By: Ronald Chow
August 15, 2025
Lately, I have been browsing at 65% keyboards online for research purposes, and it is almost shocking how many choices there are nowadays. A little over a dozen years ago, mechanical keyboards as we know them were just a fledgling in mainstream consumer electronics. They were known for being great for productivity, ergonomics, and for typists initially, but broke into gaming later. Smaller keyboards have made a big splash starting with tenkeyless keyboards. These offered a smaller footprint and more space for mouse movements. Further developments saw a rise in smaller options like 75% and 65% that have a pleasant size and aesthetic. In this category, there are budget options to premium, high-end boards. In the midrange, there has been a huge growth in selection from pre-built to DIY kits. Some offer exotic designs, mini-LCD screens, and plethora of materials such as aluminum, brass, and copper that are incorporated into their construction. One brand that has added quite a few selections to this space would be Epomaker. Epomaker has been churning out so many variations that it can be hard to keep track of all their models. Whether it is officially branded, co-branded, or under a different brand, on their website, I counted over a dozen different 65% keyboards alone. From my experience, their boards typically have a solid sound and typing experience. Today, we have another keyboard from Epomaker’s lineup, the Epomaker P65. With the P65, it promises to deliver for both gaming and typing situations. Let us see how the P65 sets itself apart from the competition!
Our unit of the Epomaker P65 hailed from Shenzhen, China, where Epomaker is located. It was shipped via Yanwen, a Chinese shipping and logistics company to the APH Networks offices in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The package was wrapped in a white shipping bag with bubble wrap lining the insides, and arrived in decent condition. There were no cuts or tears in the packaging, but upon inspection, the P65 retail box suffered some minor bruises on two of its corners. The P65 keyboard was shipped along with the HE75 Mag, which you can also read about.
The Epomaker P65 retail packaging is quite appealing. It is colored in a medium pastel gray with the front sporting a low-polygon art motif in darker shades of gray and brown. The Epomaker takes the top and center position of the box, with a line art drawing of the P65 below. Under the drawings is the “Epomaker P65” name in a gradient brown, bold font, followed by the product description, “65% Anodized CNC Aluminum Gasket-mounted Mechanical Keyboard with a Metal Knob.” The backside of the box has some warnings, company contacts, features, and certifications listed.
Specifications from the Epomaker website are listed below.
Technical Specifications
Brand: EPOMAKER
Model: P65
Layout: 65% US ANSI Layout
Number of Keys: 66 keys and 1 knob
Battery: 4000mAh
Connectivity: Cable Wired, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.0
Front Height: 21.51mm
Back Height: 43.33mm
Typing Angle: About 6 degrees
Case Material: CNC Aluminum Alloy
Plate Material: PC Plate
Flex-Cut; No Flex-Cut
Stabilizers: Plate-mounted Stabilizer. (compatible with Screw-in Stabilizer)
Mounting Structure: Gasket-Mount
PCB Thickness: 1.2mm
Sound Dampening: 5 layers: Sandwich foam, IXPE switch film, PET sound pad, sound-absorbing foam
Keycaps Profile: Cherry
Keycaps Material: PBT
Keycaps Manufacturing technique: Double-Shot
Hot swappable: Yes, 3/5-pin mechanical switches
Polling Rate: 1000Hz (USB, 2.4Ghz), 125Hz (Bluetooth 5.0)
Latency: 3ms (USB), 5ms (2.4Ghz wireless), 15ms (Bluetooth 5.0)
Anti-Ghosting: N-Key Rollover
RGB: South-facing, per-key RGB
Compatibility: Mac/WIN/Linux (compatible with PS4/PS5/Switch/X-Box)
Keyboard Weight: 1.3kg
Keyboard Dimensions: 320*116*43.33mm
Switch Specifications
Switch Name: Epomaker Zebra Switch
Switch Type: 5-pin Linear, Factory Lubed
Trigger Force: 40±3 gf
Bottom-out Force: 45±5 gf
Pre-Trave: 1.8±0.3mm
Total Travel: 3.8mm
Material: POM (Stem), PC (Top Case), Nylon (Bottom Case)
Life spans: 5,000,000
In the box, the keyboard is nestled in EVA foam to protect it from shipping damage. There is a user manual with instructions on key combinations, connectivity, access to VIA software, and switch installation procedures. Accessories including an Allen key for keyboard disassembly, combination keycap and switch puller, three replacement switches, and a braided USB Type-C to Type-A cable for wired connectivity are provided.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. A Closer Look – Disassembly and Internals
4. Conclusion
