Better Than Keychron K2? - Epomaker EP84 Hotswappable 75% Mechanical Keyboard Review
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2024
- Website review: switchandclick.com/2020/08/22...
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0:00 Intro
0:41 Pricing
0:55 What's in the box?
2:30 Build quality: back
3:35 Side angles and rubber feet
3:55 Front side
5:27 Keycaps
8:18 Switches and the options
8:40 5-pin hotswappable sockets
8:50 North-facing switches
10:48 Stabilizers - spacebar has some rubber dampeners
11:32 RGB effects and secondary functions
12:42 My Verdict - Epomaker EP84 vs Keychron K2
14:01 Typing test
15:46 Modifiers sounds
16:09 Conclusion and outro
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I like how you section the video into segments, this has been the best channel for choosing a good keyboard
Agree, this is a super helpful feature
I was thinking of getting the Keychron V2 but thank god I saw this video. Can't wait to get mine 🙏
Professional and well-made review! I'll be following your advice in the future as well
Thanks so much!
I have this keyboard and I added a fair amount of lube to every switch along with extra foam padding on the inside; it sounds and feels very good. Love the form factor too.
Legend! Thanks for the review, been holding out on copping until I saw in person/someone say a lot of good about it. Appreciate ya!
Hey, thanks so much for the support! I do really like it, still have it and use it actually. Definitely put some foam or something in the case, it'll sound a lot better. And stabs need some work, but that should all be easy with being hot-swappable and all that.
Nice! As far as I can tell as long as you have a plate there's no difference in feel between 5 and 3 pin mounting since the plate is taking up the support of the switch around the base.
Really liked this review very detailed
Glad you liked it
That's a slick hotswap 75%!
Just ordered mine in the DIY form thanks to your videos! Edit: I actually ordered the TH80 but most of this still applies.
Another hit. My preference with keyboard is 75% to TKL, the caveat is that 75% kinda harder to find the caps, as you've mentioned. I was holding my breath to wait which switches this board supported, because cheap + hot-swappable mostly means Outemu, and that board would be useless to me, since I'm not filing MX switches pins to fit Outemu board. I see this sample is already contaminated by cat hair, btw 😜. Jokes aside, Keychron seriously needs to add an option for PBT caps, or an option to buy a kit cheaper than their full board, so I could fit my own caps later, because their ABS is a finger oil magnet trash. However BT is what I've been wanting for sometime, so I'm seriously considering K8. Even if Ill have to chuck their caps out.
P.S. keep up the blog, its very informative .
the first thing I immediately noticed is that there are no mac function row symbols (just F1-F12). That's one reason why I like the Keychron K2.
Very nice review. But I prefer TKL. Maybe I can try something like this in the future.
And the hoodie looks great on you 🤩
The backlight definitely seems brighter than the keychron k2v2
Just got mine today amazing difference between the EP84 and my gaming keyboard I was using. Once I get comfortable time to mod...thinking tape mod first since that should be easy but honestly it sounds so much better than what I was using it may be a while before I crack the case open. Thank you for the review. Edit: Also used my Dremel to open up the channel in the middle for the cable, was very easy and now I can use whatever cable I want.
Should i buy it? For gaming
@@vira4388 that's why I got mine and so far it has performed very well.
@@markb9896 ty i will buy it i like the idea of having grey keyboard , I guess i should buy Black mouse bad
@@vira4388 different people have different preferences, checkout other keyboards of the same size and style. I use mine for The Division (2), CoD, Breakpoint, etc. and for me it works very well. I was used to full size keyboards so it took a bit to get used to.
I got the K6 over the K2 since it has hotswap, and didn't really care that it had bluetooth. But after having used it for a few weeks I have found that the wireless comes in handy when swapping between my laptop and desktop quickly. I might have considered the ep84 but I just can't stand stenciled fonts on keycaps. Even though the Keychron's abs keycaps are pretty thin, the legends look really nice and clean.
Great review! Music was a bit loud for me but that's subjective I guess
Nice review, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
I just want to add another comment, that Epomaker is a reseller, or rebrander, not a manufacturer. This one looks like a Keycool keyboard, and you might find them from different resellers at varying prices. I bookmarked this board as a kit on Ali Express, no switches, no caps but same exact north facing leds with 5 pins PCB, also comes as 2.4 Ghz wireless, 70$, and 99$ for a kit with Gateron switches and Pudding V2 caps for XD 84.
