EPOMAKER Shadow-S
| Mechanical Keyboard | TKL | Hot-Swappable | Wireless/Wired |
EPOMAKER Shadow-S, the latest release from EPOMAKER under the Shadow series.
The EPOMAKER Shadow-S is part of the new keyboards from the brand which have been recently added to their catalog, next to the EPOMAKER TH80 PRO V2, EPOMAKER DynaTab 75X, EPOMAKER Brick 87 and EPOMAKER x FEKER Galaxy 80.
You should not mistake the new EPOMAKER Shadow-S with the older EPOMAKER Shadow-X, which are totally different mechanical keyboards with way different design and specs.
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EPOMAKER Shadow-S Review
Tests & Scores
ScoresEPOMAKER Shadow-S Scores
- Accessories - 8/108/10
- Design - 8.25/108.3/10
- Display Screen - 8/108/10
- Ergonomics - 8.75/108.8/10
- Construction & Build - 8.25/108.3/10
- Keycaps - 9/109/10
- Switches - 9/109/10
- Connectivity - 9.75/109.8/10
- Customization - 9/109/10
- Typing - 10/1010/10
- Gaming - 8.25/108.3/10
- Productivity - 9/109/10
- Office - 9/109/10
- Tablet-Mobile - 8.25/108.3/10
- Programming - 9/109/10
- Sound - 10/1010/10
- Durability - 8/108/10
- Lighting - 8.25/108.3/10
- Software - 8.75/108.8/10
- Battery - 8.5/108.5/10
- Value for Money - 8.25/108.3/10
Summary
✅ Several quality switches to choose
✅ Nice keycaps
✅ Light
✅ Wired/wireless
✅ Hot-swappable
❌ Display placed at a lower layer level
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A
ACCESSORIES & PACKAGING
4/5
The keyboard comes in the standards carboard packaging seen on all modern EPOMAKER keyboards.
With the keyboard you will also get:
• Braided USB-C cable
• Keycap puller/switch remover
• 3x extra switches
D
DESIGN
4.25/5
The EPOMAKER Shadow-S has a retro-vibe but not the typical flavor seen on other retro keyboards (like the CIDOO V75 PRO, EPOMAKER EK75, EPOMAKER RT100, EPOMAKER TH80-X, EPOMAKER TH80 PRO, CIDOO V21), instead it has a color inspiration and design that clearly reminds the ’80s consoles from Family Com and very first iterations from Nintendo.
This is mainly due to the use of cream colors combined with the typical dark Bordeaux/brownish that the consoles were well-known for.
On top of that, the case even has one decorative brown/Bordeaux-colored section on the front edge and another one on the rear edge – resembling even more these retro gaming consoles.
The EPOMAKER Shadow-S is available in 2 colors:
• EPOMAKER Shadow-S white brown
• EPOMAKER Shadow-S pink white
DC
DISPLAY SCREEN
4/5
The display screen on the EPOMAKER Shadow-S is placed on the right top section of the case.
This screen has a diameter of 1.14 inches and a multi-color panel that gives a quick insight of some info such as:
• Date
• Clock
• Battery charge
• Battery status
• Caps Lock
• Win Lock
• Connection mode
• Animated GIF
• Static pictures
In order to upload GIF files or photos to the screen, you will need to use a dedicated software that is exclusive to the screen function.
The display is actually the exact same that we have seen on the EPOMAKER TH80 PRO V2 while reviewing it; which has a design “flaw” being positioned in a deeper layer level and not up on the top surface, thus giving a “submerged” effect that can limit its visibility by the frame and case.
CONSTRUCTION & BUILD
4.25/5
Due to the light weight of the keyboard and PC case, users might think that this is not as a premium keyboard as it actually is.
As a matter of fact, beneath the light-weighted body, the EPOMAKER Shadow-S has a refined gasket-mounted design, a flex-cut PC plate and 5 layers of dampening that include IPXE switch pad, acoustic pad, base silicone, bottom sponge and a sandwich foam.
In addition to this, the keyboard has a hot-swappable board compatible with 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches, allowing to swap switches on the fly without any soldering involved.
KC
KEYCAPS
4.5/5
The keycaps set pre-assembled on the EPOMAKER Shadow-S are quality PBT with fade-free and oil resistance characteristics.
The dark fonts over white keycaps add a nice contrasty effect that makes the characters extremely easy to see and find without straining the sight and even makes them partially visible on fully dark rooms by the sole illumination coming from the monitor.
