The perfect ergonomic keyboards for 2024

Ergonomic options: Alice break up, middle tenting, non-compulsory unfavourable tilt, wrist relaxation | Host connection: Bluetooth or USB receiver | Swap sort: Scissor | Hotkey compatibility: Mac and Home windows | Ten key: Sure | RGB lighting: No | Programing interface: Logi Choices+ (app) | Language/Structure: QWERTY

The Ergo K860 from Logitech intently resembles a typical, full-size keyboard, so there’s not a lot of a studying curve. However delicate modifications just like the Alice format, tented center and non-compulsory unfavourable tilt make typing noticeably extra ergonomic. Logitech makes a few of our favourite PC equipment, and the explanation why are all evident with this keyboard: it connects rapidly and reliably through Bluetooth, the construct is strong and feels high-quality and it is moderately priced at $130 (and is usually on sale for round $100).

It’s appropriate with more moderen iterations of Home windows, MacOS, iPadOS, ChromeOS and Linux, although you’ll want software program to help non-basic key capabilities for the latter two working techniques. There are three switching buttons that swap between beforehand related gadgets, and the board speedily swapped between a MacBook and a PC laptop computer in my exams. Constructed-in perform keys like quantity and brightness labored properly and the Choice/Begin and Command/Alt combo keys labored appropriately relying on which pc was related to.

The rotated Alice-split design and raised middle made a distinction in the way in which I held my arms as I typed, permitting me to maintain my elbows comfortably away from my ribs and my palms rotated inward as an alternative of forcing them flat. The palm relaxation is springy however agency (albeit not detachable) and the arrow keys and a numeric keypad on the fitting aspect put all attainable keys inside attain. Sadly, that provides size to that aspect of the board, which forces your mouse farther out. The scissor swap keys can really feel mushy in the event you’re coming from a mechanical board, however they’re responsive sufficient. Logitech presents software for programming the keys, however this mannequin will probably attraction most to these in search of a plug and play choice.

For a mechanical Alice keyboard with each wi-fi and wired capabilities, I like to recommend the Periboard 835. The Mac and Home windows-compatible board has a strong construct, low profile switches, RGB lighting, snug tenting and some further programmable keys.

Ergonomic options: Totally break up | Host connection: USB-C port | Swap sort: Mechanical (tactile or linear) | Hotkey compatibility: Mac and Home windows | Ten key: No | RGB lighting: Sure | Programing interface: QMK/VIA (browser) | Language/Structure: QWERTY

In case you (expertly) sawed a mechanical keyboard in two, it will appear to be the Keychron Q11. You may even push the 2 halves again collectively to make it appear to be a typical, 75 % mechanical board (although when you uncover the expediency of a snack bowl between the halves, I don’t know why you’d do this).

Keychron is extensively revered within the mechanical keyboard world as a result of they make keyboards with a powerful construct high quality that aren’t astronomically costly. Like all Keychron gadgets, you should buy this one assembled or barebones, to which you’ll be able to add your individual keycaps and switches. I examined a totally assembled mannequin with Gateron G Professional Crimson linear mechanical switches, which offer smoother motion and a quieter clack than tactile or clicky switches. The keycaps are comprised of PBT, a higher-quality polymer than the ABS plastic keys present in cheaper keyboards. The machined aluminum physique feels substantial and there’s no wobble. All of that mixed creates a luxe and sturdy really feel and a satisfying, buttery clack as you sort.

The assembled model comes with keycaps (and a keycap puller) to arrange the board for both Mac or Home windows. A swap on the prime of the board toggles between the 2 working techniques, making certain the perform keys act appropriately. Further keys embrace the 2 customizable knobs on the prime corners and 5 macro keys to the left of the board. These and the remainder of the board may be programmed with open supply keyboard firmware QMK and VIA, which most Keychron boards are appropriate with out of the field.

I’ve very fundamental keyboard wants so I used VIA to offer the fitting knob zoom capabilities, make the M1 key open a clipboard supervisor and have the M2 key execute a screenshot. Programming with VIA requires the usage of keycodes and also you’ll have to outline macros throughout the app to get the knob to do extra superior issues past the pre-selected choices, however the implementation of your new directions is instantaneous (and fairly satisfying).

