Construction & Key Action
The Yellow switches define how this keyboard feels in use. Switch choice is personal - what feels great to one typist can feel wrong to another, so it's worth knowing what category these fall into before committing. In this price tier, you should expect aluminum top plates, doubleshot or PBT keycaps, and per-key RGB. If those aren't here, the price is hard to justify.
One feature owners single out about the EPOMAKER RT100 Retro 97-Key: "Hot-swap".
The Numbers
- Brand: Epomaker
- Price: $105.99 (well above the $69.31 category average)
- Connectivity: Wired
- Switches: Yellow
- Amazon rating: 3.9 of 5.0
- Reviews: 474
- Category rank: #37 of 75 in hot-swappable keyboards
- Cheaper in category: 70 products
- Higher-rated in category: 65 products
- More-reviewed in category: 26 products
From the Reviews
3.9 stars across 474 reviews is below the bar we'd want for a confident recommendation. The complaints in the lower-star reviews reveal where this product's weaknesses lie.
Common positives:
- Retro design
- Mini screen
- Hot-swap
Common complaints:
- No wireless
- Heavy
For context, the average rating in the hot-swappable keyboards category is 4.2 stars, so this one is rated below typical.
What Else to Consider
At $105.99, the EPOMAKER RT100 Retro 97-Key sits well above the $69.31 category average. 70 options are cheaper and 4 are more expensive.
The category leader is the EPOMAKER x Aula F75 Gasket ($65.99, 4.6★, 3,468 reviews). It's $40.00 more expensive than the top pick despite ranking lower, which is a hard combination to justify unless a specific feature swings the decision.
Higher-rated options in this category:
- LEOBOG Hi75C Upgraded Wired - $65.99, 5.0★ (5 reviews) · Better on both axes
- EPOMAKER TH108 V2 PRO Full Size - $99.99, 5.0★ (3 reviews) · Better on both axes
- Keychron V2 Wired 65% - $59.99, 5.0★ (3 reviews) · Better on both axes
If rating alone is your filter, the highest-rated option in this category is the LEOBOG Hi75C Upgraded Wired at 5.0★. If pure price is the filter, the cheapest is the Geeky GK61 60% Hot Swap Keyboard at $19.99.
Should You Buy It?
Skip. Rated below the category average, with cheaper or higher-rated alternatives available. There's no profile of buyer for whom this is the obvious choice.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Retro design
- Mini screen
- Hot-swap
Cons:
- No wireless
- Heavy
Bottom Line
6.5/10
Below-average rating in a category with several stronger options. Hard to recommend over higher-ranked alternatives unless a specific feature seals it.