Epomaker Split 65 Review – Ergonomic Freedom

Split keyboards definitely look interesting and offer a lot of flexibility when it comes to desk setup. But the most important thing is that they are ergonomic. If you’ve always wanted to try one but hesitated with the same doubts – will I be able to get used to the layout, and will it actually feel comfortable for me? What if I don’t like it? – then today I suggest taking a look at a board that might catch your interest.

Main Features and Specifications

Notable Features:

• Split keyboard design, which opens up a variety of interesting usage scenarios
• Built-in magnets that securely hold both halves together

Brief technical specifications:

• Layout: 65% ANSI, 68 Keys + Knob
• Case Material: Top case – ABS / Bottom Case – Iron
• Keycaps: 5-Side Dye-sub PBT, Cherry profile
• Switches: Epomaker Wisteria / Epomaker Flamingo (Both Linear and Pre-lubed)
• Stabilizers: Plate Mounted, Pre-lubed
• Mounting: Top Mount
• Plate: PC, No Flex Cuts
• PCB: 1.6 mm, No Flex Cuts
• Hot-swappable: Yes, 3/5-pin Mechanical Switches
• Sound Dampening: 4 layers
• Backlight: RGB, South-facing LEDs
• Software: VIA
• Connectivity: Wired, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.0
• Polling Rate: 1000Hz (Wired & 2.4GHz), 125Hz (Bluetooth)
• Latency: 3ms (Wired), 5ms (2.4GHz), 15ms (Bluetooth)
• Anti-Ghosting: N-Key Rollover
• Battery: 3000 mAh
• Weight: ~ 0.8 kg

Available colors:

• Black

Why a Split Keyboard Is Good for You?

Before we move on to the main part of the review, I think it’s important to briefly explain – for those of you who might find it helpful – why split keyboards are considered ergonomic.

Traditional keyboards force your body into an unnatural position – arms squeezed inward and your shoulders often end up tense. It may cause stiffness and muscle pain in the neck and shoulders. On top of that, when you type on a standard keyboard, it forces your hands into a pronated position, with your wrists angled outward to keep your fingers aligned with the keys. This unnatural bend is called ulnar deviation. It can cause compression of the median nerve in your carpal tunnel, which in turn leads to pain, tingling, and numbness in your fingers. This is called carpal tunnel syndrome. People who work on a computer all day long, especially those who do a lot of typing, are at an increased risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Ergonomic keyboards are designed to keep your wrists in a more neutral, natural position while you type. Split keyboards, specifically, let you position each half in a way that allows your hands to remain shoulder-width apart, so your arms don’t have to angle inward. That opens up your posture a bit – your chest stays more open, and your elbows and shoulders can rest in a natural, relaxed position. This reduces tension in the shoulders and neck. But the most important thing is that the wrists stay in a more neutral, straighter position, minimizing ulnar deviation, which results in less pressure on the median nerve and noticeably less strain during long typing sessions.

Epomaker offers now two keyboards in the Split series, this one and Split70 which you can also read a review on.

Unboxing: What’s Inside?

Inside the box you’ll find:

• Split 65
• 2.4G USB receiver
• Braided USB-C to USB-A cable
• Braided USB-C to USB-C cable
• 2-in-1 keycap and switch puller
• 3 extra switches
• Dust cover
• Manual

What’s a bit unusual here is that the keyboard comes with two USB cables in the box. Both are braided, which is always a nice touch. The first one is a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable for connecting the keyboard to the PC. The second – a USB Type-C to USB Type-C – is used to link the two halves of the keyboard together. This second cable is really well made: it’s super soft, flexible, and feels almost like a paracord mouse cable. This cable has right-angled connectors, which makes it more convenient to use. Its length is approximately 30 cm, which is just the right size to do the job without getting in the way.

I really appreciate that the package also includes a dust cover – in my opinion, every keyboard should come with one.

Design and Build Quality

The Epomaker Split65 is a 65% split keyboard with 68 keys in an ANSI layout, and a knob. The design of the keyboard allows the two halves to be joined together to form a “regular” board. The typing angle is around 7 degrees. Overall, the keyboard features a clean, sleek aesthetic.

The knob is metal and has a very minimalistic design, which I personally really like since I’m not a fan of knobs that draw too much attention. Its rotation is very smooth and pleasant. The detents are clear, and what I truly appreciate is that it is almost silent.

