• The EPOMAKER Shadow-S mechanical keyboard provides three connection options and can easily switch between PC and Mac. Its retro design is highlighted by ivory, burgundy, and light gray accents, and it includes unique parts such as a small LCD screen, a metal volume knob, and with somewhat restricted RGB lighting.
• Budget-friendly nostalgia? The Shadow-S is priced around $100 and delivers retro-like mechanical performance, similar to other brands with top gaming keyboards for aesthetes like AULA and 8BitDo.
• Overall, the EPOMAKER Shadow-S is a well-designed keyboard with retro aesthetics, a tactile typing experience, and unique features like a customizable LCD screen that allows you to add a logo, character, quote, or GIF giving your gaming desk or workspace a personal touch.

Today, we will take a look at a new product from EPOMAKER, called Shadow-S. It's a mechanical keyboard designed for gaming, featuring hot-swappable switches, a metal volume knob, a small LCD in the top right corner, and three connectivity modes including wireless ability. Priced at about $100, it features a retro design similar to other brands like AULA and 8BitDo same-price keyboards, and it includes RGB lighting under the keycaps.

The EPOMAKER Shadow-S features a stylish retro design, showcasing an ivory color with burgundy and gray accents. The manufacturer names this color option white brown and has also a pink-white keyboard. Its durable construction includes a metal insert and a polycarbonate plate, enhancing the build quality. A glossy insert on top adds to its visual appeal. Overall, the design is sturdy and perhaps, eye-catching, but already pretty well-known for its color retro palette.

The Shadow-S keyboard is packed with features. It includes hot-swappable switches, a metal volume knob, and three connectivity modes: 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and wired. The small LCD screen in the top right corner displays the time, date, and battery status, and can even show custom GIF animations. The keyboard also includes a combined switch and keycap puller, and a USB Type-C cable.

The keyboard is well-built with a metal insert and polycarbonate plate, featuring a small LCD screen that displays useful information and custom GIF animations. It offers a tactile and smooth typing experience, with sturdy stabilizers and thick PBT keycaps. Additionally, it includes five layers of foam for excellent sound dampening, ensuring a pleasant auditory experience with each keystroke. The EPOMAKER Shadow-S gaming keyboard is fully compatible with VIA software, allowing you to program each key to suit your needs. Whether for gaming or productivity, the VIA software provides the flexibility to customize your keyboard, enhancing your overall experience. The device comes with a 4000mAh rechargeable battery, providing dependable and lasting power for extended gaming sessions.

The EPOMAKER Shadow-S supports customizable RGB backlighting, though the brightness is somewhat limited due to the minimal distance between the keycaps and the case. The keyboard’s standout features include playful animations on the small LCD screen, a metal volume knob, and a retro design. It also offers seamless connectivity with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and USB-C wired options, making it versatile for different usage scenarios. The typing experience is soft, responsive, and quieter due to the gasket-mounted design.

Image and Animation Settings

This feature lets you personalize your display by using your own images and animation or selecting from various patterns. You can add a personal logo, a favorite character, or a motivational quote, enhancing your gaming or workspace with a unique touch. To toggle the screen display, use FN + ENTER. To turn it on or off, press FN + X. To reset the keyboard, hold the FN + SPACEBAR for three seconds.

The EPOMAKER Shadow-S Wisteria is a well-designed mechanical keyboard that excels in colors that I love, and the performance that I need. Its retro aesthetics, tactile typing experience, and unique features like the LCD and volume knob make it a standout choice. While the RGB lighting might not be the brightest, the keyboard's overall build quality and pleasant sound more than compensate for this. It's also important to me that the Shadow-S is compatible with Mac. Whether for gaming or productivity, the Shadow-S offers a solid option for retro-style enthusiasts with specific tech needs.

Photo: Epomaker