Epomaker has released the RT100 Pro, a full-size mechanical keyboard that promises substantial improvements over its predecessor while maintaining a budget-friendly price point of $119. This keyboard is designed for both serious typists and casual gamers, offering a blend of productivity and entertainment features. However, potential buyers should understand both its strengths and notable limitations before making a purchase decision.
Major Improvements Over the Original RT100
The RT100 Pro introduces several meaningful upgrades that justify considering it as a replacement for the original model. The most significant change is the addition of an aluminum alloy top plate, which replaces the all-plastic chassis of the original RT100. This material upgrade gives the keyboard a more premium feel and promises better durability over time.
The keyboard layout has also been refined. The RT100 Pro uses a true 100% full-size design, compared to the 95% layout of its predecessor. This change provides better-positioned page navigation keys and improves overall functionality. Additionally, the volume control has been upgraded from a cheap-feeling plastic knob to a more refined dial that better matches the keyboard’s overall quality.
Another practical improvement involves the 2.4GHz wireless dongle storage. Previously, users had to remove the detachable screen to access the onboard compartment. With the RT100 Pro, the dongle now has its own dedicated slot on the keyboard’s underside, eliminating the risk of losing it when using the screen feature.
Excellent Typing Experience and Performance
The RT100 Pro delivers a typing experience that justifies its position as one of the best mechanical keyboards available. The keyboard features a gasket-mount PCB design that provides a soft, responsive feel while minimizing unwanted vibrations and metallic noise during typing sessions.
Stock options include the Creamy Jade linear switches, which require 45g of actuation force and offer a short 2mm pre-travel distance. This means you don’t need to press the keys all the way down to register input, allowing for faster typing without finger fatigue. In testing, the keyboard achieved 96 words per minute with 94.1% accuracy right out of the box. The combination of double-shot PBT keycaps and multiple layers of sound-dampening foam creates what reviewers describe as a creamy, thocky sound profile that’s satisfying without being disruptive in shared spaces.
Gaming Capability and Responsiveness
While positioned as a productivity keyboard, the RT100 Pro holds its own for casual gaming. The keyboard features a 1,000Hz polling rate over wired and 2.4GHz wireless connections, which drops to 125Hz over Bluetooth. This makes it responsive enough for racing games, first-person shooters, and RPGs.
The keyboard also supports N-key rollover, meaning it can register multiple simultaneous inputs without missing commands. This feature proved valuable in testing, allowing players to execute complex command sequences without slowdown. For those seeking the best gaming keyboards, the RT100 Pro represents a solid middle ground between gaming performance and everyday usability.
The Customizable Screen Feature
The RT100 Pro includes a 1.54-inch detachable screen positioned above the page navigation keys. When attached, the display shows keyboard vitals like battery life and active operating system layout. Through the browser-based Epomaker Hub software, users can upload GIFs, static images, or pixel art to personalize the display.
The screen is fully removable, revealing four additional programmable switch sockets. Extra switches are included in the box, allowing users to customize these functions through the Epomaker Hub software. This flexibility appeals to users who want quick-access macros or specialized functions.
User-Friendly Software
The RT100 Pro ships with access to Epomaker Hub, a web-based customization platform that requires no software downloads. Unlike some competitors, this platform features a clean interface free from intrusive advertisements. Users can remap keys, record macros, adjust per-key RGB lighting, and manage screen content all from a single dashboard.
Notable Drawbacks
Despite its overall quality, the RT100 Pro has two meaningful limitations. The detachable screen, while innovative, proved unreliable during testing. It frequently malfunctioned when removed and reinserted, sometimes displaying incorrect time, going blank, or failing to turn on entirely. This inconsistency undermines confidence in a feature that should be a highlight.
Additionally, both stock switch options (Creamy Jade and Sea Salt V2) are linear switches. There are no tactile options available from the factory. Since the keyboard is hot-swappable and compatible with standard MX switches, users can purchase tactile alternatives separately, though this represents added cost beyond the initial purchase price.
Final Verdict for Buyers
The Epomaker RT100 Pro represents a solid investment for anyone seeking a full-size mechanical keyboard that handles typing and casual gaming equally well. The build quality improvements, intuitive software, and responsive switches make it a capable daily driver at its $119 price point. The customizable screen adds personality to your setup, even if its reliability leaves something to be desired. Those prioritizing rock-solid reliability might want to overlook the screen feature and focus on the keyboard’s core typing and gaming performance, which are genuinely excellent.
Write Your Review
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!