It is a sponsored piece: the Epomaker RT100 mechanical keyboard comes with all kinds of hot-swappable key switches and distinctive retro styling
Up to date: Nov 6, 2023 5:03 pm
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We had been fortunate sufficient to get our palms on the Epomaker RT100 hot swappable keyboard to provide it a take a look at spin. This customizable wi-fi mechanical keyboard comes with eye-catching retro styling, totally swappable keys, excellent design high quality, loads of performance, and a fairly distinctive removable good display.
Learn under for our full breakdown on all the things it has to supply!
EPOMAKER RT100 Mechanical Keyboard
Epomaker Budgerigar, Flamingo, Shadow Black, Gateron Professional Yellow, Sea Salt Silent, Wisteria Swap
45g / 2.00±0.5mm for Wisteria Swap (varies dependent upon change kind)
12.99″ x 4.57″ x 0.98″
Keys & switches
The RT100 is a 95% dimension keyboard aka a 1800 Compact. It is a pretty non-typical dimension which comes with 97 keys in whole, maximizing performance whereas retaining its compact kind issue (because the identify would recommend). It’s a superb steadiness in our opinion, as you get a numpad and route keys, in addition to all 12 operate keys alongside the highest but it surely doesn’t take up as a lot room in your desk as a full-size possibility would.
The keyboard comes with class-A Kailh sockets which help both 3-pin or 5-pin key switches, and there are a number of totally different choices for switches you possibly can select. Given it is a hot-swappable keyboard, you possibly can change between any of those key switches if you happen to so want utilizing the included key change puller device: Epomaker Budgerigar (tactile – much like Cherry MX Browns), Epomaker Flamingo (linear, and feather-light however snappy), Epomaker Shadow Black, Gateron Professional Yellow, the extremely quiet Sea Salt Silent, and those we examined it with: the 39gf (preliminary drive) Wisteria Swap.
These Wisteria Switches are linear switches much like the Flamingo possibility however have a bassier tone when depressed, with much less snap up afterwards. They’re nonetheless very gentle, requiring minimal effort to press, however with a really good and chunky thonk in comparison with the clickier sounding Flamingos. The keys themselves really feel nice beneath your fingers – superbly smooth and a pleasure to kind on – a dream for prolonged typing classes. Clearly these switches aren’t for everybody however each different key kind can be of the utmost high quality and also you’ll positively have the ability to discover one you want out of the total roster.
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Construct high quality & aesthetics
The construct high quality of the board is prime notch. It’s a sturdy gadget, and positively looks like it may take a superb few knocks. In all probability our favourite factor about it although is simply how good it feels below your palms: from the satisfying clicky suggestions once you dial the knob within the prime proper, to the feel of the keys and the floor of the board itself, even the snap of the ‘ft’ once you rise up the keyboard feels satisfying.
There are 5 coloration choices for the keyboard in whole: Retro White (which we examined), Pink, Deep Gray, Inexperienced, and Purple. In reality the Retro White is extra quite a lot of beige and grey tones such as you’d discover on a keyboard within the late 90s, with the clip-on Sensible Display being a correct brown coloration. It’s all very pleasingly retro, although the distinctive font on every of the keys plus the design of the board itself helps elevate it past the precise keyboards of the period, which positively didn’t look anyplace close to as gorgeous as this magnificence.
RGB backlighting will be set to all the standard patterns you’d anticipate, and there’s a variety of pleasing colours you possibly can cycle by means of.
Connectivity & Performance
The RT100 keyboard comes with two USB-C ports alongside the again edge – one uncovered, one protected by a clip on cowl over an space that additionally homes the USB wi-fi receiver. When it comes to wi-fi connectivity you get each WiFi (particularly a 2.4GHz RF transceiver) and Bluetooth 5.0 choices.The RF possibility helps to decrease latency however Bluetooth is in fact extra extensively used, so that you’ve acquired choices.
