As the market floods with mechanical keyboards featuring screens, distinguishing oneself becomes increasingly challenging, if not impossible. Acquiring attention in this market is a difficult task. Moreover, obtaining a keyboard equipped with a screen, while maintaining top-notch build quality, features, and aesthetics, often demands a hefty investment of $200 or more, sometimes merely for a basic kit.
Yet, Epomaker disrupts this narrative with its RT100 model. Embracing a retro-futuristic essence, this keyboard boasts a charming “Smart Mini TV” accessory, elevating its appeal. This unique feature doesn’t block out the keyboard’s other attributes. Offering three connectivity modes, a sturdy PC plate, and a 3-pin and 5-pin hot-swappable PCB, along with a choice between Epomaker’s linear and tactile switches, case and plate foam, and an eye-catching design, the Epomaker RT100 displays both functionality and elegance.
It’s price tag is also quite reasonable. This keyboard ranges between $105 and $119.99 (depending on the chosen switches), making it an attractive option for those seeking a compact keyboard without spending too much.
Design and Build
Being a 96% keyboard, the RT100 manages to maintain a compact form factor while still providing a complete numpad set, sacrificing only a few keys. Its size is just slightly larger than a standard TKL keyboard by about an inch, making it ideal for both gaming and office environments.
The keycaps played a crucial role in shaping my view on the keyboard’s overall style. What particularly stands out to me are the individual letterings on certain keycaps. For instance, rather than a plain Space Bar, it features the words “Need More Space” atop it. Similarly, the Backspace, Enter, and Caps Lock keys each bear their own unique lettering, adding a touch of personality to the design.
Crafted from PBT, the MDA profile keycaps are built to withstand years of usage without the legends fading. Their sturdy material also ensures durability, capable of enduring considerable wear and tear. These keycaps boast a thickness of approximately 1.8mm, promising a deep sound profile, depending on the switches used.
Switches
I chose the Epomaker Sea Salt Silent switches, characterized by their linear action and factory pre-lubrication. Comprising a POM stem, polycarbonate top, and nylon bottom housing, these switches boast a visually appealing design, featuring a yellow box-style top, transparent case, and light blue bottom case.
Typing on these switches feels exceptionally smooth, offering minimal noise. Their silent operation is remarkable, with virtually no audible clicking or movement from the mechanical switch. They have an initial actuation force of 35gf, a 2mm pre-travel, and a total travel distance of 4mm.
Smart Mini TV
Let’s discuss the standout feature of the RT100: the “Smart Mini TV”. It’s important to clarify that when Epomaker refers to it as a “Smart Mini TV”, it doesn’t imply the ability to load apps or stream Youtube. Instead, the screen serves various functions such as displaying customizable GIFs, showing date and time, battery status, connectivity mode, weather temperature, and CPU temperature.
Although the Mini TV enhances the keyboard’s aesthetic appeal, its functionality and customization options are somewhat limited. Aside from altering the GIF displayed, other on-screen information cannot be modified.
Battery and Connectivity
The Epomaker RT100 offers three connectivity modes: wired via USB-C, Bluetooth (with support for up to 3 profiles), and 2.4GHz wireless. The 2.4GHz wireless functionality is great, exhibiting no noticeable lag or input latency during typing or gaming sessions. Additionally, it promptly wakes from sleep mode after periods of inactivity. Similarly, Bluetooth connectivity functions smoothly, allowing seamless switching between devices such as iPhones and iPads using FN key combinations.
Equipped with a 5000mAh battery, the keyboard boasts sufficient power for approximately a week of usage with RGB lighting enabled. It’s worth noting that the keycaps lack shine-through functionality, so while RGB lighting adds aesthetic flair, its utility may be limited, particularly in low-light environments.
What’s in the box
The box has the keyboard itself, a dual-purpose keycap and switch puller tool, and a coordinating retro off-white USB-C cable. While primarily serving an aesthetic purpose, the cable displays quality with its rubber-coated wire and plastic gray plate covering its ends, Its stylish design also complements the keyboard seamlessly.
Verdict
Although not flawless, with room for improvement such as increased customization options for the Mini TV and a higher quality media knob, the Epomaker RT100 remains an excellent device given its price point. It stands out as a leading contender in the 96% keyboard category. With its extensive customization potential, choosing the Epomaker RT100 is a clear decision.
