EPOMAKER TH80 V2 Mechanical Keyboard Review

Epomaker have sent us their TH80 V2 mechanical keyboard to take a look at, and we have been putting it through its paces for everyday work, typing and general desktop use and of course, gaming, over the last few weeks.

The TH80 V2 sits in that increasingly popular middle ground between a compact keyboard and a full-sized desktop keyboard. It uses a 75% ANSI layout, which means you retain the function row and useful navigation keys, while still saving a good amount of desk space compared with a traditional full-size keyboard.

For anyone who spends a lot of time at a compact or cluttered desk, this type of layout can make a lot of sense. You get a more compact footprint, more room for your mouse, and a cleaner setup, without feeling like too many useful keys have been sacrificed.

What’s in the Box?

Inside the box, along with the keyboard, you get:

—  1 x Epomaker TH80 V2 Keyboard

—  1 x 2-in-1 Keycap-and-Switch Puller

—  Some Extra Switches

—  1 x 2.4GHz Wireless Receiver, stored under the keyboard kickstand

—  1 x Detachable USB-A to USB-C Cable

—  1 x Summarised Manual

—  1 x Product Card

TH80 V2 Keyboard Design and Features

The TH80 V2 is a 75% mechanical keyboard with 79 keys and a programmable rotary knob. In hand, it feels like a really well-constructed keyboard for the price, with a compact but still practical layout.

The design is aimed at users who want something that works well across productivity, gaming and general day-to-day use. It is not as stripped back as a 60% or 65% keyboard, but it is still much smaller than a traditional full-sized keyboard.

Some of the main features include:

—  75% ANSI US layout with 79 keys and 1 rotary knob

—  Tri-mode connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth and wired USB

—  8000mAh battery

—  Battery life of up to 200 hours with RGB off and 40 hours with RGB on

—  Mac, Windows and Android compatibility

—  Gasket-mounted structure

—  Flex-cut PC plate and PCB

—  5-layer sound-optimising system

—  PBT double-shot keycaps

—  Cherry-profile keycaps

—  Factory-lubed mechanical switches

—  Hot-swappable support for 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches

—  Dynamic RGB backlighting with south-facing LEDs

—  Programmable keys via the Epomaker Driver

—  Adjustable typing angles of 6°, 8° and 10.5°

The version we were sent came with “Sea Salt Silent V2” switches. These are factory-lubed mechanical switches, and the keyboard is hot-swappable so users can replace the switches in future without soldering.

This is one of the appealing parts of keyboards like this. You can buy it, use it as supplied, and never change a thing. Or, if you get more interested in the mechanical keyboard hobby, you can experiment with different switches and keycaps over time.

Build Quality and Layout

The TH80 V2 uses an ABS plastic case, a PC plate, and PBT double-shot keycaps. The keyboard weighs around 0.9kg, so it has enough weight to stay planted on the desk without feeling overly heavy or awkward to move.

The first impression when you pick it up is that the keyboard is solid. It feels really well constructed in hand, and the materials all feel premium. There are no flex or cracking sounds as you handle it, and it feels densely packed.

You have to remind yourself that this is a very affordable mechanical keyboard, as it feels more premium than you would expect for the price.

The 75% layout is likely to be a good compromise for most users. It keeps the keyboard compact, but still includes the function row and a useful selection of navigation keys. For people moving from a full-sized keyboard, the adjustment should be much easier than jumping straight to a 60% or 65% sized keyboard.

I didn’t miss having the number pad during normal office use, and the keyboard was generally easy to get used to.

I did find the shift key located under the return key to be a little smaller than what I am used to with full-sized keyboards, and it took a little time with touch typing to get used to it.

The rotary knob, when I connected the keyboard to my Linux PC, controlled the volume. I found this to be useful instead of having to go to a menu to change the system volume.

Typing Experience

The TH80 V2 uses a gasket-mounted design, along with several layers of sound-dampening material. Epomaker describes this as a five-layer sound-optimising system, using PORON foam, IXPE switch pad, sound enhancement pad, PORON latex switch socket pad and bottom silicone.

The goal here is to reduce unwanted resonance and produce a smoother, more refined typing sound.

On that front, it certainly achieves all of that. It is nearly silent to type on and is incredibly smooth.

I know from working in a busy office that the sound of people typing can annoy people around them, so this keyboard would be ideal for those situations. It is well-suited for use in the living room, where you may not want a clicking noise interrupting your movie or basically anywhere where you don’t want sounds intruding.

The keycaps are PBT double-shot keycaps in Cherry profile. PBT is generally preferred over cheaper ABS keycaps because it tends to feel better over time and is more resistant to shine from long-term use.

The keys are well constructed and well finished, and there is no hint of wobble.

For day-to-day writing, email, editing, browsing and general computer use, the TH80 V2 feels like the kind of keyboard that should appeal to people who want something better than the basic keyboard bundled with a PC, but who do not necessarily want to spend enthusiast-level money.

