The Ultimate Typing Machine: Epomaker TH80 SE Review

The Epomaker TH80 SE is a compact, aggressive-looking 75% mechanical keyboard that delivers a lot for its price. Selling for around $99 at the time of this review, it blends a solid out-of-the-box experience with enough modularity to keep hobbyists happy. If you like a clean, customizable board that’s ready to use but easy to mod, this one deserves a close look.

Design and build

The TH80 SE comes in a black-and-gray colorway with an angular, “mean” aesthetic that stands out on a desk without being flashy. It’s a 75% layout with 81 keys, which keeps most functionality close while saving space compared to a full-size board.

The construction feels high quality out of the box. It uses a gasket-mounted, hot-swappable kit design, so the typing feel has a bit of flex and a slightly softer bottom-out compared to a rigid tray mount. That gasket layout also makes it easy to swap switches and experiment with different dampening setups.

Keycaps and switches

Epomaker ships the TH80 SE with PBT shot keycaps, which is great to see at this price. PBT is more durable and resists shine better than cheaper ABS caps, so the board already feels premium without any mods.

The stock switches are a linear type Epomaker labels “Flamingo” (a pinkish stem). They’re essentially a red-style linear: quiet, smooth, and ideal for office or shared environments where louder clicky switches would be distracting. If you want a different feel, the hot-swap sockets let you change switches in minutes.

Connectivity and battery

Connectivity options are flexible:

• 2.4 GHz wireless via a USB dongle (stored in the keyboard).
• Bluetooth pairing for multiple devices.
• Wired USB-A to USB-C cable (braided cable included) for a stable, always-charged connection.

The battery is rated at 4000 mAh. That’s decent for casual use, but with RGB and frequent wireless use you may find yourself charging it roughly once a week. If battery life is critical, the wired option is a reliable fallback.

RGB, controls, and knob

The keyboard includes RGB lighting with multiple effects and on-board control. Useful shortcuts let you change patterns and tweak behavior without software:

• Fn + backslash cycles lighting patterns.
• Fn + left / right adjusts effect speed.
• Fn + up / down adjusts brightness.

There’s also a metal volume knob with a tactile click when pressed and smooth rotation for precise volume adjustments. It adds both function and a premium feel to the layout.

Mac and Windows compatibility

On the back of the board there’s a simple OS switch to toggle between Mac and Windows modes. That adjusts key mapping to match each platform and makes the TH80 SE versatile if you switch between devices regularly.

Who this keyboard is for

The TH80 SE is a great fit if you want:

• A compact 75% layout with full functionality close at hand.
• A high-quality out-of-the-box experience: PBT keycaps, pleasant gasket feel, and a solid knob.
• Hot-swap flexibility so you can try different switches without soldering.
• Multiple connection options (2.4 GHz dongle, Bluetooth, wired) and Mac/Windows compatibility.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Premium PBT keycaps, hot-swappable gasket design, versatile connectivity, handy volume knob, Mac/Windows switch, attractive price point.
• Cons: 4000 mAh battery can require weekly charging with active wireless/RGB use; stock switches are linear only (though easily swapped).

Final thoughts

The Epomaker TH80 SE offers a lot for what you pay: a refined typing feel, strong build quality, and meaningful customization options without needing to mod immediately. It’s a solid starter board for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts and a ready-to-use daily driver for anyone who wants a compact, capable typing machine. If you value PBT keycaps, hot-swap flexibility, and multiple connection modes, the TH80 SE is worth considering.