Epomaker CoolKiller CK98 Keyboard GBAtemp review
Hardware
Product Information:
The last time that Epomaker tried to go all-in on an RGB keyboard to end all RGBs, the result wasn't that fantastic. While it looked great with the lights off, the MC66 suffered from being a mediocre keyboard, which mostly got by on its RGB novelty, and even fell short in a few places. This time around, Epomaker seems to have taken a few of those lessons to heart, with the aggressively named CoolKiller CK98 keyboard.
All of the Epomaker standards that you've come to expect from the brand are present here: hotswappability, three different connectivity options (2.4gHz, BT, USB-C), and a gasket mount. What stands apart from the norm is the appearance of the keyboard itself. The CK98 is, as the name implies, a 98-key slightly scrunched down fullsize keyboard, which removes a handful of navigation keys, while keeping the numpad intact. While this layout can be divisive, having a more uniform board makes sense in the context of the CK98's likely biggest selling point: its RGBs.
Improving upon the MC66, the CK98 still uses the same transparent keycaps that let you see into the inner workings of the keyboard, as if it were a piece of tech from the late 90s. They're not quite the same keycaps from before, though they are still made of that same slick, slippery, plastic. On the whole, this keyboard looks leagues better than its predecessor, because Epomaker seriously stepped up its RGB diffusion game. Rather than each key looking separately lit up, the lights flow equally, making for a much more stunning visual display.
Speaking of display--there's a tiny screen embedded into the board, which you can program to do a set handful of things, such as keeping an eye on your system temps, giving you info on the keyboard's current charge level, or you can even make it play a GIF or image, which adds a fun touch of personalization. While it is a fun feature, it's held back a bit, given the angle of the keyboard makes it hard to see the screen, and makes it look kind of washed out from afar.
The new Ice Blade switches are super interesting; they're tactile, but very different from what you might expect from a tactile switch. They have a longer-than-usual stem, which means they don't actuate when you expect them to--you need a little more travel until they do. On top of that, they bottom out super quickly, and the majority of their tactile feedback is actually when they spring back up after being pressed, rather than on the way down. It also gives the keyboard a neat sound profile that's higher pitched than most boards--though still nicely dampened by the internal foam--and an almost hollow clack; not one that sounds cheap, but a very distinct noise related to the tall stemmed switches. It's a fun change of pace from traditional keyboards, and I could see gamers enjoying this experience. Typists, however, might need some time to adjust to accidental double taps.
Epomaker definitely improved on its RGB keyboard formula with the CoolKiller CK98, offering the same high-quality internals we've all come to expect, with some fun switches, and better RGBs, which makes it a novel keyboard for RGB enthusiasts.
Verdict
- Epomaker improved the RGB diffusion in this board
- The screen is fun and novel
- The keys are slick and slippery to type on
- The screen is hard to see unless you're directly overhead
