Epomaker x Aula F65 Pro Review: Bold Design, Budget Plastic, and the Price Problem
Affiliate Link: Buy the F65 Pro on Amazon
The keyboard space is saturated right now—with low-profile options, Hall Effect innovations, and premium boards fighting for attention. So where does the Epomaker x Aula F65 Pro land? On paper, it sounds promising: tri-mode connectivity, flex-cut PCB, south-facing RGB, tactile switches, and a beautiful topographic design.
But once it’s on your desk, this keyboard presents a puzzle. Who exactly is this for?
📦 First Impressions – Inside the Box
Let’s talk packaging. The F65 Pro arrives in a fairly standard box with:
- A very plastic USB-C cable (non-braided)
- A manual and keycap/switch puller
- Extra tactile switches (a nice touch for budget boards)
- And yes… a plastic dust cover (Grandma, is that you?)
For a board that retails around $65 MSRP (though you can usually find it around $56 on Amazon), this is a serviceable but underwhelming unboxing experience. There’s no premium flair or standout accessory here—just the basics.
🧰 Build Quality – Plastic Fantastic?
Here’s where things start to feel strange.
The board is made entirely of plastic. While that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker in the budget space, it becomes hard to justify once you factor in the price. Many boards in this range are offering aluminum top plates, magnetic switches, or at the very least—flip-out feet.
Yes, you read that right: the F65 Pro has no adjustable feet. That missing feature makes the already shallow typing angle feel a bit uncomfortable over long sessions. It’s a baffling omission, especially on a board that promotes itself as a good travel or casual-use keyboard.
The design, though? Genuinely stunning. The topographic lines across the case give it a modern, techy vibe that will turn heads. The RGB lighting shines through those lines brilliantly. If aesthetics are your top priority, this board scores big points.
🧠 Functionality & Features
Let’s break it down:
| Feature | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Layout | 65% with arrow keys—standard and functional |
| Connectivity | Tri-mode: Wired, Bluetooth 5.0, and 2.4GHz |
| Switches | Pre-lubed tactile/linear switches (hot-swappable) |
| Battery | 4000mAh – decent but average |
| RGB | South-facing, VERY bright, customizable |
| Knob | Present but problematic—same height as keys, hard to turn |
| Typing Angle | Fixed and shallow due to lack of feet |
🔧 The Knob Dilemma
Everyone loves a knob these days. But this one is awkwardly implemented. Since it’s the same height as the surrounding keycaps, it’s hard to grip and turn without catching your fingers on nearby keys. A small elevation or texture change could’ve gone a long way here.
🎧 Sound & Typing Feel
Now here’s where the F65 Pro earns some credit. Out of the box, it sounds good. The pre-lubed tactile switches feel satisfying and have a clean, dampened profile with surprisingly stable stabilizers—even the spacebar is tuned well.
It’s a soft, thocky experience that’s rare to find without mods in this price category. The flex-cut PCB does add a bit of softness while typing, giving it a cushier feel than your average plastic tray mount.
Bottom line? It sounds and feels far better than it looks.
💸 The Price Conundrum
Here’s the elephant in the room: this board costs too much for what it offers.
At $65, there are aluminum Hall Effect boards, knob-enabled tri-mode competitors, and even VIA/QMK-compatible builds floating around. The F65 Pro isn’t a bad keyboard—but it’s outmatched at its price point.
If this board dropped to $39, it would be a steal. But at $56–$65? It enters dangerous territory where it’s too plasticky to compete with “real” premium boards and too expensive to be considered truly budget.
🧾 Final Verdict
The Epomaker x Aula F65 Pro is a confusing keyboard to categorize.
It looks incredible. It sounds great. It types decently well.
But it also lacks adjustable feet, has a poorly designed knob, and uses a full plastic shell—all while asking for more than $50.
So who’s it for?
- You’ll like this board if you want a travel-friendly keyboard with great RGB and sound but don’t need premium materials or adjustability.
- You might skip this board if you expect metal, a typing angle you can tweak, or top-tier ergonomics.
If aesthetics are king and you want a flashy, good-sounding 65% board for casual use, this might just work—especially if you find it on sale. But if you want the best value, keep shopping or wait for a price drop.
✅ Pros
- Extremely bright and well-implemented RGB
- Beautiful topographic design
- Tri-mode wireless works flawlessly
- Solid stock sound and stabs out of the box
- Compact 65% layout with arrow keys
- Hot-swappable, pre-lubed tactile switches
❌ Cons
- No adjustable feet
- All-plastic construction
- Knob is too flush and awkward to use
- 4000mAh battery is small for its category
- Price doesn’t match feature set
Have you tried the F65 Pro or other Epomaker x Aula boards? Let me know in the comments or hit up our Discord to talk keyboards, coffee, and creative tech setups.
