Epomaker RT100 Mechanical Keyboard Review

About the Epomaker RT100

The Epomaker RT100 is a compact full-size mechanical keyboard with 97 keys, down from 104 on a traditional full-size keyboard. It includes a full function row, arrow keys, and number pad, but the navigation and editing cluster has been reduced to three keys (Delete, Page Up, and Page Down) above the number pad. The numpad also has a handful of secondary functions you can access by holding the Fn button (Home, End, Print Screen, Insert, Scroll Lock, and Pause) and secondary keys for media and backlighting controls.

The keyboard has a vintage aesthetic designed to inspire nostalgia. Though it’s available in multiple colors (that diminish its vintage vibes somewhat), it uses tall terminal-style keycaps with bold, extra-large legends to harken to computers from the 1980s. Epomaker even includes a small “mini TV” attachment that plugs into the corner of the keyboard with a hidden USB-B port and can display custom GIFs, as well as the date, time, and system information like CPU speed and temperature.

The volume knob feels distinctly not vintage and a bit out of place with its glossy finish and RGB backlighting, but it's a small element.

Epomaker RT100 specs

• Price: $106
• Connectivity: USB Type-C to Type-A cable (included), Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless with USB-A dongle
• Dimensions: 15.6 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Weight: 2.98 pounds (1,350 grams)
• Material: Plastic frame, dye-sublimated PBT keycaps
• Colors: Retro white, pink, deep grey, green, purple
• Battery Capacity: 5,000mAh (about 12 hours with full RGB backlighting)
• Compatibility: Windows, MacOS, mobile (via Bluetooth)
• Switches: Epomaker Sea Salt (silent), Wisteria Linear, Wisteria Tactile, Flamingo (linear), Gateron Pro Yellow (linear),
  
• Polling rate: 1000Hz
• Special Features: Full RGB backlighting, media control knob, hot-swappable switches, removable Mini TV screen
• Warranty: 1-year

What we like

It’s old school meets new school

The RT100 combines the best of both worlds between retro and modern, combining vintage looks with fresh features. The beige (sorry, retro white) colorway took me right back to my youth, playing text-based RPGs on a Packard Bell I won from school. The keycaps are MDA profile and sculpted to resemble the keycaps on classic systems like the Commodore 64 (or 8Bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboard), but most are only slightly taller than typical keycaps found on gaming keyboards for enhanced comfort. Visually, it’s a blast from the past.

Under the surface, it has a full suite of modern features. It can connect to four different devices wirelessly over Bluetooth 5.0 or 2.4GHz wireless. It’s easy to switch between using key commands, and the dongle offers connection speeds that match the majority of wired gaming keyboards today.

There’s per-key RGB backlighting, subdued to an underglow since the keycaps aren’t backlit, and a high capacity 5,000 mAh battery for long battery life (about 12 hours with RGB turned on and multiple weeks with it off). It’s also fully programmable using Epomaker’s software, so you can record macros and remap keys to be saved to its onboard memory.

The only touch of modern that seems a bit out of place is the volume knob mentioned earlier. The glossy black finish and bold RGB don’t match the look of the rest of the keyboard. Still, a volume wheel that allows you to click to pause is a welcome feature for dedicated media controls.

The typing experience is excellent

Epomaker knows how to design a great-feeling keyboard and that’s evident throughout the RT100. It uses a gasket-based mounting structure with strips of sound dampening to absorb the vibrations of your keystrokes. This creates a softer feel under the fingers, less fatigue, and a reduced volume for office use. There are also extra layers of foam throughout the chassis to quiet and smooth out its sound signature.

I was sent the version with Wisteria Tactile switches and they’re nothing short of excellent. They have a prominent tactile bump right at the top of the press that’s akin to Drop’s Holy Panda switches (a classic in the mechanical keyboard community). They come pre-lubed and have a delightfully addictive poppiness in their feel and sound. The feeling is a bit like typing on a bubble wrap, minus the softness. Having used most of the other switches available with this keyboard, I can say that the quality of the options available is quite good and a cut above most other retro-themed keyboards at this price.

A surprising number of options

Compared to its biggest competitor, the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard and other, lesser-known options like the XVX Retro, the RT100 provides more customizability options out of the gate to make sure it meets your tastes and needs. The 8BitDo limits you to retro-inspired clicky switches and two colorways. Epomaker allows you to choose from five each, including pastel colors that intertwine modern and retro even more.

