Epomaker Magcore 87

Epomaker Magcore 87, the first keyboard from Epomaker using inductive switches.

The Epomaker Magcore 87 is part of the flagship keyboards from the brand with tech, features, specs and components that far exceed what other competitors can offer at the MSRP of the Magcore 87.

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Epomaker Magcore 87 Review

Tests & Scores

ACCESSORIES & PACKAGING
^4.5^_/5

The Epomaker Magcore 87 comes in a much better packaging than most other mid-tier and entry-level keyboards from the company.

With the keyboard you will also receive:

• 3x extra switches

• 4x extra keycaps

• HEX key

• USB-C cable

It is nice seeing that the brand bundles some extra switches for free but we would had appreciated finding a dust cover as well.

DESIGN
^4.25^_/5

The Epomaker Magcore 87 is a TKL keyboard with 88 keys with an ANSI US layout but no extra knobs nor display screens.

As a general spirit of the Magcore 87, the theme is centered on a dark theme by the use of a completely black case and a keycap set with matching black finish – even the bottom section of the case is completely black with an engraved branding all in black and 4 silicone feet in black.

The overall looks of the Epomaker Magcore 87 exude a feeling of a keyboard made to get the job done with premium, top-class performance; without being overly gamer flashy but neither ultra-conservatively dull.

A detail that we noticed, though, was the fact that the finish used for the case was a fingerprint magnet.

The extra transparent keycaps give it a gorgeous accent without exaggerating nor becoming tacky, as well as a thin horizontal light strip sitting below the TKL navigation keys.

The Epomaker Magcore 87 is available only in black color, there are no additional colorful case/shell variants for this model.

CONSTRUCTION & BUILD
⁵^_/5

As soon as you get the keyboard out of the box you will be surprised by the exceptional build and ruggedness of the Epomaker Magcore 87.

In fact, this is thanks to a full-aluminum case construction with no single shell pieces made of flimsy plastic.

Internally, the Magcore 87 follows the same premium build quality by the use of components such as:

• Hot-swappable board (not compatible with 3-pin, 5-pin mechanical switches)

• Aluminum plate

• Gasket mount design

• FR4 plate

• Multi-layered dampening and sound enhancing design (Silicon Sandwich Foam, IXPE Switch Pad, Bottom EVA Foam)

Of course, the tank-alike build of the Magcore 87 comes with some weight to it, reaching nearly 2kg; so probably not the best choice to be your world tour companion.

We have no doubt that the Magcore 87 will surely outlast most of your other PC peripherals that you might own.

KEYCAPS
^4.5^_/5

The keycaps set pre-assembled with the Epomaker Magcore 87 have a classic Cherry profile with a clean and efficient contrast provided by the black keys body and white fonts.

The keycap set includes 4 violet-tinted, transparent keys for: ESC, Backspace, Enter, Spacebar. If you do not dig the colored accent of these keys and prefer a 100% black theme, you can switch these 4 transparent keycaps with the bundled standard ones.

As you might guess, the keycaps are not made of cheap ABS but, instead, are built with, long-lasting, fade-free PBT (double-shot).

The black colored keys have a micro-textured finish that improve grip and lower slippery issues without inducing a rough and fatiguing feel to the touch. The transparent, colored keycaps have a completely textureless feel but their finish is almost as slippery-free as a rubberized/silicone feet.

SWITCHES
⁵^_/5

The Epomaker Magcore 87 comes preassembled with Kailh Box Inductive switches; as the name suggests, these switches make use of a new type of technology: Inductive design and sensors.

he nature of these switches offer all the capabilities and customization of hall-effect switches but have a different technological approach, using in these inductive switches an electromagnetic field sensing with a metallic activator instead of the magnetic sensing with a magnet activator in the hall-effect switches.

With the help of the dedicated PC software/driver for the Magcore 87, the inductive switches can unleash their insane power and versatility with endless customization, tuning and settings to apply to them.

Users have the total freedom to define characteristics such as:

• Adjustable actuation

• DKS Multi-function according to the traveled distance

• MPT

• MT actions for pressing and releasing

• TGL

• END

• RT

• SOCD

• Activation and release distance adjustability

Of course, full per key reprogrammability and macros are 100% enabled and accessible, but we did encounter some software crashes from time to time (as of version 1.2).

Thanks to light diffusers, these Kailh Box switches optimize the lighting effect of the south-facing RGB LEDs of the board. While the non-mechanic core design of the switches involve less moving parts and, therefore, a fully scratchless feel that no mechanical switch is able to reach.

Switch Name

Kailh Box Inductive Switch

Switch Type

Inductive Switch

Initial Force

35±10gf

Total Travel

3.5mm±0.2

Material

POM

Operation Life

100,000,000 Cycles (min)

CON

CONNECTIVITY
⁴^_/5

With performance specs such as 8000Hz polling rate, 0.125ms of latency, 32khz of scan rate and adjustable inductive switches; the Epomaker Magcore 87 is clearly a top-notch gaming beast that can dominate most top-class gaming keyboards on the market.

As such and with competitive gaming in mind, the fact that this is a wired-only keyboard is not a cons at all as any serious competitive gamer will mostly use their keyboard in wired mode and avoid any less-performing wireless connection modes.

Said so, we find important to highlight again that the Epomaker Magcore 87 is not a multi-connectivity keyboard and cannot be used wirelessly.

SOUND
⁵^_/5

We have mentioned many times while reviewing hall-effect and magnetic keyboards that the sound performance is frequently not their strongest asset and many times fall short of expectations for users wanting classic mechanical keyboard-styled sound signatures.

In the particular case of the Epomaker Magcore 87 with its Kailh Inductive switches, the sound profile could be defined as poppy-clacky with a refined pitch and clean output that it might not be as a deep thocky as some mechanical keyboards but by no means inferior quality-wise (just different) and it certainly sound as premium as it feel.

The stabilizers come lubed from factory and as we have seen in nearly all of the hundreds of keyboards that we have reviewed from the brand, they perform flawlessly without being mushy nor sluggish and being completely free of rattling noises.

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Epomaker Magcore 87 Technical Specifications

Brand
Epomaker
Model
Magcore 87
Layout
TKL ANSI US Layout
Number of Keys
88 Keys
Connectivity
Type-C Cable
Compatibility
Mac/WIN
Case Material
Aluminum
Flex-Cut
No Flex-Cut
Stabilizers Type
Aluminum Alloy Plate. (Compatible with Screw-in Stabilizer)
Mounting Structure
Gasket-Mount
Feet
No
PCB Thickness
1.2mm
plate material
FR4
Sound Dampening
Silicon Sandwich Foam/IXPE Switch Pad/Bottom EVA Foam
Keycaps Profile
Cherry Profile
Keycaps Material
PBT Plastic
Keycaps Manufacturing technique
Double-Shot
Switch
Inductive Switch
Hot swappable
Yes, with Inductive Switches, not for 3-pin/5-pin mechanical switches
RGB
South-facing, per-key RGB
Polling Rate
8000Hz
Scan Rate
32khz per key
Latency
0.125ms
Anti-Ghosting
N-Key Rollover
Keyboard Dimensions
357*136 *40mm
Keyboard Weight
around 2kg