I saw similar keyboard like kc84 but its wired and cost $50 with gateron and rgb led
@@sibalseki5491 hi. can you share the link? thanks in advance
@UNprofessional Reviews Yes, the case looks identical to my Keycool 84. However, I'm still looking for that holy grail of a wireless hot-swappable 75%. Would you have a link to the AliExpress kit you mentioned?
Vortexseries vx8
Nice review, I ended up getting the keychron k2 hot-swap prior at about the same price.
Good choice!
Nice review
Glad to see a hotswappable compact 75% keyboard on the market, the IDOBAO one was nearly perfect but the layout wasn't compact :(. Unfortunately, wish the build quality was a bit nicer and I'd pick it up. Guess I'll stick with my Hexgears Gemini Dawn for now
Nice keyboard stand on your back! :)
75%, PBTs and hot-swappable is a nice pack and for that price is a very good deal !
Hey Betty, love your content! I tried out the Varmilo VA87M but am unable to try out the Epomaker EP84. Are you able to advise which ones you like better? I liked the sturdiness of the spacebars on the Varmilo, but am unable to try out the Epomaker EP84 so I was wondering what you think! Thanks in advance!
I wonder if you remove the plastic case to put sound dampening foam in it, will the inside of the plastic case have an embossed logo "Keycool" by the USB port cavity.
I really want to get into custom keebs but this seems to be the perfect beginner one that I can eventually just get a new case for at some point and it's only $85 so it's worth it
did u get it`?
@@its_ntm I did! I have only one gripe with it and that's it. The fact that the program that Epomaker offers doesn't work.
When you open the PCB it says keycool and brings you to a site that offers the drivers and programs but they don't work.
Other than that it's a hella easy moddable keyboard. I taped mod, lubed my stabs, lubed my switches, replaced my switches with Gateron Milky Yellows v2, filmed them, and added more foam that came with it. It sounds real good, $85 to see if you'll like a hobby isn't that bad.
Hey, love the video, was curious, when it omes to the switches are they usually pre-lubed? If not then would like take the time to lube them myself and swap spacebar stab as well for something better.
This is the keyboard I want!!
This is just a rebranded Keycool KC84. The KC84 comes in 3 types: wired-only, wired+bluetooth, and wired+wireless 2.4g.
good video! Do you intend to make a review of the Akko 3087 V2 Silent 87 Keys Wired Mechanical Keyboard Morandi Grey?
I ended up going with this keyboard in the grey and white color. I hope the Amazon link is an affiliate link so you get a commission. I really like your content and find myself looking to see if you have videos for the keyboard products that I am interested in before buying to see what your opinion is on them. Keep up the great work! I hope you have a safe and happy hoilday! 😊😊😊
Thank you!!
I have this board and I can also highly recommend. I miss my noppoo choc mini but they don’t make it anymore 😢
Hey, I had one question, could I change the plastic case for a aluminium case made for 75% keyboards? It would make the keyboard the perfect option
I feel like most of these boards are all from the same manufacturer but different vendors resell them on Ali Express and Amazon.
Yeah I have the exact same keyboard but rebranded.
It the keycool kc84 by kprepublic I think. With a black backplate. It cost me around $113 tho, you got a pretty substantial deal😕. I bought a 1.5m braided type-C cable cause I knew that these came with a rubber one and it worked fine it looked like it came with it so thats nice. Mine comes with a wireless reciever giving it the ability to be wirless. Also I opened mine and it was already filled with foam which dampens the sound. These last 2 features probably is the reason why mine is a bit more expensive than this.
This one vs RK84? Which one you like more?
have you ever thought of doing a review of the vissels v 84
what are the best switches that i can buy for the kb? i already have the keyboard and i want to change the switches to some better sounding ones
i was thinking about buying the kc84. Would you pick this over the kc84?
what switches did you get for the typing test?
how's the height of the frame compared to the Keychron K8? I have the K8 and the tall frame really throws me off when I play FPS games, and since I hate using a wrist rest I'm looking for a different option... let me know if you can :)
ordered it after watching the video and to be honest feels and sound wayyyyyyy better then my old one that cost me more lol
Hi! Where do you get your stands for the keyboards in the background?
what epomaker software does this use to reprogram some keys?
I wonder how their new Ak84 is an improvement over this one. And have you tried their Chocolate Switches or heard anyone review them
So wait, what exactly is the con or pro of having north facing switches, vs south facing? Completely new to all this, and am considering this keyboard.
if i wanted to order new keycaps for this board of of kbdfans, what profiles or options would i have without having to alter the board or buying anything to make them fit without the "jaggy" profile?
