The Epomaker TH85 mechanical keyboard features a hot-swappable PCB and an 80% QWERTY ANSI layout. It offers RGB backlighting with customizable effects, a sturdy build, and a sleek design. The front showcases a net slide-type panel, while both sides have a half-ARGB lighting effect, giving it a stylish look. It supports 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, and wired connectivity and includes five layers of sound-dampening material for a quieter typing experience. All of this is priced at $68 on Epomaker. In this review, I will cover its Design, battery life, typing experience, and whether it’s worth buying.
Specs
- Keyboard: EPOMAKER TH85
- Keys: 84
- Mounting Style: Gasket
- Case Material: ABS Plastic
- PCB: Hot-swappable for 3pin/5pin switches
- Connectivity: Wired/Bluetooth 5.0/ 2.4Ghz
- Battery: 4000mAh
- Compatibility: Windows/Mac
Unboxing
The TH85 keyboard comes in a well-designed box with neat packaging. Upon opening, you’ll first see the keyboard itself, a keycap puller, two extra mechanical switches, and a high-quality braided USB cable for charging and wired connectivity. Lastly, there’s a user manual. All the items have good build quality, especially the USB cable and keycap puller, which feels sturdy. Unlike some others where the puller easily breaks, this one is made of durable that feels reliable.
Design and Build Quality
The Epomaker TH85 features an 80% compact layout with a sleek, gamer-centric design. It sports the EPOMAKER logo on the right side and twice on the front, embedded in a sky-blue plastic strip that adds a stylish branding touch. At the front center, there’s a Win/macOS switcher, a USB Type-C port for charging and wired connections, and a connectivity toggle.
Above these buttons, the keyboard has a dynamic RGB light strip with a net-like, thin plastic cover. This strip runs along both half sides from the front, delivering a full-fledged gaming vibe, which looks fantastic. On the bottom center, there’s a metal label with the TH85 branding. It also features a 2-stage adjustable kickstand, with the left side housing a hidden compartment for the 2.4GHz receiver, offering convenient storage.
In terms of color, the keyboard has a black body, while the keycaps are divided into three sets: Set A with white keys, Set B with dark black, and Set C with sky blue accents. This combination creates a striking, modern look. The build quality feels premium and sturdy, and it doesn’t easily attract dust, making it practical for long-term use.
Connectivity
The Epomaker TH85 keyboard features tri-mode connectivity, offering three versatile options: wired, 2.4GHz wireless, and Bluetooth. Over the past week of testing, I primarily used Bluetooth mode and was impressed by its flawless performance, i have no lag during typing or gaming, making it super smooth. The 2.4GHz wireless connection also delivers a stable and responsive experience. For long gaming sessions, the wired connection ensures lag-free performance, making it ideal for competitive play. This connectivity makes perfect for both casual and serious gamers.
Switches and Keycaps
The TH85 QMK/VIA Gaming Keyboard comes with hot-swappable switches, and you get two extra switches in the box for easy replacement in case of damage. It features three keycap color sets: Set A (White), Set B (Black), and Set C (Sky Blue). The color combination looks stunning and adds a stylish touch.
It uses an 80% QWERTY ANSI US layout, and the compact design fits comfortably after a few typing sessions. The plate-mounted stabilizers ensure consistent, rattle-free performance, especially on larger keys like the spacebar and shift.
The keyboard is equipped with ergonomic Cherry profile PBT keycaps, which are durable, oil-resistant, and comfortable for long typing or gaming sessions. The keycaps have a slightly rubbery feel, which enhances grip and comfort.
The TH85 Gasket-Mount Keyboard includes five layers of Poron, IXPE, silicone, and a sound enhancement pad as dampening materials. This setup delivers a unique typing feel and tuned sound profiles for both gaming and productivity.
Here how it sounds.
RGB Colors and Profiles
The Epomaker TH85 offers dynamic RGB lighting with customizable color profiles. You can easily adjust the brightness, effects, and strip colors, or even create your own custom profile through the software. The front RGB strip and logo strip add a unique touch, making the keyboard stand out.
You can control the lighting with shortcut keys:
- FN + Home: Toggle backlight on/off
- FN + Backspace: Switch backlight effect
- FN + Up/Down: Increase/decrease brightness
- FN + End: Change logo light effect
- FN + Delete: Change strip effect
The vivid RGB colors and customizable effects provide a visually appealing and immersive experience.
Battery Life
The TH85 packs a 4000mAh battery, delivering impressive performance. In my testing, with full RGB brightness and lighting effects enabled, including the strip, I got approximately 4 hours of usage. This is a solid battery life for a gaming keyboard.
Interestingly, I’ve tested and reviewed other Epomaker x Feker Galaxy80 keyboards that cost more but have fewer RGB strips and still offer only around 3 hours of runtime, making the TH85 a better performer in terms of battery efficiency.
Final Thought
Is the EPOMAKER TH85 worth to buy?
I would say yes. This keyboard features a cool design with stylish keycap colors and an 80% compact layout. It has front RGB strips that extend halfway on both sides, and you can customize the lighting effects and profiles to your liking.
Equipped with Creamy Jade mechanical switches, it supports hot-swapping and includes 5 layers of sound-damping material. Despite its extensive RGB integration, the battery performance is solid, lasting up to 4 hours or more.
Priced at $68 on Epomaker, it offers great value for a budget gaming keyboard, making it worth buying.
The Epomaker TH85 offers excellent value with its stylish design, customizable RGB lighting, tri-mode connectivity, and solid battery life, making it a great budget gaming keyboard for $68.
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Design & Build Quality9
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Connectivity10
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Typing Experience8.5
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RGB Lighting9
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Battery life8
