Epomaker EK21 vs RT85Numpad or 75% Keyboard?
Choose the EK21 for a dedicated numpad with VIA and an aluminum knob, or the RT85 for a primary 75% keyboard with a TFT screen and larger battery.
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4.5 · 34 reviews
from$33at Epomaker
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
4.8 · 37 reviews
from$68at Epomaker
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
Which one should you get?
Get the
Epomaker EK21
Knob
Build quality in the top 25% of Numpad boards under $50.
- Compact numpad format at 200 g, with dimensions of 29 x 138 x 93 mm.
- Aluminum alloy knob for volume control, according to Epomaker.
- VIA support and vendor-described key customization.
- Numpad only. This is not a full keyboard.
Get the
Epomaker RT85
Battery
Build quality in the top 50% of 75% boards under $100.
- 75% ANSI layout with a TFT screen and joystick.
- 8000mAh battery, with vendor-listed use times of up to 320 hours with RGB and screen off.
- Five-layer dampening system, including PORON, IXPE, PET, EPDM, and silicone components.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- No numpad.
Pick the EK21 if you already have a main keyboard and want a compact, VIA-programmable number pad with an aluminum knob. Choose the RT85 if you need a primary 75% keyboard, and value its TFT screen, joystick, and 8000mAh battery. Check the RT85's south-facing LED limitation if shine-through legends or certain sculpted keycaps matter to you.
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 RT85
Layout size
Numpad
75%
Battery
1,000 mAh
8,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Case material
ABS
Plastic
Switch options
Linear
Linear, Silent, Tactile
Knob
Yes
No
- Epomaker EK21
- Epomaker RT85
- Performance
- 7874
- Build quality
- 7666
- Productivity
- 8776
- Customizability
- 8266
- Portability
- 8891
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Max polling rate: 1,000 Hz
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
- Sound dampening
- Plate material: Polycarbonate
What will you mostly use it for?
The RT85 has the edge when you need one keyboard for gaming or creative work, mainly because it is a 75% layout with a screen and joystick. The EK21 is the more focused choice for number entry, VIA-based key customization, and a lightweight add-on for an existing keyboard. Office use depends on whether you want a full keyboard with a silent switch option or a separate numpad and volume knob. For travel, the EK21 is substantially lighter, although the RT85 has a larger battery.
Pick the Epomaker RT85
- The RT85 is a 75% keyboard, while the EK21 is a numpad rather than a complete typing layout.
- Both list 1000 Hz polling and N-Key Rollover.
- The RT85 offers a choice of linear, tactile, and silent switch types.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Epomaker EK21
34 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 RT85
37 owner reviews
“My all time favorite keyboard -- awesome aesthetics, great functionality, types like a dream, and brings just the right amount of fun and whimsy to my new setup.”
Epomaker EK21 vs RT85 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
10 of 23 specs differ
Epomaker EK21
Epomaker RT85
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
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 RT85: your questions
No. The EK21 is a numpad, and its compatibility rules specify that it is not a full keyboard. It is intended as a dedicated number pad to pair with another keyboard.
No. The RT85 uses a 75% layout, and its compatibility rules specify that it has no numpad. Choose the EK21 if dedicated numpad keys are the priority.
The EK21 is a compact numpad with VIA support and an aluminum volume knob. The RT85 is a 75% main keyboard with a TFT screen, joystick, and 8000mAh battery.
Yes. The EK21 lists Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, as well as wired USB-C connectivity. Its battery is listed at 1000mAh.
Yes. The RT85 supports Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired USB-C connectivity. Its listed battery capacity is 8000mAh.
Yes. The EK21 lists VIA support, and Epomaker describes it as VIA-programmable. It also has hot-swappable support for 3- and 5-pin mechanical switches.
Yes. The RT85 supports hot-swappable 5-pin mechanical switches. Its listed switch options include linear, tactile, and silent types.
Epomaker describes the TFT screen as able to show keyboard information and custom pictures or GIFs. The joystick can control volume, mute, and RGB functions.
The RT85 has south-facing LEDs, and its compatibility rules warn that shine-through legends stay dark. They also note that some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
The EK21 is considerably lighter at 200 g and measures 29 x 138 x 93 mm. The RT85 weighs 1000 g and measures 40 x 360 x 138 mm, though it has a larger battery.
The RT85 has an 8000mAh battery, compared with 1000mAh in the EK21. Epomaker lists RT85 use times that vary with whether the RGB and screen are on.
Not sold on either?
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