Spending hours at a pc could be tough in your physique. In case your wrists, shoulders, neck or different areas have began complaining, you would possibly need to get an ergonomic keyboard. The ergonomic design shifts the place of your arms and wrists, which, for some, can relieve pressure and pressure. After utilizing a completely cut up keyboard for a lot of months, I really feel an enchancment in my shoulder pressure. However cut up boards include a studying curve. Semi-split, or Alice boards, are simpler to get used to whereas nonetheless opening up house between your elbows. Different components, like tenting and a destructive tilt may tackle discomfort. Since there’s no single finest ergonomic keyboard for everybody, this information will enable you determine which sort of board would possibly fit your wants.
What to search for in an ergonomic keyboard
Alice vs cut up
Most ergonomic keyboard layouts fall into two classes: Alice and cut up. The previous is a single board with the 2 halves of the keys rotated about 30 levels aside on the backside. The separation varieties an A-shaped house between the keys — which has nothing to do with why it’s referred to as an Alice format, it’s only a completely happy coincidence. This delicate tweak pushes your elbows away out of your ribs whereas conserving a straight line out of your forearm to your center knuckle. Utilizing one, I fairly immediately felt extra open alongside the entrance facet of my physique. This format extra carefully resembles a standard keyboard, so it must be simpler for most folk to get used to than a completely cut up possibility.
Talking of, cut up boards break the keys into two separate components you’ll be able to place individually. You possibly can put them shoulder distance aside, carry them nearer collectively or angle them as a lot as feels comfy. You may also put your mouse between the halves, which can really feel like a neater journey to your cursor hand. Personally, I like having the ability to put my present snack between the 2 components. I’ve additionally discovered that pairing a cut up keyboard with a good ergonomic mouse has helped me much more.
Tenkeyless
You will discover ergonomic keyboards with and with out quantity pads. Not having these quantity keys on the precise facet allows you to preserve your mouse nearer in, minimizing total attain. However for those who work with numbers loads, you’ll seemingly need that pad included. Some programmable boards enable for using layers, which briefly repurpose keys and might give you a ten-key possibility by means of intelligent remapping of letter keys.
Tenting and destructive tilt
Tenting raises the center of the keyboard up, so your palms transfer nearer to a “handshake” place. Alice keyboards often angle up in direction of the center and all the time to a hard and fast diploma, for the reason that two sides are linked. Cut up boards typically allow you to alter the diploma of tenting, going from flat to delicate to excessive carry.
You will have encountered keyboards with an non-compulsory carry behind the board, elevating the highest keys greater than the house bar. Each set of palms is totally different, however for most individuals, pulling the backs of the palms in direction of the forearms will increase pressure. Unfavorable tilt has the alternative impact by sloping within the different course, reducing the highest quantity keys whereas elevating the sting with the spacebar. Many Alice and a few cut up keyboards supply an non-compulsory destructive tilt. I discovered it was extra comfy to allow that function after I’m standing, and I most popular to have the keys flat when sat at my desk.
Staggered vs columnar
This resolution appears to be one of many extra hotly-contested amongst ergo lovers. A standard keyboard has staggered keys, with every row barely offset to the rows above and under it — so the A secret is about midway between the Q and W above it. It is a holdover from classic mechanical typewriters, by which every press activated a hammer that smashed ink onto paper within the form of a letter. To suit the hammers as shut collectively as doable, whereas nonetheless permitting for finger pads, the keys have been staggered.
Columnar or ortholinear keyboards stack the keys in orderly columns, typically with rows that aren’t linear. Proponents declare this makes the keys simpler to succeed in. Whether or not that’s true can be as much as your fingers to determine, however I can say for sure that for those who discovered to sort on a staggered keyboard, switching to a columnar format is hard. It’s going to take days, presumably weeks earlier than you instinctively hit the C key. The N, M and B keys don’t fare significantly better.
Programmable keys
With a number of exceptions, most ergonomic keyboards will work with PCs or Macs as a normal typing enter, however using operate and sizzling keys might require some remapping. It may be as straightforward as an onboard swap to toggle between Mac and PC layouts, or as concerned as downloading software program to vary up the keys. Some boards even embody (or allow you to purchase) additional keycaps to vary, say, the Mac’s Command and Possibility keys to PC’s Begin and Alt buttons.
For some boards, remapping or programming keys is an important function. Gaming peripherals have additional keys that you may set to execute a sequence of keystrokes with the push of a single button. Keyboards that work with layers, by which a single button can carry out a number of capabilities, sometimes mean you can change what these are. Some ergo keyboards have non-standard layouts, like thumb clusters with a number of keys close to the house bar that you just function along with your thumb. You’ll additionally be capable of program these.
