EPOMAKER X AULA F108 PRO

This keyboard is just so clean and the sounds the keys make are just so amazing

I was always a devoted cherry blue key guy, but my Logitech G513 died, so I bought another, but I accidentally purchased one with linear (brown) keys. I couldn't stand it, so I purchased another with blue keys, but it arrived defective, with a bouncy 'o' key. So I took a chance on the F108 PRO - only because I viewed the most amazing keyboard video of my life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY3BL41HGPM&t=2s
So I figured, "Yeah, it's a great frame, but it doesn't have the switches I like - I'll just buy what I want after I get it."

It arrived and to my surprise, I _LOVED_ the LEOBOG Reaper switches. They are pure "chonk" per stroke, without any annoying high frequencies.

Typing fatigue is a real thing to me, and cherry blue keys always tricked my mind into applying the lightest touch and greatest speed, but there's something about the "creamy" (that's how everyone else describes it) feel of this keyboard that relaxes my fingers, resulting in smooth, even strokes. I've used other keyboards with linear keys and I feel exhausted after a few hours of typing. With this keyboard, I look forward to every stroke. I think I said it best in my title: "Every keystroke is like taking a bite of chocolate." I stand by that.

So, yes, I highly recommend this keyboard. It brings pleasure back to that slice of software engineering that can feel like endless toil if you're paired with the wrong keyboard.

Here's my breakdown:
Mechanical quality: 9/10 <-- only bested by the PC/AT 10 lb. keyboard from 1985
Keys: 10/10 - best ever. Creamy? Yes. But the words I use are "chonky" and "chocolate."
Noise: 7/10 - makes some noise, but the annoying high frequencies are dampened due to brilliant physical/acoustic design.

Feel: 10/10 - The team that slaved over this deserves a trophy. Switches can only take you so far - and the LEOBOG Reaper switches are amazing, but the combination of the switches and the frame result in something unique and satisfying. Every other keyboard I use now feels so... lacking. I hear all the extra clatter and undampened higher frequencies.

****/Display/Software: 6/10 - Yes, it's true - no one can be perfect. The EPOMAKER X AULA F108 PRO has lackluster software built into its tiny screen and versatile ****. That said, the software I've had for my other keyboards was not much better, and they required hundreds of megabytes to install. I can tell you that I'm satisfied with the software. I wish it would tell me what each of the various LED settings would do in advance, but I did have fun experimenting with each of them. The real benefit of the **** is that it is incredibly satisfying, with just the right amount of resistance and click to it. My biggest complaint is that pressing the select button in the center tends to cause a small rotation (hard to avoid), so you'll sometimes click-and-rotate, selecting something other than what you intend. That said - it is the best volume control I've used, both on and off keyboard. The display indicates volume increasing and decreasing, but does not show actual volume - perhaps it's some misalignment with my OS.

Value: 10/10 - I could not believe the price of this keyboard. It's the best frame I've used, competing with fixed switch units that cost more than 2x more. Even if I had chosen to replace the switches, it still would have cost less than the premium brands out there.

Connectivity: 10/10 - Bluetooth, Cable Wired, 2.4GHz Wireless. Battery life isn't that great with LED on, but it's perfectly fine for the use case. I'm running wired 100% of the time, but if I was on the road, I'd just turn off LED and have 32 hours of life.

Aesthetics: 7/10 - I find the unit very attractive. I have the black/white/blue color variation. I like the colors, the fonts, the key shapes, the structural choices. The indicator lights could be better, but my brain has figured them out. Oh, and the fact that Esc and tilde are blue and white, respectively, is SO appreciated.

It's rare in life to find a device designed with such thorough care and attention to detail. But above all else, I would say that it is excellent judgment that brings this unit to its top tier position in the world of keyboards. Sadly, someone could slave away for years and produce sub-standard devices. That was not the case here. Everyone was put on this world for a reason, and I think we've discovered life's meaning for the EPOMAKER team. I say that both in jest, and as my highest compliment - I'm certain they "do great" in other parts of life, but for me, their efforts have made a significant difference leading me to spend way too much time writing this review on my MAGNIFICENT EPOMAKER X AULA F108 PRO. But then again, every keystroke was a real pleasure.

Oh, and I just read the other review that were posted - yes, the LEDs don't shine through the keycaps - they're opaque (you can replace them). I thought I cared about that, but turns out I don't.

Audibly pleasant to type on.
Doesn't cause fatigue over hours of typing.
Easy connectivity and driver makes setting up macros fairly convenient.

I do wish there were more options for choosing what switch you get.
The leobog reapers are great but I personally like the StarArrow much more.

The dial also only controlling the menu without having a direct control over the volume is a minor inconvenience. But that's just a small thing specifically for me, since I like to use my keyboard for almost everything.

All in all, this was a solid purchase and I am quite happy with it.

colour way could be better, but that's just my preference. the keyboard itself feels amazing and battery life feels long enough where i have no complaints. worth giving a shot if you're looking for a new keyboard that doesn't compromise on all the keys

Really like the color scheme of the keyboard, nice sound from the switches and the LCD display is a nice little feature. Few cons though. The software is not really good compared to other keyboard software I've used. I can't change the clock on the LCD screen from 24hr to 12hr format. One more thing, I had no idea that the keyboard LEDs do not shine through the key caps due to the LEDs being south facing. If I knew about that before purchasing I probably would have waited until south facing key caps option was available