Epomaker EK21 vs RT82Numpad vs 75% Keyboard Comparison
Choose the EK21 for a portable secondary numpad, or the RT82 for a primary, full-featured compact keyboard.
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4.6 (36)4.6 · 36 reviews
from$33at Epomaker
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
4.6 (41)4.6 · 41 reviews
from$60at Epomaker
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
Which one should you get?
Get the
Epomaker EK21
Numpad
Build quality in the top 25% of Numpad boards under $50.
- Extremely portable at 200g with a 20-key numpad footprint.
- Includes a programmable aluminum alloy knob for volume or macros.
- Features a flex-cut PCB and plate for a softer typing feel.
- Numpad only. This is not a full keyboard.
Get the
Epomaker RT82
75% Keyboard Comparison
Build quality in the top 30% of 75% boards under $100.
- Versatile 75% layout with 80 keys, including arrows and function row.
- Includes a magnetically detachable 1.14-inch LCD screen for customization.
- Large 4000mAh battery with up to 115 hours of use (RGB and screen off).
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Your need dictates the choice. The Epomaker RT82 is a comprehensive daily-use keyboard that balances a compact layout with premium features like a customizable screen and extensive sound dampening. The Epomaker EK21 is a specialized, high-quality tool for users who already have a compact main keyboard and miss a numpad, or for those seeking a programmable macropad. Prioritize the RT82 for an all-in-one solution and the EK21 for expanding your current setup.
The differences that matter
Skip the 40-row spec sheet. These are the specs that change how each board feels, sounds, and fits your desk.
Epomaker EK21
Epomaker RT82
Layout size
Numpad
75%
Battery
1,000 mAh
4,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Knob
Yes
No
Display
None
LCD
A case display rather than a typing feature
Weight
200 g
1,000 g
Heavier boards stay planted and lighter ones travel
- Epomaker EK21
- Epomaker RT82
- Performance
- 7778
- Build quality
- 7674
- Productivity
- 8782
- Customizability
- 8278
- Portability
- 8879
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Case material: ABS
- Switch options: Linear, Silent
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
What will you mostly use it for?
The RT82 is the clear choice as a primary keyboard for gaming, office work, programming, and content creation due to its complete layout and unique screen. The EK21 excels only in portability for travel, serving as a supplemental device. For modding enthusiasts, both offer a strong foundation with hot-swap sockets and VIA support, making them equally viable projects.
Pick the Epomaker RT82
- The RT82 offers a full 75% layout with arrow and function keys essential for many games.
- Both have a 1000Hz polling rate in wired/2.4GHz modes for low latency.
- The RT82's south-facing RGB LEDs prevent interference with Cherry-profile keycaps.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Epomaker EK21
36 owner reviews
“Great wireless connectivity, sounds and feels as good as my 200$ custom keyboard. Great buy especially with the discount, would definitely buy again.”
“I have had this thing for years, I have updated to every Json file and firmware file I can find and it has NEVER worked right, Either the Json file or the firmware is jacked up and no one at Epomaker can give me any explanation. This numpad is the reason I…”
Epomaker RT82
41 owner reviews
“I love the sound, the keyboard was shipped fast, but i have found some of the keys have input issues at times where it doesn't register the key being pushed”
“I received an informative sms two months ago that the keyboard is arriving, It has still not arrived.”
Epomaker EK21 vs RT82 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
7 of 24 specs differ
Epomaker EK21
Epomaker RT82
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Knob
Display
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
VIA
N-key rollover
Mac & Windows
Released
Compare prices
Live prices from the stores we track, cheapest in-stock offer first.
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Lowest price across stores, Amazon excluded.
Epomaker EK21 vs RT82: your questions
No, the EK21 is a 20-key numeric keypad. It is designed to supplement a primary keyboard that lacks a number pad, such as a 60% or 65% layout board. It does not contain letter keys and cannot function alone for general typing.
According to Epomaker, the 1.14-inch LCD screen can display the time, date, keyboard battery level, or a typing mode where letters appear as you type. You can also upload and display custom GIFs or images using the provided image tool to personalize the keyboard.
Yes, both the EK21 and RT82 list Mac and Windows support in their specifications. The RT82 also includes three additional keycaps for Mac-specific legends in the box.
The RT82 has a significantly larger 4000mAh battery compared to the EK21's 1000mAh. Epomaker states the RT82 can last up to 115 hours with RGB and the screen turned off, while the EK21's battery life is suited to its lower-power role as a numpad.
Yes, both the EK21 and RT82 are hot-swappable. They support both 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches, allowing you to easily change switches without soldering.
Both keyboards offer triple-mode connectivity: wired USB-C, 2.4GHz wireless with a dongle, and Bluetooth. This allows you to connect to multiple devices and switch between them.
VIA is open-source software that allows for deep keyboard customization, including key remapping and macro creation. Both the Epomaker EK21 and RT82 are fully programmable via VIA, as confirmed in their technical specifications.
The RT82 is more suitable because it offers a silent linear switch option, the Sea Salt Silent Switch. Both boards have sound-dampening foam, but the RT82's specific silent switch variant is designed to reduce noise further.
The core gasket-mount construction and PBT keycaps are similar. A key difference is in their sound dampening: the EK21 uses three layers of foam (Poron, sandwich, IXPE), while the RT82 uses a five-layer system including Sandwich Latex, IXPE, a PET pad, bottom foam, and bottom silicone.
Yes, the Epomaker EK21 features an aluminum alloy knob. Its function can be customized through VIA software, with volume control being a common default assignment.
The RT82 has a built-in, two-stage adjustable kickstand. According to the specifications, it provides three different typing angles: 5 degrees, 7.5 degrees, and 11 degrees.
For gaming, the RT82 is the better choice. It provides a complete set of keys for game controls, has the same 1000Hz polling rate as the EK21 for responsiveness, and its south-facing RGB LEDs ensure compatibility with aftermarket Cherry-profile keycaps without interference.
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