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Tech Reviews

Why the Epomaker Tide49 Keyboard Could Be Right for You

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Disclaimer

Epomaker sent me the Tide49 form factor keyboard to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure to check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE65 Mag, TH85, and HE68 if you’re looking for a new keyboard.

What’s in the box?

  • Epomaker Tide49
  • 2 Extra Switches
  • Key/Switch Puller Tool
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • Plastic Dust Cover
  • User Manual

Features

The Tide49 is a lightweight 40% keyboard for those users who want an elegant form factor solution for their typing needs. If you are looking for a cool looking solution, the Tide49’s clean design and subtle RGB is going to look great on an desk. The Tide49 uses Epomaker Zebra switches for a comfortable satisfying experience, but everything on this keyboard is hot bswapable for the ultimate customizable experience. Users can enjoy a low latency wireless through its included 2.4 Ghz dongle or Bluetooth 5 support. With a 3000 mAh, users can enjoy up to 10 hours of use (110 with the backlight off).

Sound Test

Review

There is no denying that the Tide49 is a very cool looking form factor solution for those who need it. I am a huge fan of the design and aesthetic, but it feels a bit too niche for my taste. First off, the keyboard is too small for my frame. It never got uncomfortable, the lack of a number row became an issue. There are preprogrammed shortcuts that work well enough as a solution, but trying to do an exclimation point or a question mark is a needless hassle. This isn’t a good typing laptop, at least not for my workflow. That said, the tide49 does have its use.

The keyboard seems to be meant as a macropad. The Tide49 is KIA compatible, and there are clear, easy to follow instructions in the user manual. All 49 keys can be remapped or programmed with macros for a good amount of utility. I don’t have that many macros, but I can see it being handy if I every get serious about video or photo editing.

Despite my issues with the size, the Tide49 offers a satisfying typing sound, and some solid comfort. That said, my wireless dongle did not work and only being able to rely on a single Bluetooth connection and wired connection wasn’t ideal for my workflow. I am constantly switching between devices throughout the day and ideally need a keyboard that can connect wirelessly with at least three of my devices.

Honestly, you are buying the Tide49 for its aesthetic and clean design, and a bit of its comfort. The keyboard is a nice size and easy to program, but you can buy a cheaper VIA compatible keyboard with more keys and gain more utility. If you’re a writer, the size may take a bit to get used to depending on your hand size, but I never felt like it became unusable nor did it trigger a bad episode of my repetitive stress injury. You can get away without the use of the numbers, but the extra work it takes to use some of the punctuation make this keyboard bad for writing. This keyboard is useless for gaming. Its a cool looking keyboard, but not good for my workflow.

You can pick up the Epomaker Tide 49 on the official site.

Tech Reviews

Cybrix 16 Keypad: Features, Setup & Honest Review

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Disclaimer

KiiBoom sent me the Cybrix16 Keypad for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure to also check out my reviews for the KiiBoom Phantom98, the Moonshadow V2, and the Breeze 75 if you’re looking for a full-sized keyboard.

What’s in the Box?

  • Cybrix16
  • USB-C to USB-A Braided Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller Tool
  • Instruction Manual

Features

The Cybrix 16 is versatile keypad ready to upgrade your productivity. The keypad comes with 16 fully programmable keys and 3 rotary knobs ready to take on any workflow. The keypad is QMK/VIA compatible, and users can save up to 5 profiles to maximize the versatility. The keypad supports 3-pin and 5-pin switches for some added customization.

The Cybrix keypad has a clean and elegant design and comes in three colors: Silver, Pink, and Black.

I chose the silver, but all colors are great. The blank gradient keys give it its futuristic minimalist aesthetic. The keypad is wired only, but it more than makes up for it with its highspeed performance. It also features a soft and subtle RGB effect for a bit of added flare.

