I was originally hoping to get this review done before the Kickstarter campaign ended, but FedEx clearly had different plans. As such, given there was no way to make it by then, I waited for the Epomaker Lite to be listed for pre-order on the Epomaker web shop. The keyboard is really a family of various parts, more a semi-custom keyboard which is pre-built for you. As such, the cost of the various individual pieces and hand-assembly have to be considered. A delivery date of May means this review will likely be published a couple of months prior, which should be enough time for you to decide whether or not to commit the money. Those in the mechanical keyboard community are used to some group-buy items having lead times of multiple years, so this is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

The various assortment of parts merits a discussion, with Epomaker feeling generous in what is for its consideration its first entry into the more premium product lineup adopting its own take on the gasket-mount design. While not necessarily one, the overall effect is good enough—I have no issues with how well this so-called shallow gasket mount works. All versions come with a 4000 mAh battery for Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, and then come the various switch, case, and keycap options. Starting at $99, this is an excellent set that allows for pre-lubed switches and stabilizers of both the mechanical and optical kind. Hot-swappable switch sockets from Kailh help further, and having an ISO layout option will please many others. The aluminium case and PBT keycap version at $129 is arguably even more of a steal, but has its own set of compromises, too. While I am at it, there is no open firmware, so you are still stuck with the same old GK6XPlus software drivers, which really is the only thing keeping me from awarding the top Editor's Choice award. As it stands, there is plenty good to merit a strong recommendation, however.