Desk & home office · calculator
SwissMicros R47 RPN calculator
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.
Summarized from 12 comments.
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.
- recommend
- 11
- criticize
- 1
- months recommended
- 2 of 13
Why people love it
Physical interface with instant on/off · 2
There are just some user interface advantages for me in having a physical calculator.
Nov 2025 · commentthe "On/Off" button is instant and goes directly to the point/prompt.
Nov 2025 · commentHigh-end build quality and screen · 2
The build quality and screen both seem to be very high end.
Nov 2025 · commentI appreciate the quality of the engineering and design
Nov 2025 · comment
What people warn about
Looks backward rather than forward · 1
It's nice it exists. But it's looking backwards, not forwards.
Nov 2025 · comment250 credits seen as too much · 1
250 credits is quite a bit too much
Nov 2025 · comment
What hackers pick instead
- HP 15COwners praise its tactile keys, battery life and durability, with a median of 41 years of use. Critics say the reissues don't match the original's keys, display or labeling.24recommend
- Casio S100X Japanese Lacquer EditionPeople recommend it for its handcrafted lacquer look and premium feel as a keepsake, though critics say it is an average calculator for the price.16recommend
- Casio calculatorPeople recommend Casio calculators for being cheap, durable and simple enough for school exams and everyday math. Critics say the functions are limited and cannot store formulas or programs.14recommend
- SwissMicros DM42nPeople recommend it as a stack-based RPN calculator that feels good to use and is built to last. The most common caveat is small keys.13recommend
- HP 42S calculatorOwners recommend the HP 42S for its satisfying tactile buttons and long life, with many reporting decades of reliable use. Battery replacement is the common caveat.8recommend
Every quote
The 10 most detailed of 12 comments. Each links to the original.
There are just some user interface advantages for me in having a physical calculator.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “The R47: A new physical RPN calculator”
the "On/Off" button is instant and goes directly to the point/prompt.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “The R47: A new physical RPN calculator”
It's nice it exists. But it's looking backwards, not forwards.
Mixed · Nov 2025 · in “The R47: A new physical RPN calculator”
The build quality and screen both seem to be very high end.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “The R47: A new physical RPN calculator”
I appreciate the quality of the engineering and design
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “The R47: A new physical RPN calculator”
250 credits is quite a bit too much
Mixed · Nov 2025 · in “The R47: A new physical RPN calculator”
both the R47 and DB48x calculators are available as apps on the iOS App Store
Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “C47/R47 Calculators”
excited that there is a new RPN machine commercially available
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “The R47: A new physical RPN calculator”
This is cool technology, though.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “The R47: A new physical RPN calculator”
A phone running iPython/Python seems much better to me
Criticizes · Nov 2025 · in “The R47: A new physical RPN calculator”
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