The keyboard’s case combines two materials: ABS plastic for the top case and spray‑painted iron for the bottom case. It weighs about 800 grams. Overall, the build quality is decent – the plastic feels pleasant to the touch, and I noticed no wobble or creaking.

On the back of the left half of the keyboard, there is a USB‑C port for connecting the keyboard to the PC and another USB‑C port for linking the two halves together. There’s also a dedicated connection mode toggle – having this toggle easily accessible rather than hidden under some key makes everyday use a bit more convenient. There is no dedicated Win/Mac toggle, but that’s not an issue for me since I only use Windows. On the back of the right half, there is only one USB‑C port on the left edge intended for connecting the two halves.

On the bottom of each half, there are four large, round rubber feet. They hold the keyboard firmly in place and prevent slipping. If you connect both halves, you get eight feet in total, holding the keyboard steady.

Unfortunately, there’s no dedicated storage for the dongle inside the keyboard case, so be careful not to lose it.

Both halves of the keyboard have magnets at the points where they connect to each other. I think it’s a clever solution. They’re strong enough to keep the keyboard firmly together, so the halves don’t separate when you move the keyboard around on the desk – for example, when adjusting its position while typing. This provides stability, but they’re still easy to separate when needed. Just remember, the magnets are not superhero-strong – don’t expect one half to lift the other off the desk and hold it in the air – no desk-side magic tricks.

Unlike many split boards that use cables with proprietary connectors, which can be a pain to replace if anything goes wrong, the Split65 links its halves with a standard USB-C to USB-C cable. That’s a plus – if your cat decides to chew on it, or if you want a fancy coiled one, you can easily find a replacement.

There’s something unusual about the left-side modifiers: Ctrl, Win, and Alt. Normally, these three keys share the same 1.25u size. On the Split65, though, they’re different – 1.5u for Ctrl, 1u for Win, and 1.5u for Alt. On one hand, this makes it harder to find compatible third-party keycap sets. On the other hand, it turned out to be quite convenient for gaming. Since Ctrl is frequently used in games, the larger key is more comfortable to press.

As for the backlighting, all LEDs are south-facing. It is bright enough and stable – I didn’t notice any flickering or strobing, which is great for people sensitive to that, like me.

Connectivity and Battery

The Split65 is a tri-mode keyboard, meaning it offers three connection options – wired via USB, 2.4G using a dongle, and Bluetooth. With Bluetooth, you can connect to up to three devices simultaneously and switch between them on the fly. In both wired and 2.4GHz modes, it supports a 1000Hz polling rate.

The keyboard comes with a 3000 mAh battery. On paper, this is slightly less than the standard 3750–4000 mAh (though not by much), but digging deeper, I found that the entire battery capacity is located in the left half. This means the right half has no battery at all, so when you use only the left side – for example, during gaming to free up more space for the mouse – you still have access to the full battery capacity, resulting in a fairly long battery life. I think this is still better than having two 2000 mAh batteries, one in each half of the keyboard. So this solution has its advantages and disadvantages.

To check the battery level, press Fn + B. The keys from 1 to 0 will light up green to indicate the battery percentage. For example, if keys 1 through 6 light up, it means the battery is at 60%.
When the battery level gets low, the Fn key starts blinking red.

Note that the battery charges automatically as long as the keyboard is plugged in via USB, regardless of whether wired or wireless mode is selected.

Software – Unlocking the Potential

The Split65 is fully compatible with QMK/VIA. Firmware source code is available on Epomaker’s GitHub.

Not familiar with QMK/VIA? Here’s a quick explanation:
QMK – is a highly customizable mechanical keyboard firmware that offers extensive control over a keyboard’s functionality. VIA is essentially a web driver for keyboards based on the QMK firmware. It lets you remap keys in real time, set up layers, assign macros, change preset lighting effects, and create profiles – all without needing to install any extra software. It works directly in your browser regardless of whether you’re using Windows, Linux, or macOS. It’s incredibly user-friendly and convenient.

For more experienced users, QMK provides a wide range of advanced keycodes for creating complex key combinations, implementing media controls, controlling mouse movements, etc. For example, QMK supports tap and hold functionality, where tapping a key performs one action, while holding the key performs a different action. This feature allows you to access additional functions on a key without needing to switch layers.

