Epomaker’s Galaxy 100 Keyboard Is Built Like The Proverbial Tank

Low-profile keyboards with membrane switches look nice in the reception area of a fancy advertising agency, but can they take the punishment of data entry in a call center or the millions of words typed out by a journalist? Probably not. If you want a keyboard that can withstand the rigors of life in a busy office, then a mechanical keyboard with a choice of switches and a full numpad for entering figures into a spreadsheet or database is essential.

I’ve tested lots of mechanical keyboards and am a huge fan. However, recently a keyboard turned up on my desk for testing that struck me as being one of the most robust and well-built I’ve seen in a while.

The Epomaker Galaxy 100 keyboard is built like a tank and offers an exceptional typing experience. It’s one of the heaviest keyboards I’ve used and feels pretty solid, although it does have a bit of flex at the right side if you press hard. Weighing in at 2kg and finished off with a durable powder-coated aluminum case, this keyboard a real premium feel and solid appearance.

Like many mechanical keyboards, the Galaxy 100 has positive tactile feedback with the sound tamed with five separate layers of sound-dampening materials that produce a highly satisfying thock noise. It’s a superbly comfortable keyboard to type on and highly accurate thanks to perfect pitch spacing between the keycaps, reducing the risk of typing fatigue. If you love using mechanical keyboards, the Epomaker Galaxy100 is likely to appeal.

The layout of the Epomaker Galaxy 100 is 1800 ANSI U.S with a full numpad and volume knob. It’s slightly smaller than a full-size keyboard but only just. The keyboard uses QMK/VIA firmware which enables keys to be remapped and assigned with macros across customizable layers. The Galaxy100 is ideal for anyone who wants to personalize their keyboard using VIA software or by visiting the VIA website with a HID-compatible browser such as Chrome or Brave.

All the switches on the Epomaker Galaxy 100 are fully hot-swappable and compatible with 3 and 5-pin mechanical switches. Epomaker offers a choice of the gentle-sounding Feker Marble White or the Wisteria linear switches. You can, of course, specify your own choice of switches and there are plenty on offer via the Epomaker website. The switches offer different actuation forces, travel distances and almost any kind of sound you want.

The switches fitted in the keyboard are all pre-lubed at the factory for a smooth typing feel. With the keyboard’s cushioned gasket structure, the typing sound is dampened and very satisfying. Each switch has south-facing RGB backlights powered by a large 8,000mAh battery which is double the size fitted in most mechanical keyboards and so offers longer use between battery charges.

One small issue I ran into was when using the Galaxy 100 over Bluetooth. With my Mac mini M2 PRO I found that the keyboard would wake up my Mac a few seconds after it had been put to sleep. I tried a few workarounds but Epomaker says it is investigating and will issue a firmware update if necessary. Incidentally, there was no sleep issues when connecting via USB or 2.4GHz. I have experienced this problem with other makes of keyboard, including Apple so it seems to be a glitch in the Bluetooth stack on some keyboard drivers.

Whether you use Windows, macOS, Android or iOS, the Epomaker Galaxy 100 will work with them all and with the choice of USB, Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz RF wireless dongle connectivity, there are lots of options. Epomaker also includes modifier keycaps in the box for Windows and macOS layouts.

Verdict: The Epomaker Galaxy 100 is a superbly made keyboard that is solid and heavy, it would be ideal for heavy industrial use. It’s a pleasure to type on and so easy for touch typists thanks to its perfect pitch. This is a robust keyboard with a divine typing sound and a feel that’s pure luxury. The one tiny complaint I have is the volume knob is just a tad too close to the PRTSC key, but apart from that, this keyboard is almost flawless. If you want the ultimate keyboard workhorse, look at the Epomaker Galaxy 100.

Pricing & Availability: The Epomaker Galaxy 100 mechanical keyboard is available now and priced at $104.99 from Epomaker’s website.

Tech Specs:

• Layout: 1800 ANSI US.
• Number of keys: 101 keys and 1 knob.
• Battery: 8,000mAh.
• Connectivity: Wired, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.0.
• Compatibility: Mac / WIN / Android (Not compatible with PS4/5/Switch).
• Dimensions: 405 x 138 x 32.3mm
• Weight: 2kg
• Front height: 195mm.
• Typing angle: 7 degrees.
• Case material: Powder-coated CNC aluminum alloy.
• Plate material: PP.
• Stabilizers: Plate-Mount (not compatible with screw-in).
• Mounting structure: Gasket-mount.
• PCB thickness: 1.2mm.
• Sound dampening: Poron sandwich, IXPE switch, PET sound enhancement, EMDP switch socket, PET.
• Keycaps profile: MDA (Black), Cherry (White).
• Keycaps material: PBT double-shot and dye-sub.
• Hot-swappable: 3/5-pin mechanical switches.
• Lighting: RGB south-facing.
• Polling rate: 1000Hz (USB, 2.4Ghz), 125Hz (Bluetooth 5.0).
• Latency: 2.81ms (USB), 4.72ms (2.4Ghz wireless), 15ms (Bluetooth 5.0).
• Anti-ghosting: N-Key rollover.