If you’ve been following magnetic keyboards, you may have seen claims that TMR (Tunnel Magneto Resistance) is inferior to the traditional Hall Effect.
In reality, all of our magnetic switches — from the very first Keychron Q1 HE to every magnetic keyboard we make today — have always been built on TMR technology.
You might be wondering — if that’s the case, why do we label our series and models with “HE”?
Here’s why: early on, TMR wasn’t widely known within the keyboard community. “HE” (Hall Effect) was already a familiar term for magnetic sensing in keyboards, and using it helped the market quickly understand that these keyboards use magnetic sensing switches, even though the underlying tech has always been TMR.
So why did we adopt TMR from the beginning — and what advantages does TMR offer compared to the traditional Hall Effect?
In this blog, we’ll break down the core differences between TMR and Hall Effect, so you can decide which technology best suits your needs.
Differences Between TMR vs. Hall Effect
Both TMR (Tunnel Magneto Resistance) and Hall Effect are magnetic sensing technologies commonly used in keyboard magnetic switches, sensors, and other precision detection applications. Each has distinct strengths and trade-offs.
Advantages of TMR
1. Higher Sensitivity: TMR resistance changes significantly with magnetic fields, with far higher signal amplitude than Hall.
2. Excellent Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): With stronger output signals, its anti-interference capabilities and accuracy are generally superior to Hall.
3. Low Power Consumption: In low-power designs, the TMR sensor consumes less energy than the Hall Effect sensor, making them particularly suitable for battery-powered devices.
4. Fast Response Speed: Ideal for high-speed magnetic field detection with minimal latency.
5. Fast Start-up Time: Supports matrix scanning by powering rows or columns of sensors sequentially, further reducing power draw.
Drawbacks of TMR
1. Higher Cost: Complex manufacturing process, resulting in higher wafer and packaging costs than Hall.
2. Process and Temperature Sensitivity: TMR devices require high process consistency and temperature drift, making mass production more challenging than Hall Effect Sensors.
3. Applications are very new compared to Hall's decades of widespread adoption. TMR remains an emerging technology in some fields (e.g., magnetic keyboard switches), with relatively fewer supply chains that can support.
Advantages of the Hall Effect
1. Lower Cost: Hall Effect sensors benefit from mature silicon manufacturing and large-scale production.
2. Simple Circuitry: Hall sensors directly output voltage signals and require less peripheral circuitry.
Drawbacks of Hall Effect
1. Moderate Sensitivity: A relatively strong magnetic field is required to achieve stable output, and the resolution is limited.
2. Higher Power Consumption: Compared with TMR, it consumes more power under the same conditions.
3. More Noise-Prone: Weak signals require amplification and are susceptible to noise interference.
4. Slower Start-up Time: Not suitable for matrix scanning methods with row-by-row or column-by-column power supply of sensors sequentially.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | TMR Sensor | Hall Effect Sensor |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | High | Moderate |
| Signal-to-noise | Excellent | Fair |
| Power Consumption | Low | Higher |
| Response speed & Startup | Fast | Slower |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Supply Maturity | Emerging | Established |
Conclusion
If your priority is cost-effectiveness, a mature supply chain, and proven reliability, then Hall Effect may be the right choice.
But if you’re after high precision, lower power consumption, and a premium typing experience, TMR is the superior technology.
Overall, TMR offers clear performance advantages — even though it comes with a higher cost.
FAQs
Why Do We Name Our Models “HE”?
When we first launched magnetic keyboards, TMR wasn’t widely recognized in the market. Using the familiar name “HE” helped users quickly understand that these keyboards use magnetic switch technology, even though the underlying technology has always been TMR.
Looking for a Magnetic Keyboard with TMR Technology?
All Keychron magnetic keyboards use TMR technology for superior precision and performance. Explore the collection for high-quality, accessible options!