EPOMAKER TH99

Summary

A 102-key compact 1800 (96%) mechanical keyboard with a full numpad, gasket mount, hot-swap switches and tri-mode wireless. Check the battery claims before buying: the manufacturer says 4000 mAh while an independent test states 8000 mAh.

Strengths

Compact 1800 layout keeps a full numpad and function row while saving desk space.
Gasket mount and 5 sound-dampening layers give a quiet, warm, thocky typing sound.
Hot-swap sockets take 3-pin and 5-pin switches, so switches change without soldering.
Tri-mode connectivity (USB-C, 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0) suits a multi-device desk.
Heavy 1.14 kg weight and fine two-stage kickstand make the plastic case feel solid.
PBT double-shot keycaps resist shine; the review saw none after 4 weeks.

Weaknesses

Upgear software is Windows-only and needs a wired connection, so Mac and wireless setups are limited.
VIA support is claimed but did not work in the one hands-on test.
Accessories are minimal: cable, puller, manual and 2 spare switches, with no wrist rest or dust cover.
Battery figures conflict (manufacturer 4000 mAh vs review 8000 mAh) and real RGB life falls well below the 800-hour claim.
Plate-mount stabilizers rule out screw-in stabilizers, which limits modding.
Key legends are not backlit shine-through; only the background lighting shows.

Verified specifications

Model	TH99.
Layout	96% QWERTY ANSI US, 102 keys; the ISO-DE version has 103 keys and OEM-profile keycaps.
Mounting	gasket mount.
Sound dampening	5 layers, including Poron sandwich pad, IXPE switch pad, bottom Poron, silicone and a PET sound-enhancement pad.
Case	ABS plastic. Plate: PC (polycarbonate) plastic, with a flex-cut PCB.
Stabilizers	plate-mount only; screw-in stabilizers are not compatible.
Keycaps	PBT double-shot, Cherry profile on the ANSI version.
Hot-swap	yes, 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
Connectivity	USB-C wired, 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.0.
Latency	2 ms (USB), 5 ms (2.4 GHz), 11 ms (Bluetooth).
Polling rate	1000 Hz on USB and 2.4 GHz, 125 Hz on Bluetooth.
Battery	4000 mAh (manufacturer claim); a hands-on review states 8000 mAh, which does not match.
Battery life	up to 800 hours with the backlight off (manufacturer claim); the review claims 160 hours without backlight.
RGB	south-facing per-key LEDs, 102 of them.
Switch options	EPOMAKER Sea Salt Silent (linear, silent) and Creamy Jade (linear).
Sea Salt Silent	45 ± 5 gf actuation, 51 ± 5 gf bottom-out, 1.8 ± 0.4 mm pre-travel, 3.5 ± 0.4 mm travel, rated 60 million clicks.
Creamy Jade	45 ± 5 gf actuation, 50 ± 5 gf bottom-out, 2.0 ± 0.4 mm pre-travel, 3.6 ± 0.4 mm travel.
Front height	about 20 mm, with a 2-stage adjustable kickstand.
Weight	over 1 kg; the review unit measured 1.14 kg.
Dimensions	42 × 15 × 4.2–2.7 cm (Smartzone measurement, ISO-DE variant).
Software	Epomaker Upgear, Windows-only and English-only, needs a USB-C wired connection; VIA support is claimed but did not work in testing.
Compatibility	Mac, Windows and Android.
In the box	keyboard, USB cable, user manual, keycap puller; the review unit added 2 spare switches.
Warranty	1-year warranty and 30-day returns.

Full research notes and sources

Battery life and charging

The TH99 runs on a 4000 mAh battery per EPOMAKER, while the Smartzone hands-on review states 8000 mAh for its unit; the two figures do not agree and no third measurement settles it. EPOMAKER claims up to 800 hours with the backlight off, and the review claims 160 hours without backlight, so expect much less with RGB running. In the review, a couple of weeks of heavy use with RGB needed only one charge, with 100+ hours extrapolated. Nobody has published a drain test, so treat the long figures as claims rather than measurements.

Software and setup

Settings live in Epomaker Upgear, which is Windows-only, English-only and needs a USB-C wired connection; it will not work over Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz. The reviewer called the software immature and not well thought out, and VIA support, though claimed, did not work. If you plan to remap keys or build layers, budget time on a Windows machine.

Layout, feel and sound

The 1800 layout keeps a full numpad and 8 function keys in a shorter body than a full-size board, though the Delete key sits in the top row and takes adjustment. The gasket mount and 5 damping layers produce a quiet, thocky sound that suits shared offices. The case is ABS plastic, but the 1.14 kg weight makes it feel solid, and the PBT double-shot keycaps showed no shine or rattle in the review. The test unit used Sea Salt Silent switches, rated for 60 million clicks; a Creamy Jade variant is also sold but was not tested.

Is it worth it?

At EPOMAKER’s listed $82.99, the feature set — gasket mount, hot-swap, tri-mode, PBT keycaps, 5-layer damping — is competitive for a compact numpad board. EPOMAKER’s own shop has listed it lower, at $29.05 (65% off), and German pricing runs about €79–€110 (Smartzone). There is no ongoing cost: switches and keycaps are user-replaceable and there is no subscription. If you need mature remapping software, this is not the board.

Which model this is

This page covers the base EPOMAKER TH99, a 102-key ANSI board also sold in an ISO-DE version with 103 keys and OEM-profile keycaps. The US Amazon listing uses ASIN B0DPMDNY8C. Do not confuse it with the TH99 Pro, which adds a screen, a knob and a 10000 mAh battery, or with the TH80 and TH108.