The one drawbacks are the shortage of tenting and the fairly quick USB-C bridge cable connecting the 2 sides. I discovered I needed a bit extra separation than 9 inches, so I swapped it for an extended twine. However there’s no straightforward repair for the shortage of middle carry.

Ergonomic options: Alice break up, middle tenting, non-compulsory unfavourable tilt, wrist relaxation | Host connection: Bluetooth or USB receiver | Swap sort: Membrane | Hotkey compatibility: Home windows | Ten key: No | RGB lighting: No | Programing interface: Kensington Konnect | Language/format: QWERTY

The compact Kensington Pro Fit Ergo sells for $70 at full value, however is usually on sale for round $55. That makes it a very good price range board, nevertheless it feels far more premium than the worth tag suggests. The membrane keys are surprisingly springy and the low profile keycaps make typing straightforward. The wrist relaxation, particularly when mixed with the unfavourable tilt, hits my palms at simply the fitting spot, not placing strain on my tendons whereas retaining the backs of my wrists straight. After all, completely different hand sizes can have completely different experiences, however my males’s medium/girls’s giant mitts have been snug.

It related simply through Bluetooth or radio dongle to each the Mac and PC I attempted, staying reliably related and woke rapidly from sleep. And the LED indicator for the rechargeable battery stayed inexperienced (full) over the month or so of testing by which I used it and saved it intermittently. Recharging is straightforward through the USB port. Whereas it’s easy to modify to a Mac or Home windows format, the keyboard works higher as a PC peripheral.

Kensington’s software program means that you can reprogram the perform keys and some specialty keys with shortcuts or macros however I couldn’t get the software program to work with my Mac. It carried out high quality with my PC laptop computer, however this most likely is not the keyboard to get if you need minute, personalized key remapping anyway. In case you simply need a comparatively cheap keyboard that’s much more snug to sort on than most, this can be a good one to seize.

Ergonomic options: Totally break up, middle tenting, thumb cluster | Host connection: USB-C port | Swap sort: Mechanical (tactile, clicky, linear) | Hotkey compatibility: Mac and Home windows | Ten key: No | RGB lighting: Sure | Programing interface: Oryx (browser) | Language/Structure: QWERTY (programmable)

A rep I spoke with at ZSA warned me concerning the Voyager, saying the board has an impact “like a mind damage: A second in the past you knew methods to sort, and now you do not.” That’s precisely how I felt after plugging within the impossibly compact accent. For one, the columnar format places keys (notably these on the underside row) in spots you don’t intuitively attain for. Then there’s a thumb cluster the place you’ll discover not simply the house bar, however different essential keys like return. Lastly, the board makes use of layers, giving every key as much as three capabilities.

I truly needed to interrupt testing at one level and plug in one other keyboard as a result of I simply felt too sluggish and disconnected like I used to be typing with oven mitts on. Nonetheless, now that I’ve the cling of how the Voyager works, it feels magical. Not often do my palms want to depart the house place, but each key I would like regularly is well accessible.

Because you don’t have to reorient your fingers while you use arrow keys, hit the mute button or sort with the quantity pad, you’re at all times in the identical place, which may prevent some severe accrued time. Your thumbs, that are pretty dexterous, are able to doing extra than simply mashing the spacebar; right here, they function the return key, tab button and may even initialize layers. The absolutely break up and additional compact design allow you to place the 2 boards wherever they really feel snug and the non-compulsory magnetic legs give it a delicate however efficient middle tenting.

The place some keyboards provide remapping capabilities as a nice-to-have characteristic, nearly all of individuals will probably wish to use both the browser-based Oryx configurator or Zsa’s Keymapp app to modify up what these keys do. It took me a number of tries to get them set in a approach that labored for me, so I bought fairly conversant in Oryx. It doesn’t require you to lookup keycodes, as an alternative providing you with an unlimited library of searchable instructions. However modifications aren’t carried out robotically — you must flash the keyboard’s firmware by pushing a button on the prime fringe of the machine to make the modifications.

Sure system-specific capabilities, just like the Mission Management key on a Mac, have to be programmed utilizing key sequences (on this case, management + down arrow). And sometimes the board will mistake a single faucet for a faucet and maintain (which regularly permits a second perform). I additionally flashed the board as soon as and misplaced all use of the fitting aspect, however reflashing fastened it.