Sound Test

Review

Out of the box, the keypad has an undeniable elegance that will go unmatched by anything on the market. The build and construction is clean, and I am a huge fan of the minimilistic aesthetic. It did take some time to remember what each key did, but it is not a huge deal. The customization is nice, when I finally got it to work and I wasn’t able to repeat the process. It isn’t very user friendly, and that is going to be a problem for the folks who aren’t enthusiast or a tech savvy.

That said, it is a solid keypad. The volume and media controls are always appreciated, and access to a keypad always upgrades my workflow. I wish it were wireless because my desk gets cluttered quickly, but it is nice to not have to worry about losing charge during an important project.

If you’re looking for a keypad that will upgrade your aesthetic, and you don’t mind a bit of tinkering to take full advantage of its features, the Cybrix 16 is a fantastic addition to your setup. It is not impossible, but it definitely not plug and play. If you’re only getting this to use it as a Numpad, you’re paying for the aesthetic and a few features you’ll eventually get to. The Cybrix16 is a solid peripheral, if you’re getting the most out of it.

You can pick up the Cybrix 16 on the official KiiBoom site.

Tech Reviews

Cypher 81 Mechanical Keyboard Review: Comfort and Style

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Disclaimer

Epomaker sent me the Cypher 81 mechanical keyboard to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE65 or TH85.

What’s in the box?

  • Cypher 81 Mechanical Keyboard
  • USB-C to USB-A Charging Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • 3 Extra Switches
  • Plastic Dust Cover
  • User Guide

Features

The Cypher 81 is a 75% keyboard with a fun purple, blue, and white color scheme, and small TFT screen for live updates and customization. The South-facing RGB backlight is optional, but it provides the keyboard its soft elegant flare. There is also also third-party software for added customization.

This cute form factor keyboard promises as quiet high quality typing experience through its wireless and wired connections. The keyboard supports 2.4Ghz wire connections with the included dongle, and Bluetooth 5.0. Its impressive 4000 mAh battery gives users less wires to juggle while they work or play their games.

Most importantly, the Cypher 81 won’t sacrifice comfort for design. With its ideal and adjustable typing angle as well as the key placement, users can enjoy a mechanical keyboard that looks good, performs well, and won’t cause fatigue.

Sound Test

Review

The Cypeher 81 is one of the most comfortable keyboards I’ve tried. The height, after a few adjustments was perfect. I need special ergonomics for my repetitive stress that never triggered it. The color and design is great. I love the color scheme, and the RGB creates enough flare to make the whole thing pop against any setup. The small monitor is fun, but I never really used it. It’s nice to to have for things like battery power, but not the reason to get this keyboard.

The reason to get this keyboard is for fantastic typing experience. The sound was loud enough to create that melody we all crave without being obnoxious, and it performs well for just about any task. I was able to complete my long hours of work with very little pain, if any, and it was good enough for my casual levels of gaming. If you’re looking for new keyboard with a fun and cute aesthetic, the Cypher 81 is what you’re looking for. It is a well constructed machine with a satisfying sound and solid performance at a great price point.

You can pick up the Cypher 81 for $89.99 on the official Epomaker website, or $99.99 on Amazon using my affiliate link.

Tech Reviews, Uncategorized

Aventus Gaming Headset: Comfort and Quality in One

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Disclaimer

Kiwi Ears sent me a free pair of the Aventus bluetooth gaming headphones to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review.

What’s in the box?

  • Aventus Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
  • Carrying Case
  • USB-C to USB-A charging Cable
  • USB-C to Coax Cable
  • Coax to 3.5mm
  • User Manual

Features

The Aventus Gaming headset promises the ideal budget solution for most audio needs. This sleek black headset offers a well constructed ergonomic design. The high quality padding and adjustable positions promises user comfort for the entirety of its 82 hour battery life. The 40mm Dynamic drivers promise a wide and clear sound stage, and it is tuned to satisfy most gaming and music needs. While users can enjoy the fantastic sound through a wireless connection, the Aventus includes Coaxial drivers for users to take advantage of the included high quality cables. For those looking for a bit of peace and quite, the Aventus features a hybrid ANC designed to reduce outside noise by up to 35dB. That means you aren’t hearing anyone unless you really want to.