Having access to the firmware source code also allows users with the right skillset to build their own custom QMK firmware with unique features.

To have VIA detect your keyboard, you’ll need to be in wired mode and upload a JSON configuration file (only once), which you can easily download from the manufacturer’s website.

The Split65 offers four layers for customization.
Both Mod-Tap and Layer-Tap features function exactly as they should.
The rotary knob is fully customizable – you can assign it to actions like scrolling through pages, zooming in and out, or controlling other functions.

Keycaps

The keyboard comes with keycaps called AquaShift. If you’re wondering where the name and design come from, they were inspired by the ever-shifting shades of the sea. I learned this from Epomaker’s website, where they also sell a full 149-key set of these keycaps separately, by the way, in case you really like them.

The keycaps feature a Cherry profile. They are made from PBT material, which is known for being more resistant to becoming glossy over time compared to ABS plastic. PBT also has a slightly textured surface, making it more pleasant to the touch. They are a solid 1.8 mm thick, which definitely has a positive impact on the typing sound. The legends are applied using the dye‑sublimation process, ensuring they won’t wear off or fade over time.

Overall, the keyboard comes with pretty solid, high-quality stock keycaps.

Switches and Stabilizers

The Split65 comes with two linear switch options: Epomaker Wisteria V1 or Epomaker Flamingo. Here are the specs for both, for anyone who’s interested.

	Epomaker Wisteria V1	Epomaker Flamingo
Switch Type:	Linear, 5-pin	Linear, 5-pin
Pre-travel:	2.0±0.3mm	2.0±0.5mm
Total Travel:	3.6±0.3mm	3.6±0.3mm
Actuation Force:	45±3gf	47±5gf
Bottom-Out Force:	62±5gf	55gf
Top Housing:	PC	PC
Stem:	POM & PTFE	POM
Bottom Housing:	PA66	PC

Since I already have Flamingo switches, I went with the Wisteria version of the keyboard so I could test both switch options available for this board. Of course, I tested the Flamingo switches on this board specifically, without taking my previous experience with them into account.

Both switch options come factory-lubed, feel smooth, and show no noticeable scratchiness. The Flamingo switch uses a dual-stage spring, but ultimately both options feature extended springs with fast rebound, making them well-suited for gaming.

As for the overall pressing force, the Wisteria sits right in that familiar medium range, while the Flamingo requires a bit less force to bottom out. It’s not a lightweight switch, but it is still noticeably easier to type and game on compared with the Wisteria. However, overall both switches fall into a standard medium-weight category and are neither particularly light nor heavy. So it mainly comes down to personal preference – for those who prefer lighter switches, the Flamingo will feel better; for those who prefer heavier switches, the Wisteria will be the more suitable choice.

Regarding sound, Flamingo switches deliver a more muted, softer, and quieter sound profile, while Wisteria switches sound more defined, slightly louder, and I would say have a more pronounced “creamy” tone. Of course, sound preference is subjective, but personally, I found the Flamingo switches more pleasant.

Additionally, Flamingo switches allow more LED backlight to shine through thanks to their semi-transparent housing. They also feature a partial box stem structure, which results in reduced wobble.

The keyboard comes with pre-lubed, plate-mounted stabilizers. There’s no noticeable rattle, which is a good sign of solid quality. Usually, the most problematic stabilizer is the one under the spacebar, since it’s a very long key. However, the Split65 features two smaller spacebars. So – no long spacebar, no problem.

Structure and Mounting

To disassemble the keyboard and take a look inside, you’ll need to remove four screws hidden beneath the rubber feet.

Inside, you get a polycarbonate plate with no flex cuts. Underneath it, there are three layers of sound-dampening material:

• Poron sandwich foam
• IXPE switch pad
• Sound enhancement pad

Under the PCB, there’s a fourth layer:

• Poron switch socket pad

So, in total, the keyboard features four layers of sound dampening.

The keyboard uses a top‑mount design, meaning the plate/PCB sandwich is screwed directly into the top case. Compared to gasket-mounted boards, this results in a firmer and more consistent typing feel, with a crisper and slightly louder sound profile.

The PCB is 1.6 mm thick, with no flex cuts. It supports screw-in stabilizers for the Backspace, Enter, and Shift keys. However, both of the non-standard 3U spacebars support only plate-mount stabilizers.

