Epomaker G84 Review: The Minimalist's Dream Mechanical Keyboard?

The world of mechanical keyboards is vast and exciting. Epomaker has quickly carved out a niche for itself with its affordable, customizable, and well-built models. We are continually testing keebs from Epomaker. Today, we came with the Epomaker G84, the brand targets users seeking compactness without compromising typing quality. This ultra-compact 80% keyboard aims to be minimalist, functional, and enjoyable for gamers and creators alike. We’ve tested it thoroughly, and here’s our verdict.

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Design

The Epomaker G84 adopts an 80% form factor, which means it retains only the essential keys. It eliminates the numeric keypad, function keys, and separate directional arrows. This results in an extremely compact design, ideal for small workspaces or mobile setups. Despite its reduced size, the layout remains efficient thanks to a combination of secondary keys accessible via the Fn key.

The Epomaker G84 aesthetic is understated yet elegant. The ABS plastic chassis is sturdy, well-finished, and dense enough to avoid any hollow feel when typing. Several versions are available. Classic colors like black or white, and more original versions like the pastel-toned “Milk Tea” or “Monet” versions, will appeal to fans of aesthetically pleasing setups.

The Epomaker G84 has 84 keys with an 80% ANSI US layout – no ISO layout is available. The G84 looks clean and elegant with a less-flashy nature and combines a single-colored pattern for the case and keycaps, while still not falling into a dull aesthetic. On top of the smooth appearance, the G84 has some embellishing details such as a metal plate near the arrow section, which also holds a horizontal RGB strip light.

In addition to this, the brand has added 2 RGB side-lights on the bottom right and bottom left of the case, both of which are aimed more towards the desk and less towards the sides. If you turn the keeb around, you will find 2-position adjustable feet, 4 silicone feet, and a small central metal plate.

A detail of the case is seen on the front where the brand has included a 45-degree angled shape instead of the typical abrupt 90 angle of most other keyboards on the market. This makes the Epomaker G84 more ergonomic and friendly to the lower palm resting.

On top of that, the south-facing board of the Epomaker G84 is hot-swappable and compatible with most mechanical switches on the market without the need for any soldering to replace them at will. The specific dampening layers of the keeb are: Poron Sandwich Foam, IXPE Switch Pad, Sound Enhancement Pad, Poron Switch Socket Pad, and Bottom Silicone. The shell/case of the G84 is not metal, but still feels more rugged and better constructed than many other plastic keyboards on the market.

Switches

As is often the case with Epomaker, the G84 is hot-swappable. This means you can change the mechanical switches without having to solder. This is a major advantage for customization enthusiasts, especially those who choose the Epomaker G84. The keyboard is available with several types of switches, including the classic Gateron Yellow, Red, or Brown. More uniquely, there are also models like the Epomaker Flamingo or Budgerigar.

In our test configuration, we received a version equipped with Gateron Red, linear switches, highly regarded for their smooth and silent keystrokes. The feel is fluid, without any hitch, and perfectly suited to both fast-paced play and prolonged typing. The pre-lubricated stabilizers ensure good consistency across the large keys. This is particularly true of the space bar, which does not vibrate during use.

Keycaps

The Epomaker G84 might have a budget price, but it offers something that is barely ever seen: a shine-through keycap, but made of PBT instead of the cheap-quality ABS of most other shine-through keycaps on the market. The keycaps have a Cherry profile and feel superb to the touch,h thanks to a smooth textured finish.

Unfortunately, though, the keycaps do not get fully backlit, nor do their fonts become too visible. The “issue” is more prominent over the number and F number rows, and, overall, if the RGB color chosen is a “darker” or more saturated one.

This is not an issue of brightness as the LEDs are brighter than many others but, we are guessing, that this is related to the fact that the shine-through section of the keycaps is aligned on the upper area of the keycaps and the LED in the board are south-facing we are more than sure that the keycaps would had been perfectly backlit if either the keycaps had the shine-through piece positioned on the lower area or if the board had north-facing LEDs. Despite this, when the LEDs from the board are turned off, the fonts on the keycaps are perfectly visible, giving a nice contrast of black fonts over pink keycaps.

Connectivity

Tri-mode here means USB-C, 2.4 GHz wireless, and Bluetooth 5.0. all in all, flexibility. The connection was consistently stable in my tests; I tested it under Windows. Even Android devices and consoles like the PS5 and Xbox are supported. EPOMAKER also improves the polling rate: 1000 Hz via USB or 2.4 GHz. Bluetooth lags noticeably behind at 125 Hz—but that’s perfectly fine for casual use.

Software & Customization: VIA inside

The Epomaker G84 is VIA-compatible, meaning it’s fully programmable. Macros, layouts, and RGB zones: everything can be customized to your liking. And yes, the RGB is truly powerful. Per-key RGB, south-facing LEDs, and shine-through caps ensure even and powerful illumination without being overly overpowered.

Battery

The 4000mAh battery lasts up to 15 hours with RGB, and up to 400 hours without. This roughly matches my experience—if you charge regularly or stay in wired mode, you won’t have to worry.

Conclusion

The Epomaker G84 ticks almost all the boxes for an 80% mechanical keyboard. It offers a sleek design, excellent typing quality, controlled acoustics, dual connectivity, and advanced customization. All this for a price often between $59, depending on promotions and options chosen.

Of course, its compact size won’t suit everyone. Fans of a numeric keypad or dedicated directional keys will have to do without them or learn to juggle shortcuts. However, for mobile users, minimalists, or gamers looking for a high-performance and aesthetically pleasing keyboard, the Epomaker G84 is a benchmark in the Epomaker G84 range to consider.

The Epomaker G84 is a great success in the world of compact mechanical keyboards. It’s aimed at demanding users who want a stylish, high-performance, and customizable keyboard without breaking the bank. A great choice for those looking to get into the 80% world, or simply save space on their desk without sacrificing typing pleasure.