Epomaker sent me the Epomaker TH80 V2, a 75% tri-mode wireless mechanical keyboard. It retails for US$68.99 (about S$89) on Epomaker’s official store, which is a good price for a hot-swappable, gasket-mounted wireless keyboard. Shipping is free to Singapore.
It comes in Black Grey or White, with a choice of Epomaker Creamy Jade (linear) or Sea Salt Silent V2 (silent linear) switches. The Sea Salt Silent V2 version costs US$1 more. I chose the Black Grey with Creamy Jade switches. Black because it goes well with more keycap colors, and linear because it is my personal preference.
Specifications
- Layout: 75% ANSI US, 79 keys plus a volume knob
- Switches: Epomaker Creamy Jade (linear, factory-lubed), hot-swappable 3-pin and 5-pin
- Keycaps: Double-shot Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), Cherry profile
- Structure: Gasket mount, flex-cut Polycarbonate (PC) plate, five layers of sound dampening
- Stabilizers: Plate-mounted, pre-lubed
- Case: ABS plastic
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless, USB-C wired
- Polling rate: 1,000Hz (wired and 2.4GHz), 125Hz (Bluetooth)
- Battery: 8,000mAh, up to 200 hours with RGB off, 40 hours with RGB on
- Lighting: Per-key south-facing RGB
- Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Android
- Typing angle: 6°, 8° or 10.5° with the 2-stage kickstand
- Dimensions: 323.37 x 140.72 x 44.08mm
- Weight: 0.9kg
Unboxing
Inside the box, you get the keyboard, a clear dust cover, a USB-C-to-USB-A cable, a 2-in-1 keycap and switch puller, 2 spare switches, a manual, and a product card. The 2.4GHz receiver is already inside the keyboard (more on that later).
Unlike the Logitech G316 X, which I nitpicked for not including a switch puller, Epomaker includes one along with spare switches. That is the least you should expect from a hot-swappable keyboard.
Design
The TH80 V2 is a 75% layout, which means you lose the numpad and navigation cluster but keep the function row and arrow keys. This has been my preferred layout ever since my Keychron Q1.
The Black Grey colorway is not all black. The alphas are grey, the modifiers and F5 to F8 are black, and Escape, Enter, and the arrow keys are mint green. The modifiers also have Mac legends (option and command) printed under the Windows ones, which is a nice touch for Mac users like me.
The volume knob sits on the top right, just like on my Mikit MT80.
The case is ABS plastic, which is expected at this price. Having said that, it weighs 0.9kg, so it is not exactly lightweight to bring around.
The keycaps are double-shot PBT in Cherry profile, which is lower than the OEM profile most keyboards ship with. I liked Cherry profile enough to buy the Akko Cherry Profile Carbon Retro Keycap Set for my Keychron Q1, so I am glad it comes out of the box here.
The USB-C port and both toggle switches are in the middle of the back edge.
Underneath are 2 kickstands, each with two stages, giving you typing angles of 6°, 8°, or 10.5°.
The 2.4GHz receiver is stored underneath the right kickstand, so you will not lose it when traveling. It is so well hidden that I almost missed it. The Mikit MT80 does the same thing with a magnetic cover, but at least that one is easier to spot.
Creamy Jade Switches
When I first saw the name, I thought of the Kailh Box Jade, which I mentioned I wanted to try in my Keychron Q1 post. However, those are clicky, while the Epomaker Creamy Jade is a linear switch.
The Creamy Jade needs 45gf (gram-force) to actuate and 50gf to bottom out, with 2.0mm of pre-travel and 3.6mm of total travel. If you have used Cherry MX Red or Gateron Red before, it is in the same light range, so it is good for gaming and doesn’t tire your fingers during long typing sessions. They are factory-lubed, so you don’t have to lube them yourself.
The switches are hot-swappable, with both 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style options, so you can switch to something else later without soldering.
With the switch pulled out, you can see the RGB LED sits below the switch socket. These south-facing LEDs don’t clash with Cherry profile keycaps, so you have more choice if you change keycaps later.
For sound, the TH80 V2 uses a gasket mount with a flex-cut PC plate and five layers of dampening: PORON foam, an IXPE switch pad, bottom PORON foam, a silicone base, and a PET sound-enhancing pad.
The plate is the layer the switches clip into. For my Mikit MT80, I chose a steel plate, which is stiff and sounds sharper. The TH80 V2 uses a PC plate, a type of plastic, with slots cut into it so it flexes slightly with each keypress. That flex makes typing feel more cushioned and sound softer.
In practice, the Creamy Jade lives up to its name. It feels very creamy. If you are new to keyboards, “creamy” is how enthusiasts describe a switch that is smooth all the way down, with no scratchiness or grittiness, and that sounds soft and muted instead of sharp and clacky.
Battery & Connectivity
The 8,000mAh battery is double the 4,000mAh in my Mikit MT80. Epomaker rates it at 200 hours with the RGB off, but only 40 hours with the RGB on. If you leave the lighting on and use it 8 hours a day, you will be charging it every week.
It is tri-mode: USB-C wired, 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.0. Wired and 2.4GHz run at a 1,000Hz polling rate, with a latency of 2ms and 5ms respectively.
Bluetooth drops to 125Hz and 11ms, which is fine for typing but not for gaming. So, as a rule of thumb, use the 2.4GHz receiver for everything and ignore Bluetooth unless you lack ports.
You switch between 2.4GHz, USB and Bluetooth with a physical toggle on the back, next to the USB-C port. On the other side is a Mac/Windows toggle. Physical toggles mean you can tell which mode you are in at a glance, without memorizing key combinations.
My Thoughts
For US$68.99, the Epomaker TH80 V2 gets the important parts right: hot-swappable switches, a gasket mount, double-shot PBT keycaps, tri-mode wireless, and a big battery. You will not go wrong with it if you’re looking for your first wireless mechanical keyboard and don’t want to spend more than S$100.
My only complaints are minor. The ABS case doesn’t feel as premium as the aluminum top cover on the Asus ROG Strix Morph 96, but that keyboard costs S$229.
The battery life drops from 200 hours to 40 hours with RGB on, so turn the lighting off if you don’t need it. And Bluetooth is capped at 125Hz, so generally people should stick with the 2.4GHz receiver.
If you already have a keyboard you like, you can sit this out. But if you are looking for your first wireless mechanical keyboard, or a second one for the office, the TH80 V2 is a no-brainer at this price.
