Epomaker x Aula F75 Review: When “Budget” Doesn’t Sound Budget

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If you’ve been hanging around Crafting Worlds for any length of time, you know I love a board that refuses to behave like its price tag. The Epomaker x Aula F75 is exactly that: an affordable 75% that rolls up with tri-mode connectivity, a legit-feeling chassis, side-printed PBT caps, a volume knob, and hotswap sockets, and then has the audacity to sound good.

Build, Weight, and Why The Feet Matter

The first surprise isn’t RGB or the knob. It’s weight. The F75 sits with a planted, confidence-inspiring heft you simply don’t expect at this tier. Pair that with flip-out feet that actually stay put and you get a typing angle that’s comfortable and a board that doesn’t skate off your desk when you nudge it aside to answer a DM or grab a bite.

The chassis finish is tidy, seams are consistent, and the under-case lines give it a “not-just-a-brick” look. It’s still a value keyboard, you’ll find a basic cable in the box and a protective “grandma plastic” cover, but the overall feel leans premium in all the important places.

Layout, Knob, and Everyday Usability

I’m a big fan of 75% for a reason: you keep arrows, nav cluster, and F-row without surrendering desk space. The F75’s volume knob adds quick media control with a tactile, not audible, detent feel. It’s the tiny quality-of-life detail that nudges a board into daily-driver territory.

Connectivity is tri-mode: Bluetooth (up to three devices), 2.4 GHz wireless with a stowable dongle, and USB-C wired. Hot-swap sockets mean switch experimentation is on the menu, so you’re not married to whatever ships in the box.

Switch Options & Sound

My unit runs Leobog Reaper switches, a clacky-thock hybrid with a crisp bottom-out that’s lively without being harsh. Epomaker’s Ice Vein linear is also on the list and continues to be one of my favorite “budget linears” for pure smoothness. TTC Crescent trends softer and more polite if you want something a bit less forward.

Sound is where this board over-delivers: a convincing mid-body clack with hints of thock, helped by a gasket-style structure and multiple foam layers. Stabs were properly lubed from the factory, eliminating the rattle lottery that plagues a lot of entry boards.

Keycaps & RGB

The PBT keycaps feel textured and durable, and the side-printed legends look sharp. Legends remain legible with RGB on, and the per-key lighting is bright without washing out. A little caps-lock indicator strip is a thoughtful touch, once you have it, you wonder why every keyboard doesn’t.

Software (The Trade-Off)

Here’s the one compromise: no VIA/QMK. You’ll need Epomaker’s software to handle remaps, macros, and lighting. It gets the job done, but power users who love open-firmware tinkering will feel fenced in. For most folks in this price bracket, it’s acceptable; for heavy layer nerds, it’s a consideration.

Battery & Wireless

With ~4000 mAh on board, you can daily the F75 wirelessly and charge weekly depending on brightness and usage. 2.4 GHz feels snappy for gaming; Bluetooth is fine for multi-device productivity. As always, your RF environment can change results, but nothing flagged as problematic during testing.

Who It’s For

Students & office warriors who want a reliable daily driver with great sound and minimal fuss.
Gamers who prefer 2.4G but don’t want to overspend.
Beginner enthusiasts who want hotswap + good stock switches to start exploring.
Anyone who values a stable, hefty case and a good knob at a budget-friendly price.

Who Should Skip

Open-firmware diehards demanding VIA/QMK.
Numpad loyalists who live in spreadsheets all day (you’ll miss the full 98/1800 layouts).

Pros

Price-to-performance is excellent
Hefty, stable feel; feet lock in place
Hotswap, tri-mode, knob, bright RGB
Side-print PBT caps feel and look great
Good stock switch options; impressive factory-tuned stabs

Cons

No VIA/QMK (Epomaker software required)
Basic included cable (I’d replace it)

Verdict

For the money, the Epomaker x Aula F75 is exactly what a budget board should be in 2025: competent, comfortable, customizable, and great-sounding without requiring an afternoon of mods. If you want a satisfying clack without spending custom-kit dollars, start here.