Importing a magnetic board or buying a WIN68 locally with a 2-year warranty

Magnetic keyboards spread through international gaming forums long before most South African shelves carried them, so plenty of local players have weighed ordering one from overseas. The board is only part of that decision. What happens when a key stops registering six months later matters just as much, and that is where buying a magnetic keyboard locally changes the picture for the AULA WIN68 HE and WIN68 MAX.

Quick Answer

Buying the AULA WIN68 HE or WIN68 MAX locally means its warranty is handled in South Africa: Evetech carries both with a 2 Years Local Warranty. An imported board can leave you shipping a faulty unit abroad and waiting for it to come back. Both editions are wired 65% magnetic boards that poll at 8000Hz, and Evetech sells the HE for R449 and the MAX for R699.

🧾 What the local cover changes

A warranty is only as useful as how easy it is to claim. With a locally bought WIN68, the seller you deal with is in the same country, working in the same time zone and currency, and the board does not have to cross a border to be assessed.

That matters for a magnetic keyboard in particular. These boards rely on a sensor under every key reading a magnet in the switch above it. If one sensor misreads, the fault can be subtle: a key that fires too early, repeats, or needs a firmer press than its neighbours. Being able to describe that to someone locally, and get the board looked at without international freight, takes a lot of the stress out of an early-life fault.

Two years is also a meaningful window for a keyboard. Most hardware faults show up early, and a board that has run cleanly for its opening couple of years has usually proved itself.

✈️ What an import typically involves

Importing any electronics comes with steps that buying locally skips. In general terms:

• Transit time. Orders from overseas can spend weeks in the post or with couriers, and delays at sorting centres are common.
• Customs and fees. Imported goods can attract customs duties, VAT and courier handling charges once the parcel lands. The amounts depend on the item, its declared value and current rules, so check the South African Revenue Service's guidance for the current position rather than relying on a forum post.
• Returns abroad. If an imported board turns up faulty or fails later, a warranty claim may mean packaging it up and sending it back overseas, often at your own cost, then waiting for the return trip.
• Support in another time zone. Emails with an overseas seller can stretch a simple question over several days.

None of this makes importing impossible, but it adds cost and uncertainty that are easy to underestimate when you only compare the sticker figure. There is also the question of what actually comes in the box. A board built for another market can ship with a different layout, a different cable or no spares at all, and you will only find out once it is on your desk. Buying locally means the edition described on the product page is the one you receive.

🔧 Parts, repairs and keeping the board going

A hot-swappable board can often be fixed at your desk without any warranty claim at all. Both WIN68 editions let you pull and replace magnetic switches without soldering, and the HE comes with a couple of matching Gray Wood spares to hand. If one key misbehaves, swapping its switch for a spare is a quick way to tell whether the switch was the problem.

For longer-term tinkering, Evetech's keyboard switches page is a local place to browse options. Stick to magnetic switches in the WIN68's sockets, because the sockets are built around magnet sensing, and confirm compatibility before buying a new set.

What you get in each edition

Knowing the specification helps you compare like with like, whichever way you buy:

• WIN68 HE: black, Gray Wood switches at 32gf rising to 50gf, Rapid Trigger with per-key actuation, 8000Hz polling, per-key south-facing RGB, Poron sandwich foam and a thickened shell. In its box: the ribbon, a cable, a puller for the caps and a pair of replacement switches.
• WIN68 MAX: black and red, Wing Chun switches at 36gf rising to 49gf, Rapid Trigger rated at 0.01mm, a removable dead zone, seven polling levels up to 8000Hz, and five extra modes: Toggle, SOCD, Rapid Switch, Mod-Tap and DKS. It also has a Mac mode for swapping the Windows and Alt keys.

Both boards are configured in AULA's browser-based web driver, which AULA states supports Windows.

🔌 Layout, cables and everyday fit

The WIN68 sold locally uses a 65% ANSI US layout with 68 keys, a common arrangement on gaming keyboards. That means a wide, flat Enter key and dedicated arrows, with the function row reached through Fn. Set Windows to a US keyboard layout and the legends match what you type, avoiding the symbol mix-ups that can follow a board built for another region's layout.

Power and connection are simple too. Both editions are wired and connect through a detachable USB-C cable, so there are no plug adapters or chargers to worry about. The board draws what it needs from the PC.

For anyone cautious about imports, the choice between the two editions comes down to play style rather than risk, since both share the same local cover. The HE is the simpler, lighter board for players new to magnetic switches. The MAX suits players who want SOCD, DKS and the finer tuning range. You can compare both with other layouts in the gaming keyboards section.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the WIN68 covered when bought in South Africa?

Two years. Evetech sells both the HE and the MAX with local cover, so claims stay in the country.

What tends to happen with a faulty imported keyboard?

It often has to be shipped back to the overseas seller, sometimes at your cost, followed by a wait for the repair or replacement.

What extra costs can come with an import?

Customs duties, VAT and courier handling fees can apply when the parcel clears. Check SARS guidance for the current rules before ordering anything from abroad.

Will I need parts from overseas later?

Not usually for switches. Both WIN68 editions are hot-swappable, and the HE includes two spare Gray Wood switches in the box.

Which edition suits a buyer wary of imports?

Either. They share the same local cover, so go with the HE if simplicity appeals, or the MAX if you want SOCD and DKS on tap.

Which layout does the local WIN68 use?

A 65% ANSI US arrangement with 68 keys and dedicated arrow keys, with the function row on Fn combinations.