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A Keyboard Designed to Break Old Habits
Mechanical keyboards have spent years getting smaller, smarter, and more customizable. The latest step in that evolution is not simply removing keys, but changing where the keyboard itself sits on your desk. The Epomaker Split70 takes that idea seriously by dividing a compact 70% keyboard into two separate halves, allowing users to position each side according to their natural shoulder and hand position.
The Appeal of Going Smaller
For many people, a conventional full-size keyboard occupies far more desk space than necessary. A 100% keyboard includes a dedicated number pad, function row, navigation cluster, and other keys that some users rarely touch. Tenkeyless designs remove the number pad, while 70% keyboards go even further by relying on function layers and shortcuts.
The Ergonomic Trade-Off
The advantage is obvious: a smaller keyboard leaves more room for a mouse, notebook, tablet, or other equipment. It can also bring the mouse closer to the center of the body, potentially creating a more natural workstation position.
But compact keyboards always come with compromises. When keys disappear, their functions do not. Instead, they move behind layers, combinations, and programmable shortcuts. The Split70 takes that philosophy and adds another major change: the entire keyboard is physically divided.
Two Halves, One Keyboard
The Epomaker Split70 consists of separate left and right keyboard sections connected by a USB-C-to-USB-C cable. Rather than forcing your hands into one fixed position, the two halves can be angled and separated to better match your body.
A More Natural Desk Position
This creates something that resembles an Alice-style ergonomic keyboard while retaining a more familiar row-staggered key arrangement. Instead of forcing both wrists toward the center, the Split70 lets each hand approach its own half more naturally.
Why the Split Design Matters
The biggest attraction is not necessarily the number of keys. It is the freedom to decide where those keys should sit. Someone with broad shoulders can separate the halves farther apart, while another user might prefer keeping them relatively close together.
The First Impression
The Split70 is available in Black Grey and White Blue versions, with gradient PBT Cherry-profile keycaps providing much of its visual character. The overall appearance is modern without becoming excessively flashy.
Matte Finish With One Small Problem
The matte black plastic finish is attractive and understated. Unfortunately, the surface can pick up light scratches during normal use. They are not always obvious, but they can become noticeable when viewed from certain angles.
What Comes in the Box
Epomaker provides a fairly complete package. Inside the box are both keyboard halves, a USB-A-to-USB-C cable for connecting the keyboard to a device, a USB-C-to-USB-C cable for linking the two halves, a combined switch and keycap puller, three Macintosh-specific replacement keycaps, three additional Wisteria Linear Switch V2 switches, and documentation.
A Programmable Volume Knob
The left side also houses a built-in programmable volume knob. It provides a convenient physical control for adjusting audio without reaching for software controls.
Hidden Wireless Storage
A particularly practical detail is the storage compartment on the back of the keyboard. The 2.4GHz wireless receiver can be stored there when it is not being used, reducing the chance of losing the tiny dongle.
The Layout Takes Getting Used To
This is where the Split70 becomes considerably more complicated. The physical design required Epomaker to make several unconventional decisions.
The Tilde Key Moves
The tilde key is positioned toward the right side beside Backspace rather than remaining in its familiar location. Users who frequently work with terminals, programming languages, command-line tools, or shortcuts may notice this immediately.
Two B Keys
The keyboard also includes two B keys to accommodate the split arrangement. It is an unusual choice, but it makes sense within the ergonomic philosophy of the product.
Escape Is No Longer Familiar
The Escape key is also moved from its traditional location. That may sound like a minor change, but muscle memory is powerful. A key that has been pressed thousands of times in the same place can feel strangely “missing” when it moves.
The Right Shift Problem
The most difficult adjustment may be the compressed right Shift key. Instead of the larger familiar Shift key found on conventional layouts, the Split70 uses a standard 1U-sized key positioned to the left of the Up arrow.
Muscle Memory Fights Back
This is the kind of change that looks acceptable on a specification sheet but becomes much more significant during everyday typing. When your fingers automatically reach for a familiar key, even a small positional difference can create repeated mistakes.
