Epomaker TH80 Professional evaluation: Specs
Value: $99 (Epomaker)
Switches: Flamingo (Linear), Budgerigar (Tactile), Wisteria, Gateron Professional blue/black/brown/purple/yellow
Format: 75%, 80 keys
Working system: Mac, Home windows
Backlighting: RGB
Paired units max: 3
Battery: 4,000 mAh
Measurements: 12.9 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches (328mm x 142mm x 40mm)
Weight: 35.2 ounces (1kg)
If you purchase one of many greatest mechanical keyboards, you anticipate it to satisfy sure standards — an ergonomic structure and that candy “thock” sound you want, first rate construct high quality and a battery that doesn’t run out after solely a few days. You may additionally need to have the ability to customise it, and that’s the place the Epomaker TH80 Professional is available in, particularly for those who don’t need to spend over the chances.
The TH80 Professional is compact sufficient to unencumber area on a desk, and has a sturdy grip so that you don’t by chance transfer it whereas typing. With a retro end, purple rotary management knob and enjoyable customizable RGB backlighting, it appears the half, too. If you happen to’re shopping for from the Epomaker web site, it’ll value you $99, which is nice worth for cash for a keyboard of this caliber.
There are just a few downsides, although, which might be price contemplating earlier than you click on ‘add to cart’, such because the keyboard being sluggish to reconnect when waking, and no secondary capabilities printed on keycaps.
For the whole breakdown, learn our full Epomaker TH80 Professional evaluation.
Epomaker TH80 Professional evaluation: Cheat sheet
- What’s it? A 75% hot-swappable mechanical keyboard good for each gaming and typing, with lovely RGB results which may be altered to your liking.
- Who’s it for? For individuals who need a compact, retro-looking and customizable keyboard however don’t need to spend an excessive amount of cash.
- How a lot does it value? The Epomaker TH80 Professional is out there for $99 / £103.
- How is the typing? Nice, and it sounds pretty, however you’ll want a wrist relaxation for lengthy hours.
- Something lacking? Higher Bluetooth connectivity, and secondary capabilities printed on keycaps can be good.
Epomaker TH80 Professional evaluation: The ups
The Epomaker TH80 Professional’s execs positively outweigh the cons. From a sturdy construct and spectacular battery life to hot-swappable switches for personalisation, this mechanical keyboard is nice worth for cash.
Design and construct high quality
The Epomaker TH80 Professional is a sturdy piece of equipment. Once I first took it out of the field, I used to be instantly impressed by its modern, retro aesthetic. The bottom of the keyboard is made with white plastic, and I couldn’t see any indicators of poor development.
As a 75% tenkeyless keyboard, it doesn’t have a quantity pad (sorry, numpad followers) and sports activities a complete of 80 keys. It additionally is available in two layouts, ANSI and ISO. Oh, and it’s bought a rotary knob too — positioned within the prime proper nook of the keyboard, which makes me really feel like considerably of a DJ after I’m altering the quantity.
Measuring 12.9 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches and weighing 35.2 oz, it’s compact and lightweight sufficient to suit into my backpack, however heavy sufficient to remain placed on the desk. On the underside, you’ll discover 4 retractable rubber toes to prop up the keyboard at two completely different angles. I used to be proud of how effectively the keyboard stayed put after I tried to pull it alongside the desk, however this diverse relying on the toes I used. With the smaller toes, the keyboard didn’t resist as a lot because it did with the larger toes. That’s good as a result of I personally like having extra top.
Typing expertise
The large query: how’s the typing? I cherished it. I examined the Budgerigar Change (Tactile) and it sounded lovely. The MDA keycaps — spherical with out a lot top — are made utilizing PBT dye-subbed supplies and have an ideal thock!
The MDA keycaps additionally make it much less probably so that you can make a typing mistake, and my typing take a look at confirmed that with a rating of 67 phrases per minute at 91.08% accuracy. That makes this perfect for workplace use. Additionally, the keycaps are oil-resistant, don’t seem shiny and keep true to paint, so that you don’t want to fret about them wanting worse for put on over time.
Scorching-swappable switches
If you happen to aren’t an enormous fan of the Epomaker TH80 Professional’s pre-lubed switches, the very fact they’re hot-swappable switches means you don’t have to stay with them. This enables for extra customization by letting the consumer change switches with a swap puller (as a substitute of getting to de- and re-solder switches to the PCB).