Now it wouldn’t be a gaming headset without RGB. The Aventus features optional preprogrammed RGB profiles for a bit of added flare.

Review

Kiwi Ears’ Avantus is a fantastic pair of budget headphones. Out of the box, I was blown away by the quality of not just the heaphones, but the accessories that come with it. The presentation of the packaging gives the Avantus its premium feel. I particularly like the included carying case. It feels high quality, it has a clip for my bag, and it has compartments for the included cables. The included cables are a very nice feature. While I planned to use the headset wireless, it is nice to have the cables to switch between devices without having to repair each time. I wish it would allow me to pair to multiple devices, but it isn’t a deal breaker.

The Headphone itself is very well constructed. The vegan leather and design make it look like a more expensive set of headphones. It has a good amount of flex and it doesn’t feel like it will be breaking anytime soon. The design is also incredibly comfortable. The padding feels incredible, and while my ears do get hot, it never gets uncomfortable. This is definitely my most comfortable pair of headphones. They do feel a little loose on my head. I worked out with them and they didn’t fall off for walks or weightlifting, but I wouldn’t run with them.

The Aventus has a solid soundstage. A lot of gaming headsets overcompensate with the bass, I think the Avantus is properly tuned for most casual use. I don’t know how well they work for DJing, but they are solid gaming and music headphones.

What I was most impressed by was the headphones battery life and noise cancellation. The KiwiEars boasts 82 hours of battery life without noise cancellation or RGB. I got about that out of the box which is an impressive feat. The battery life lasts so long, even with noise cancellation and RBG that I didn’t really get to test the battery life with everything on. I also didn’t feel the need to turn anything on. The RBG profiles are nice, but I don’t see it so there is no point. The headphones also block out a good amount of noise without having to turn on the ANC. The ANC is incredible. I don’t hear anything. I don’t live in a very noisy area, but putting them on left me deaf to the world.

If you are looking for a good, high quality pair of headphones that won’t break the bank, go check out the Kiwi Ears Aventus Headset. These things are a fantastic deal for $89.99. You can pick up your pair of Aventus from the official website.

Tech Reviews

Is the Mechlands M75 the Best Budget Keyboard for Gamers?

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Disclaimer

Mechlands sent me the M75 hall effect magnetic gaming keyboard to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

What’s in the box?

  • Mechlands M75
  • USB-C to USB-A Braided Cable
  • 2 Extra Switches
  • Insert Keycap
  • Plastic Dustcover
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • User Manual

Features

The Mechlands M75 is a 75% hall effect magnetic keyboard designed for the gamer who craves high performing peripherals at affordable prices. This stylish keyboard comes in a green/grey scheme reminiscent of classic xbox. The default typing angle guarantees a comfort for most users, but it is adjustable as needed for added comfort. The M75 features the hall effect magnetic cherry profile switches for a fantastic sound and a great feel. Everything on this keyboard can be swapped easy repair and customization.

This keyboard is more than just a pretty piece of hardware. The M75 is a wired keyboard that boasts only 0.128 latency and 8K polling rate. That means it can keep up with the most competitive level of gameplay when needed. The keyboard also has some added advanced features like programable DKS, MT, TGL, and SOCD (note some FPS ban these features).

Sound Test

Review

The M75 is a fantastic wired keyboard, and a strong contender for a best budget gaming keyboard. The keyboard sports a cool design with a fun color scheme. I like the color scheme, but it isn’t going to be for everyone. The extra wire clutter is also going to be an issue for some folks, but the performance it gets more than makes up for it. It may not match my current aesthetic, but I am very pleased with the performance. The switches have a very soothing sound, and they feel great to the touch. The keyboard layout may not be strictly ergonomic, but I had no issues with hand pain. This is one of the most comfortable keyboards I’ve tried, and I struggle heavily with my repetitive stress injury.

