Epomaker Hack 59 vs RT98Compact or Modular 98%
Choose the Hack 59 for a smaller QMK-capable board, or the RT98 for its repositionable numpad, display, and larger battery.
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4.7 · 18 reviews
from$48at Epomaker
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
4.7 · 23 reviews
from$101at Epomaker
90-day lowLowest price in 90 days
Which one should you get?
Get the
Epomaker Hack 59
Build quality in the top 10% of 60% boards under $50.
- Compact 60% ANSI layout in a 630 g keyboard, with listed dimensions of 28 x 119 x 303 mm.
- Supports both QMK and VIA, plus hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
- Five named sound-dampening layers include Poron sandwich foam, an IXPE switch pad, and a bottom silicone pad.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Compact layout only. No function row, dedicated arrow keys, or numpad.
Get the
Epomaker RT98
Battery
Build quality in the top 30% of 98% boards under $150.
- 98% ANSI layout with a numpad that can be detached and repositioned for southpaw or right-handed use.
- Magnetic Mini TV display can show time, date, status, and custom GIFs, according to Epomaker.
- 8000 mAh battery and tri-mode connectivity.
- South-facing LEDs. Shine-through legends stay dark, and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
- Compact full-size layout. The numpad is present, the gaps of a full-size board are not.
Pick the Hack 59 if you want the smaller, lighter layout and value QMK support alongside VIA. Choose the RT98 if a numpad, adjustable placement, a display, or the larger battery is more useful than minimizing size and weight. Both offer hot-swap switches and gasket mounting, so the layout and added RT98 features should decide the purchase.
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 Hack 59
Epomaker RT98
Layout size
60%
98%
Battery
3,000 mAh
8,000 mAh
A larger battery means fewer cables during the day
Ergonomics
Standard
Southpaw
Switch options
Linear
Linear, Silent
Display
None
Yes
A case display rather than a typing feature
- Epomaker Hack 59
- Epomaker RT98
- Performance
- 6477
- Build quality
- 8172
- Productivity
- 8184
- Customizability
- 8978
- Portability
- 8765
- Connection: Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, Wired
- Hot-swappable
- Case material: ABS
- Mount style: Gasket Mount
- VIA
- Sound dampening
What will you mostly use it for?
The RT98 has the stronger fit for desk-based work where numpad access, a silent switch option, or modular placement matters. The Hack 59 suits users prioritizing a lighter, smaller board and QMK alongside VIA customization. Both can serve gaming setups, with the RT98 adding N-key rollover and a repositionable numpad, while the Hack 59 saves desk space. For travel, the Hack 59 is easier to carry by listed weight and dimensions, though the RT98 has the larger battery.
Pick the Epomaker RT98
- The RT98’s numpad can be detached and repositioned to create more mouse space or a southpaw setup.
- The RT98 lists N-key rollover and 1000 Hz polling over USB and 2.4 GHz.
- The Hack 59 is lighter at 630 g, and it also lists 1000 Hz polling.
What owners say
Ratings and quotes collected from verified store reviews, including the critical ones.
Epomaker Hack 59
18 owner reviews
“This keyboard sounds great and has amazing performance! One of the best ive ever used”
Epomaker RT98
23 owner reviews
“High quality parts, seamless web application for the mini TV, just perfection in the form of a keyboard. Epomaker consistently exceeds my expectations every time.”
Epomaker Hack 59 vs RT98 specs
Every tracked spec, side by side. Rows marked with a dot differ between the boards.
11 of 24 specs differ
Epomaker Hack 59
Epomaker RT98
Switch options
Hot-swappable
Mount style
Sound dampening
Layout size
Layout standard
Ergonomics
Display
Connection
Max polling rate
Battery
USB-C
Case material
Plate material
Keycaps
Weight
Dimensions
Typing angle
Backlight
QMK
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 Hack 59 vs RT98: your questions
The Hack 59 is a compact 60% board with 59 keys, while the RT98 is a 98% layout with a numpad. The RT98’s numpad can be detached and repositioned, and it adds a magnetic Mini TV display.
The RT98 has a numpad that can be detached and repositioned for southpaw or right-handed use. The Hack 59’s 60% layout has no numpad.
The Hack 59 is lighter at 630 g, while the RT98 is listed at 1200 g in the metadata. The Hack 59 is also smaller by the listed dimensions.
Yes. Both support hot-swapping 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches, so switches can be changed without soldering.
The Hack 59 lists support for both QMK and VIA. The RT98 lists VIA support, but QMK is not listed for that model.
The RT98 has an 8000 mAh battery, compared with the Hack 59’s 3000 mAh battery. Epomaker also advertises over 300 hours of continuous typing for the RT98, but that is a vendor claim.
Epomaker says the RT98’s magnetic Mini TV can show custom GIFs as well as time, date, and status information. The Hack 59 has no screen listed.
The RT98 is the more practical choice if you need a numpad or want the Sea Salt Silent V2 linear switch option. The Hack 59 takes less space, but its compact layout has no dedicated arrow keys or numpad.
Both list Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and wired connectivity. The Hack 59 vendor page specifies Bluetooth 5.0, while the RT98 vendor description gives differing Bluetooth version details, so check the product listing for the exact version.
Both list 1000 Hz polling over USB and 2.4 GHz, and 125 Hz over Bluetooth in their vendor specifications. Neither has a listed polling-rate advantage over the other.
Both list south-facing per-key RGB. Their compatibility notes warn that shine-through legends can stay dark and some sculpted keycaps can clip the LED.
The RT98 is described as a compact 98% layout with a numpad, not a conventional full-size board with its usual gaps. Its compatibility note specifically distinguishes its compact full-size layout from a full-size layout.
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