Epomaker GK96S. Review of a good and affordable mechanical keyboard
Last time, I’m in love with mechanical keyboards. I’ve been using split mechanical keyboards for about a year now. I already wrote an article “Ergonomic split keyboard. Iris”. But now I want to tell about the keyboard with a standard form-factor.
it’s really popucal keyboard, Epomaker launched a kickstarter campaign and more than two thousand people supported the project and Epomaker raised about two hundred thousand dollars.
At this moment its price 8665 rubles. It’s about $115.
I am always afraid to buy something expensive on Ali, I’m worried that something bad will happen with my package, for example, I will get a brick instead of keyboard.
As I understand, the most important thing is not to buy from sellers with bad reviews, or without any reviews. Ali has an official Epomaker seller, so i ordered a keyboard there. So everything was great, I got my keyboard. The keyboard arrived in good condition, but our mail, of course, crumpled the box.
MODELS
This keyboard model has several different variations.
For example, if you do not need bluetooth, and you know that you will always use it with a wire, you can save money and buy a wired version. The wired versions are without the letter S at the end. For example: GK96, GK96X, SK96.
Also, they have a version with optical switches instead of mechanicals (but optical switches are mechanial too of course). These are models starting with the letter S: SK96, SK96X, SK96S.
Also, they have a version for left-handers, these are models where a block with numbers is on the left, and not on the right side of the keyboard. Left-handed models have an L in the name: SK96LS, GK96LXS
And there are versions where you can replace a long space button with three buttons and decide for yourself how they will work. For example, you can switch the language by pressing two spaces, this is quite convenient. In addition, long buttons, espessially space button always has problems, since it contains stabilizers that are far from each other. You can press any small button and then the space bar, and if you are not an insensitive person, you will immediately feel the difference.
Spacebar is usually has the worst tactile feedback and had some unnecessary sounds. So, much better when you have the stubs are closer to each other. And even better, buttons are pressed without stubs. By replacing the spacebar with three different buttons, we add additional functionality, and also, we may improve the situation with stubs, since it changes one large stub to two small ones.
The GK96 also has versions with different keycaps. There is a version with PBT keycaps, and a version with “Double shot keycaps”, this version made from ABS plastic and they start to shine in one or two years, so I don’t like ABS. ABS has more backlighting than PBT. But I still recommend PBT keycaps. They look very good, there is a very nice plastic, I really like to touch them.
Unboxing
In the box you will find a keyboard, a tool for removing switches and caps. Moreover, it is double-sided and it is convenient to use it. For example, the Keychron K6 comes with a completely inconvenient tool for removing switches.
It’s also got a pretty good cable. In a silvery braid. Better than other keyboards at this price point. and a few spare mouth guards. And a couple of spare switches.
First impressions
I start to use this keyboard and I really like it, I thought it would be much worse, because I already bought GK64XS, and I knew about its problems. And I thought the sores would be the same. But no, the guys are evolve and the old problems are gone.
Firstly, I was upset with GK64XS by its terrible software, which had to be installed if I wanted to swap the left ALT and CMD positions. You need to switch these buttons if you want to use the keyboard with windows and macos.
They changed the way to change layout and the software is no longer needed. This is now done with a keyboard shortcut, now you may just press FN+6 and you will switch to Win mode. Or FN+7 and switch to MAC mode.
Bt the way, if you hold FN button, you will see the mode you are in now, it will backlight with a white colour.
The main problem with the software — it was partly in Chinese, I totally don’t understand it. So I couldn’t do anything in it. Also, they only had software for windows, but now they have a version for mac too.
Secondly, I really didn’t like the keycaps of the GK64XS, I changed them almost immediately, they are very thin and have an XDA profile. But these keycaps are completely different. There is an OEM profile and they are very solid. They are thick and very nice, it’s hard to show it just by photo, but they look amazing. I have an Edisson lamp standing on my desk, and when the light falls on them, they reflect it very beautifully. By tactile, they are scabrous and it is always pleasant to touch them.
СASE
The case is also very really nice. White looks very impressive comparing with all the other keyboards I own. If you choose between black and white, absolutely take white. There are legs that are quite grippy, using them you can set three different angles for the keyboard. This is important for some people, but I always use it without legs.
I like that this care is standard, I mean that it doesn’t have any additional buttons, which means that you can change it. Buy a transparent case where the backlight looks awesome or completely aluminum, which also looks very beautiful.