I didn’t notice any latency in gaming. I don’t play at a very competitive level, but it was able to handle all the games I threw at it with no issues. It was very good for Guild Wars 2 PVE content at least. I didn’t mess with any of the the advanced features because I don’t want to risk getting banned, but they are available if that is how you have fun. Overall, I am very happy with the Mechlands M75, and it is definitely going to be my main keyboard for a bit. It is comfortable, cool looking, and it does the job.

If you are looking for your own MechLands M75, pick it up on official MechLands website.

Tech Reviews

Is the KiiBoom Phantom98 Worth It? Honest Insights

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Disclaimer

KiiBoom sent me the Phantom98 mechanical keyboard to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my reviews for the Moonshadow V2 and the Breeze75 if you’re looking for other great Kiiboom Product.

What’s in the Box?

  • Phantom98
  • USB-C to USB-A Braided Cable
  • 2.4 GHz Wireless Dongle
  • Key/Switch Puller Tools
  • Mini Screw Drive
  • 2 Extra Screws
  • 2 Extra Switches
  • User Manual

Sound Test

Features

The Phantom98 is Kiiboom’s stylish full-sized keyboard. The keyboard has 98 keys, which include a function bar and number pad. That means users have access to everything they need in one unique package. The Phantom98 comes in 5 colors: clear, pink, black, blue, and purple. I chose purple, but every color looks good!

The clear keys and case its futuristic design. The design truly comes alive with any of the preset RGB profiles. The RGB can be switched off for those who don’t want the light show, but the presets are so pretty, it’s going to be hard to.

But the Phantom98 is more than just its looks. Its has Bluetooth 5.0 support to eliminate the need for pesky cables, and a 2.5 GHz cable for those who need it. It has a solid wireless connection, but nothing will beat the speed of the included high quality cable. The Ghasket design is adjustable, but the default gives it the satisfying typing sound enthusiasts crave.

The keyboard can switch between Mac and Windows presets, but Mac users will need to buy new caps if they care about that kind of stuff. There is also a nifty volume control dial which is always nice to have. Now the typing angle isn’t adjustable, but the default angle and height is good enough for most cases. If you’re looking for a unique keyboard with a lot of function, you might need the Phantom98.

Review

The Phantom98 is one of the coolest looking keyboards you’ll set on your table. The clear design is so clean and seeing the inner components is very cool. It reminds of the clear gameboy colors from back in the day. Now the keys did take a bit of getting used to. The letters were a little hard to see without the backlight, and they keys felt too smooth. Once I got used to them however, it is really hard using anything else. Something about the smooth feel of the keys just feels right in a way I didn’t know was possible. It also has one of the best typing sounds around. This keyboard made typing a true joy.

As far as performance goes, I didn’t see any issues. The default typing angle was comfortable enough for the very long sessions I tend to have. The wireless and wired connections were all fast and responsive. I don’t play very competitive games, but it handled my Guild Wars 2 grind perfectly. As far as battery life goes, I was getting about 8 hours with the RGB profiles on a single charge.

My only complaint is that the lighting is a little overbearing. The thing glows up like a Christmas tree on your desk. I didn’t mind it, but people are either going to hate or love it based on personal taste. Make sure to check out my sound test video to see what it looks like with the backlight on. Other than that, the Phantom98 is a fantastic keyboard, and perfect for anyone looking for a full-sized keyboard who doesn’t mind the aesthetic. Trust me, this thing looks a lot cooler in person.

You can pick up the Phantom98 on the official KiiBoom website.

Tech Reviews, Uncategorized

Unboxing the KM300: A Hands-On Karaoke Experience

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Disclaimer

Sudotack sent me the KM300 Karaoke machine and the KM03 wired microphone to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. I’ll be leaving my Amazon Affiliate links where possible. It really helps me out if you use them.

