Epomaker RT98 keyboard adds movable numpad for left-handed users
The RT98 lets the numpad slide left or right, so left-handed users gain a southpaw layout and right-handed users can clear mouse space without giving up keys.
Epomaker’s RT98 turned a familiar full-size keyboard compromise into a movable part: the numeric keypad detached and shifted to either side, giving left-handed users a built-in southpaw layout and right-handed users more room for a mouse. The 98% mechanical board paired that modular layout with a retro finish, a magnetic 1.14-inch smart display, and VIA support, pushing it beyond the usual enthusiast gimmick and into something aimed at daily work.
The key design choice was not just keeping a numpad, but freeing it from the fixed right edge that has defined standard keyboards for years. Cornell University’s ergonomics guidance notes that a standard keyboard’s asymmetrical layout can leave the body in a less neutral position because the numpad sits on the right. The University of New Hampshire says a separate number pad can also shorten reach when the mouse stays on the right side. On the RT98, that logic became physical: the pad could move left or right, letting the keyboard adapt to spreadsheet work, data entry, or desk setups where mouse travel matters.
Epomaker launched the RT98 on Kickstarter on March 25, 2026, with a super-early-bird price of $89 and a retail price of $119. The company’s own store also listed the board at $119 and said Kickstarter backers’ orders would ship first. In April 2026, Epomaker added software resources for the board, including a VIA JSON file and an Image Tool for customizing the display.
Beyond the detachable numpad, Epomaker described the RT98 as a tri-mode keyboard that could pair with up to four devices and work across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It also carried an 8000mAh battery, a detail that puts it in the category of wireless boards meant to stay on a desk for long stretches without constant charging. The company framed the board as a 98% layout, which keeps the number pad while trimming some of the bulk that usually comes with a full-size board.
That balance is what gives the RT98 its strongest case. Number-pad loyalists keep their keys. People who dislike sprawling layouts can reclaim desk space. And users who switch between left- and right-side mouse positions get a board that can follow the workflow instead of forcing it.
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