This review is on a series of keyboards provided by the manufacturer EPOMAKER for review, this one being the ‘EPOMAKER x AULA F65’. You can check out the HE75 Tri Mechanical and the EK98 keyboards by clicking their corresponding hyperlinks.
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Meet the ‘EPOMAKER x AULA F65’ keyboard, a 65% keyboard that’s as tiny as can be but boasts 2.4GHz/Bluetooth/Wired connection support, replaceable switches and keycaps, and has an impressive bit of software support. I got the AULA F65 a little over two weeks ago and have been spending time mushing the keys to bits in DJMAX, ripping it apart (gently), and all in all going about my daily work routine. And I’ve found the F65 to be a comfortable little minimalist keyboard that’s both portable and comfortable to use.
Our AULA F65 comes in a nice cardboard box, complete with the keyboard, a USB-C cable, a keycap and switch removal tool, and two extra switches. In my case, the company sent me the pink “Flamingo Switch”, which is one of the less sensitive options available for purchase. However, we get a reported 100 million stokes with these compared to the Reaper and Graywood V3 Mechanical switches, but it is worth noting if you decide to pick up the F65. Sensitivity will change depending on the switch to the point that even grazing the keys can result in unwanted presses—but they can be perfect for rhythm games! Ultimately if you’re looking for more sensitive options, the F65 comes packed with ’em. Oh, and just about everything this kit comes with can be recycled—don’t let the box rot in your closer, toss it into a blue bin! Don’t worry about a place to store it as the F65 comes with a nice little plastic cover you can place over the keyboard when not in use. A perfect guard from cat and bird attacks when you’re away.
This is a sleek little kit, especially in black. The F65 is tiny, a chibi-sized keyboard with the extra bells and whistles removed to keep it as sleek as can be. When it’s awake, it blows up into a multitude of colours with roughly 10 or so different RGB modes than can be toggled on the keyboard itself. The AULA F65 will connect to just about every device you throw at it thanks to the multitude of connection options. And yes, if you’re wondering, the AULA F65 works with Xbox consoles both wired and through the 2.4GHz adapter that’s included. As it is a 65% keyboard, you’ll need to pick up some knowledge on the console’s shortcuts to be able to navigate properly. And speaking of which, it’s worth noting that this keyboard does not feature icons on any of its function keys, meaning you’ll need to keep the quick start guide around a bit to remember which does what.
Something I really like about the F65 and its Flamingo switches is the sound it makes. Its tactile but not as loud as a full mechanical keyboard. Even without the extra sensitive switches, the Flamingos are more than enough for me to max out my scores in games like DJMAX RESPECT V and The Typing of the Dead. You’d be surprised the difference it makes, being able to lightly tap keys in quick succession makes a number of charts much easier to complete. Though like all keyboards, you’ll need to get used to how the F65’s keys are spaced out.
Speaking of switches, you can easily yank out the F65’s components out with the included tool. It’ll all pop off with no issue, so you can implement your own set of switches—just make sure they fall under 5-pins.
I used the AULA F65 primarily with my Xbox and my living room ASUS ROG Ally set-up. The keyboard’s 2.4GHz adapter can reach out as far as 3.4 metres give or take, so do keep that in mind if you plan on using this in a living room setting. You’ll have better range if you can keep the keyboard and the adapter in sight, but honestly an extension USB cable will do wonders for range issues. Besides that, the EPOMAKER x AULA F65 is honestly a great value keyboard for the included features. It’s both sleek and minimalist and supports additional customisation in the event you want to potentially go down the rabbit-hole that is keyboard parts.
You can pick up the EPOMAKER x AULA F65 directly from the company’s website, retailing at $65.99 USD ($62.69 as of this writing). Free standard shipping is offered to most countries as well. The link to purchase via Amazon can be found here.
