Epomaker Tide49

8.5

SCORE

8.5/10

Pros

Thock
Superb build
Nice keycaps
Split 3-key split bar
VIA programmable
Wired and Wireless

Cons

Case finish is a fingerprint magnet
One single switch option available
Enter key is unusually short/small

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Epomaker Tide49

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Epomaker Tide49, the smallest mechanical keyboard from the Tide series.

The Tide family from Epomaker aim to provide keeb enthusiasts access to build and quality seen on premium keyboard but without the bloated premium price.

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Epomaker Tide49 Review

Tests & Scores

ACCESSORIES & PACKAGING
^4.25^_/5

The Epomaker Tide49 comes in a much better packaging than most other Epomaker keyboards.

Included with the unit you will also get:

• Dust cover

• 2.4G dongle

• 2x extra switches

• USB-C cable

• Keycap/switch puller

DESIGN
^4.5^_/5

The Epomaker Tide49 is an ultra-compact 40% mechanical keyboard with 49 keys.

We have reviewed other 40% keyboards in the past, but the instant difference that we noticed was that this one from Epomaker includes a substantially higher number of keys and an unique 3-key split bar. This split bar design on itself triplicates the usability of the single spacebar allowing the programming of each of the 3 keys for dedicated, independent functions.

This level compactness and 40% form factor are, certainly, not the most common and diffused on the market, as anything below 60% is more of a niche territory than a common general-consumer market.

Nonetheless, there are some users that love to see their wishes fulfilled each time that a new 40% is launched on the market.

To make this public happy, Epomaker introduces the Epomaker Tide49 as a premium-featured but accessible-priced alternative.

Of course, if you are buying a 40% you know beforehand that you will have to sacrifice some usability for daily typing as these kind of keyboards do not include the number row, arrow keys and, of course, forget about extra keys like navigation keys, numpad or the F number row. If you do not plan to get another keyboard besides this one, as your daily driver, at least get a numpad to complement it.

CONSTRUCTION & BUILD
⁵^_/5

The Epomaker Tide9, as every other mechanical keyboard from the Tide series, is part of the upper-tier models from the brand’s catalog.

As so, the Tide49 is packed with plenty of superb construction elements like a hefty, tank-alike, full-metal case that makes use of quality 6063 Aluminum as the material of choice.

On top of the rugged case, the internals of the keyboard follow a coherent premium-styled construction with a FR4 plate, flex-cut, steel plate stabilizers, a gasket mounting structure and a hot-swappable PCB.

To enhance and dampen the sound characteristics of the keyboard, the Tide49 holds inside a multi-dampening and multi-sound-enhancing layer system with 5 layers in total, which include:

• Sandwich Pad

• IXPE Switch Pad

• PET Sound-Enhancement pad

• Poron case foam

• PET insulation pad

KEYCAPS
⁵^_/5

The Epomaker Tide49 is a perfect example that black-centered keyboard can still offer a colorful accent without disrupting the classy-upper-tier all-black design.

In fact, we are digging the keycaps set included with the Tide49 with its original use of one different color per key printing over the full-black body.

The set has Cherry profile and, as expected from this premium-built keyboard, are made of quality PBT material.

On the other hand, what is unexpected is the fact that the keycaps have a sort of semi-frosted, semi-translucent body that allow them to gain a subtle backlit illumination from the south-facing RGB LED on the board.

SWITCHES
⁴^_/5

The Epomaker Tide49 is assembled with Zebra switches; this is the only switch model that comes offered as a pre-assembled switch choice but, of course, you can replace them with ease with any 3-pin or 5-pin of your liking – no soldering needed.

The Zebra switches is a model of linear switches from Epomaker that we have tested in many of the keyboards that we have reviewed throughout the years, and which we always find it to be a high-performing, Swiss-army knife that can make happy all users while covering all common tasks with efficiency.

The Zebras come pre-lubed from factory.

CON

CONNECTIVITY
^4.75^_/5

The Tide49 is like a Pandora box that keeps surprising very step we go further ahead with the tests for this review.

As part of the hidden secrets of this tiny keyboard, the brand has been able to equip it with 3 connection modes that cover both wireless and wired uses.

Wirelessly, users have access to 3 slots for Bluetooth connection and a dedicated dongle for high-performing 2.4G wireless connections with 1000Hz of polling rate and 10ms of latency in 2.4G mode.

On top of that, the wired mode benefits from a detachable USB-C cable connection design and does not only offer the same 1000Hz of polling rate but it also reduces the latency to just 2ms.

All modes support anti-ghosting N-key rollover.

SOUND
⁵^_/5

As with many metal keyboards, there is a special sound profile achieved that plastic keyboards cannot replicate.

However, also, most of these metal keyboard fail to provide the classic thock pitch that many keeb-enthusiasts are used to hear from some plastic keyboards. In spite of being a all-metal keyboard, the Epomaker Tide49 reaches a refined level pop and thock that we have rarely seen on other high-profile metal keyboards.

In addition to this, the stabilizers exhibited perfect lubing from factoring without requiring any further manual lubing and never showed traces of rattling; while the overall sound of the keeb did not suffer from hollow, resonant noises nor any type of pinging.

BATTERY
⁴^_/5

Probably seeing a keyboard with a 3000mAh internal battery will not win any title as the biggest battery on the market; yet considering the tiny 40% form factor, the 3A battery is pretty remarkable – rated at 110 hours of runtime.

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Epomaker Tide49 Technical Specifications

Brand
EPOMAKER
Model
Tide49
Layout
40% ANSI US Layout
Number of Keys
49 Keys
Battery
3000mAh
Battery Life
10 hours with Backlight on, and 110 hours with Backlight off.
Connectivity
Type-C Cable, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.0
Compatibility
Mac/WIN/Linux
Front Height
21.8mm
Back Height
29.4mm
Typing Angle
around 5 degree
Case Material
6063 Aluminium
Plate Material
FR4
PCB Thickness
1.2mm
Flex-Cut
Flex-Cut
Stabilizers
Steel Plate Stabilizer. (Not Compatible with Screw-in Stabilizer)
Mounting Structure
Gasket-Mount
Sound Dampening
5 layers: Sandwich Pad, IXPE Switch Pad, PET Sound-Enhancement pad, Poron case foam, and PET insulation pad.
Switch
5-pin Pre-Lubed Mechanical Switch
Hot swappable
Yes, with 3/5-pin Mechanical Switches
RGB
South-Facing, Per-Key RGB
Polling Rate
1000Hz (USB, 2.4Ghz), 250Hz (Bluetooth 5.0)
Latency
2ms (USB), 10ms (2.4Ghz wireless), 20ms (Bluetooth 5.0)
Anti-Ghosting
N-Key Rollover
Keyboard Dimensions
283*95*38.4mm
Keyboard Weight
around 1kg