Over the past few years, Epomaker has grown into one of the most recognizable names in the mechanical keyboard space. Here at KeenGamer, we’ve reviewed several of their boards already, and I’ll admit – I’ve genuinely grown fond of what this brand stands for. Epomaker has this consistent habit of sneaking enthusiast-level features into keyboards that are still positioned well below true boutique pricing, all while making sure each release has some kind of fun twist or standout identity.
That’s exactly how I’d describe the RT85. It’s playful without being gimmicky, feature-packed without feeling bloated, and surprisingly refined for what it sets out to be. In fact, I can say this right from the start: this is one of the best Epomaker keyboards to land on my review desk so far. So let’s break down why.
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DESIGN
The RT85 comes in a 75% layout with 82 keys. You’re getting a fairly standard alphanumeric cluster with full-size keycaps, a complete function row up top, a slightly separated arrow cluster, and a compact navigation column tucked neatly on the right-hand side. Epomaker offers the RT85 in two colorways: a more militaristic green-and-white option, and the retro-inspired white and grey version we have on hand for this review. Personal preference aside, I genuinely think the retro white/grey is the way to go here. It simply aligns better with the keyboard’s playful, console-inspired aesthetic.
The retro design on this colorway looks amazing
Out of the box, you get vibrant orange accents on the Escape, Space, Enter, and arrow keys, which give the board a much-needed visual punch. That pop of color ties everything together and reinforces the retro gaming vibe. The green version, while clean and serious, feels a bit too subdued and utilitarian for a keyboard that’s clearly meant to be fun.
That being said, the RT85 definitely takes up a bit more desk real estate than many other 75% boards – mostly because of a few design choices that stretch the footprint beyond the usual “tight” 75% template. It’s not a dealbreaker if you already have room for a 75% keyboard, and there’s a clear upside here: the layout feels less cramped, more breathable, and generally easier to live with.
Retro minimalism at its finest
The case itself is pretty minimalist, with rounded edges and a subtle raised lip around the perimeter that gives the whole board a softer, more approachable silhouette. And beyond the (very nice) colorway, there are three standout details on the top side, which are also the RT85’s main party tricks.
First, on the left, you get a small side extension. It’s mostly aesthetic – those vertical lines are pure “90s tech” nostalgia – but it also hides some genuinely practical stuff. Most importantly: an always-welcome wireless dongle compartment, clearly marked with a tiny icon. One interesting detail is that the compartment cover is basically the only metal element on the keyboard’s exterior. You open it by pressing down and sliding it to the left… and that’s easier said than done. The magnet underneath is so strong that I wouldn’t blame anyone for trying a few times, failing, and assuming it’s just decorative or even stuck by mistake. It takes more force than I’d like, and every time I open it I catch myself worrying I’ll eventually scuff the plastic underneath with repeated use.
Orange keycaps really pop but the entire package is great
The upside of that absurdly strong magnet, though, is peace of mind: once the dongle is in there, it’s not going anywhere. Even with the compartment open, there’s basically zero chance the receiver falls out unless you actively try to shake it loose. Right above that compartment sits a small retro-style selector dial that fits the overall vibe perfectly. This is where you switch between Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless, and wired mode.
And then on the right, nestled between the navigation column and the arrow cluster, you get the RT85’s real headline feature: a 1.47-inch TFT screen paired with a small joystick. When it comes to the screen, it’s easily the most useful “extra” on this keyboard, not just because it looks cool, but because it actually adds day-to-day convenience. It gives you real-time status info at a glance, and it doubles as a quick control hub for a bunch of settings you’d normally have to dig for.
The TFT screen is both informative and practical
The main info page puts the current time front and center, with the surrounding UI showing the date and day, your current connection mode, which OS layout you’re in, the selected language, and crucially for a wireless board – battery percentage. Even better, most of those settings are adjustable directly on the board. You can switch between Windows and Mac mode, change language, and tweak RGB parameters like effects, brightness, and speed without memorizing some ridiculous key combo or jumping into software just to do something basic.