Missing Navigation Keys
The Split70 also removes several dedicated keys that users may expect from larger keyboards. Home, for example, can be accessed through Fn + H, but accessing a function through a shortcut is not always equivalent to having a dedicated physical key.
Compact Does Not Always Mean Better
This is perhaps the central lesson of the Split70. Smaller does not automatically mean more efficient. If you regularly use Home, End, function keys, navigation controls, or other missing keys, the time spent remembering layers can offset some of the space-saving benefits.
Where the Split70 Shines
Despite those compromises, the typing experience itself is one of the keyboard’s strongest points. Epomaker equips the Split70 with Wisteria Linear V2 switches, which are factory-lubricated and use approximately 45g of bottom-out force.
Smooth Linear Typing
The relatively light linear switches make the keyboard comfortable for users who prefer smooth keystrokes without tactile bumps. The factory lubrication also helps reduce unwanted friction and contributes to a more refined typing experience.
Hot-Swappable Switches
Users who do not like the stock switches are not stuck with them. The PCB is hot-swappable and supports both 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
No Soldering Required
That means experimenting with different switches is considerably easier. A user can remove the existing switches, install alternatives, and customize the typing feel without taking out a soldering iron.
Gasket-Mounted Construction
The gasket-mounted structure adds another layer of refinement. Rather than producing a hard and unforgiving typing sensation, the construction allows the keyboard to have a little more flexibility beneath the keys.
Five Layers of Sound Treatment
Epomaker also uses a five-layer sound-dampening system. The combination includes sandwiched latex, a PET sound-enhancement pad, and a silicone base.
The Resulting Sound
Together, these materials help reduce hollow resonance and unwanted rattling. The resulting sound is closer to the smooth, deeper “thock” that mechanical keyboard enthusiasts increasingly look for.
Tri-Mode Connectivity
Connectivity is another major strength. The Split70 supports wired USB, Bluetooth 5.0, and 2.4GHz wireless connections.
A 3,000mAh Battery
The keyboard uses a 3,000mAh battery. With RGB lighting enabled, the stated usage is more than 10 hours, while disabling the lighting can extend battery life to several hundred hours depending on usage.
Fast Wake-Up
The keyboard also enters sleep mode during inactivity to preserve battery power. Importantly, it wakes quickly rather than forcing users to wait several seconds before continuing to type.
Bright South-Facing RGB
The south-facing RGB lighting is another visual highlight. The LEDs can become surprisingly bright, even when configured below maximum intensity.
RGB Has a Practical Side
RGB is obviously aesthetic for many users, but it can also be useful on a keyboard with an unconventional layout. Different colors or lighting patterns can help users remember layers and unfamiliar key positions while they are learning the keyboard.
Gaming Performance
The Split70 is not limited to productivity. It can also serve as a gaming keyboard, and its performance characteristics are competitive for fast-paced games.
1000Hz Polling Rate
In wired and 2.4GHz modes, the keyboard supports a 1000Hz polling rate. Reported latency sits around the 3ms to 5ms range, depending on the connection and circumstances.
Fortnite and Fast Games
For games such as Fortnite, where rapid movement and quick key presses matter, the Split70 can feel responsive. The hardware is unlikely to be the main limitation for most players.
Layout Versus Performance
The bigger challenge during gaming is not latency. It is muscle memory.
Competitive Players Need Familiarity
During an intense firefight, players generally do not think about where a key is. Their fingers simply move there automatically. With the Split70’s unusual arrangement, that automatic behavior can produce mistakes until the player has spent enough time adapting.
The Left Half Becomes a Gaming Weapon
One of the most interesting features is that the keyboard’s electronics and battery are contained in the left half. The right half can therefore be disconnected and moved away.
More Mouse Space
This transforms the left half into something resembling a dedicated gaming keypad. A player can place it on the left side of the desk and leave a large area open for the mouse.
Why This Is More Than a Gimmick
For games that depend heavily on WASD movement and mouse aiming, having more unrestricted space for the mouse can be genuinely useful. Low-sensitivity FPS players in particular can benefit from a larger movement area.
VIA Opens the Door to Customization
The Split70 is compatible with VIA, a popular open-source keyboard configuration platform. By loading the appropriate Epomaker JSON configuration into the web application, users can remap keys and create custom layouts.
Remapping Can Fix the Worst Problems
This is arguably essential for the Split70. The unusual physical layout is much easier to tolerate when the keyboard can be configured around your own habits.
Custom Layers
VIA allows users to create alternative layers for functions that are missing from the physical board. Instead of accepting the factory arrangement, users can build a personalized system for navigation, media controls, macros, programming commands, and gaming.
Macros Add Another Advantage
Frequently repeated actions can also be assigned to macros. For productivity users, this could turn some of the keyboard’s limitations into opportunities for customization.
Deep Analysis
Checking the Keyboard Connection
For a wired setup on Linux, a basic USB device check can help determine whether the keyboard is being detected:
lsusb
Monitoring USB Devices
After connecting the Split70, you can compare the output before and after plugging it in:
lsusb | less
Checking Keyboard Events on Linux
Linux users can inspect input devices with:
cat /proc/bus/input/devices
This can help identify the keyboard and determine how the operating system recognizes its input interfaces.
Testing Key Input
For a deeper Linux keyboard diagnostic, evtest can be useful:
sudo evtest
Select the relevant keyboard device and press different keys to see which events the operating system receives.
Testing USB HID Information
Another useful diagnostic is:
udevadm info --query=all --name=/dev/input/eventX
Replace eventX with the appropriate input device discovered on the system.
Checking Bluetooth Controllers
For Bluetooth troubleshooting on Linux:
bluetoothctl
Then:
power on
scan on
devices
This can help determine whether the keyboard is visible to the Bluetooth subsystem.
Checking Network-Style Wireless Is Different
The 2.4GHz receiver should not be treated like Bluetooth. If Bluetooth works but the 2.4GHz connection does not, inspect the USB receiver separately rather than assuming the keyboard itself is defective.
Windows Keyboard Testing
Windows users can test key recognition through PowerShell and Windows keyboard utilities, but VIA is generally the more important tool when the goal is remapping the Split70.
VIA Configuration Workflow
The basic customization process is straightforward:
1. Connect the keyboard.
2. Open VIA.
- Load the Epomaker Split70 JSON definition if required.
4. Select the appropriate keyboard layout.
5. Remap keys.
6. Configure layers.
7. Assign macros where needed.
8. Test every modified key.
Build a Navigation Layer
A useful first customization would be creating a dedicated navigation layer for Home, End, Page Up, Page Down, Insert, and arrow-related functions.
Build a Productivity Layer
A second layer could hold frequently used shortcuts:
Ctrl + C
Ctrl + V
Ctrl + X
Ctrl + Z
Ctrl + Shift + Z
Alt + Tab
These can be useful for users who spend long periods working with documents, browsers, terminals, or development tools.
Build a Gaming Layer
Gamers can create a separate layer dedicated to movement, macros, media controls, or game-specific functions. However, competitive games should be configured carefully because overly complex macros may not be appropriate or permitted in certain environments.
The Most Important Customization
The smartest modification may simply be moving the functions you use most often to positions that make sense for your hands.
What Undercode Say:
A Fascinating Concept
The Epomaker Split70 is interesting because it does not merely attempt to make another compact mechanical keyboard. It challenges the assumption that a keyboard should be one rigid rectangle.
Ergonomics Over Tradition
Its split design puts ergonomics ahead of traditional keyboard conventions. That is exciting, but it also explains many of the product’s weaknesses.
Familiarity Is Extremely Valuable
Keyboard layouts are successful partly because billions of people have developed muscle memory around them. Every key that moves away from its conventional position creates a small productivity tax.
The Learning Curve Is the Real Cost
The biggest price you pay for the Split70 is not measured in dollars. It is measured in adaptation time.
Short-Term Frustration
A new user may initially type more slowly, miss Shift, reach for Escape in the wrong place, or hesitate when searching for a navigation function.
Long-Term Potential
After sufficient practice, however, the split configuration could become more natural. The question is whether the user’s workflow benefits enough from the ergonomics to justify that learning period.
Desk Space Matters
For small desks, the compact footprint is a legitimate advantage. The extra room around the keyboard can make a workstation feel considerably less crowded.
Mouse Position Matters Too
The reduced width can also improve the relationship between keyboard and mouse. Instead of reaching far outward with the mouse hand, users can maintain a more centralized setup.
The Split Is the Star
The physical separation is more significant than the RGB, switches, or sound profile. Those features are nice, but other keyboards provide them.
Mechanical Keyboard Enthusiasts Have Options
Hot-swappable switches and VIA compatibility make the Split70 particularly attractive to enthusiasts who enjoy modifying their keyboards.
Stock Switches Are a Good Starting Point
The Wisteria Linear V2 switches provide a solid starting configuration. Users do not necessarily need to modify anything immediately.
Customization Keeps the Product Relevant
The ability to change switches, key assignments, layers, and macros means the keyboard can evolve with the owner.
Sound Quality Is Competitive
The dampening system is another strong point. A compact keyboard that sounds hollow or rattly can quickly become irritating, so Epomaker’s attention to internal materials matters.
Wireless Flexibility Is Valuable
Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and wired connectivity give the Split70 enough flexibility to move between computers and different environments.
Battery Life Depends on RGB
The large difference between RGB-on and RGB-off battery life illustrates a familiar trade-off. Users who prioritize endurance should expect to keep the lighting conservative.
2.4GHz Is the Gaming Sweet Spot
For gaming, 2.4GHz provides the convenience of wireless connectivity without requiring the user to accept the same compromises associated with some Bluetooth configurations.
1000Hz Is More Than Enough
A 1000Hz polling rate is already a strong specification for a mechanical keyboard. For most gamers, layout familiarity will have a much larger impact on performance than chasing tiny differences in polling behavior.
The Left-Side Gaming Mode Is Clever
Being able to remove the right half and use the left side independently is one of the Split70’s most creative features.
It Could Change FPS Desk Layouts
A player who wants maximum mouse freedom can position the left half beside the mouse and effectively eliminate a large portion of the keyboard from the active gaming area.
Productivity Users May Be More Divided
The same layout that excites enthusiasts could frustrate office workers. People who constantly use Home, End, function keys, and navigation controls may find the shortcuts inconvenient.
Programmers Should Think Carefully
Developers who frequently use terminals and symbols should pay special attention to the relocated tilde key and other unconventional positions.
Shortcut Layers Are Powerful
At the same time, developers are often among the users most willing to customize keyboards. VIA gives them the tools to compensate for the unusual layout.
This Is Not a Beginner Keyboard
Someone buying their first mechanical keyboard may be better served by a conventional 75% or TKL design. The Split70 makes more sense for users who already understand what they want from a keyboard.
Enthusiasts Are the Natural Audience
Keyboard enthusiasts are more likely to appreciate the hot-swap PCB, split design, programmable layers, linear switches, gasket mount, and RGB system.
The Design Is More Important Than the Specs
A product like this should not be judged purely by switch force, polling rate, battery capacity, or connectivity.
Human Hands Are the Benchmark
The real question is whether the keyboard feels better after adaptation. Specifications cannot answer that.
Ergonomics Are Personal
A position that feels natural to one person may feel uncomfortable to another. The adjustable spacing between the halves helps, but it cannot guarantee a perfect fit.
The Right Shift Is the Biggest Warning Sign
Among the layout compromises, the small right Shift key is particularly important because Shift is used constantly by many users.
A Slightly Larger Board Could Have Helped
Giving the keyboard a little more width might have allowed Epomaker to preserve more conventional key sizes without destroying the split concept.