Was the winner of your birthday giveaway announced yet? I looked in the usual places but I didn't see anything.
I've had one for 6 months.
It's the Yunzi Keycool KC84s AKA the Akko AK84s. I keep nagging them to build a KC84s with full aluminum, shine-through pbt caps and Gazzew U4 silents as options. So I think they did that with the akko ak84s. But it's in pre-order, and their sales wont blow up until the keyboards show up on Amazon with more keycap and switch options. I'd like to put my name on them as a brand, and sell the crap out of them. I think it just sounds better than Yunzii, no offense intended. The stabs need some work, the caps, the cord socket, the user manual, but overall it's a great product.
I am always here only for the typing test :D
what is the best 75% keyboard for gamer please ?
i know im a bit late but is this keyboard have nkey rollover? Great review video!
Only when connected
Can you please explain why this doesn’t work with Mac? I use Karabiner Elements now with my crappy cheap mech keyboard...would that solve the Fn button prob you mentioned? Thanks!
Wow this keyboard looks awesome. PBT key caps? USB C? Hot-swappable? $85? Yes please!
Go look at the rk84 it is even better
@@spongebobsbooty-6132 where can i buy it? it looks sold out on amazon
@@aydintran2875 if you really want. I would use eBay but I am just gonna get a different one. I was super bummed out when this one was out of stock. I am thinking of another alternative. A good keyboard is the barebones gmmk or the womier k87
@@spongebobsbooty-6132 wow thanks! Do you have any idea on if it would be restocked or not?
@@aydintran2875 I’m hoping so but I have no reason to think they won’t. It says they don’t know when or if but there is a possibility
Hello. ive currently got the milky yellows from gatereon, what would you recommend to upgrade to ( my keyboard is already modded) i was thinking oil kings. Thanks for the video
I was planning to buy the foam from Stupidfish that was designed for kbdfans 75 V2, will it work since they have almost the same layout?
I bought a keychron k2 3 years ago used it for 16 hours a day and my tab button is dying , i'm a world of warcraft plyers , Ur recommendation for that keyboard did not dissappoint , gonna tkae ur advice for this board as well as a replacement for my K2 Thx for the review i know the view is 3 years old as im posting this , i just like chunky 75% keyboards the F# keys need to align with the normal # keys for me to be satisfied with a board.
will GMK keycaps not fit on the north facing switches? im not sure i understand that too much
This looks A LOT like the yunzii kc84. Check that out if you can, im wondering if it's made by the same production company?
The keyboard has same housing as Keycool kc84 and Drevo Gramr keyboards.
Hello, Your channel has been a huge help in choosing a keyboard, I think I have my choices narrowed down.
I see this EP84 and the KC84 available, is there any advantage buying one over the other? Is there parity in build quality and available software?
Then there is the RK84, offers wireless and usb pass through, but not sure if the quality equals that of the KC84/EP84.
Also the K2 v2 is under consideration as well, but I've read that they don't have software or any way to do independent RGB assignment per key.
Any input is greatly appreciated,
Thanks in advance.
Ok idk what north facing or south facing is I just want to know if I can get gateron yellows or novelkey creams with those keycaps.
Should I get brown switches?
Is it only gmk key caps that won’t work on north facing boards or is it every cherry profile key cap?
Could you review the EPOMAKER SKYLOONG SK68S? It's wireless.
Haven't heard of Epomaker before; cool seeing more hotswap boards though (especially 5-pin!)
Wish this was TKL though. But for the price... this or the GMMK TKL?
Keychron K8 is TKL with 5-pin hotswap option for ~$80, if your’re good with a plastic case ($100 for aluminum). Just started shipping last week.
@@SethMilliken does it have the terrible side mount usb port though?
Epomaker has many different sizes, you can get 60%, 65%, TKL, full size, etc..
Hi, any idea where we can get Keycaps for K8 Optical TKL Keyboard ?
Cool review
do you have a link for your keyboard usbc coiled cable?
I wish keyboards came with *cherry* profile keycaps instead of OEM ~ I just bought the KC84 (clone)
The website review article link is broken :(
i know this is probably a dumb question but i’m a beginner pc player...are there differences between the different color switches..?
i currently have a modded to all heck k66 but i want something wireless to clean my desk up, im looking at this or the th80 by epomaker
doesn't the Drevo Gramr have the exact same case as this? metal backplate and all
how does it compare with RK84?