Of course, the screen isn’t limited to status pages. Through Epomaker’s software, you can load it up with custom images or animated GIFs, which adds a whole extra layer of personality – perfect for leaning even harder into the retro vibe, or just flexing whatever pixel art obsession you’re currently on.
Right under the display sits the joystick, and honestly, it’s one of those features that instantly gives the RT85 character. I can’t recall seeing this exact implementation on many keyboards, and it’s surprisingly satisfying to use. It’s soft and “analog-like” in the way it moves, but functionally it’s more of a five-way click input: you only register an action once you push it fully until it clicks in one of four directions (up, down, left, right), plus a center press like a button.
…and is a nice spot to showcase your interests.
In practice, it behaves a lot like the ubiquitous volume knob – just in joystick form. Left and right cycle RGB effects, up and down adjust volume, and pressing it mutes or unmutes your sound. There’s also an RGB ring around it, which makes it stand out visually and helps you spot it easily in the dark. It’s a small touch, but it sells the “mini console control” idea really well.
Now, I do have one issue with this screen + joystick combo: the screen itself is still controlled through Fn key combinations and regular keys, which feels completely counterintuitive when you have a fully functional joystick sitting right there. Most people will naturally assume the joystick is meant to navigate screen menus, and… it just isn’t. That was a bit of a cold shower for me, and I really hope it’s something Epomaker can address in a future firmware/software update – or at the very least keep in mind the next time they ship a keyboard with this kind of hardware.
The underside of the RT85 is pretty straightforward with no major visual flair, but you do get solid practicality: rubber feet to keep it planted, and flip-out feet that offer two additional typing angles on top of the default slope.
BUILD AND FEEL
The RT85 is an all-ABS plastic board, but don’t let that fool you – it weighs a solid 1kg, and a good chunk of that heft comes from the massive internal battery that powers its wireless modes. The plastic has a nice, slightly textured “sand-like” finish that feels resistant to fingerprints and, more importantly, seems pretty scratch-resistant in day-to-day use. Overall, the keyboard feels sturdy, but not brick-stiff.
There’s a tiny bit of give if you try to twist the chassis, mostly because the board is longer than the average compact 75% – but crucially, there’s no creaking, no rattling, and no cheap-sounding flex. That alone gave me confidence this thing is genuinely well assembled. The double-shot PBT keycaps only reinforce that impression: clean legends, consistent colors, no obvious molding flaws, and an overall quality level that feels a step above what you’d expect at this price.
The profile is nice and sloped
And honestly, this is one of those boards where RGB almost feels optional. It’s there, it’s bright, and it works – but the colorway and keycap set already look so good that you don’t really need lighting to make the RT85 pop.
Internally, the RT85 uses a gasket-mount structure with a flex-cut PC plate, and it sticks with plate-mount stabilizers. Like many keyboards we’ve reviewed lately, the case is absolutely packed with foam and dampening layers: PORON sandwich foam, an IXPE switch pad, a PET sound-enhancement layer, EPDM switch socket foam, and a silicone bottom layer. The difference is that, unlike a lot of “foam-stuffed” boards that end up feeling dead and stiff, the RT85 still preserves that genuinely soft gasket experience. There’s a gentle give to the typing surface that you can feel immediately – and if you’re coming from a firmer tray-mount or top-mount board, it really does make longer sessions more comfortable, with noticeably less hand fatigue.
Dongle compartment and wireless modes knob play into the retro aesthetic
And with that in mind: typing on the RT85 is an absolute joy.
A lot of that comes down to switch choice, and our unit shipped with Epomaker’s own Creamy Jade linear switches. Paired with the gasket flex and the full dampening stack, they create a sound profile that’s borderline addictive. I genuinely can’t remember the last time a keyboard sounded this good straight out of the box – no modding, no tape, no extra tuning required. That’s also the reason why, over the past month, the RT85 has spent more time on my desk than any other board I own.