Of course, you don’t have to stick with the stock switches at all. The RT100 uses hot-swappable switch sockets and includes a special tool for removing and replacing them. If you want to try another switch or replace one that has gone bad, you can simply unplug it and press another into place. It’s a killer feature that allows you to completely change the sound and feel of your keyboard without having to completely replace it, saving you money and increasing its repairability.

Pulling and replacing switches felt particularly easy on the RT100 due to its softer supporting materials, so it’s an even easier upgrade to make here than many other gaming keyboards.

Great wireless connectivity, even for gaming

Given its retro leanings, you could be forgiven for thinking the RT100 is wired only. It supports three different Bluetooth 5.0 connections that can be hot-swapped by holding Fn and the associated pairing key. Once I had it paired with my smartphone, laptop, and tablet, the connections were rock solid and only took a few seconds to switch between each on the fly. For productivity, Bluetooth was responsive and as reliable as it needs to be, but has noticeable latency when playing games.

For gaming, the 2.4GHz connection is a much better fit thanks to the much faster speed. After plugging in the dongle and tapping Fn+R to pair with it, it was instantly recognized and ready to use. Side by side with my Corsair K95, I wasn’t able to tell any difference at all in responsiveness. The RT100 is ready for wire-free competitive gaming.

What we don’t like

Epomaker’s software needs work

There’s a lot to love about the RT100 but its software isn’t one of them. While it works for remapping keys and assigning macros, it feels cumbersome and lacks the visual polish of mainstream software like Corsair iCUE or Razer Synapse. There are also some minor translation issues, but nothing a little common sense can’t overcome. The package feels like a work in progress, and having followed Epomaker’s keyboards for several years, that’s exactly what it is.

There are some neat features, like the ability to upload and share GIFs with the community for the optional screen, but overall, this is a suite I only load when I need to make a change and close it right after.

The Mini TV is disappointing

The Mini TV screen is a neat concept but it’s not executed well. Major features, like showing the date and time, simply don’t work without an update. Even then, the date was locked to the European format, and other features were hit or miss. Monitoring CPU temp and speed wouldn’t work consistently for me. It displayed fine on my desktop and not at all on my laptop. Uploading GIFs takes one or two minutes, which feels especially long when you’re forced to sit and watch the progress bar.

The way it connects to the keyboard also doesn’t feel very well thought out. It plugs in using a USB Type-C port hidden in the compartment for the USB receiver, but the dongle blocks the port, so you’ll need to remove it. After you plug it in, the rear half hangs awkwardly off the edge of the keyboard. The screen also points straight ahead and not up at you. It’s still usable but looks silly and like someone added it as an afterthought.

The number row legends are weirdly sized

The final issue I have with the keyboard may seem like a nitpick but is the kind of feature you can’t unsee. The secondary legends on the number row are the same size as the numbers and there’s no space at all between them. Most keyboards shrink these legends or offset them. Not here. They’re big and squeezed together, which makes the number row look cluttered and some buttons downright silly.

Nine and ten, for example, aren’t 9 and 10. They’re 9( and 10). It’s the only keyboard I’ve seen with this kind of legend and it’s strange.

Should you buy the Epomaker RT100?

Yes, it’s a solid choice for the money

Despite a handful of gripes, the RT100 is a great mechanical keyboard. If you like the retro aesthetic like I do, it’s likely to bring a smile to your face when you sit down to work or play games. It doesn’t skimp on modern quality-of-life features like wireless connectivity and customizable per-key backlighting, and offers a downright impressive typing experience for both work and gaming.

The software is obtuse, though, so remapping keys, assigning macros, and getting the screen to function are all less intuitive than they should be. The Mini TV is also a swing and a miss, and the keyboard looks better without it installed. In that way, the 8Bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is a better option and $20 less, albeit with fewer switch and color options. If you don’t mind its slightly unusual layout, the XVX Retro is another great option that can be had for $90 or less when it’s on sale.

Even with its shortcomings, the Epomaker RT100 is a great mechanical keyboard that nails the basics. It offers a classic look with modern touches and features, offers more choice and freedom, and doesn’t skimp on frills like high-speed wireless connectivity. At $120, it’s a very solid choice for any fan of vintage tech, and can often be found on sale for closer to, or even under, $100.