Epomaker Carbon60 Review – Ultra compact portable keyboard for mobile workers tested

Mobile workers who have to get their work done on the go typically are reliant on laptops but few offer a comfortable typing experience with spongy-feeling keys and poor key travel. Others resort to typing out reports on their smartphones though touchscreens offer little feedback beyond the slight buzz from haptics. 

In my line of work, I’ve tried both options to varying degrees and both have often fallen short of the mark. Wireless mechanical keyboards are the logical answer but the majority are either too large or too heavy. Enter the Epomaker Carbon60 that utilises light carbon fibre, uses either Red or Brown Gateron mechanical keys for superior tactility and shaves off everything not necessary in its design for a writer’s craft.

I managed to get my hands on a unit for review and after taking it around for a week on my daily work routine, here’s my Epomaker Carbon60 review where I share what makes it a gem especially for mobile workers and as well as writers and other related professions looking to travel light but remain productive.

Epomaker Carbon60 Review – Build and Design

Epomaker makes a variety of keyboards to fit a host of usage scenarios from hardcore gamers to desk jockeys. Their Carbon60 wireless keyboard is intended for mobile workers on the go who need a superior typing experience over what can be offered with touchscreens or laptop keyboards.

On paper, the Carbon60 is relatively device agnostic and works equally well with tablets, smartphones and laptops as well as Windows, Android, iOS and MacOS without issue.

Out of the box, you get the keyboard itself, a quick start manual, a USB-C cable, a 2.4GHz dongle, a keycap puller as well as two spare switches and two alternate colour keycaps for the Enter and Esc keys done up in black placed into little plastic bags. The USB-C cable comes wrapped in fabric for better durability. If you need something a bit more upmarket, Epomaker also offers more premium cable designs that are sold separately.

What makes the Carbon60 unique is that the body is done up in carbon fiber, hence its name. Carbon fibre is rarely used in keyboards, which are typically plastic or metal. The light yet durable nature of carbon fiber lends it exceptional lightness and toughness with the whole design weighing just 500g. 

At first blush, the Carbon60 has the dimensions of a compact 60% low-profile keyboard with 61 keys. With a 60% layout, you get a row of number keys up top and the usual ANSI US key layout for Windows with a narrow Enter key though it lacks a numeric keypad and direction keys to save on space and cut down on its size. 

Up close, our Epomaker Carbon60 review sample is done up in matte black alternated with the Enter and Esc key done up in blue with black lettering. If you prefer an all-black look, you can swap out the keys with the aforementioned spare black  keycaps. 

The front portion of the keyboard hosts a single USB-C port for wired connections and to charge the integrated 3,000mAh battery. You also get a single Off/On toggle to turn the keyboard on or off. Of note is that the left side of the keyboard that has a non-removable fabric strap.

The underside is otherwise unremarkable save for a quartet of rubber pads in the corners to keep the keyboard from sliding about on a table. Unfortunately, the keyboard lacks adjustable feet to alter the typing angle which may deter those who need a slightly higher, angled profile though this isn’t a dealbreaker as you can jury-rig a solution in the field with whatever clutter is lying around.

Connectivity options to other devices are comprehensive with the choice of three options – Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless and traditional wired USB connectivity. Latency naturally varies depending on which type you opt for. A cable connection is the fastest with a quoted 4ms latency while pairing up with Bluetooth is the slowest option, netting 22ms latency.

Overall build quality is excellent and the keyboard feels exceptionally sturdy with a relatively sound design optimised for portability save for a few weird ergonomic quirks. On top of the aforementioned lack of feet to adjust the typing angle, the keyboard also lacks any means to dock or store the 2.4GHz wireless dongle so you’ll need to be fairly careful to avoid misplacing it when on the move.

Fortunately, both of these quibbles are easily solved with a third-party slipcase I had lying around with the dongle stored in a small pouch. 

Another odd quirk with the design is that the carrying strap is non-removable and it’s a bit too small. It’s just large enough for someone petite to loop their hands through. More hirsute people will likely not be able to even fit their hand through the strap though it can still be looped around a carabiner during transport. 

Epomaker Carbon60 Review – Keycaps

The Carbon60 utilises double-shot ABS keycaps which are done up in matte black with white lettering save for the aforementioned ESC and Enter key which are done in light blue. Selected keys also have additional lettering on their southwards facing side for MacOS users.

The keyboard also offers per-key RGB lighting though the keycaps aren’t translucent so you’re mostly able to see the RGB lighting when viewed from the side. The keycaps as well as the underlying switches are removable, allowing for a degree of customisation for more enthusiastic users.

Before purchasing the Carbon60, Epomaker lets you select either Gateron Low Red Switches or Gateron Low Brown Switches to go with the keyboard. My Carbon60 review sample is the former. On paper, Gateron Low Red switches are 3-pin linear switches with POM stems, feature 1.7mm of pre-travel and have 50gf operating force and 60gf of bottom-out force.

In terms of differences, red switches need a lighter touch for actuation and are linear while brown switches have a slight bit of resistance before actuation on account of a tactile bump and need just a wee bit more force to trigger. On paper, the lack of a tactile bump on Gateron Low Red Switches also makes them slightly quieter than the Low Brown Switches.

As I’m a fairly light typist that works in quiet places a lot, the Red Low Gateron switches made for a more practical choice that needs less actuation force and that make a little less noise. 