Sure, I have keyboards that can sound even “creamier” – but they’re also significantly more expensive, and they don’t sound that much better than what the RT85 delivers here. Hats off to Epomaker: the combination of dampening, case tuning, and switch pairing is a straight-up bullseye.
PERFORMANCE
Like most of Epomaker’s recent boards, the RT85 comes with genuinely versatile tri-mode connectivity: wired USB, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless via the included dongle. In other words, it’ll happily bounce between your main PC, a laptop, a tablet, or even a phone without making you babysit the connection. Across all three modes, stability was rock-solid in my testing, with no random dropouts or weird “wake-up lag” moments.
These switches and this keyboard sound AMAZING.
If you care about responsiveness, the best experience is still 2.4GHz or wired, where the RT85 runs at a 1000Hz polling rate and that’s where I spent most of my time.
That polling rate, paired with the Creamy Jade linear switches in our unit, makes the RT85 a surprisingly competent all-rounder for both typing and gaming. These switches sit in that sweet spot of being light without feeling flimsy:
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Trigger force: 45±5gf
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Bottom-out force: 50±5gf
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Pre-travel: 2.0±0.4mm
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Total travel: 3.6±0.4mm
You’re not getting the instant actuation and ultra-short travel that’s designed to delete people in esports shooters, but for casual gaming, and even competitive play at a normal, human level, the RT85 won’t hold you back. Single-player sessions feel effortless, and when you do jump into something more twitchy, the board still keeps up just fine.
And if you’re the type who prefers a clean desk and plans to run wireless most of the time, the 8000mAh battery makes that totally realistic. Yes, the TFT screen (especially with bright content) adds extra drain, and RGB doesn’t exactly help either, but even with everything turned on, the endurance is still strong.
RT85 looks great even without the RGB
In real-world use, with roughly 4–5 hours a day and both the screen and RGB enabled, I only had to plug it in after a full week. With the lights off and the screen showing mostly dark content, I’ve been using it for two weeks and I’m still sitting at around half battery, which is a genuinely impressive result for a keyboard that’s doing more than just pushing keystrokes.
On the software side, the RT85 uses Epomaker’s own keyboard driver and this is still one area where the brand feels a step behind some of the competition. A lot of manufacturers have either moved to web-based configurators or leaned into the simplicity and reliability of VIA/QMK support across most of their lineup. Epomaker is still doing things the old-school way: download, install, and run a dedicated app.
One of Epomaker’s best keyboards
That said, credit where it’s due – the software has improved since the last time I used it. The UI feels less cluttered, it’s easier to understand at a glance, and it’s much clearer where you need to go to change specific settings. Functionally, it’s also very complete: you can create multiple profiles, remap keys, set up Fn layers, record macros, fine-tune RGB (effects, brightness, speed, the whole lot), and control the screen content and behavior down to surprisingly granular details.
So yes, it’s one more piece of software you have to install on your PC and Epomaker would absolutely score bonus points if they embraced VIA or a lightweight web driver. But once you actually have it installed, the RT85’s software doesn’t feel lacking in features or flexibility in any meaningful way.
CONCLUSION
Every time I finish a review of a keyboard this feature-rich, you’d be forgiven for expecting a $200 price tag. Gasket mount, flex-cut PC plate, a full dampening stack, tri-mode wireless, a TFT screen and joystick – that’s usually “premium money.” But Epomaker doesn’t really play that game, and the RT85 is proof: it brings all that retro goodness for just under $90.
Sure, I could nitpick the all-plastic build, but when that same plastic helps deliver one of the board’s biggest strengths – that soft gasket feel and genuinely creamy, addictive sound profile – it’s hard to hold it against the keyboard. Yes, there are a few quirks (like the joystick not navigating the screen and the software), but none of that changes the bigger picture.
The RT85 is still one of the best Epomaker keyboards I’ve tried to date, and an easy recommendation if you want a fun, practical 75% with real personality – especially if that retro vibe is your thing.
