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The Epomaker TH80 Pro is a popular entry-level 75% mechanical keyboard, available on amazon for $90 and often discounted, featuring tri-mode connectivity and quality switches. Is the TH80 Pro the best budget-friendly option out there?

I recently reviewed the TH80-X, which has a few key differences and a few similarities with its cousin, the TH80 Pro. The main difference is the LCD screen on the TH80-X, and another difference is the battery capacity, which is a substantial 8,000mAh on the TH80-X and 4,000mAh for the TH80 Pro. But two things they share are a quality typing feel and sound, especially considering they both feature all-ABS plastic construction.

The Good

The TH80 Pro is another quality offering from Epomaker. The out of the box sound profile is on the thockier side (deeper, less high pitched) compared to similar priced offerings from competitors like Keychron (K2 Pro would be the closest model), and the PBT MDA profile keycaps are comfortable to type on. They are quite thick at 1.8mm which undoubtedly contributes to the deeper sound. Epomaker also excels in the area of offering quality in-house switches, namely the Flamingo linear and Budgerigar (that’s a bird in case you were wondering) tactile switches. They both feel and sound excellent for this price range, with the Flamingo being a smooth and mid/light weight linear and the Budgerigar being a tactile somewhere in between a classic brown and heavy panda. They are snappier than browns for sure, but use a lighter spring than pandas, so you get a little of both worlds – lighter force required but snappy tactile feedback. In terms of sound, Flamingo provides maximum thock while also being a tad quieter overall than the Budgies.

A great feature of the TH80 Pro for anyone who uses both MacOS and Windows computers is the automatic OS switching. The PCB will automatically detect the OS and switch the modifier keys accordingly so you’ve always got the correct modifier key functions. I use a windows laptop for work and a Macbook for all my personal and creative work, and I switch between them multiple times each day. Over my week of testing the TH80 Pro I found this automatic detection worked consistently and made switching back and forth very simple.

Customization is done with Epomaker’s Driver software, not QMK/VIA as I mistakenly thought (and stated incorrectly in the video about the TH80-X, my apologies for that error). The software allows remapping of keys, adding custom key commands and macros as well as controlling the lighting and the sleep time for the bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, and it is fairly simple and straightforward to use.

The Not So Good

If you are in the market for a mechanical in this price range and are not opposed to all-ABS construction, there are no major deal-breakers with the TH80 Pro in my opinion. But there are a few things that I think could be improved upon or might be minor frustrations for some users.

The 2.4GHz sleep time, as I mentioned about the TH80-X, is set to go to sleep after 10 minutes by default. Thankfully you can change this in the driver software, but the maximum setting is 60 minutes. The maximum setting should be enough to avoid frequent annoyance for most users, but still, that dreaded wake-up delay after a connection goes to sleep is nobody’s favorite thing.

The sound profile, while satisfying, is a tad more on the hollow side than it’s cousin the TH80-X. All-ABS keyboards tend to have more of a hollow sound compared to boards that use at least some metal in the case build because it is less dense. If you don’t mind this sound, it’s not a con for you, but if you like a more solid sound, you may notice it. Of course, this can be remedied by experimenting with different modifications like altering the type and amount of foam, etc. if you’re willing to open up the case.

Another minor con for me is the firmness of the typing feel. Again, this is minor, but this is a gasket-mount keyboard and that should mean there is some flex when typing. A softer, more flexible typing feel means less fatigue over long typing or gaming periods. Upon opening the case of the TH80 Pro I found a few things contributing to the firm (there is virtually no flex) feel. The first is that the gaskets on the contact points for the PCB and plate are a very firm type of rubber, not the soft and squishy silicone or poron foam that is common in gasket-mount designs. Another is that the design also includes a few standoffs from the case bottom that support the PCB assembly. Essentially it’s like putting a platform under a trampoline – there’s no bounce because something is in the way. These standoffs could be clipped off if you’re so inclined, and that should allow more flex. The last reason is the switch plate material – while not stated on Epomaker’s site, it is metal. The switch plate doesn’t control the total up and down movement of the PCB assembly, but more flexible plate materials like polycarbonate or FR4 do contribute to a softer feel. With many customizable mechanical keyboards, you can buy additional switch plates in different materials from the manufacturer or third parties. While there is a barebones option available for the TH80 Pro, it does not appear Epomaker offers different switch plate options.

Overall, the TH80 Pro is a good balance of quality and price in a 75% layout whether you go for the fully built option or the barebones option. It can be a good choice as a first mechanical keyboard if you’re interested in getting into modifications because it offers the opportunity to make some changes without a huge investment. It also is a perfectly fine choice if you are simply looking for a nice tri-mode keyboard in this layout with satisfying switches.

Check out the TH80 Pro

Keyboard Specs: