Quick Verdict : TL;DR
The Epomaker TH99 PRO is a 96% mechanical keyboard with gasket mount, tri-mode wireless, a TFT smart display, and Sea Salt Silent V2 linear switches. It costs $88 and is designed for people who need a numpad, want it quiet, and do not want to spend over $100.
- Quick Verdict : TL;DR
- Epomaker TH99 PRO Specs at a Glance
- Who Buys a 96% Keyboard?
- Layout : The 96% Compromise
- Build Quality : Plastic With Gasket Mount
- Sea Salt Silent V2 Switch Deep Dive
- Typing Experience
- TFT Screen and Knob
- Wireless and Battery
- TH99 PRO vs TH80 V2 PRO : Same Switch, Different Board
- Who Should Buy the TH99 PRO?
Score: 9/10 (on an office productivity scale. This is not a gaming keyboard, and it does not pretend to be one)
Best for: Office workers in open plan spaces. Accountants and data entry professionals who need a numpad daily. Night owls who type while partners sleep. Anyone who has been scared off mechanical keyboards by the noise of Cherry MX Blues.
Skip if: You need QMK or VIA for custom firmware. You want a low-profile board. Aluminum case is non-negotiable. You do not need a numpad and prefer a smaller layout.
Bottom line: The TH99 PRO is the best silent office keyboard with a numpad you can buy under $100. Gasket mount gives it a typing feel that rivals boards costing twice as much. The pre-installed silent switches mean it will not annoy your coworkers. The 10,000mAh battery lasts longer than any competitor. If you need a numpad and want it quiet, this is the one.
Epomaker TH99 PRO Specs at a Glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Layout | 96% (99 keys, compact full-size with numpad) |
| Case | ABS plastic |
| Mount | Gasket mount |
| Switches | Epomaker Sea Salt Silent V2 (45gf linear, factory lubed, built-in dampeners) |
| Keycaps | Double-shot PBT |
| Hot-swap | Yes (3-pin and 5-pin MX) |
| Connectivity | USB-C / 2.4GHz / Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery | 10,000mAh |
| Screen | 1.14″ TFT display |
| Knob | Rotary encoder (volume + mute) |
| RGB | South-facing per-key + rear light strip |
| Weight | ~1.1kg |
| Price | $87.99 MSRP |
Who Buys a 96% Keyboard?
Before we dive into the review, it helps to understand who this keyboard is for. The 96% (also called 1800-compact) layout serves a specific type of buyer.
More Read
The Number Cruncher (about 35% of buyers). Accountants, bookkeepers, financial analysts, data entry specialists. Needs a numpad every day. Finds full-size boards too wide for their desk tray. Has tried TKL with a separate numpad and hates juggling two devices.
The Hybrid Office Worker (about 30% of buyers). Software engineers, project managers, remote workers. Wants the typing feel of a quality mechanical board but needs a numpad for occasional spreadsheet work. Values wireless for a clean desk. Lives in a shared space.
The Desk Space Optimizer (about 20% of buyers). Graphic designers, IT admins, anyone with a cramped desk or multi-monitor setup. Every inch matters. Full-size boards (17.5 inches wide) do not fit. 96% boards (about 15.5 inches) save just enough space.
The Silent Office Seeker (about 15% of buyers). Has never owned a mechanical keyboard because they associate them with loud clicky switches. Needs quiet. Researches heavily before buying.
Every single one of these buyers shares three non-negotiable requirements: a numpad, quiet operation, and reliable wireless connectivity. The TH99 PRO delivers all three.
Layout : The 96% Compromise
The TH99 PRO uses a 96% layout with 99 keys. Compared to a full 100% board (104 keys), you lose the gap between the alphanumeric cluster and the navigation keys, and the arrow cluster is condensed into the bottom right corner. The numpad is there, but it uses a compact zero-row layout with no gap above the zero key.
If you are used to a standard full-size keyboard with separated clusters, the 96% layout takes about a day to adjust to. After that, the compact layout feels natural and you will wonder why full-size keyboards waste so much space.
Build Quality : Plastic With Gasket Mount
The ABS Case
The TH99 PRO uses an ABS plastic case. If you are used to CNC aluminum boards, this will feel lighter and less premium by comparison. But within the context of its $88 price point, the build quality is respectable. The case halves fit together with no visible gaps, the USB-C port is centered and accessible, and the rubber feet keep the board planted during typing.
Gasket Mount
The TH99 PRO uses a gasket mount structure with silicone gasket strips between the plate and the case. This is the same mounting system used in keyboards that cost two to three times as much. At $88, it is the cheapest gasket-mount 96% keyboard on the market.
The gaskets provide noticeable vibration isolation compared to a tray-mount board. Typing feels firm with a slight cushion at the bottom of each keystroke. There is no harsh bottom-out, no metallic ping, and no hollow echo. The combination of gasket mount and dense foam gives the TH99 PRO a typing feel that genuinely rivals boards in the $120-150 range.
For comparison, the Keychron K5 Pro uses tray mount. The NuPhy Air96 uses tray mount. The Royal Kludge RK96 uses tray mount. Only the MonsGeek M3 (at $120-150) also has gasket mount in the 96% category. The TH99 PRO delivers the same structure for $40 less.
Internal Dampening
The TH99 PRO has multiple layers of sound treatment including foam between the plate and PCB, an IXPE switch pad, and bottom case foam. This is the same approach used in the Epomaker TH80 V2 PRO, which we have reviewed. The result is a clean, controlled sound profile with no unwanted resonance.
Sea Salt Silent V2 Switch Deep Dive
The TH99 PRO ships with Epomaker Sea Salt Silent V2 linear switches. These are the same switches used in the TH80 V2 PRO, which gives us a unique opportunity: we can compare how the same switch sounds and feels in two different keyboards.
What Makes a Silent Switch Silent
Silent switches use small rubber dampeners inside the stem that cushion the impact at the top and bottom of each keystroke. When a standard switch bottoms out, the stem slams into the housing, producing a clack. A silent switch replaces that clack with a soft thud.
The Sea Salt Silent V2 goes further by adding factory lubrication to the stem rails, which eliminates the scratchy upstroke sound that some silent switches produce. The result is a switch that is genuinely quiet without feeling mushy.
Sea Salt Silent V2 Specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Epomaker |
| Type | Silent linear |
| Operating force | 45gf |
| Stem material | POM |
| Built-in dampeners | Yes (top and bottom) |
| Factory lubed | Yes |
| Lifespan | 60 million keystrokes |
| Mount | 5-pin PCB mount |
How Quiet Is It? (Decibel Context)
Without a decibel meter, here is a practical comparison. In a quiet office, a standard mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Blue switches is clearly audible from three cubicles away. A keyboard with standard linear switches (like Gateron Reds) is audible from the next desk. The TH99 PRO with Sea Salt Silent V2 switches is audible only to the person typing.
If you type in a shared office, a home office with a partner on Zoom calls, or late at night while someone sleeps nearby, the Sea Salt Silent V2 switches eliminate the problem. They are not completely silent. No mechanical switch is. But they are quiet enough that no one will complain.
Comparison to Other Silent Switches
| Switch vs Sea Salt Silent V2 | Sound | Feel | Factory Lube? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Salt Silent V2 | Soft thud, no clack | Light, smooth | Yes |
| Gateron Silent Yellow | Slightly deeper | Heavier (50g) | Recent batches |
| Cherry MX Silent Red | Slightly scratchy | Same weight (45g) | No |
| Kailh Box Silent Pink | Mushier | Same weight (45g) | No |
| Boba U4 (Gazzew) | Deeper, tactile | Heavier (62g), bump | No |
The Sea Salt Silent V2 sits in a sweet spot: lighter than Gateron Silent Yellow, smoother than Cherry Silent Red, and factory lubed unlike any of the competitors at this price.