KM300 Unboxing

  • KM300
  • USB-C to USB-A cable
  • User Manual
  • Strap

KM03 Unboxing

Features

The KM300 is a wireless PA speaker system for those who want the Karaoke experience on the go. It features a stylish durable design and comes in three colors: white, black, pink. I got it in white, but all three colors look great.

But it doesn’t just look good. Its 30W subwoofer, 15W tweeters, and 45W speakers promises a loud, clear sound that will fill any room. The two included wireless mics are always at the ready in their built in holders. The speaker has a variety of features to adjust the sound like pitch and reverb control, so you are always sounding your best. Best of all, the KM300 supports a number of different connections to make a versatile media machine.

All of the features on the KM 300 can be enjoyed wirelessly, but users can attached two additional wired mics for those quartets. Media can be played through its easy to link Bluetooth connection, but the KM300 supports HDMI and coax connections. You can also store your music on a USB drive or SD card. Whatever you end up using, media and volume controls are easily accessible on the device for so you aren’t spending the whole party, looking at your phone.

Now it wouldn’t be a proper party without flashing lights. The KM300 has nine preset lighting profiles with adjustable brightness. You can turn this off to extend battery life, but its so pretty, you aren’t going to want to. It’s got a decent enough battery where it shouldn’t matter anyways.

Review

The KM300 is a solid budget speaker. The sound is good enough for most music, especially if you’re outdoors. You aren’t getting deep rich concert sound, but its loud enough for what you need. Trust me, you can do a lot worse at this price range.

The sleek design is clean and well manufactured, and it is light enough for travel with is a huge plus. The strap it comes with feels a little flimsy. While it will do the job, I would swap it out for something sturdier if you’re going to use it a lot. The RBG is a nice touch. The preprogramed profiles are fun, but I like that it can be turned off when needed.

My unit arrived completely dead. This isn’t a deal breaker, but users should note that the device may require an initial charge. One issue that came up is that the device wouldn’t charge no matter what I used. The KM300 does not like fast charging, so make sure you are using chargers that give 9V = 2A / 5V = 2A. Its a bit of a bummer that a charger isn’t included with the device, but its not a deal breaker either. As for the battery life, I was able to get about 6 hours on a single charge, and I didn’t charge it to full. Charging it from completely empty to about 80/90% took about 2 hours though, but you can use the speaker plugged in.

I was not expecting to use much of the Karaoke part, but it is surprisingly a fun little speaker. At least my family enjoyed using it to sing. The sound can be easily adjusted with the on board controls, and the mics have additional features for further customization. It took no tinkering to get a quality sound, and the mics are pretty good. They do feel a little flimsy, but they are light and sound great. They have a good amount of sensitive that can be adjusted. The voice changing is a fun little touch, but we didn’t use that feature much. I also like the built in stand for holding phones or tables. Its subtle and effective.

The wired KM03 microphone is just as good. The cable is a good length, and includes an adapter for versatility. I do prefer the freedom the wireless mics give, but it is nice to have a wired mic if they die or if you have more people who want to sing. You aren’t getting a studio mic at this price, but you are getting a decent and compatible mic for a fun night of karaoke.

If you’re looking for a budget PA Speaker system, this is a solid machine that will get the job done. The KM300 has a clean and simple design, and it gives a descent sound for $50.

You can pick up the KM300 and the KM03 on Amazon using my affiliate link.

Tech Reviews

Epomaker TH85 Review: The Budget Mechanical Keyboard

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Disclaimer

Epomaker sent me the TH85 for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you check out my other reviews for the TH68 Mag and the TH99 Mechanical Keyboard if you’re looking to upgrade your setup.

What’s in the box?

  • Epomaker TH85
  • USB-C to USB-A Braided Charging Cable
  • 2 Additional Switches
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • Plastic Dust Shield
  • Instruction Manual

Sound Test

Features

The Epomaker TH85 is a stylish 80% mechanical keyboard. It comes in three variants: Black and White, White, and Black.

I got mine in white, but all schemes look great. The keyboard also features the traditional southfacing RGB that is soft enough to not be distracting, but bright enough to make the keyboard pop. You can always turn off the RGB if you only wish to enjoy the keyboard. What makes the keyboard unique is the RGB strip that wraps around the back of the keyboard. The strip is customizable, and gives the keyboard its futuristic design. As far as comfort goes, the switches are soft, and the typing angle is adjustable.

Most importantly, the TH85 comes with a few features gamers aren’t going to want to overlook. The keyboard boasts low latency on its wired and wireless connections. The keyboard boasts 2ms of latency on a wired connection, 5ms on the 2.4Ghz dongle, and 11ms on Bluetooth.

With its 4000 mAh battery and anti-ghosting technology, you are looking at a very capable budget keyboard.

Review

If you’re looking for a budget mechanical keyboard that doesn’t sacrifice or performance, the TH85 is a solid option. The TH85 was able to handle any task I threw at it at an connection type without any noticeable latency. Gaming and typing work well and the keyboard sounds amazing without being too loud.

The battery life was a little disappointing. I was getting about 6 hours of battery. This is manageable, and more than enough for most cases, but it is lower than other Epomaker keyboards. I suspect the three RGB points (the keys, the back face, and the logo) have something to do with it. I could turned off the RBG to achieve a longer session, but the lighting effects are so pretty. The back face strip feels like overkill. It looks nice, but you aren’t going to see it unless its going on camera. One thing I did note was that the lighting effects were a little bugged at first. A hard reset seemed to fix the issue, but I hit a weird bug where the lights would continuously flash through all the colors until it completely drained the battery. I couldn’t swap through the profiles or turn off the effects until the hard reset.

I was also a little disappointed by the comfort. This isn’t the worst keyboard I’ve tried, but it did trigger a bit of my repetitive stress injury. It wasn’t enough to make the keyboard unusable, but it was enough for me to take notice. If you’re looking for an ergonomic keyboard, this might not be the one for you. Now this could be a personal issue. I require a specific amount of ergonomics because of how much I use the computer, so a more casual use case shouldn’t have this issue. This critique is geared for the other old gamers looking to extend the life of their hands another few years.

Of you are looking for a solid budget gaming keyboard, the TH85 is a fantastic place to start. Looking back at the terrible keyboards that got me through my early years of gaming I can confidently attest that you can do a lot worse. Aside from the odd glitch that went away, the keyboard is responsive, it looks good on my desk, and it has a satisfying typing sound.

You can pick up the TH85 on the official Epomaker site for only $79.99.

Tech Reviews, Uncategorized

Epomaker HE68 Mag Review: Stylish, Compact & Functional

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Disclaimer

Epomaker sent me the HE68 Mag Keyboard with the Pink Magnetic to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you check out my reviews for the TH99 or the Cypher 96 if you’re looking to upgrade your style.

What’s in the box?

  • Epomaker TH68 Mag
  • USB-C to USB-A Braided Cable
  • 2 Extra Switches
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • User Manual

Sound Test

Features

The HE68 Mag is a 65% keyboard which means you get no function bar or number pad, but you do get a compact usable experience if you are trying to minimize your footprint. The keyboard comes in black or white, and both look very stylish.

I chose the white version because of the purple keys. It comes with a fun little removable strap for when you’re on the go, but you probably aren’t going far since this is a wired keyboard.

Do not be discouraged by the wire only connection. The included high quality braided cable provides users a an impressive 8k polling rate, and it can be swapped out for a cable that better fits your aesthetic. The HE68 Mag boasts only 0.125ms latency, supports SOCD (Simultaneous Opposite Key Detection), and adjustable actuation hall effects making it a fantastic gaming keyboard.

All this fuctionality is good, but it wouldn’t be a gaming keyboard with out RGB. The HE68 has subtle south facing rgb with a good amount of customization, but it can be switched off if you don’t want all the lights.

