Epomaker TH66 Review: ‘65% Keyboard With a Winning Layout Combination’

EPOMAKER TH66 KEYBOARD REVIEW FOR PC AND MAC.

Epomaker is one of my go-to brands for cheaper yet very cheerful keyboards. The company takes on-trend keyboard formats, mixes in great switches and good-looking keycaps, treats them to a healthy bit of lube, foam, and other goodies, and sells them as complete packages at very competitive prices. On paper, the TH66 looks like a perfect combination of features for fans of smaller keyboards. Does it live up to the hype? This is the Epomaker TH66 review.

Generous package

Despite being more of a budget offering, the Epomaker TH66 still comes with keycap and switch pullers in the box. For those taking their first steps into the world of custom keyboards, the bonus tools will come in useful for swapping out keycaps and switches further down the line.

Looking at the TH66 itself, it sports a translucent body that immediately attracts the eye. Lovers of RGB lighting should be excited by the semi-transparent casing, as it makes for a nice diffused glow. Looking past the case, I was next drawn to the layout, which is 65% with a knob and dedicated arrow keys. Those features, combined with the multi-functional wireless connectivity, are going to make a lot of people happy and I’m surprised that this configuration remains so rare.

Stock performance is good

Though its hotswappable nature means that the TH66 can be improved upon later down the line, with more exotic switch types in both 3 and 5-pin varieties, I found stock performance to be pretty solid.

The Gateron Pro Browns that I have in my review unit provide an inoffensive tactile typing experience. Their tactility is a nice change of pace from my usual linears, and they’ve actually convinced me to use a tactile keyboard for work before switching to a linear option for playing games.

Similar to other factory lube jobs, Epomaker appears to have taken a syringe to the stabilizers to quickly pump them with lubricant. While I can understand the appeal of speeding up a tedious job, and the results will be satisfactory for most, I’d personally remove the plate-mounted stabs and re-lube them properly to fix the very minor, but still present, rattle.

Sounds like a winner

The TH66 comes with AKKO keycaps. These are PBT dye-subbed and use the MDA profile. This profile has an interesting pairing of a sculpt but no jarring height. These keycaps also help to generate the “thocc” that many keyboard enthusiasts are after.

The TH66’s muted yet satisfying sound is assisted further by the dampening foam. It’s good to see Epomaker following the latest custom keyboard trends here. With that said, the “gasket mount” alternative they provide here isn’t very effective and I can’t see or feel the expected bounciness while typing. I’m sure it helps in some way, but don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s a worthwhile alternative to the traditional gasket mounts seen in other boards.

If you’re on the side of the divide that loves RGB, then I’ve already mentioned how the transparent case helps to enhance lighting. However, it’s worth noting that the F-row uses north-facing LEDs while the other rows use south-facing LEDs. This should be considered when looking at third-party keycaps.

Epomaker TH66 Review: The final verdict

At $89.99, the Epomaker TH66 is very well-priced for what’s on offer here. 65% with dedicated arrow keys and a knob is a surprisingly rare layout right now, despite it offering a wonderful mix of form and function. The good-looking and sounding keycaps are a bonus, as are the Gateron Pro switches.

All in all, this is a fantastic value proposition that will excite newcomers looking for a starting board to fine-tune as they grow into it, or an enthusiast looking for a great compact option for gaming.

Epomaker continues to satisfy with its clear knowledge of the market and trends. There’s a lot to like with the TH66 and it gets my hearty recommendation.

TH66 keyboard review unit was provided by Epomaker.