciting and responsive. It's made me look more forward to my gaming sessions, because I really do enjoy using it that much. It's a magnetic, Hall Effect board, but in a weird way, it kind of feels like a fusion of my classic keyboard growing up, and something much more premium, precise, and professional. I really, really enjoy that vibe.

This won't be relevant to every potential buyer out there, but one of my personal favorite things about this board is that it also functions incredibly well as an "every day keyboard" in addition to an incredible gaming board. What I mean by this is, if you're someone who also uses your PC for things like sending emails, writing, etc., you might know by now that lots of other gaming keyboards feel kind of... bad in these use cases. The key sizes are weird to type on, they feel wrong when typing instead of gaming, etc.

The MelGeek Centauri80 does not have that problem, and as a professional writer and editor on top of hardcore gamer, this fusion of "insanely cool and precise gaming keyboard" combined with "keyboard I actually enjoy using for everything else" feels both abnormal and special at the same time. I've enjoyed my time with my old keyboard, but the MelGeek Centauri80 is what I'm rolling with moving forward.

In the sound department, it's not quite as "clickety-clackety" as other boards, but the sound is still very crisp, satisfying, and feels good with each keystroke.

The Specs

For those that are reading this review and are simply begging for some more technical information at this point instead of my personal "vibes" and impressions, let's get into it:

OLED Touchscreen
Magnetic Keys
Multi-MCU Distributed Architecture
Aluminum Alloy Case
Actuation Force:35±10gf
Total Actuation Travel: 0.1mm–3.4mm
Switch Life: 100 Million Clicks
USB Polling Rate: 8000Hz
Scanning Rate: 8000Hz
Latency: 0.125ms
Adjustable Precision: 0.01 mm
RT (Rapid Trigger) Adjustment Range: 0.01–2.5mm
N-Key Rollover (NKRO): Yes
Snap Tap Function: Yes (for fast stopping)
Adjustable Dead Zone: Yes (0 dead zone supported)
Super Key: Yes
Adaptive Hall Correction Algorithm: Yes (for consistency and stability)
Hotswap Sockets: Yes
Weight: 1840g

And finally, the price:

$359 USD

To be sure, this is a premium price point, but as you can hopefully tell by now, I think the MelGeek Centauri80 is certainly a premium keyboard, and I am enjoying it in all regards immensely.

There is also the MelGeek Centauri60 to consider for those wanting to save some money, but it also removes the OLED touchscreen and shrinks the form factor down a bit further. This one retails for $299 USD. Personally, I think the extra money is worth the touchscreen for all of its functionality, but that choice is up to you.

If you'd like to check out the MelGeek Centauri80 for yourself, be sure to use this link below, which will take you directly to the keyboard's landing page:

MelGeek Centauri80 Product Page

For those searching for a premium, amazing-looking keyboard, the MelGeek Centauri80 is absolutely worth consideration. Its sleek sci-fi-inspired design and aluminum construction are top-tier, the MelGeek Hive app is a breeze to use for full customization, the OLED touchscreen is surprisingly handy, and the board itself performs mightily in terms of both hardcore gaming sessions and everyday use. In some ways, it might feel like an adjustment at first compared to other boards, and the price point for entry is certainly not cheap. But after spending a couple of weeks hands-on with it and acclimating to it, it's my personal favorite gaming keyboard I've ever had, and I'm truly excited to keep using it.

Score: 9.5/10

Pros

Cons

An incredibly sleek, well-constructed, sci-fi themed design	For some, keys may feel large/mildly slick
The MelGeek Hive app is a user-friendly breeze to use	No included, dedicated wrist rest
Functions amazingly for games, but also for general PC use	Premium price entry point
Touchscreen is more practically useful than you'd expect
Customizable in every way you need, both functionally and aesthetically