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Should you buy the Epomaker TH40?
I've been on a bit of a keyboard testing spree lately, testing everything from a budget TKL and a compact 75% keyboard to an aluminum 65% mechanical keyboard in a matter of weeks. When Epomaker offered to send me their new 40% wireless keyboard, I jumped at the chance. The Epomaker TH40 is the first 40% keyboard I've used, and I have a lot to say about it.
There's a lot to like about this ultra-compact and lightweight gasket-sealed keyboard, but also a few things that could be improved. For anyone looking for a programmable, portable and extremely affordable 40% mechanical keyboard, the TH40 comes highly recommended.
About this review: Epomaker sent me the TH40 for this review, but had no influence on the content.
Increase your productivity with style
Epomaker TH40
The Epomaker TH40 aims to delight fans of 40% keyboards with its pretty and compact layout, VIA support, and lightweight construction. Despite the lower price, the TH40 manages to squeeze in a gasket mount, 3-layer sound dampening, and wireless connectivity. A great typing experience doesn't have to be sacrificed either, and you get both Windows and Mac support.
- Extremely lightweight and portable
- Feels great when typing
- Offers a lot for the price
- The workmanship quality seems poor
- No translucent keycaps
Prices and availability
Curiously, the Epomaker TH40 is the only decent 40% key count mechanical keyboard you'll find on Amazon, unless you want to experiment with no-name models. There are two color options and two switch options (both linear) available, and each of the four combinations costs $80 whether you buy from Amazon or Epomaker's website.
What I liked
The cute, the compact, the clicky
When I unboxed the TH40, I had to wait a moment to notice how light it was. Compared to some of the TKL, 75%, and even 65% models I've tried recently, it felt almost weightless. The four gold-yellow keycaps add some nice accents to the otherwise black keyboard. I love the attached carrying strap, which encourages you to take the board with you on trips and trips to the coffee shop.
Not all 40% keyboards have wireless functionality, so the fact that both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity are present is certainly an added value for this board. Plus, you can easily switch between Windows and Mac modes depending on your preferred system.
I couldn't get enough of the deep and satisfying sound
I couldn't get enough of the deep and satisfying sound that felt like a mix of “clack” and “clack”. The gasket mount and 3-layer sound dampening (Poron sheet foam, IXPE switch pad, and Poron foam on the bottom) are impressive at this price point, and the Epomaker Flamingo linear switches felt simultaneously heavy and light when typing.
The TH40's out-of-the-box functionality may not be optimal for making it your everyday device right away, but VIA's customization certainly helps.
There are three indicator lights on the keyboard for Caps Lock, Win Lock and wireless connection. The TH40's out-of-the-box functionality may not be perfect enough to make it your daily work tool right away, but the VIA customization certainly helps.
You can download the JSON file for the keyboard from the Epomaker website, load it into the VIA web app, and start customizing the different “layers” to suit your preferences. The split spacebars can be used as additional function keys to access different layers of the keyboard, so you can map three different layers each to the Fn key, left spacebar, and right spacebar. There is a learning curve, but if you're considering 40% keyboards, you're probably ready for it.
You also get stands for adjusting the typing angle and four rubber feet. The TH40 also doesn't skimp on enthusiast-friendly features like a hot-swappable circuit board and south-facing LEDs, making it a well-rounded offering compared to the competition.
What I didn't like
The workmanship is not perfect
The TH40 is a lightweight keyboard and to achieve this, the use of ABS plastic might have been necessary. However, the end result leaves a lot to be desired. While the keyboard doesn't exactly feel “cheap,” I would have liked to see higher quality materials that would have helped the board score full points in this category as well.
If only I could see the amazing RGB lighting shining through the keycaps, the keyboard would be much more usable even without the lighting.
The south-facing LEDs are great for custom keycap compatibility, but if only I could see the awesome RGB lighting shining through the keycaps, the keyboard would be much more usable even without lighting. The backlighting is otherwise excellent and easy to customize with keybindings and through the VIA software.
Should you buy the Epomaker TH40?
For those who have used multiple 40% keyboards before, the TH40 may not be anything groundbreaking, but it is undoubtedly one of the best 40% ready keyboards currently on the market. Personally, I'm not yet convinced to use a 40% keyboard for my work, but the satisfying typing feel and incredible portability of the TH40 may soon make me a convert.
You should buy the Epomaker TH40 if:
- You love the efficiency and compact size of 40% keyboards
- You prefer a deep typing sound with satisfactory feedback
- You want something cute and wearable
You should avoid the Epomaker TH40 if:
- No work is possible without keys
- You don't want to use software to remap keys
- You want high-quality materials and translucent lighting
Fantastic for productivity experts
Epomaker TH40
The Epomaker TH40 aims to delight fans of 40% keyboards with its pretty and compact layout, VIA support, and lightweight build. Despite the lower price, the TH40 manages to squeeze in a gasket mount, 3-layer sound dampening, and wireless connectivity. A great typing experience doesn't have to be sacrificed either, and you get both Windows and Mac support.