Page 4 - Conclusion
For some users, the adoption of a smaller keyboard will necessitate the inclusion of a separate number pad, and the Epomaker Cypher 21 hopes to be the solution. From the top, the Cypher 21 is built well with a solid exterior and good materials. Its all-black, glossy plastic shell is clean and polished. It may not hide handling marks, but there is something likeable for its mix of a retro and classy design. The addition of the LCD screen on top and the volume knob to the side are well integrated into the overall product, along with the vibe-matching PBT keycaps. I appreciate this number pad can function as a calculator, which is handy for simple calculations. Other solid choices include the Epomaker Wisteria Linear switches and Bluetooth connectivity. On the other hand, there are several things that I would have wanted improved. For one, the wired cable is short and cheap feeling. The single key zero might also require some getting used to. The piercing beeping noise gets annoying after a short stint, which fortunately can be disabled, but comes back on after a restart by default. The white LED backlighting, while an appreciated feature, only breathes and its effect cannot be changed. In calculator mode, you can easily make the calculator error out, as it does not manage negatives or boundaries properly. Finally, the inconsistent stabilizer keys are worth noting, especially as it takes away from the typing experience. At the time of the review, the Epomaker Cypher 21 is available for $40. Epomaker has a good opportunity to capture a niche market for its mechanical number pad, but there are just too many misses to be worthwhile.
Epomaker provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
6/10 means A product with its advantages, but drawbacks should not be ignored before purchasing.
5/10 means An average product with no real advantages; drawbacks and advantages just seem to cancel each other out.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 5.5/10
Please note that the APH Networks Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other publications.
The Epomaker Cypher 21 is a unique mechanical number pad that features a built-in calculator, but has multiple key areas of improvement.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware
3. A Closer Look - Disassembly and Internals
4. Conclusion