Review

The HE68’s size had me a bit apprehensive. I was afraid that using it would kill my hands, and not having function bar was going to affect my gameplay. To my surprise, I can’t see myself using anything different from gaming. I was able to find the ideal typing position after adjusting the height, and the layout never triggered my repetitive stress injury. While I wouldn’t call the HE68 an ergonomic keyboard, it provides a comfortable enough experience for to get the job done.

Aesthetically, the keyboard is very pleasing. I love the simple and compact layout and use of color. I love the shinning base that peaks between the keys for the perfect accent of color. The RGB is very subtle, and I love the amount of customization that comes with it. Everything on this keyboard can be swapped out and customized, but it provides a fantastic aesthetic upgrade at the stock level. The only thing I would change is the strap. It feels like a random gimmick. Since it is a wired keyboard, I doubt it will see enough travel for the strap to be useful. It is removable and not a deal breaker, but I wish it didn’t have it.

Performance wise, this keyboard is fantastic. The keys felt comfortable, and everything is responsive. I don’t play at a competitive level, but I did notice some difference. My hands would be less fatigued after the more intense moments of game play, and I never had to worry about running out of battery. You can easily adjust the actuation to truly minmax your setup, but I felt like the stock settings were perfect for level of play.

If you’re looking for a stylish gaming keyboard that works well and don’t mind the lack of wireless connectivity, the Epomaker HE68 Mag is a fantastic choice that I wholeheartedly recommend. It has easily become my main keyboard, at least until Epomaker comes out with something better.

You can pick up the HE68 Keyboard for only $59.99 directly from the site.

Tech Reviews

Upgrade Your Setup with theKiiBoom Moonshadow V2

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Disclaimer

KiiBoom sent me the Moonshadow V2 for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my review for the Kiiboom Breeze 75 if you’re in the market for a very pretty keyboard.

What’s in the box?

  • Moonshadow V2
  • USB-C to USB-A Braided Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • 2 Extra Switches
  • Mac Keys
  • User Guide
  • Extra Plate

Features

The KiiBoom Moonshadow V2 is a stylish 75% mechanical keyboard that is ready to upgrade your aesthetic. It well designed aluminum body gives it its durable construction and its weight will keep it from sliding across your table. The keyboard comes in black, pink, and silver. All schemes look great, but I chose the black because I liked the mascot on the escape and enter keys.

The keyboard features 81 keys and a knob that can easily be swapped so it always matches your aesthetic. There is also a nice and subtle backlight preprogrammed with a good amount of profiles to accent any aesthetic. You can also turn it off if you really want to. As far as performance goes, you can’t go wrong with the Moonshadow V2. All 81 keys can be easily remapped or programed through QMK and VIA to maximize any workflow, and the low latency with both wired and wireless connections is nothing to scoff at. Coupled with its powerful 4000mAh battery, and you have a solid workhorse.

Sound Test

Review

The Moonshadow V2 is a premium feeling keyboard at a reasonable price. This keyboard is ready to upgrade both the aesthetic and performance of any setup. The color layout in all three options are so good, choosing one will be the hardest choice. I got mine in black and am very impressed with how vibrant the colors are and how well the mascot is printed on the keys. The manufacturing is very clean and sturdy, and the keyboard has a good amount of heft to it. It feels like it will last me enough to make it a bargain.

The keyboard performed extremely well. There was no noticeable ghosting or latency, and everything mostly worked as intended. I did have to swap out one of the switches early on in my testing because it stopped working, but the swap was very easy to make. That said, the Moonshadow V2 has one of the most satisfying experience I’ve had in a mechanical keyboard. It has one the most satisfying and creamiest sounds, and the keys feel amazing under your fingers. It may not be the most ergonomic layout, but it doesn’t matter because it feels so good to type with.

If you’re looking for a mechanical keyboard, the Moonshadow V2 is the perfect place to start. It comes in good colors, the performance is solid, and the typing experience is perfect. I may have gotten unlucky with the defect, but the rest of the experience more than made up for it. I recommend you pick one up today!

You can pick up the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2 in all three colors on the official KiiBoom website!