The Voyager just isn’t for somebody in search of a fast adjustment to enhance their ergonomics. It’ll take weeks of follow and reprogramming (each the board and your mind) earlier than typing feels fluid once more. I like to recommend retaining a screenshot of your newest Oryx-configured format in your desktop for reference till you bear in mind which keys do what. That stated, as soon as issues begin clicking, the Voyager actually does maximize your output whereas minimizing your actions.

If you’d like one thing absolutely break up with thumb clusters and a columnar format however that’s rather less minimal — and wi-fi as well — the Advantage 360 from Kinesis, makers of the popular Advantage 2 is an effective one to take a look at. It seems to be prefer it comes from an ‘80s-era IBM workplace however is by some means additionally from the longer term. The tenting goes from low to intense and the keys curve concavely to satisfy your fingers the place they naturally land. The 360 is per-key programmable, works with layers and has 4 macros keys.

Ergonomic options: Totally break up, columnar keys, thumb cluster, wrist relaxation, non-compulsory tenting and unfavourable tilt (extra price) | Host connection: Wired or Bluetooth and USB receiver (wi-fi prices further) | Swap sort: Mechanical (tactile, linear or clicky) | Hotkey compatibility: Mac, Home windows, Linux, iOS & Android | Ten key: Programmable | RGB lighting: Sure | Programing interface: Bazecor | Language/format: QWERTY (however programmable to any format)

Just like the Zsa Voyager, The Dygma Defy is one other absolutely break up, columnar board with thumb clusters and keys and layers which are per-key programmable. It has a bit extra happening than the Voyager, with full sized keycaps, built-in wrist rests and twenty extra keys, together with eight keys in every thumb cluster. The programming software program, Bazecor, is tremendous easy to determine, making it straightforward to program shortcuts, macros and layers (once more, sticking a screenshot of your keys format in your desktop will assist as you be taught what you’ve programmed every key to do). The keys are a delight to sort on with springy and responsive mechanical switches. As a complete, the Defy feels properly designed and the (removable) wrist rests have a just-right consistency.

Optionally, you may add an LED underglow, tenting mechanisms and wi-fi capabilities (Bluetooth and RF) however every add-on will increase the worth by $70, $80 and $90, respectively. That introduced the absolutely kitted-out model I examined to $609. With out these, it’ll run you $369. That’s very shut in value to the Voyager, which doesn’t have an underglow or wi-fi capabilities. The Voyager does embrace tenting knobs, however the carry is minimal at a couple of half an inch. At its most setting, the Defy’s tenting brings the halves practically vertical.

The Defy is a well-made, deluxe board, particularly with the add-ons. It’s most likely finest for many who want a maximalist working setup and wish a lot of further choices for programmable keys. I discovered myself at a loss for what to do with all of the keys and had a tricky time retaining all of them straight. Plus my cluttered desk felt prefer it was sacrificing a bit an excessive amount of room to accommodate the 2 sizable halves. For me, the Voyager strikes a greater stability between providing further keys and taking on minimal desk actual property.

Ergonomic options: Totally break up, middle tenting, detachable wrist relaxation | Host connection: USB-A cable | Swap sort: Mechanical (tactile, clicky, linear) | Hotkey compatibility: Mac and Home windows | Ten key: No | RGB lighting: Sure | Programing interface: SmartSet (app) | Language/Structure: QWERTY

As I stated in our guide to ergonomic mice, my sporadic, console-only gaming doesn’t make me a gamer. However I’ve an honest understanding of what avid gamers would possibly like. PC avid gamers who depend on the WASD keys could recognize not having to deal with the fitting aspect of a keyboard in any respect, and as an alternative use that house for his or her mouse. The Freestyle Edge from Kinesis is a gaming variation on the model’s unique Freestyle 2 is a totally break up mannequin with Cherry MX mechanical switches. The tactile Brown ones in my tester unit had a satisfying click on and a not overly loud clacky noise. The wrist rests are detachable and intelligent folding legs offer you three top choices for tenting and may also be eliminated utterly.

It’s backlit, with per-key RGB lights and 9 macros buttons that may be programmed with the configuration app or with out it utilizing keyboard instructions. All of this may increasingly attraction in the event you’re in search of a programmable gaming keyboard with a number of ergonomic methods. Simply take into account that all of these options add as much as a considerably cumbersome peripheral.