Epomaker Carbon60 review – Setup and Performance

Getting my Epomaker Carbon60 review sample up and running was a matter of plug-and-play. For testing, I paired it up with my Galaxy Z Fold7 via Bluetooth and a Windows laptop via a USB-C cable. Pairing up via Bluetooth to my phone took seconds and the cable connection to my Windows laptop was instantaneous. 

You can get started typing straight out of the box though you’ll still need to read the manual to get a grip on the various keyboard shortcuts which can be fairly daunting for those used to full-sized keyboards. The shortcuts also enable users to alter the RGB lighting patterns on the keyboard to taste. I got by with a cheat sheet taped to the back of the case for the more common commands until I got used to it.

If you aim to remap the keys, you’ll need to install  the open source VIA app and also install the required JSON file from Epomaker’s website for it to recognise the Carbon60 and get it to work.

This requires some tinkering to pull it off without a hitch. By and large, I got by with the default keymaps with minimal need to remap any of the keys. Once the formalities were sorted, I was off to the races.

To download the Epomaker Carbon60 VIA JSON File, click here: https://epomaker.com/blogs/via-json/epomaker-carbon60-via-json

To test it in practical usage scenarios, I toted my Epomaker Carbon60 review unit in my daily carry setup for work alongside my laptop. The laptop and my Carbon60 review sample were able to comfortably fit into my backpack without issue while the phone rode in my pocket.

The small 500g addition in weight and the slim dimensions of the Carbon60 didn’t impede my mobility on foot and didn’t add too much bulkiness to my backpack, both of which are key factors if you have to haul it around all day especially if you’re using public transport.

Depending on my workload for the day, I swapped between using the Fold7 to hack out short pieces or the laptop to tackle lengthier features on countertops in coffee shops or on tables in press events.

While it does its best work on a flat surface like a table, counter or even an in-flight tray, it does not fare as well with more impromptu work setups like writing on my lap in the bus or on the train. Try as I might, my attempts to place both the Carbon60 and my phone on my lap to write with did not end well with either one about to fall off in the midst of typing out text. It would be nice if it had fold-out prongs to hold up a phone for work on the move but that would detract from the core benefits of its minimalist design. 

Attempting the same with my laptop and the Carbon60 review sample plonked on top of the laptop’s keyboard on the train proved to be a clunky maneuver that was more trouble than it was worth.

When set on a flat surface, the Carbon60 comes into its own. The compact dimensions of the keyboard mean that it can fit in surprisingly cramped scenarios like an inflight tray on a plane and a small corner table at a fast food restaurant. The flat typing angle was initially a bit uncomfortable but this was easily solved by simply stacking a magazine or two or a thick wad of napkins on the back to offer a more comfortable typing angle. 

When connected via Bluetooth to my Fold7, I didn’t feel any noticeable lag when typing out this review and managed a comfortable 90 wpm. I achieved similar results with about 95wpm when connecting by cable to my laptop PC with similar results using the provided dongle. Unless you’re a professional gamer, you likely won’t experience any noticeable lag with wired or wireless options.

The Gateron Low Red keys proved to offer a comfortable typing experience with a relatively low noise profile that’s quiet enough to be dismissed in the noise of a busy coffee shop or a busy press room. It’s still relatively audible in a low-noise area like a library but it’s sufficiently muted with a pleasant thock such that it won’t raise the ire and draw the attention of everyone within a dozen paces.

While not immediately apparent, the Carbon60 offered tangible productivity benefits over time.  The comfortable typing experience ensured less fatigue and measurably less typos. As I tend to travel around quite a bit, I found its 500g carry weight and slim design an easy addition to my backpack for daily carry. 

In terms of battery life, my Epomaker Carbon60 review unit did not disappoint. The built-in 3,000mAh battery is rated for 176 hours of use with the backlight off and 23.6 hours with the backlight on. When used over the course of a week with a combination of the backlight off in public settings and on when used in the office, it easily lasted through the entire week without issue.

Should you buy the Epomaker Carbon60 keyboard?

The Epomaker Carbon60 is a sturdily built and thoughtfully designed 60% keyboard that delivers a wonderfully premium typing experience in an exceptionally lightweight and compact form factor that takes up minimal space and weight in any portable work-setup.

Its Gateron Low Red or Brown switches, excellent battery life and versatile connectivity options make it a compelling companion for journalists, writers and frequent travellers who spend long hours writing – be it emails or feature-length pieces – on the move and who prize portability without sacrificing the tactility that mechanical switches provide.

That said, its compact layout comes with trade-offs. The absence of dedicated direction keys and a numeric keypad means coders and spreadsheet-heavy users may find it less efficient as a primary keyboard. Mastering its layered shortcuts also requires a learning curve or a handy cheat sheet. It also lacks adjustable feet which may deter some who need an elevated typing angle.

If your work revolves around writing rather than data entry or complex navigation tasks, the Carbon60 hits a sweet spot for tactility, portability, endurance and performance. If you can live with its quirks, the Epomaker Carbon60 is a compelling addition to any mobile worker’s setup.

Specifications
Price US$129.99
Type 60% ANSI US Layout with 61 Keys
Switch type Gateron Low Red  Switch 2.0 (review unit) / Low Brown Switch 2.0 available
Polling rate 1,000Hz (USB 2.4GHz), 125Hz (Bluetooth 5.0)
Connectivity USB, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.0
Battery 3,000mAh, 23.6 hours with backlight on and 176.4 hours with backlight off
Size/Weight 297 x 102.3 x 26.7mm / 500g

Epomaker Carbon60 review unit courtesy of Epomaker. For more details and to purchase please visit https://epomaker.com/products/epomaker-carbon60