# SwissMicros R47 RPN calculator

11 Hacker News commenters recommended SwissMicros R47 RPN calculator and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a physical RPN calculator with high-end build, screen and instant on/off, and engineering people praise. Critics call it backward-looking and too expensive.

## Why people recommend it

- Physical interface with instant on/off (2 comments): "There are just some user interface advantages for me in having a physical calculator." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45892350)) "the "On/Off" button is instant and goes directly to the point/prompt." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45890335))
- High-end build quality and screen (2 comments): "The build quality and screen both seem to be very high end." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45890316)) "I appreciate the quality of the engineering and design" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45891560))

## What people warn about

- Looks backward rather than forward (1 comments): "It's nice it exists. But it's looking backwards, not forwards." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45889919))
- 250 credits seen as too much (1 comments): "250 credits is quite a bit too much" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45888575))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [HP 15C](https://hackerapproved.com/p/hp-15c-calculator.md): 24 recommend
- [Casio S100X Japanese Lacquer Edition](https://hackerapproved.com/p/casio-s100x-japanese-lacquer-edition.md): 16 recommend
- [Casio calculator](https://hackerapproved.com/p/casio-calculator.md): 14 recommend
- [SwissMicros DM42n](https://hackerapproved.com/p/swissmicros-dm42n.md): 13 recommend
- [HP 42S calculator](https://hackerapproved.com/p/hp-42s-calculator.md): 8 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=SwissMicros+R47+RPN+calculator&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Official site](https://www.swissmicros.com/en)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "SwissMicros R47 RPN calculator", https://hackerapproved.com/p/r47-rpn-calculator/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).