Epomaker AK84S

[VSG]

Epomaker decided the 80% keyboard form factor needs more love and goes the Kickstarter route with the all-new AK84S that adds some nice quality-of-life improvements to existing 84-key units. It has more switch, case, and keycap options than fingers on my hands, including novel new switches and silicone keycaps.

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[Chrispy_]

Will you post updates to TPU if the full set of European/US.International silicon keycaps come out?
I'd definitely be keen to build a keyboard based on those after reading your verdict on them.

 

[VSG]

Will you post updates to TPU if the full set of European/US.International silicon keycaps come out?
I'd definitely be keen to build a keyboard based on those after reading your verdict on them.

Definitely, I am quite keen to see if that happens too.

 

[mechtech]

Will you post updates to TPU if the full set of European/US.International silicon keycaps come out?
I'd definitely be keen to build a keyboard based on those after reading your verdict on them.

Grippy silicone does seem like a nice idea for key caps

 

[VSG]

Grippy silicone does seem like a nice idea for key caps

It's not that grippy, but comes down to your typing style. If you slide fingers from key to key, I suspect you will absolutely hate this.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

lack of two year warranty should also be a thumbsdown.

Coolermaster, corsair and many other manufacturers offer a 2 year warranty

 

[Chrispy_]

For me it's about the durability. I like the rubberised finishes on mice and keyboards but it's usually just a thin coating that wears off. In the case of silicone keycovers, it should last indefinitely.

 

[VSG]

lack of two year warranty should also be a thumbsdown.

Coolermaster, corsair and many other manufacturers offer a 2 year warranty

Funny enough, I used to consider warranty period in the pros/cons list before several people said it should not be considered at all

For me it's about the durability. I like the rubberised finishes on mice and keyboards but it's usually just a thin coating that wears off. In the case of silicone keycovers, it should last indefinitely.

These are very durable, I even tried to deliberately scratch them earlier today with a pair of tweezers and it's very hard to do so. The legends are also separately injection molded, so durability is a non-factor here compared to the average keycaps as you hypothesized.

 

[mechtech]

It's not that grippy, but comes down to your typing style. If you slide fingers from key to key, I suspect you will absolutely hate this.

Sometimes my fingers slide and I get typos, or drop items when in a game lol

 

[Chrispy_]

These are very durable, I even tried to deliberately scratch them earlier today with a pair of tweezers and it's very hard to do so. The legends are also separately injection molded, so durability is a non-factor here compared to the average keycaps as you hypothesized.

That's good to know, if they ever release a full set.
I'm a blank keycap user but IMO if you haven't learned the layout by the time legends wear off you aren't the target market for a mechanical keyboard

 

[bandits1]

To be crystal clear: if I choose optical switches, my keyboard's PCB will be compatible/hot-swappable ONLY with other optical switches and not mechanical ones?

 

[VSG]

To be crystal clear: if I choose optical switches, my keyboard's PCB will be compatible/hot-swappable ONLY with other optical switches and not mechanical ones?

Yes