Typing on this $82 mechanical keyboard is the most fun I’ve had being productive — here’s why

I’ve always been biased towards 75% TKL keyboards but the likes of the Epomaker TH99 are slowly but surely converting me into a fan of full-size ‘boards. The TH99 is an absolute beast for productivity, with its responsive Creamy Jade linear switches, double-shot PBT keycaps, and number pad and function keys.

And it doesn’t cost a lot either. You can pick one up for just $82 / £89. With its lovely design and intuitive companion software, the TH99 is a very loveable keyboard. However, stock switch choice is limited, and there is some flex in the body.

Is it still one of the best mechanical keyboards? Read my full Epomaker TH99 review to find out.

Epomaker TH99 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A mechanical keyboard with an 1800 96% layout
• Who is it for? For serious typists
• How much does it cost? The Epomaker TH99 is available for $82 / £89
• What do we like? The lovely design, ideal layout and switches for productivity, fantastic typing experience, and user-friendly companion software
• What don’t we like? Limited stock switch choices and there’s some flex in the body

Epomaker TH99 review: Specs

Epomaker TH99 review: The ups

From its lovely design that maximizes productivity to the typing experience and sound profile, the Epomaker TH99 is an absolute winner.

Lovely design

Time and again, Epomaker has impressed me with how stunning many of its keyboards look, such as the DynaTab75 ($89) and the Ajazz AK820 Pro ($68). And the TH99 is no different.

It sports a lovely design that fits right into the office. It comes in two colorways: white blue or black. I tested the white blue variant which has a white body and multi-tonal blue and white keycaps, and it looks stunning. South-facing per-key RGB lights up the ‘board and it’s fully customizable via the companion software (more on that soon).

Peak productivity

If you’re looking for a mechanical keyboard to maximize your productivity, you won’t go wrong with the Epomaker TH99. The keyboard has a 96% layout, despite the ‘99’ moniker, so you get a number pad and a full row of function keys.

The TH99 adopts the 1800 96% layout, so you get the same number of keys as a standard full-size keyboard but it’s a bit smaller to save you some desk space.

It measures 15.82 x 5.2 x 1.65 inches which still sounds like a lot, but it’s smaller than full-size keyboards like the Keychron B6 Pro ($44), the Keychron K10 Max ($119) or the Razer Pro Type Ultra ($159). Also, being an 1800 layout, there are gaps between the arrow keys and the other function keys, so you won’t accidentally hit the page down, enter or shift keys.

I usually work across macOS and Windows machines, so it’s important for me to have a keyboard that can swap between OS layouts to enable me to rely on muscle memory for typing. The TH99 has a dedicated switch that lets you toggle between layouts. And like on most other keyboards, you get tri-mode connectivity: Bluetooth, wired and 2.4GHz.

A beast for typing

Adding to the Epomaker TH99’s productivity calibre is the fantastic typing experience it offers. There’s only one set of stock switches you can get: Creamy Jade linears. I used to love tactile switches but the more I type, the more I love linear. The Creamy Jades are lovely to work on.

They require a moderately weighty 45g of force to activate — and while that sounds heavy, these aren’t nearly as heavy as the 57g Super Switch Bananas in the Keychron K8 V2 ($79) which made my hands feel fatigued.

The Creamy Jades have a pre-travel distance of 2mm, so you don’t have to press them all the way down for a command to register, and the total travel distance is 4mm — so a half-press suffices. If you’re a fast typist, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to do so with the TH99.

The TH99 is also fitted with double-shot PBT keycaps, and if this is your first time buying a mechanical keyboard, these are great to have. PBT ones are far more durable and oil-resistant than ABS ones. They also don’t get shiny over time. I’ve seen pricier keyboards utilize ABS keycaps, such as the Razer Pro Type Ultra and the Corsair K65 Plus for Mac ($179), so it’s admirable that Epomaker brings these to you at a far more affordable price of $82.

Right out of the box, I achieved one of my highest typing scores, as the test at 10fastfingers.com confirms. You can see the results compared to other ‘boards I’ve tested above. Catch me hitting my weekly targets with ease now.

Music to my ears

There’s also a lot to love about the Epomaker TH99’s sound profile. The keyboard utilizes a cushioned gasket structure which is designed to eliminate metallic pings and other unwelcome or unpleasant sounds. Epomaker has fitted five layers of soft materials, such as a Poron Sandwich Pad and silicone acoustic layers, to reduce hollow noise.

All of these, combined with the double-shot PBT keycaps and Creamy Jade switches, create that thock I love. That ‘creamy’ moniker is no lie (even though the word itself gives me the heebie-jeebies).

User-friendly companion software

If you want to customize the Epomaker TH99’s RGB lighting or remap its keys, you’ll need to download Epomaker Driver on your Windows or macOS machine. The software is easy to use and in addition to customizing the RGB and remapping the keys, you can program macros and update the firmware — all the usual things.

I wish the TH99 was QMK/VIA-enabled like the Epomaker Split65 ($119) so I didn’t have to download proprietary software onto my MacBook—but you can’t always get what you want.

Epomaker TH99 review: The downs

The Epomaker TH99’s all-plastic body twists and bends, and you’re limited to just one set of stock switches (but at least the keyboard is hot-swappable).

Some flex

The Epomaker TH99’s body is made entirely of ABS plastic, as you’d expect at the low price of $82. At first glance, the keyboard looks like it’s built really well, but you soon realize that it’s not all roses.

There’s quite a bit of flex in the body. Twisting it by holding both sides reveals the extent of this. This is the same issue I’ve encountered with the Epomaker EK68 ($89). Thankfully, the TH99’s keys don’t dip as deep into the PCB as they do on the EK68.

If you want an affordable full-size keyboard that has A-grade construction, I’d recommend the Keychron K10 Max, and if you don’t mind dropping to an 80% layout, the 8BitDo Retro ($99) is phenomenal.

Limited (stock) switch choices

While the Epomaker TH99 is fully hot-swappable and compatible with 3- and 5-pin mechanical switches, it’s important to note that you only get one set of stock switches: Creamy Jade. Now, like I said, these linear switches are absolutely fantastic, but if you want tactile or clicky ones, you’ll have to spend more.

A set of any of these usually costs more than $10. For instance, the Epomaker Flamingo switches (35 pieces) cost $13, while clicky Kailh Box White switches (36 pieces) cost $15. It comes down to personal preference, and there’s a plethora of switch options out there.

Epomaker TH99 review: Verdict

As full-size mechanical keyboards go, the Epomaker TH99 is close to being as good as the crème de la crème. Its 1800 layout and responsive Creamy Jade linear switches make it a treat to work on, and its design is a sight for sore eyes. I also love the thock-y sound profile thanks to the layers and layers of dampening and gasket mount.

But there are a couple of noteworthy flaws. Even though the TH99 is hot-swappable, I wish Epomaker offered more stock choices so people didn’t have to spend extra. Also, the all-plastic body twists significantly.

For the price, though, the TH99 offers a joyful typing experience. All this for just $82? Sign me up!