The finish of the keycaps have a gently textured feel that is non-fatiguing to the touch yet gives them better grip than fully texture-less alternatives.
The knob is constructed in metal and despite being smaller than other, the rotational move responds with tactile but fully silent feedback per notch and good precision and resistance as to be controlled with a single finger yet without drifting.
SW
SWITCHES
4.5/5
In total, users can choose among 4 different mechanical switches to come preassembled from factory.
The switches available to choose are:
• Epomaker Flamingo
• Epomaker Mulan
• Epomaker Wisteria
• Epomaker Sea Silent
This corresponds to 3 different linear switches and silent one – all of them have been tested and reviewed in the past by our team.
The specific variant of the EPOMAKER Shadow-S that we are reviewing came with Epomaker Mulan linear switches, which are fairly fast and light switches with a pre-travel of just 1.5mm and an actuation force of 42 gf.
CON
CONNECTIVITY
4.75/5
As most modern EPOMAKER mechanical keyboards, the EPOMAKER Shadow-S is a tri-mode one; this allows users to connect the keyboard through a wireless Bluetooth connection, 2.4G wireless (with the dongle) or use it wired through the detachable USB-C cable connection.
The back edge of the case holds the USB-C connector and 2 switches; one serves to select the connection mode and the other set the keyboard in Windows or Mac mode.
P&E
PERFORMANCE & USE
TYPING
5/5
The 85-keys of the EPOMAKER Shadow-S and excellent performance/sound make this keyboard a pleasant daily driver with better adaptability than small keyboards yet maintaining a way smaller foot print than 100% keyboards.
GAMING
4.25/5
There are many die-hard serious gamers that only choose TKL keyboards as their favorite for intense gaming.
None in our team are professional-gamers competing in international tournaments but we find the TKL size to be a bit bigger for game-centered main use.
On the other hand, the superb switches, assembly and premium components of the EPOMAKER Shadow-S make it a serious performer even for online FPS and fast-paced gaming.
PRODUCTIVITY
4.5/5
For office and productivity, the EPOMAKER Shadow-S is well-equipped thanks to its TKL layout and added knob+display.
These combined allow it to be more versatile than a standard TKL keyboard and way more usable thank smaller 65% and 60% keyboards.
TABLET/MOBILE
4.25/5
The EPOMAKER Shadow-S ticks many of the boxes of the needed spec for mobile users, such as:
• Bluetooth connection
• Knob
• Screen
• Backlight
• Many keys
• Programmable
L
LIGHTING
4.25/5
The keyboard has a south-facing LED RGB backlighting that offer a brighter and better even-out distribution of the RGB illumination than many other keyboards with PBT non-shine through keycaps.
On top of that, on the corner above the arrow keys, the keyboard includes an RGB strip-alike light that can benefit also from lighting presets and colors customization.
S
SOUND
5/5
Right out of the box the EPOMAKER Shadow-S exhibited a pristine sound profile with a clear thocky personality and perfectly lubed stabilizers.
In fact, the plate-mounted stabs showed no noises at all and yet no signs of over lubing and mushy response.
As soon as we started the typing tests for sound, the EPOMAKER Shadow-S reminded us a lot to the superb EPOMAKER EK21 numpad, as they share a lot in the sound department.
SW
SOFTWARE
4.25/5
The EPOMAKER Shadow-S is a VIA compatible keyboard, which means that you can benefit from the power and freedom of VIA to program the keyboard macros, keys and lighting without the need to install any software or running on the background and having all customizations saved in the keyboard itself.
B
BATTERY
4.25/5
Inside, the keyboard carries a 4000mAh battery to offer sufficient runtime without worries while using it in wireless modes.
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EPOMAKER Shadow-S Technical Specifications
Model
EPOMAKER Shadow-S
Number of keys
85 keys+1 knob+ screen
VIA programmable
Yes
Structure
Gasket-mounted
Stabilizer type
plate-mounted
Connectivity
Triple modes, Bluetooth/2.4Ghz/USB-C wired
Plate
Flex-cut PC plate
Screen
1.14 inch LCD screen, programmable
Battery capacity
4000mAh
NKRO
yes
Polling rate
500hz under wired and 2.4Ghz mode; 125hz under Bluetooth mode
LED
south-facing LED
Cable length
about 1.8m
Hot swappable
yes, compatible with 3/5 pin switch
Inside the box
Keyboard
Manual
Keycap/Switch Puller
2.4G Dongle
Type-C Cable
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EPOMAKER Shadow-S