Oh man, this keyboard looks IDENTICAL to the Keycool KC84 that I got in the mail a couple days ago. lol
I've only had it for a couple of days, and I love it so far! Totally recommend it over the K2!
Awesome video, as usual! =)
Is that the one that went up on Drop? I missed it by a day!!
@@epodstation YEAH!
I missed the Drop also!! But I found it on Amazon. It's being sold by KPRepublic for $89 right now w/ either Gateron reds or blues.
They were selling it with Gateron browns a short while ago; I think they're just out of stock atm.
I'm in Southern California, and it took 18 days for me to get my keyboard from China.
It is a GLORIOUS little keyboard!
Shade's Guide is the kc84 compatible with cherry switches? Or do I have to stick with gateron? New to mechanical boards, so this may be a dumb question.
@@pamesc14 yeah you'd be set to use nearly every MX style switch. Gateron, Cherry, Kailh, etc. Just won't work for optical or proprietary switches.
Zee B Nice! Thank you!
can u use cherry profile keycaps on this or not?
does it come in iso layout? I couldn't find any.
Damn I'm between this or the GK87, I don't have plans of modding it so idk which is more convenient
so i would have to use this with a usb c hub on my mac thats why the k2 sounds like a better deal with the bluetooth but idk. I just ordered this but might cancel it.....im scurred. i saw reviews saying the k2 keycaps lose paint over time or whateverr.
Your hair is super beautiful!
I have a question for all of you which have this keyboard. The keys are shinethrough and my room is over the day really light out and bright and in all of the pictures, you cant really see the values of the keys. If the rgb is turned off can you see them better or is it just in the viedeo and if so can somebody tell me where I can buy some keys for the ep84 on amazon ?
Does anyone know any black and red keycap set on amazon for this keyboard?
What the hell is that repeated rising sweep sound in the background ?
1u modifier keys to the right of the space bar is a deal breaker for me. That's why I switched to a K8 from the K6. Much easier to find key cap sets when not having to accommodate for the 1u FN, ALT, and CTRL. Also, having wireless is helpful, if not a necessity, for some use cases. Great review, nonetheless!
@@SwitchandClickOfficial Haven't tried a group but yet. I'm impatient!
So you're wearing keycap inspired clothes. You are on another level Betty.
Oh that’s just the beginning 😎
I just picked it up for $57. It's my first custom keyboard.
Can i put cherry keycaps on this keyboard? sorry im newbie
Could someone explain why this doesn't work with Macs? :(
what are the keyboards at your shelf
which is better this or RK ROYAL KLUDGE RK84?
Can anyone tell me if all pcb mount switches fit into all 5 pin hot swappable keyboards?
Can you please review Royal Kludge RK84
I recently ordered a RK61 but the number keys and a few letter keys stopped working after 2 days of using it, so I returned it. However, I saw the Epomaker EP84 on an Amazon deal for cheaper than what I had paid for the RK61. I’ve ordered the brown switch, I hope it works well and is compatible with my Mac.
heyy did it end up working with your mac? i'm on the edge of ordering it 😅
@@Shiiiveeers yes, it works perfectly fine on my MAC! I love it!!
@@nicholawilliams4802 thanks legend!!
@@Shiiiveeers you’re welcome! Keep me updated. I am sure you’ll like yours as much as I like mine!!
But no option for bluetooth though, right?
I've been trying to find my info but unsuccessfully. Any one can tell me or direct me to what Epomaker linups mean / stand for / imply ?
GK, AK, EP, etc. ?
geek keyboards, aluminium keyboard and epomaker? Just guessing lmao
could i throw in some zeal sakurio switches? would the rgb still work well?
Yep. It would work
just a question can u swap a optical switch to mechanical switch ? like if the pcb is only for mechanical switch is it only mechanical switch that you can put on or can u also put a optical switch on it ?
@@SwitchandClickOfficial that sucks i bought the clix keyboard and bought a optical switch yellow to replace them i havent got the keyboard yet but the switches i got and yah it sucks i couldnt use that... i mean i have the gk 61 keyboard but its already in yellow optical switch
Does anyone know the polling rate of this keyboard?
Should I get this or a durgod Taurus with browns? Also is the height of this keyboard bothersome the Taurus looks a lot thinner and I’m used to thin membrane keyboards
@@SwitchandClickOfficial Thanks. My Durgod has been in shipping for a couple days now but hot swappable was my main attraction point since this is my first mechanical. If only this video was released a couple days ago so I could have got this instead lol!