Compactness Has Limits
There is a point where removing keys stops being elegant and starts becoming inconvenient. The Split70 occasionally crosses that line.
VIA Saves the Experience
Fortunately, software customization can repair many of the keyboard’s weaknesses. That makes VIA compatibility more than a bonus. It is almost part of the product’s core appeal.
The Split70 Is an Experiment That Works
It is not a flawless keyboard, but it is a genuinely interesting one. It demonstrates that the future of keyboards may involve less concern for traditional layouts and more attention to how people physically interact with their desks.
The Verdict
The Epomaker Split70 is best understood as an enthusiast-focused ergonomic experiment rather than a universal replacement for a conventional keyboard. Its smooth switches, hot-swappable PCB, gasket-mounted construction, strong sound dampening, tri-mode connectivity, bright RGB, and VIA support create a compelling hardware package.
Who Should Buy It?
It makes the most sense for users who value desk space, enjoy customization, want a split ergonomic layout, or need additional mouse room for gaming.
Who Should Avoid It?
Users who depend heavily on conventional key positions, dedicated navigation keys, a familiar right Shift key, or immediate plug-and-play productivity may become frustrated.
The Bigger Picture
The Split70 ultimately asks an important question: Should keyboards be designed around tradition, or around the human body?
Its answer is clear. The traditional layout can be sacrificed if doing so creates a more flexible workspace. Whether that philosophy works for you depends on how willing you are to retrain your hands.
✅ Split Design and Connectivity
The article accurately describes the Split70 as a physically divided compact keyboard that connects its two halves with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable. This is one of the defining characteristics of the product.
✅ Hot-Swappable Keyboard
The claim that the PCB supports hot-swappable 3-pin and 5-pin switches is consistent with the supplied specifications. This gives owners significant freedom to customize the typing experience.
✅ Tri-Mode Wireless
Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless, and wired connectivity are part of the keyboard’s feature set. The 3,000mAh battery also supports the wireless modes, while RGB usage has a major effect on endurance.
⚠️ Layout Compromises Are Subjective
The claims about the awkward right Shift, relocated Escape and tilde keys, and missing navigation functions are based partly on usability experience rather than purely objective specifications. These criticisms are reasonable, but how disruptive they feel depends on the user.
Prediction
(+1) Split Keyboards Will Become More Visible
As mechanical keyboard users become increasingly interested in ergonomics, split designs are likely to gain more attention. The industry has already demonstrated that enthusiasts are willing to abandon traditional layouts for comfort and customization.
(+1) Gaming Could Drive Adoption
The ability to separate the keyboard and create additional mouse space could make compact split designs particularly interesting to FPS players. More desk space can be valuable when large mouse movements are part of the playing style.
(+1) Software Customization Will Become More Important
Future compact keyboards are likely to depend increasingly on programmable layers and open configuration tools. As manufacturers remove more physical keys, software becomes essential for restoring access to those functions.
(-1) Extreme Compact Layouts May Remain Niche
The biggest obstacle is familiarity. Most people have spent years learning conventional keyboard layouts, and many will not want to retrain their muscle memory simply to save desk space.
(-1) Too Many Compromises Can Hurt Productivity
If manufacturers continue shrinking keyboards without carefully preserving high-use keys, compact designs could alienate professionals who depend on navigation and function keys.
(+1) The Split70 Points Toward a More Personal Keyboard Future
The strongest prediction is that keyboards will continue moving away from one-size-fits-all layouts. Users increasingly expect their hardware to adapt to them rather than forcing them to adapt completely to the hardware.
Final Perspective
The Epomaker Split70 is not perfect, and it does not need to be. Its importance comes from the fact that it challenges established keyboard conventions while combining that unusual philosophy with modern mechanical keyboard features.
For the right user, the Split70 could become more than a compact keyboard. It could become a completely different way of interacting with a computer, one that gives the hands more freedom, the mouse more room, and the desk a cleaner footprint.
The catch is simple: you have to teach your hands a new language before the keyboard can truly feel like your own.
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