Different issues
Ergonomic keyboards are available mechanical, membrane, and scissor swap variations. Which works finest for you is, once more, as much as your choice. I received’t get too deep into the particulars right here, as we’ve got a complete information devoted to mechanical boards, however the in need of it’s that membrane and scissor switches are much less customizable than mechanical and sometimes cheaper. Typing on them tends to be quieter and softer. Mechanical switches are extra customizable, supply a extra responsive typing expertise and are often pricier.
You’ll even have the choice of wired or wi-fi ergonomic boards. All different issues being equal, wired fashions are cheaper. Aggressive avid gamers who depend on split-second responses might choose the zero-lag of wired keyboards. Wired fashions additionally by no means run out of battery life and have fewer connectivity points. However wi-fi keyboards preserve your desk much less cluttered.
Some ergonomic keyboards include everlasting or detachable wrist or palm rests, which could be cushioned or exhausting. That is one other space the place opinions diverge: proponents declare they enable you keep a impartial hand place, whereas detractors say they put strain on the tendons in your wrist and might exacerbate situations like carpal tunnel. Ideally, your palms must be resting, not your wrists, and also you would possibly discover you want having that assist or chances are you’ll discover the strain uncomfortable.
How we examined
All our guides start with intensive analysis to determine what’s on the market and what’s value testing. We think about manufacturers with good reputations that we’ve heard good issues about from colleagues and have a look at keyboard critiques in boards and different trusted publications. For this information, I appeared for keyboards with ergonomic options like tenting, cut up keys, palm assist and so forth. I additionally zeroed in on boards that didn’t require a deep quantity of familiarity with the huge and exhaustive world of customized keyboards.
As soon as I settled on ten boards, I acquired them and used each for wherever from a number of days to some weeks. I attempted out the remapping and macros software program and thought of the consolation, design, value and sturdiness of every mannequin earlier than arriving at picks I believe will work finest for the most individuals on the market.
Finest ergonomic keyboards for 2024
Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Alice cut up, heart tenting, non-compulsory destructive 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)
The Ergo K860 from Logitech carefully resembles a normal keyboard, so there’s not a lot of a studying curve. However delicate adjustments just like the Alice format, tented center and non-compulsory destructive tilt make typing noticeably extra ergonomic. Logitech makes a few of our favourite PC equipment, and the the explanation why are all evident with this keyboard: it connects shortly and reliably through Bluetooth, the construct is stable and feels high-quality and it is fairly priced at $130 (and is usually on sale for round $100).
It’s suitable with newer iterations of Home windows, MacOS, iPadOS, ChromeOS and Linux, although you’ll want software program to assist non-basic key capabilities for the latter two working methods. There are three switching buttons that swap between beforehand linked units, and the board speedily swapped between a MacBook and a PC laptop computer in my assessments. Constructed-in operate keys like quantity and brightness labored properly and the Possibility/Begin and Command/Alt combo keys labored appropriately relying on which pc was linked to.
The rotated Alice-split design and raised heart 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 a substitute of forcing them flat. The palm relaxation is springy however agency (albeit not detachable) and the arrow keys and a numeric keypad on the precise facet put all doable keys inside attain. Sadly, that provides size to that facet of the board, which forces your mouse farther out. The scissor swap keys can really feel mushy for those who’re coming from a mechanical board, however they’re responsive sufficient. Logitech affords software for programming the keys, however this mannequin will seemingly attraction most to these in search of a plug and play possibility.
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 stable construct, low profile switches, RGB lighting, comfy tenting and some additional programmable keys.
- Rotated keys and palm wrest make typing comfy
- Wirelessly connects shortly to 3 devides
- Hotkeys work with MacOS and Home windows
- Takes up a big footprint
- Wrist wrest isn’t detachable
Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Totally cut 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)
In case you (expertly) sawed a mechanical keyboard in two, it could appear to be the Keychron Q11. You possibly can even push the 2 halves again collectively to make it appear to be a normal, 75 p.c 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 high quality keyboards that aren’t astronomically costly. Like all Keychron units, you should purchase this one assembled or barebones, to which you’ll add your individual keycaps and switches. I examined a completely assembled mannequin with Gateron G Professional Pink linear mechanical switches, which give smoother motion and a quieter clack than tactile or clicky switches. The keycaps are constructed from 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 methods, guaranteeing the operate keys act appropriately. Additional keys embody 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 could be programmed with open supply keyboard firmware QMK and VIA, which most Keychron boards are suitable with out of the field.
