In this article, I’m reviewing the EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75. The Hi75 features an 81-key layout, hot-swappable keys, RGB lighting and 3 connectivity modes. It’s priced at $89.
Disclaimer: This sample was provided by EPOMAKER for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.
EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75
Quick Links
In the Box
- 1x Hi75 Keyboard or Kit
- 1x USB Type-C Cable
- 1x User Manual
Design
The first thing to note with the Hi75 is its rugged aluminium base and you will feel it before you even open the box. Weighing in at 1.3kg, this keyboard feels reassuringly solid. Hi75 is available in 5 colourways and 3 switch types. The unit I received is the White Purple colourway with Nimbus linear switches.
The double-shot PBT keys look and feel fantastic. The symbols are clear and printed cleanly and consistently.
Like the majority of EPOMAKER keyboards, the LEOBOG Hi75 is gasket-mounted and uses PORON gaskets between the case layers to minimize vibrations and noise.
There’s an aluminium volume knob at the top right of the board. But it’s not just for volume–if you hold the button down it cycles between game mode and office mode. In game mode, the knob controls the RGB brightness and the button cycles between RGB modes. While in office mode, the knob controls the system volume and pressing the button mutes the audio.
At the back of the keyboard is a USB-C port and there are 4 rubber feet along with an engraved Saturn logo on the underside. The rear rubber feet are non-adjustable so there’s only one low-profile typing angle available.
Customization, Remapping and Macros
You can remap individual keys, add macros and customize the RGB lighting via the Hi75 driver software (Windows only). The app is fairly basic but adds a lot of extra control and customization to the keyboard.
EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75 RGB
The south-facing RGB LEDs have buttery smooth colour cycling and a soft glow. There are a bunch of pattern presets available and you can also adjust the speed and the brightness. It’s not as flashy as a lot of gaming keyboards and the keycaps don’t have transparent symbols so the lighting is a little more subdued.
Switches and Performance
I hadn’t heard of the Nimbus linear switches until I got this keyboard but after testing them, I’m quite impressed. They’re factory pre-lubed and are buttery smooth. However, the resistance is a bit low for my preference and I occasionally found myself making accidental presses. The good news is, if you’re happy with the chassis, you can easily swap out the switches for most 3/5-pin sets without any soldering.
The sound of the keyboard is pretty satisfying right out of the box, thanks to the 5 layers of acoustic damping and the gasket mount. It’s somewhere between thocky and clacky but leans more towards the former.
Throughout my testing, all of the keys performed optimally and consistently. They sat firmly on the board and had a solid yet smooth bottom-out feeling so I never felt fatigued while typing.
Verdict
To sum up, the EPOMAKER x LEOBOG Hi75 is a lovely keyboard with a wallet-friendly $89 price tag. It does pretty much everything right, although some people might lament the lack of adjustable-height rear feet.
The aluminium frame gives the board a robust, premium feel and the quality of the pre-lubed switches and keycaps is excellent. This would be a great starting platform for someone just getting into the custom keyboard world unless you’re looking for something with wireless connectivity.