Connectivity and Battery Life

One of the biggest advantages of the TH80 V2 over some more gaming-focused keyboards is its tri-mode connectivity. You can use it wired over USB-C, wirelessly with the included 2.4GHz receiver, or via Bluetooth.

This makes it a flexible option if you want to move between a desktop PC, laptop, tablet or even multiple devices. Epomaker says the keyboard can remember up to five devices, which is useful if you regularly move between work and personal machines.

We tested the keyboard connected to multiple devices using all 3 of the connection methods available. For desktop PCs and gaming, we always used the USB-C connection, and I think a lot of users will connect this way too, but the other options offer a lot of flexibility.

I connected the keyboard to an Android TV box using the 2.4GHz receiver, and it worked flawlessly. The receiver is stored neatly in the keyboard under one of the adjustable legs.

I connected to laptops and tablets using Bluetooth without issues, but for gaming, the USB-C connections clearly will have a lot less latency. I didn’t experience any dropouts using the wireless connection methods, and lag isn’t really an issue for normal typing or office work, etc.

The 8000mAh battery is another major feature here. Epomaker claims up to 200 hours of use with RGB switched off, or around 40 hours with RGB switched on. During our testing with a mix of uses, we never worried about having to charge the keyboard and having the built-in battery just adds more flexibility of where you can use the keyboard.

RGB Lighting

The TH80 V2 includes dynamic RGB backlighting, with south-facing per-key LEDs and RGB side lighting. The result is a keyboard that can be made to look quite understated or much more colourful, depending on your setup and preferences.

The colours are vibrant but tastefully implemented. It’s not over the top but clearly visible and the colours are vivid.

The lighting can be adjusted in terms of effect, brightness and speed, so users who like RGB will have plenty of room to customise the look.

Software

The TH80 V2 is programmable via the Epomaker Driver, which allows users to adjust key functions, lighting and other settings.

This is useful if you want to remap keys, set up macros, change lighting effects, or customise the keyboard to better suit your own workflow.

The software is available for both Mac and Windows and is quite comprehensive.

We covered a lot of it’s features in our HE68 Lite review so take a look at that article for more details.

The software is intuitive, easy to use and has nice customisation options. Again, given the price of the keyboard, this is a really feature to have. It is good to see software support available rather than relying only on onboard shortcuts. For more casual users, the keyboard works fine out of the box, but the software adds extra flexibility for people who want to customise it further.

Gaming Performance

Although the TH80 V2 is not a Hall Effect gaming keyboard like the HE68 Lite, it still offers features that will be useful for gaming, including 1000Hz polling over USB and 2.4GHz wireless, full anti-ghosting, and low latency figures.

Epomaker lists latency at 2ms wired, 5ms over 2.4GHz wireless and 11ms over Bluetooth.

For most users, the 2.4GHz wireless mode is likely to be the best balance between convenience and performance. Bluetooth is useful for tablets, laptops and general productivity, while wired mode is there for anyone who wants the most stable connection.

During our testing (and I include my teenage son in this), the consensus was that while it was quite smooth to use, that smoothness meant it was a little slower to use than HE68 Lite, for example. It was possible to rapidly press keys more frequently with the more dedicated gaming keyboard. The TH80 V2 performed well, but if you are serious about your gaming (like my son!), then the HE68 Lite was more suitable.

Who Is It For?

The TH80 V2 is likely to appeal to users who want a compact mechanical keyboard that still feels practical for everyday use. The 75% layout makes it more versatile than smaller compact boards, while the tri-mode connectivity makes it useful across several devices.

It could be a good fit for:

—  People who want a better keyboard for home office use

—  Users who want a compact setup without losing the function row

—  Gamers who want a wireless mechanical keyboard without going fully “gamer” in appearance

—  Mac and Windows users who want one keyboard for multiple systems

—  Anyone curious about mechanical keyboards but not ready to spend enthusiast-level money

—  Users who like the idea of future switch or keycap upgrades

Conclusion

The Epomaker TH80 V2 is a well-featured 75% mechanical keyboard that brings together a practical layout, tri-mode wireless connectivity, a large battery, RGB lighting, hot-swappable switches and a more refined typing structure than you might expect at this price point.

It is well built and will stand up to heavy usage. The keyboard is super smooth to type on, and you won’t be disappointed with its quality.

The big difference compared with the HE68 Lite is that this is less of a specialist Hall Effect gaming keyboard and more of an all-rounder. It is better suited to users who want one keyboard for work, typing, casual gaming and multiple devices.

Overall, the TH80 V2 is another strong value option from Epomaker. It gives users a lot of features for the money, while still leaving room for customisation later on. For anyone looking to move beyond a basic keyboard and into something more enjoyable to use every day, it is well worth considering.

You can find out more about the keyboard on the Epomaker site. The keyboard is currently available for $62.09.