Epomaker Tide49

$119.99

For me, an organised and uncluttered desk space is one of the essential building blocks for a productive workday. For this reason, I love a wireless keyboard that allows me to keep my desk organised and wire-free.

However, I’ve seen an increasing presence of compact keyboards on the market, which are much smaller than traditional keyboards to help cut down on clutter and maximise the space on your desk. Therefore, I was excited to give the Epomaker Tide49 a go, to see how it stands up against a traditional full keyboard in terms of functionality and productivity, whilst still maximising my desk space and organisational needs.

Straight out of the box, I was surprised by just how small the Tide49 actually was. The keyboard spans just 49 keys, removing all the typical top function keys, arrow keys and the right-hand number panel which you’d typically expect from a traditional full-sized keyboard. Instead, the keyboard focused on just the essential letters, numbers and primary control keys. The reduced size means that a lot of the keys you likely rarely use are gone, and instead, just the essential keys that you’d use every day are left. I like the compact layout and find that for my everyday tasks, it is perfect.

However, if I found I needed one of the keys that had been removed, I could utilise the complete VIA programmability of the keyboard and create macros and different layers that I could switch between to transform the usual keys into shortcuts for specific needs. This means that despite its size, you aren’t missing out on any of the functionality you’d expect from a traditional keyboard, thanks to the programmability of the keyboard's software. The complete programmability is paired with keys that are hot-swappable, so you can achieve a fully customised yet compact keyboard that is designed to work for you. I was super impressed with how easy it was to program the keyboard, and in fact, the ability to create many layers means you can actually achieve multiple keyboards in one, ideal for remaining super productive with multiple layers delivering everything you could want from your traditional keyboard - but now in a more compact form.

In terms of the aesthetic design, the keyboard is minimalist in an all-black colourway with the casing made from CNC aluminium for a durable and sturdy finish. However, the keys add a little fun to the keyboard with each one having its letter or symbol in a different colour. This adds a subtle but colourful touch to the keyboard, which can be paired with the south-facing RGB lights under each key to transform the keyboard into a fun and colourful unit, perfect for any desk set-up. I particularly liked the keyboard when the room was a little darker, as the lights under the keyboard provided a lovely rainbow glow across my desk.

Across the design, functionality and aesthetics of the Tide49 keyboard, I was super impressed. I love the compact design as it saves a ton of desk space and is wireless, whilst still delivering the functionality and typing experience I’ve come to love about many of Epomaker’s keyboards. If you’re looking for a durable and sturdy keyboard that will be well-suited to a small desk space, then the Epomaker Tide49 is a brilliant option. From its large 3000mAh battery life and tri-mode connectivity, to the programmability and hot swappability, the keyboard delivers everything you could want from a more traditional keyboard, but now in a more compact form!

Pros:

• Compact 49-key design ideal for small desk spaces
• Durable and sturdy design, supported by 5 layers of padding for added support and comfort whilst typing
• Tri-mode connectivity for easy and seamless pairing with devices – can be wired or wireless

Cons:

• The smaller size with many of the function keys removed may not be ideal for someone who utilises these keys for their everyday job, whilst you can program in different layers and shortcuts, it may not be as ideal as having a main key directly on the keyboard