The Epomaker TH80 Professional can accommodate each 3- and 5-pin switches, and it comes with a swap puller within the field, so all you have to do is pull out the switches and exchange them with those you need — it’s that straightforward.
Companion software program
Free to obtain from Epomaker’s web site, the driving force software program for macOS and Home windows is pretty easy to make use of and affords a bunch of customization choices. I used the software program to alter not solely the sunshine patterns (there are lots of choices to select from, by the way in which), however to additionally remap sure keys and the time it takes to enter sleep mode.
Undoubtedly an enormous plus for once you’re nonetheless getting used to the a number of completely different key mixtures to alter the RGB patterns. Bear in mind: you have to join the Epomaker TH80 Professional to your laptop computer with the cable.
Battery life
Fitted with a 4,000 mAh battery, the Epomaker TH80 Professional boasts a large battery life. Having examined it for five days (about 40 hours) and at 100% after I began, the battery on the finish stood at 70%.
I had the RGB results on virtually on a regular basis, so it most likely would have lasted even longer with them off. It’s straightforward to test the battery on the keyboard itself, through the use of Fn+B which makes numbers 1 by means of 0 gentle up. For instance, if 1 to five gentle up, meaning it’s at 50%. A equally priced keyboard such because the Corsair K57 RGB reportedly lasts 35 hours with commonplace lighting, so the Epomaker TH80 Professional does rather well on this regard.
Epomaker TH80 Professional evaluation: The downs
Alas, nothing is ideal. I’ll admit, it was love at first sight after I noticed the Epomaker TH80 Professional, however the extra I used it, the extra I spotted it wasn’t with out its flaws.
Sluggish Bluetooth connectivity
Once I was testing the TH80 Professional, I attempted all three strategies of connectivity to see how lengthy it took for the keyboard to reply after it had been in sleep mode. There have been no delays utilizing the USB-C wired setup, and even with the two.4GHz dongle plugged in, I couldn’t sense any noticeable delay. The Bluetooth connectivity, nevertheless, let me down as a result of it’s the one I most desire utilizing.
When the Epomaker TH80 Professional falls asleep after having been inactive for 25 minutes (this may be modified by way of the downloadable driver software program), it takes some time to reconnect to your laptop computer. It’s important to press a key to wake it up, anticipate it to attach — indicated by the inexperienced gentle underneath one of many numbers — and begin typing. Once I examined it, it took just below 5 seconds, which isn’t lots within the grand scheme of issues, however once you’re gaming on-line, each second counts.
No secondary capabilities on keycaps
Any new keyboard takes some time to get used to, and even after utilizing the Epomaker TH80 Professional for a few week, I needed to preserve referring to the guide as a result of I couldn’t keep in mind the secondary capabilities. This stored breaking my circulate and immediately affected my productiveness. Epomaker might have made it a lot simpler for its customers by merely printing these on to the keycaps. As an alternative, I’m sitting right here racking my mind, questioning which key takes me to the subsequent observe whereas I’m listening to music.
Wrist ache
If you’re typing away for 8 hours at a desk, you need to be snug. A wrist relaxation, both connected to the underside of a keyboard or purchased individually, may be very useful.
Typing on the Epomaker TH80 Professional for hours on finish strained my wrists as I wanted to always angle them. The heights and ranges of adjustability weren’t one of the best for me. A wrist relaxation would have mounted this, however you’ll have to purchase one individually. I’ll positively be investing in a single to proceed typing away.
Epomaker TH80 Professional evaluation: Verdict
For a sub-$100 mechanical keyboard, the Epomaker TH80 Professional stands its floor. Scorching-swapability is a superb promoting level, and for $99, it could possibly be nice for you for those who’re simply beginning to dabble in keyboard modding.
Compared with a keyboard in the identical worth vary, such because the Logitech G413 SE, you get much more options and extra reliability. The Epomaker TH80 Professional’s spectacular battery life even with the RGB results on, the versatile connectivity modes, and the typing accuracy make it completely well worth the cash.
Due to the way it sounds and feels on my fingertips, I’m positive I’ll be utilizing the Epomaker TH80 Professional for a very long time. No secondary capabilities printed on the keycaps and sluggish connectivity when waking are a small worth to pay when a keyboard appears and sounds this good.
