Once again the lovely people at Epomaker have sent me one of their brand new keyboards to try out. In this case, it’s a board that launched yesterday (10th August 2021) on Kickstarter.
The NT68 is a compact 65% 68 key keyboard designed with portability in mind. The keyboard comes in a choice of two different aluminium cases: black (with Carbon, Grey, and Red keycaps) or Silver (with Grey, White and Red keycaps). I got the black case / Carbon set. There is also a low profile version of the NT68 with flatter, Macbook style, low profile keycaps (all black).
Switches are hot-swappable (meaning you can switch them without any need for soldering), and you get a choice of Gateron Red, Gateron Blue, Gateron Black, or Gateron Brown, or Chocolate Red. Chocolate Blue, Chocolate Brown, Chocolate Silver, or Rose Brown. I got Gateron Browns, which are pretty much my favourite switches.
Size and layout-wise, the NT68 reminds me very much of the Akko 3068 which I tried out back in February, but it’s a nicer typing experience (possibly just due to the Gateron Browns vs the Orange Gaterons on the 3068). While it’s just as business-like and professional-looking as the 3068, the NT68 is RGB backlit and has the usual Epomaker range of custom lighting effects. You can, of course, also create your own by using the Epomaker lighting suite software.
The NT68 works both wired (via standard USB-C) or wireless via Bluetooth 5.1. Three different Bluetooth devices can be connected to and recalled using Fn + Z, X, C. Battery life is up to 20 hours with backlight, up to 5 weeks without, and charging time is 8-10 hours.
Designed for use with both Mac and Windows (as well as iPad and Android) Fn + W / E switches between Windows and Mac layouts with one simple shortcut.
All in all the NT68 is a compact, solidly constructed, portable keyboard which does pretty much everything you could possibly want it to. What’s really clever about the NT68 is the very simple, yet incredibly effective magnetic wrap-around case which the keyboard comes with.
The aluminium keyboard grips firmly to the case (so firmly that you can hold it upside down with no fear of it detaching) which wraps snugly around it, keeping the NT68 totally safe in a bag or even just to carry around in your hand. Folded out, the case doubles as a stand for a tablet, iPad, or phone (as you can see in the video below), or for a laptop / Macbook. This might all seem like pretty minor stuff but, when it comes to writing on the go, the combination of a multi-device compatible wireless keyboard, with a case, and a stand is an absolute game-changer.
The NT68 is avaialble now, direct from Epomaker, for $99 USD