Epomaker RT82

| Detachable Display | Mechanical Keyboard | 75% | VIA |

The Epomaker RT82 is the latest generation of RT series but with a practical 75% form factor.

The RT family has been part of the brand’s catalog much longer than most others and has introduced to the keyboard’s enthusiast market neat design innovations that we are seeing back with the new RT82.

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Epomaker RT82 Review

Tests & Scores

ACCESSORIES & PACKAGING
^4.5^_/5

The keyboard comes well equipped with a generous amount of additional accessories/freebies, such as:

Detachable display
USB-C cable
3x extra keycaps
2x extra switches
Keycap/switch puller

DESIGN
^4.5^_/5

The Epomaker RT82 has a stronger resemblance with the RT100 than with the newer RT85; leaving aside the particular new design elements introduced with the RT85 and having a more barebones and minimal style but with the addition of a much nicer display screen.

Due to the cream color case and keycaps set used on the Epomaker RT82, we could even say that it looks more like a sibling of the Epomaker EK98 and Epomaker TH80 PRO V2 than to their RT series siblings.

The keyboard is based on one of the most useful layouts (which is 75%), including all of the mainstream keys like a full F number row, arrow keys and 4 navigation keys while preserving a compact size.

If you are a fan of knobs, the RT82 will not make you happy as it does not include any rotary encoders but, as you might have already noticed, on the upper right section of the case, it sports a large and unique display screen.

A detail that you might not know though, is that this display screen is removable with a quick-detachable magnetic design but there are no extra knob or key modules that can be purchased separately.

DISPLAY SCREEN
⁵^_/5

When we saw the “retro TV-styled” display screen being brought back from the original RT100 series, we were excited as it was one of the best looking displays designwise but that the brand never used again on any other keyboard until the RT82.

The 1.14″ display, though, shows now a substantially better panel and UI with excellent sharpness and readability.

With the display you will have quick access to info such as battery charge, date, time, Win/Mac mode, connectivity, Caps lock, Win lock.

On top of that, the screen can playback animated GIFs and allows to upload 3 different screens with different GIF animations; also it offers a brand-new “typewriter” mode where every key that you press appears in real-time on the display screen – we found it enjoyable to see and use.

CONSTRUCTION & BUILD
^4.25^_/5

Externally, the keyboard uses a plastic case but offers the same good quality feel as other modern plastic keyboards from the brand as they use a thick amount of ABS.

Internally, the keyboard holds a multi-layered sound dampening construction with 5 different materials and with a gasket mounted design.

In addition to this, the board of the Epomaker RT82 is backlit with RGB LEDs and has a hot-swappable design compatible with most mechanical switches on the market without any soldering needed.

Furthermore, the Epomaker RT82 is VIA compatible, allowing the full freedom of VIA to program and customize the unit without needing to install any software. On the other hand, this means that the display screen needs yet another software to be customized; in this case an online website labeled as “LCD Screen Driver Software” – this is also needed to sync the time and date.

KEYCAPS
⁴^_/5

The included keycaps are made of quality PBT with dye-sublimation printing and not cheap plastics while the layout uses a classic Cherry profile.

Aesthetically, the set uses a conservative fonts design that combines well with the black over white contrast.

The keycaps have a very smooth and textureless finish that is pleasant to the touch and which will be appreciated by users that do not dig the sensation of textured keycaps.

SWITCHES
^4.5^_/5

The keyboard can be purchased with linear switches or silent switches – we have the one with silent switches.

Specifically, you can choose your RT82 with:

Epomaker Creamy Jade linear switches
Epomaker Sea Salt silent switches

We have reviewed plenty of keyboard with both switches and both of them are excellent but be sure to choose the style accordingly to your liking.

The Sea Salt switches are phenomenal for a stealthier use while retaining most of the capabilities of quality linear switches. In fact, both come pre-lubed from factory as well as the stabilizers.

Switch Name
EPOMAKER Sea Salt Silent Switch
Switch Type
5-pin Mechanical Switch, Silent, Linear, Pre-Lubed
Trigger Force
45±5gf
Bottom-out Force
51±5gf
Pre-Travel
1.8±0.4mm
Total Travel
3.5±0.4mm
Stem Material
Yellow POM
Top Material
Transparent PC
Base Material
Light Blue PA66
Special
Dust-prove

CON

CONNECTIVITY
^4.75^_/5

The Epomaker RT82 is a wired and wireless keyboard that can be used through its detachable USB-C cable or benefiting from Bluetooth or 2.4G wireless connectivity.

To use it in 2.4G you have to plug the included dongle while in BT mode you can use 3 different banks for different devices.

Quite surprising was the fact that the keyboard includes good specs for gaming, like anti-ghosting NKRO, 3ms of latency and 1000Hz of polling rate (wired and 2.4G modes)

SOUND
⁴^_/5

It is hard to rate the sound performance of a keyboard with silent switches, yet the Epomaker RT82 does an excellent job delivering what it promises, silent, buttery smooth and a pleasant quiet typing experience with just the right amount of muted feedback.

A detail that we noticed, though, is that the spacebar exhibits a bounce back “clack” noise if hit a bit harder than usual; nothing that some extra lube cannot fix but we would had prefer to see it come pre-lubed as pristinely as most other stabs on Epomaker keyboards.

BATTERY
^3.75^_/5

Being a wireless keyboard with an RGB backlight board and such a nice display screen, most users will mostly prefer make use of the display and RGB all the time, thus a higher power consumption.

The keyboard sports a standard battery capacity of 4000mAh, which ensures decent runtime per charge.

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Epomaker RT82 Technical Specifications

Brand
EPOMAKER
Model
RT82
LAYOUT
QWERTY, ANSI US Layout,75% Mechanical Keyboard
Number of Keys
80 Keys
Screen
1.14-inch LCD Screen
Battery
4000mAh Rechargeable Battery
Battery Life
14 hours (RGB On & Screen On); 17 hours (RGB On & Screen Off); 45 hours (RGB Off & Screen On); 115 hours (RGB Off & Screen Off)
Connectivity
2.4Ghz Wireless/Bluetooth/USB A-C
Compatibility
Mac/WIN/Android
Front Height
21.8MM
Typing Angle
5 degrees, 7.5 degrees and 11 degrees (with 2-stage adjustable kick-stand)
Case Material
ABS Plastic
Plate Material
PC Plate
Flex-Cut
No Flex-Cut
Stabilizers
Plate-Mounted Stabilizers
Mounting Structure
Gasket-Mount
Sound Dampening
Sandwich Latex, IXPE Switch Pad, PET Sound-Enhancement Pad, Bottom Foam and Bottom Silicone
Keycaps Profile
Cherry Profile
Keycaps Material
PBT Plastic
Keycaps Manufacturing Technique
Dye-Sublimation Printing
Switch
Pre-Lubed Mechanical Switch
Hot swappable
Yes, RT82 is Hot-Swappable Keyboard that’s compatible with 3/5-pin mechanical switches
RGB
Yes, RT82 Backlit Keyboard has customizable RGB backlight with south-facing per-key LEDs
Polling Rate
1000hz in Wired and 2.4Ghz Wireless Modes, 125hz in Bluetooth Mode
Latency
3ms in Wired Mode, 5ms in 2.4Ghz Mode and 15ms in Bluetooth Mode
Anti-Ghosting
Yes, the RT82 Gaming Keyboard supports N-Key Rollover
Keyboard Dimensions
326.7*143.2*39.8MM
Keyboard Weight
about 1kg