Epomaker TH87 mechanical keyboard review: Compact TKL upgrade for everyday typing and gaming
The Epomaker TH87 uses a tenkeyless layout that removes the numpad while keeping the full typing and function key area. Picture: Epomaker.
Mechanical keyboards continue to grow in popularity as gamers and everyday users seek a better typing feel, durability, and customisation than standard membrane keyboards offer. Better switches, stronger build quality and flexible layouts have made them a common upgrade.
The Epomaker TH87 ISO uses a ten-keyless layout that removes the numpad while keeping the main typing area, function row, and navigation keys. In practice, this makes the keyboard feel compact without forcing you to relearn the layout. This is ideal if you don’t need a numpad and prefer a keyboard that takes up less space on your desk. Even with the smaller layout, I never felt cramped or limited while using it over the past few weeks.
The case is made from ABS plastic with a polycarbonate plate. While it does not feel as premium as an aluminium board, it feels solid while typing or during intense gaming sessions. At around 1kg, the keyboard has enough weight to stay stable on the desk and does not slide around while typing.
The Cherry profile double-shot PBT keycaps feel textured and durable, and the legends are bold and easy to read. After extended use, I noticed very little finger shine, which is one of the advantages of PBT compared with cheaper ABS caps.
Another welcome design feature is the adjustable kickstand. The two-stage system allows three typing angles at 6, 8, and 10.5 degrees, making it easy to find a comfortable wrist position. A cute feature is that the USB-A 2.4GHz is snugly tucked away behind the left kickstand.
The USB-C port on the top edge of the keyboard is well placed. On one side of it, there’s a PC/Mac toggle slider, and on the other, there’s a 2.4/USB/BT selector.
Overall, the design is clean and practical rather than flashy. It fits nicely into both a gaming setup and a work desk without looking out of place.
The TH87 offers tri-mode connectivity, including USB-C wired, 2.4GHz wireless, and Bluetooth. Switching between devices is straightforward, and I can move between a PC and a laptop quickly without reconnecting each time.
One of the biggest features is the large 10,000mAh battery. In testing, battery life was excellent. With RGB lighting enabled, it comfortably lasted several days of heavy use, and with the lighting off, it can run for up to 200 hours between charges.
RGB lighting is per-key and south-facing, which helps prevent interference with Cherry profile keycaps. There are also down-firing RGB light strips on either side, which look great if you like lighting up your gaming desk setup. The lighting effects are bright and easy to adjust, whether you want subtle backlighting for work or more colourful effects for gaming. The web interface lets you handle all the keyboard’s customisation, including lighting and macros, without needing to install any software.
The keyboard is also hot-swappable, allowing you to replace switches without soldering. This makes it easy to experiment with different switch types if you want to alter the feel or sound later.
Wired mode offers around 2ms latency, and the 2.4GHz wireless connection sits around 5ms with a 1000Hz polling rate, which felt responsive enough for fast-paced games.
Typing on the TH87 is comfortable thanks to its gasket-mounted structure and internal sound-dampening layers. The keyboard uses a five-layer system designed to reduce hollow noise and soften the bottom-out feel.
In daily use, the typing sound is fairly muted with a deeper tone rather than a sharp clack. This makes the TH87 ideal for office use, which isn’t something you say for most mechanical keyboards. The factory-lubed switches feel smooth and consistent, which makes long writing sessions easier on the fingers.
I tested the keyboard mainly for writing and some gaming. For productivity, it performs well, with stable stabilisers and no noticeable rattle on larger keys. For gaming, the wired and 2.4GHz modes feel quick and responsive. Bluetooth works fine for casual use, though it introduces slightly higher latency than the other modes. This isn’t an issue for general office use, but hardcore gamers will want to use a wired connection or at least the 2.4 GHz mode.
A well-balanced ten-keyless mechanical keyboard that offers stellar battery life, responsive wireless performance and a comfortable typing feel. It may lack a metal case, but it still delivers reliable everyday performance.
€66 epomaker.com
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