I’ve very primary keyboard wants so I used VIA to present the precise knob zoom capabilities, make the M1 key open a clipboard supervisor and have the M2 key execute a screenshot. Programming with VIA requires using keycodes and also you’ll must 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 dearth of tenting and the reasonably brief USB-C bridge cable connecting the 2 sides. I discovered I wished slightly extra separation than 9 inches, so I swapped it for an extended wire. However there’s no straightforward repair for the dearth of heart carry.
- Top quality construct
- Clean and buttery mechanical keys
- Totally cut up keys preserve your palms at a snug distance aside
- Simply toggle between Mac and Home windows methods
- No heart tenting
- Brief bridge cable included
Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Alice cut up, heart tenting, wrist relaxation | Host connection: USB-A cable | Swap sort: Membrane | Hotkey compatibility: Home windows | Ten key: Sure | RGB lighting: No | Programing interface: N/A
Perixx makes a lot of ergonomic keyboards and the Periboard 512 affords primary options at a low value. The usual keys will work with a Mac, however the included media keys and performance keys are programmed for Home windows machines. It labored properly on the PC I examined it with, leaping to the search bar, opening the built-in Mail app and muting the sound after I hit the respective keys. The membrane keys are sturdy with out wobble and the Alice cut up and tenting put your palms in a snug place. The inflexible wrist relaxation angles down, which makes it simpler to relaxation your palms and never your wrists.
At simply $70, the 512 isn’t probably the most premium board and you may really feel that within the light-weight design and cheaper-feeling keycaps. However for those who’re simply in search of a primary Home windows interface with ergonomic options that’ll take a number of the pressure off your work posture, that is a cheap approach to go.
- Cheap
- Alice cut up makes typing extra comfy
- Useful sizzling keys
- Construct doesn’t really feel premium
- Hotkeys solely suitable with Home windows
Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Totally cut up, heart 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)
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 learn how 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 necessary keys like return. Lastly, the board makes use of layers, giving every key as much as three capabilities.
I really 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. Nevertheless, now that I’ve the dangle of how the Voyager works, it feels magical. Hardly ever do my palms want to go away the house place, but each key I would like frequently is definitely accessible.
Because you don’t must reorient your fingers if you use arrow keys, hit the mute button or sort with the quantity pad, you’re all the time in the identical place, which may prevent some critical amassed 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 might even initialize layers. The absolutely cut up and additional compact design allow you to place the 2 boards wherever they really feel comfy and the non-compulsory magnetic legs give it a delicate however efficient heart tenting.
The place some keyboards supply remapping capabilities as a nice-to-have function, nearly all of folks will seemingly need to use both the browser-based Oryx configurator or Zsa’s Keymapp app to change up what these keys do. It took me a number of tries to get them set in a manner that labored for me, so I bought fairly accustomed to Oryx. It doesn’t require you to lookup keycodes, as a substitute supplying you with an enormous library of searchable instructions. However adjustments aren’t applied robotically — it’s a must to flash the keyboard’s firmware by pushing a button on the prime fringe of the gadget to make the adjustments.
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 frequently allows a second operate). I additionally flashed the board as soon as and misplaced all use of the precise facet, however reflashing fastened it.
The Voyager isn’t for somebody in search of a fast adjustment to enhance their ergonomics. It’ll take weeks of observe and reprogramming (each the board and your mind) earlier than typing feels fluid once more. I like to recommend conserving a screenshot of your newest Oryx-configured format in your desktop for reference till you bear in mind which keys do what. That mentioned, as soon as issues begin clicking, the Voyager actually does maximize your output whereas minimizing your actions.
If you would like one thing absolutely cut up with thumb clusters and a columnar format however that’s rather less minimal — and wi-fi besides — the Kinesis Advantage 360 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 fulfill your fingers the place they naturally land. The 360 is per-key programmable, works with layers and has 4 macros keys.
- Totally cut up board
- Heart tenting for a pure hand place
- Thumb cluster lets your thumb do extra work
- Compact measurement and intelligent key mapping preserve your palms within the house place
- Tough to relearn ortholinear format
- Takes time to program and study the precise key capabilities
Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Totally cut up, heart 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)
As I mentioned 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 might recognize not having to cope with the precise facet of a keyboard in any respect, and as a substitute use that house for his or her mouse. The Freestyle Edge from Kinesis is a completely cut 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 provide you with three top choices for tenting and can be eliminated utterly.
It has 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 for those who’re in search of a programmable gaming keyboard with a number of ergonomic methods. Simply needless to say all of these options add as much as a considerably cumbersome peripheral.
- Totally cut up means you’ll be able to simply use the left half
- Excessive diploma of non-compulsory tenting
- Further programmable shortcut keys
- Considerably cumbersome
- Constructed-in cables usually are not customizable
Trending Merchandise