One interesting detail is that the PCB supports stepped Caps Lock, but the plate does not – it only has a cutout for a standard positioned switch – in the center of the key. So if you want to to use a stepped Caps Lock, you’ll need to slightly modify the plate by trimming the part that blocks access to the hot‑swap socket designed for the stepped Caps Lock. Since stepped Caps Lock support wasn’t advertised and was discovered by accident, I’d see this more as a bonus than a shortcoming, even if it requires a bit of plate modification.

As mentioned earlier, the 3000 mAh battery is located in the left half of the keyboard.

My Experience & Thoughts

Right after I got the board, the first thing I wanted to test was whether each half could work on its own. It turns out the left half works perfectly fine on its own, but the right half needs to be connected to the left half to function.

That ended up being way more useful than I expected. I hadn’t originally planned to use it this way, but when I’m playing FPS games I sometimes detach the right half and set it aside to free up extra mouse space. In that setup, the keyboard basically turns into a one-handed gaming keyboard. Other times, I’ll just slide the halves apart and push the right side up toward the top of my desk. That way, I still get the extra mouse room but can reach the knob whenever I need it. Later, I developed this idea further and created a separate layer in VIA, where the right half functions as a macropad when I’m only using the left half of the keyboard during gaming. So this way I found a use for the right half instead of letting it sit idle.

Another thing I really liked is the split spacebar. When combining both halves to get a regular keyboard, having two spacebars turns out to be a nice bonus. I mapped the second spacebar to some quick actions in games, and it’s actually super convenient, since it’s a key that is always easily accessible under your thumb.

Typing on this board was a whole new experience for me. I’d never tried a split layout before, so the moment I spaced the halves out to shoulder width I realized – this isn’t something you just pick up instantly, you actually have to learn it. Sounds obvious in hindsight, but I hadn’t thought about it until I sat down to type.

To ease into it, I started with the halves only slightly apart instead of going full shoulder width right away. The idea to change the angle by tilting the halves came naturally, and that’s when I realized that this setup basically mimics an Alice layout. That discovery made the whole typing experience feel more comfortable and ergonomic to me. But over time, I managed to type comfortably with them fully spread to shoulder width. There’s definitely a learning curve with split keyboards, so it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re trying one for the first time.

And this is where the Split65 really shows its strength. At the beginning, before I adjusted to the split and trained my muscle memory, I would simply snap both halves together and use it like a regular keyboard whenever it felt difficult or I needed to type faster. That “fallback” option makes the design feel “safe” and practical – you’re never locked into the split layout. Not every split board gives you that flexibility, so it’s definitely a big advantage here, at least in my view.

Overall, I really enjoyed using the Split65. During the early days, I kept experimenting – shifting the positioning, and playing around with the angles between the halves. It turned out to be a genuinely exciting and rewarding experience, as I eventually found a setup that felt very ergonomic and comfortable for me. And that’s the biggest advantage of a split keyboard – it gives you the freedom to position the halves in a way that feels natural and comfortable for your body and typing style.

Pros and Cons

Good:

• QMK/VIA support with available source code
• Nice programmable knob
• “Safe” design that allows you to connect both halves to form a regular keyboard, giving you flexibility to switch between ergonomic and traditional configurations
• Very versatile – can be used as a split, a one-handed gaming keyboard, or a regular keyboard (with a split spacebar bonus)
• Dedicated connection mode toggle at the back
• Dust cover included in the box

Bad:

• Slightly lower battery capacity compared to a regular non-split 65% keyboard
• Keycap compatibility can be a bit tricky due to the non-standard layout

In-between:

• Requires a plate modification for a stepped Caps Lock, but since this feature wasn’t advertised and was discovered by accident, it’s hard to really complain about it

Final Verdict

The Split65 provides a wide range of use cases, offering a lot more flexibility than a standard keyboard. It can be used as a regular keyboard, a one-handed gaming keyboard, or a split keyboard – and it can even mimic an Alice layout. Its “safe” design makes it a great choice for anyone who wants to explore a split layout for the first time but feels hesitant. If it doesn’t feel right for you, there is always the option to use it as a regular keyboard, and you even get the bonus of a split spacebar. And the QMK/VIA support, with available source code, is the cherry on top.

So, considering the features and potential it offers, I’d say it’s great value for the money, and it can be recommended both to those who want to try a split keyboard for the first time and to those who are simply looking for a reliable split keyboard at a reasonable price.