Wireless or wired depending on the controller used. Both QMK and ZMK firmwares available.
Value priced at $25!
Cons:
No case, not even a plate it seems like? There is a DXF to get your own made.
OLED is supported but not included, guess that’s part of the value pricing.
No real build guide I see, but I’ve built enough stuff just not with an OLED before.
This one looks like it meets almost every feature but I’m a little hesitant for the lack of a build guide to deal with the OLED support. I think it might be intended to use a more traditional thin OLED strip than the big guy on the DuckyPad. Still, the price is fantastic.
Very configurable, there are a variety of supported layouts where you even replace huge chunks of the switch area with LED matrices!
Supports many kind of displays, even old-school segmented displays. Could be fun to play with!
Has at least plates for a case of sorts
Not super expensive, only $40 to start.
Cons
Not in-stock right now
Not a real case available that I can see
Infinite configurability means I’m unlikely to use this for productivity and instead just to do silly things with the build which is fun but not going to solve the problems I want to solve
No QMK audio speaker support unless I use a Proton and try to wedge in a speaker that might not fit. I might just be able to leave out the switch just below the the controller.
The Knob Goblin checks some of those boxes: QMK, OLED with protection if you buy the additional case, great name (that was one, right?). It is “hotswap” by means of milmax that you have to solder (which is more challenging than switches so bonus). The R2 GB just ran so nothing is in stock but the turnaround times are fast (6 - 8 weeks), and R3 is planned after the delivery of R2 – not sure if they ordered extras for this round.
My personal favorite pad is the NoodlePad by Mad Noodle Prototypes. It’s a good size, offers useful, out-of-the-box functionality, and is customizable.
If you’re feeling particularly brave, and want Macropad that as much an electronics project as it is a functional tool, there’s this from “There Oughta Be…”
I’ve got some PCBs made for this and I plan to assemble one, hopefully soon.
Tindie has a diverse range of macro pads you can get. I can’t speak to the quality or the capabilities, but there’s sure a lot of creativity.
There was this interest check from a little while ago. That checks most of the boxes for what I’m looking for, but I’m really looking for numpads rather than macropads.
It looks like it’s a functioning can opener as well, lol. Not going to lie, at first glance, I thought that the sun on the deskmat was part of the pad.
The Emugotchi falls in the extreme novelty end of the spectrum. It’s a Japan-only macropad in the shape of a Tamagotchi that uses a microcontroller with a screen, Bluetooth, and more that I hadn’t heard of before. I was able to order one through Yushakobo:
Will report back when the Emugotchi arrives and I build it.
OK the Emugotchi is the most amazing Macropad I’ve ever built. Here’s a twitter thread I made on it: https://twitter.com/MrNukeMonster/status/1523586339387502592
with the tl;dr I didn’t expect that the Emugotchi is also a trackpad! The video is in the thread.
but I like the 70s brown beige one 