Software

There is no dedicated software driver support for the Epomaker B21—all functionality is hardware based. As such, I have chosen to combine the Software and Performance pages into one. This is a shame, however, since most other Epomaker keyboards are compatible with the GK6XPlus drivers; however, clearly the partner factory did not care enough to implement support here.

Performance

We get full N-key rollover USB with the Epomaker B21, as tested successfully with Aqua's test. Unsurprisingly, it drops to the standard 6KRO in Bluetooth mode. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys, and we see above which functions get dedicated keys on the base layer.

Let's talk about that base layer since it will make or break this keyboard for potential customers. We have seen more than our average share of 60% keyboards recently—why so many mainstream entries have suddenly came out alongside the usual niche/smaller brand offerings is a mystery to me. A 60% keyboard is effectively just the alphanumeric section of a standard keyboard, and swaps Tilde (~) out with Esc. Many profess love their love for this, but it can be extremely hard to get used to without a well-thought-out base layer with a secondary layer for some of the missing functions, including arrow keys. Some, such as the Anne Pro 2, do a neat thing with tapping to aid with this. But it's hard to replace the dedicated arrow keys for navigation, as well as shortcuts for further navigation and data manipulation. This is where the arrow keys and Ins-Pg Dn cluster come in, which a 65% keyboard aims to address.

The Epomaker B21 is one such 65% keyboard that still has a single bank of keys, such that the arrow keys are part of the alphanumeric section. This means some changes are made, especially with a shorter R. Shift to accommodate the Up arrow and Pg Dn, as well as shorter R. Alt, Fn, and R. Ctrl while also losing R. Win and Menu in the bottom row. This allows Epomaker to add Del, End, Pg Up, and Pg Dn at the end. The latter two are logical enough to complement the arrow keys, but I am less convinced about the first two. Why Del and End instead of either Ins and Del or Home and End? I suppose the chosen two further add to the quick navigation and editing of text, but still rely on the use of other shortcuts and mouse navigation anyway.

Getting used to the Epomaker B21 means getting more used to the keys mentioned above than anything else. The SA profile also can be jarring in the beginning, and it's a bit much for me to type on daily while using other keyboards as well. The rounded top surfaces are actually nice, but the taller profile coupled with the bottom row having a massive drop-off relative to most others will be tough to type on normally, and this is even ignoring the smaller form factor. FYI, the four keycaps at the corners each have a rounded corner for a better fit with the rounded case itself, so some larger keycaps may struggle to fit in. This is important to note if you want to use your own keycaps to take advantage of the lighting on offer here.


Speaking of which, here is a look at the Epomaker B21 all lit up. White LEDs are associated with each switch and the buttons up top. As seen above, the latter set is backlit; however, the opaque PBT keycaps mean that the lighting in the keyboard section is more for aesthetics, showing between keycaps rather than through them. There is only static lighting too, with the right knob dedicated to brightness control.


That is another issue I have with the keyboard, with no key mapping or software support resulting in the pre-programmed functions being all you get. There are no keyboard-specific secondary functions on the actual 65% form factor, with Epomaker going with dedicated controls for a few things, including the knob for volume control. Turn it clockwise to increase volume, anti-clockwise to decrease it, and press it to mute/unmute the system associated with the keyboard. The same applies to the right knob, but just for static lighting—turn it briefly to go from 0% to 100% brightness. It feels like a waste of a knob, especially after seeing the smart dial i-Rocks implemented on the K71M. The tactile buttons themselves are fine, with media playback, a macOS/Windows toggle, and quick changeovers for up to three paired devices over Bluetooth. The final one is a shortcut for the calculator, which feels hilarious on a 65% keyboard missing a numpad.

Bluetooth connectivity is one of the features listed here, and another item that makes me think this keyboard was made by Ajazz, based on my time with the Ajazz K620T 2.0 and Ajazz Zinc. This part is also quite similar to the Epomaker AK84S we just saw, down to the same battery size, albeit the battery system is clearly different. You have a nice 4000 mAh battery that can power the B21 for weeks of regular use on Bluetooth even with the lighting on. Turn it off, and you will only have to charge it once a month at worst. Charging does take a while since it is restricted to USB 2.0 (500 mAh) for current intake, though. Bluetooth pairing is simple, and the use of Bluetooth 5.0 helps further. You can pair up to three devices simultaneously, including mobile devices and smart TVs, with easy switching to any of the three courtesy the aforementioned buttons. No issues were detected with the pairing process or usage, and the form factor of the keyboard makes it easy to carry around by holding on to the raised back section. The Epomaker B21 also weighs less than 900 g, which means it is not a heavyweight by any means.


There are three Cherry MX switch options to choose from with the Epomaker B21, covering all three feedback mechanism types. These are the popular MX Red and MX Brown in addition to the MX Blue, which I happen to have here. Tactile and clicky switches are getting rarer than I would like when it comes to pre-built keyboard options. Perhaps it is because of the enormous popularity of gaming-oriented linear switches, but many also just associate mechanical keyboards with a loud click, so the MX Blue comes in with the associated negative mindset there too. The MX Blue has a rated actuation force of 50 gf at 2 mm travel and a peak force of 60 gf at 4 mm. The tactile bump is also quite evident, more pronounced than with the MX Brown. It happens before actuation and takes up 60 gf, the peak bottoming-out force of the switch itself. As such, once you hit the tactile bump, you will inevitable actuate given the lower force requirement just past it, and it is easy enough to train yourself not to bottom out. It is an audible switch, however, so perhaps it's best in a more private setting lest your typing becomes a distraction to others. No hot-swappable switches here, so what you see is what you get outside of desoldering.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the Epomaker B21 keyboard sample at ~110 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Cherry MX Blue switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with tactile and clicky switches. I did bottom out, and you can hopefully hear some of the down strokes causing reverberation with the mostly empty plastic case. The lubed stabilizers help somewhat with the rattle associated with cheaper implementations. While not lubed, the switches are supposed to be self-lubricating, and you end up with a higher pitch as well as metal pings off the steel plate, and the reverberations. Not the quietest or best-sounding keyboard this one is.