The Sensible Display (or intelligenter bildschirm because the Germans name it – this isn’t related however we take pleasure in it) plugs into the secondary USB-C port once you take away the duvet. It’s routinely set to show the time, date, connection mode, present outside temperature, and present CPU load, plus you possibly can add your personal little custom-made picture which takes up about half of the show. It’s a enjoyable little addition which we loved taking part in round with, however if you happen to’re in a temper the place it’s strictly enterprise, you possibly can simply take it off once more and stow it away in a flash.
On the highest proper of the keyboard above the PgUp/PgDn keys is an On/Off Swap and a Mac/Home windows Swap. Clearly the change must be turned to On for wi-fi connection (signifying it’s drawing its energy from the battery), however for wired connection mode it needs to be turned Off. Turning the knob on the highest proper is about to manage quantity as commonplace, and urgent it down performs/pauses media, although it may be reprogrammed to manage different options.
There’s additionally a large number of keyboard shortcuts which can be utilized to checklist of shortcuts is as follows::
| Key mixture | Home windows Perform | Mac Perform |
| Fn + Esc | Press & maintain for 3 secs to revive manufacturing unit settings | Press & maintain for 3 secs to revive manufacturing unit settings |
| Fn + F1 | Brightness – | Brightness – |
| Fn + F2 | Brightness + | Brightness + |
| Fn + F3 | Win +Tab | Ctrl + ↑ |
| Fn + F4 | Win + E | Exhale siri |
| Fn + F5 | n/a | |
| Fn + F6 | Homepage | n/a |
| Fn + F7 | Earlier Music | Earlier Music |
| Fn + F8 | Play/Pause | Play/Pause |
| Fn + F9 | Subsequent Music | Subsequent Music |
| Fn + Q | Brief press to modify to Bluetooth 1, Lengthy press Bluetooth Q to pair | Brief press to modify to Bluetooth 1, Lengthy press Bluetooth Q to pair |
| Fn + W | Brief press to modify to Bluetooth 2, Lengthy press Bluetooth W to pair | Brief press to modify to Bluetooth 2, Lengthy press Bluetooth W to pair |
| Fn + E | Brief press to modify to Bluetooth 3, Lengthy press Bluetooth EW to pair | Brief press to modify to Bluetooth 3, Lengthy press Bluetooth EW to pair |
| Fn + R | Brief press to modify to 2.4G, Lengthy press R to pair | Brief press to modify to 2.4G, Lengthy press R to pair |
| Fn + Win | Lock Win key | Lock Win key |
| Fn + BackSpace | Question energy (battery energy is accessible in wi-fi mode) | Question energy (battery energy is accessible in wi-fi mode) |
| Fn + ↑ | Backlight Brightness + | Backlight Brightness + |
| Fn + ↓ | Backlight Brightness – | Backlight Brightness – |
| Fn + ← | Backlight Impact Pace – | Backlight Impact Pace – |
| Fn + → | Backlight Impact Pace + | Backlight Impact Pace + |
| Fn + Del | Most important backlight impact switching | Most important backlight impact switching |
| Fn + PgUP | Toggle monochrome lights | Toggle monochrome lights |
| Fn + PgDn | Battery Save Mode (all lights & television show off) | Battery Save Mode (all lights & television show off) |
Pricing & Availability
While no mechanical keyboard is reasonable, the Epomaker RT100 is definitely fairly cheap contemplating all of the performance you get and in comparison with the vast majority of the competitors. At the moment you possibly can decide one up for round $119/£119 on Amazon which isn’t unhealthy in any respect, and it’s out there in North America, Europe, and Australian markets to choose up proper now.
Ultimate Phrase
The Epomaker RT100 wi-fi mechanical keyboard is a good retro-styled keyboard at an affordable value. The important thing switches are totally customizable inside the wide selection of Epomaker suitable switches, which ought to cowl any explicit necessities you might need. It’s a supremely satisfying, well-made gadget that scratches a specific itch for these in search of one thing barely smaller than a full-sized board, while sustaining most performance.
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