I found flawless case for GK68XS, I think that it’s the most beauty case I ever seen, it’s aluminum, i think that you will be able to find something similar for this keyboard too.
Form Factor
It has a rather strange 96% form factor. Most people told me that they can’t work without F1-F12.
But I think that I like something like GK68XS much more than this form-factor.
Switches
This keyboard have hotswap, that means you can just put any switches you like, and you don’t need to sold them.
My keyboard has Gateron Black. They are as good as Gateron Red. Smooth, no sand like in Gateron Brown. But I like the red ones more. I’ve tried both White which is 35 grams, Red which is 45 grams and Black which is 65 grams. And now red is my ideal among the linear. Although, in general, I do not like linear switches as much as tactile.
But Gateron with tactile Brown has some kind of trouble, I don’t like the ones I tried. There is a feeling that there is something like a sand. The switch itself does not move as smoothly as, for example, Zilents or Zealios from zealpc. Although all Zilents or Zealios switches are made in factories at Gateron. I do not understand how this happens and what kind of magic they have there.
It’s hard to give recommendations about switches, everything is very individual and depends on preferences. If you have light hands, you will most likely like light switches (45g or less). If your fingers are like sausages, then use a heavier one (62g or more). If you type texts more often, you will like the tactile ones. If you play games, then linear. If you are a pervert and love noise, then clicky.
Backlight
The backlight is pretty nice. There is a lot of light, it is bright and contrasting. On the one hand, I like it when the backlight is not only between the buttons, but the buttons themselves shine through. But, unfortunately, only ABS or POM keycaps can be transparent. But ABS plastic is not as good as PBT. So this option seems more pragmatic. And all that RGB is pretty juicy in the evening.
Battery
GK64 has only 1900mAh, AKKO 3068 even less — 1800mAh. But in this keyboard we have really huge battery — 4000mAh. And this is one of the most important factors for the wireless version. I can use it with backlight really long time.
Stabs
Usually stabilizers — the weak point of the mass market keyboards. A lot of people from mechanical keyboards community spent a lot of time with them, to make them work fine and achieve a pleasant sound. Usually they lubricate them, align the metal part, add some kind of plaster on the board to reduce a stagger, cut off the extra legs to reduce noice from stabs. But there are pretty good stabilizers here. Of course, they are not as good as in custom keyboards for $900, but for the mass market mechanics this is a very good result. For example, there is AKKO 3068 next to me, and stabs there is just awful.
Bluetooth
Here we have bluetooth version 5.1 and the keyboard can connect to 3 different devices and quickly switch between them. And since here is version 5.1, where we get a feature, which is called “randomization of broadcast channel indexing”, so right now connection between keyboard and PC much stable.
Buzz
Also, I really like that everything is fine with noise isolation. There is absolutely no that nasty ringing echo. For example, next to me is the Keychron K6 keyboard and there is a lot of it in it. I laid foam on the bottom of the Keychron. This improved the situation quite a bit, but as one of my subscribers correctly noted, Keychron has a terrible plate. It is made of thin metal and there is nothing to do there. You can, of course, look for special spacers that are installed between the plate and PBT, they are made of soft foam or silicone. Or there are cheaper options, made of a material that looks like something in between felt and foam rubber. Even worse in AKKO 3068 keyboard, when you type on it, you get the feeling that it is not on the table, but on a bucket. But in GK96S, everything is generally good. I do not hear these echoes. And this is even without the foam on the bottom of the case.
Layout
I really like that all FN keys printed on keycaps. I’ve always had a problem with this before. After some time I just forget everything. How can I change the backlight mode there? fn+1 or fn+/? or maybe fn+`? Nothing helped? Okay, I’ll work with this backlight always. Now everything is written on the keycaps.
THE END
This is a very nice keyboard from all sides. They are fixed all the problems that I had in the GK64XS keyboard, which I bought about two years ago.
To be honest, I don’t even see any big disadvantages of the keyboard. Of course, you can find them if you compare the keyboard with some custom keyboard, which may cost 5–10 times more.
Switches were not so good. 65 grams is a lot for me. Although, I don’t understand how it works. I have 62 grams of Zealios v2 and I am very happy with them. But these seem too heavy. But switches are not a keyboard problem, it’s just that I made the wrong choice.
In short, I recommend it. By the way, if you buy on Ali, then look at the seller. On his rating. I just bought it because I saw that this is a real Epomaker. Verified seller, there is a large number of good reviews.
And if you want to help me, you may use my ref — https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_99mbhh