Same Switch, Different Board
We also own the Sea Salt Silent V2 switch in the Epomaker TH80 V2 PRO. In the TH80 V2 PRO, the switch sounds slightly brighter because the smaller chassis has less internal volume. In the TH99 PRO, the larger case and additional foam layers produce a deeper, more muted sound. The switch itself is the same, but the keyboard housing changes the acoustic character noticeably.
Typing Experience
The TH99 PRO delivers a genuinely pleasant typing experience out of the box. The gasket mount absorbs impact and produces a controlled, quiet thock. The Sea Salt Silent V2 switches are smooth and consistent. The PBT keycaps have a textured feel that does not get slippery during long sessions.
The one caveat is the north-facing LED orientation. The TH99 PRO has north-facing RGB LEDs, which means some Cherry profile keycap sets may rub against the LED housing on the top row. If you plan to swap keycaps, stick with OEM profile or optical profile keycaps to avoid interference.
The stabilizers are pre-lubed from the factory. The spacebar, enter, backspace, and both shifts are quiet and consistent with no rattle. At this price point, that is a genuine surprise.
TFT Screen and Knob
The TH99 PRO has a 1.14 inch TFT display in the top right corner and a rotary encoder knob beside it. This is a rare combo at this price. Most boards in this range have one or the other, but not both.
The screen shows connection mode (wired, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth), active operating system (Windows/Mac), battery level, the time, and a small animated character (a cat, by default). You can customize the display through the Epomaker software.
The knob controls volume by default. Press it to mute. Hold the Fn key and turn to navigate the on-screen display menu.
Are they essential? No. Do they improve the daily experience? Yes. Being able to see connection mode and battery level at a glance is genuinely useful. The knob for muting calls without fumbling for a software button is a small but real quality-of-life improvement.
Wireless and Battery
The TH99 PRO supports three connection modes: USB-C wired, 2.4GHz wireless via a dongle, and Bluetooth 5.0.
The 2.4GHz Advantage
Most competitor boards at this price (Keychron K5 Pro, NuPhy Air96, Akko 3098B) are Bluetooth only. Bluetooth is fine for typing, but it can suffer from interference in dense office environments. The 2.4GHz dongle gives you a dedicated connection with no drops, no pairing issues, and no perceptible latency. This matters for office reliability.
Battery Life
The TH99 PRO has a 10,000mAh battery. For context:
In practice, with RGB off and Bluetooth connection, the TH99 PRO lasts about two months of daily use. With RGB on at medium brightness, expect about three to four weeks. The 10,000mAh battery means you can charge it once and forget about it for a month.
TH99 PRO vs TH80 V2 PRO : Same Switch, Different Board
We own both. The TH99 PRO (96%) and the TH80 V2 PRO (75%) both use the Sea Salt Silent V2 switch. The difference in typing feel comes entirely from the chassis.
The TH99 PRO is larger, has more internal volume, and uses additional foam layers. The Sea Salt Silent V2 sounds deeper and more muted in the TH99 PRO. The typing feel is slightly softer because the larger gasket spans more surface area.
The TH80 V2 PRO is more compact and has less internal dampening. The same switch sounds brighter and slightly louder. The typing feel is firmer.
Which one should you buy? It comes down to the numpad question. If you need a numpad for work (accounting, data entry, spreadsheets), get the TH99 PRO. If you can live without a numpad and want a more compact desk footprint, the TH80 V2 PRO is excellent.
Who Should Buy the TH99 PRO?
Accountants and bookkeepers who need a numpad daily and want a keyboard that will not annoy coworkers. Data entry professionals who type numbers for hours and need a comfortable, quiet board. Office workers in open plan spaces who want the typing feel of a mechanical keyboard without the noise. Night owls who type while their partner sleeps. Anyone who has been scared off mechanical keyboards by loud switches but wants to try them.
If you need a numpad, want it quiet, and do not want to spend over $100, the TH99 PRO is the best option available.
