Spending hours at a pc will be tough in your physique. In case your wrists, shoulders, neck or different areas have began complaining, you would possibly wish 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 quite 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 damaging tilt may also tackle discomfort. Since there’s no single finest ergonomic keyboard for everybody, this information will allow you to resolve 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 kinds 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 glad coincidence. This delicate tweak pushes your elbows away out of your ribs whereas maintaining a straight line out of your forearm to your center knuckle. Utilizing one, I fairly immediately felt extra open alongside the entrance aspect of my physique. This format extra intently resembles a standard keyboard, so it ought to 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 elements you’ll be able to place individually. You possibly can put them shoulder distance aside, convey them nearer collectively or angle them as a lot as feels snug. You may as well put your mouse between the halves, which can really feel like a neater journey in your cursor hand. Personally, I like having the ability to put my present snack between the 2 elements. I’ve additionally discovered that pairing a cut up keyboard with a good ergonomic mouse has helped me much more.
Tenkeyless
You’ll find ergonomic keyboards with and with out quantity pads. Not having these quantity keys on the proper aspect allows you to hold your mouse nearer in, minimizing total attain. However in case you work with numbers so much, you’ll doubtless need that pad included. Some programmable boards permit for the usage of layers, which quickly repurpose keys and might give you a ten-key possibility by way of intelligent remapping of letter keys.
Tenting and damaging tilt
Tenting raises the center of the keyboard up, so your fingers transfer nearer to a “handshake” place. Alice keyboards often angle up in the direction of the center and at all times to a set diploma, for the reason that two sides are related. Break up boards typically allow you to regulate the diploma of tenting, going from flat to delicate to excessive elevate.
You could have encountered keyboards with an elective elevate in the back of the board, elevating the highest keys increased than the house bar. Each set of fingers is totally different, however for most individuals, pulling the backs of the fingers in the direction of the forearms will increase pressure. Unfavorable tilt has the other impact by sloping within the different route, decreasing the highest quantity keys whereas elevating the sting with the spacebar. Many Alice and a few cut up keyboards supply an elective damaging tilt. I discovered it was extra snug to allow that characteristic once I’m standing, and I most well-liked 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 fans. 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 attainable, whereas nonetheless permitting for finger pads, the keys had 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 achieve. Whether or not that’s true can be as much as your fingers to resolve, however I can say for sure that in case you realized to kind on a staggered keyboard, switching to a columnar format is hard. It can take days, probably weeks earlier than you instinctively hit the C key. The N, M and B keys don’t fare a lot better.
Programmable keys
With a number of exceptions, most ergonomic keyboards will work with PCs or Macs as an ordinary typing enter, however the usage of operate and sizzling keys might require some remapping. It may be as simple as an onboard swap to toggle between Mac and PC layouts, or as concerned as downloading software program to alter up the keys. Some boards even embody (or allow you to purchase) additional keycaps to alter, say, the Mac’s Command and Possibility keys to PC’s Begin and Alt buttons.
For some boards, remapping or programming keys is a vital characteristic. Gaming peripherals have additional keys you could 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 assist you to 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 to program these.
Different concerns
Ergonomic keyboards are available in mechanical, membrane, and scissor swap variations. Which works finest for you is, once more, as much as your desire. I gained’t get too deep into the particulars right here, as we now have a complete information devoted to mechanical boards, however the wanting 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 inexpensive. Aggressive players who depend on split-second responses might favor 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 hold your desk much less cluttered.
Some ergonomic keyboards include everlasting or detachable wrist or palm rests, which will be cushioned or exhausting. That is one other space the place opinions diverge: proponents declare they allow you to preserve a impartial hand place, whereas detractors say they put stress on the tendons in your wrist and might exacerbate circumstances like carpal tunnel. Ideally, your palms ought to be resting, not your wrists, and also you would possibly discover you want having that assist or chances are you’ll discover the stress uncomfortable.
How we examined
All our guides start with in depth analysis to determine what’s on the market and what’s price testing. We contemplate manufacturers with good reputations that we’ve heard good issues about from colleagues and have a look at keyboard evaluations in boards and different trusted publications. For this information, I regarded 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 every one for anyplace from a number of days to some weeks. I attempted out the remapping and macros software program and regarded the consolation, design, value and sturdiness of every mannequin earlier than arriving at picks I feel will work finest for the most individuals on the market.
Greatest ergonomic keyboards for 2024
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Alice cut up, middle tenting, elective damaging tilt, wrist relaxation | Host connection: Bluetooth or USB receiver | Change kind: Scissor | Hotkey compatibility: Mac and Home windows | Ten key: Sure | RGB lighting: No | Programing interface: Logi Choices+ (app)
The Ergo K860 from Logitech intently resembles an ordinary keyboard, so there’s not a lot of a studying curve. However delicate adjustments just like the Alice format, tented center and elective damaging tilt make typing noticeably extra ergonomic. Logitech makes a few of our favourite PC equipment, and the the reason 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 fairly 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 assist 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 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 related to.
The rotated Alice-split design and raised middle made a distinction in the best way 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 proper 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 case you’re coming from a mechanical board, however they’re responsive sufficient. Logitech presents software for programming the keys, however this mannequin will doubtless 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 strong construct, low profile switches, RGB lighting, snug tenting and some additional programmable keys.
- Rotated keys and palm wrest make typing snug
- Wirelessly connects rapidly to 3 devides
- Hotkeys work with MacOS and Home windows
- Takes up a big footprint
- Wrist wrest is just not detachable
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Totally cut up | Host connection: USB-C port | Change kind: 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 might appear like the Keychron Q11. You possibly can even push the 2 halves again collectively to make it appear like an ordinary, 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 try this).
Keychron is broadly revered within the mechanical keyboard world as a result of they make high quality keyboards that aren’t astronomically costly. Like all Keychron gadgets, 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 Purple linear mechanical switches, which give smoother motion and a quieter clack than tactile or clicky switches. The keycaps are constituted of PBT, a higher-quality polymer than the ABS plastic keys present in inexpensive 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 kind.
The assembled model comes with keycaps (and a keycap puller) to arrange the board for both Mac or Home windows. A swap on the high of the board toggles between the 2 working techniques, guaranteeing the operate keys act appropriately. Additional keys embody the 2 customizable knobs on the high corners and 5 macro keys to the left of the board. These and the remainder of the board will be programmed with open supply keyboard firmware QMK and VIA, which most Keychron boards are appropriate with out of the field.
I’ve very primary keyboard wants so I used VIA to offer the proper 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 inside 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 somewhat brief USB-C bridge cable connecting the 2 sides. I discovered I needed somewhat extra separation than 9 inches, so I swapped it for an extended wire. However there’s no simple repair for the dearth of middle elevate.
- Prime quality construct
- Clean and buttery mechanical keys
- Totally cut up keys hold your fingers at a cushty distance aside
- Simply toggle between Mac and Home windows techniques
- No middle tenting
- Brief bridge cable included
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Alice cut up, middle tenting, wrist relaxation | Host connection: USB-A cable | Change kind: Membrane | Hotkey compatibility: Home windows | Ten key: Sure | RGB lighting: No | Programing interface: N/A
Perixx makes quite a lot of ergonomic keyboards and the Periboard 512 presents 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 once I hit the respective keys. The membrane keys are sturdy with out wobble and the Alice cut up and tenting put your fingers in a cushty 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 essentially the most premium board and you’ll really feel that within the light-weight design and cheaper-feeling keycaps. However in case you’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 reasonable method to go.
- Cheap
- Alice cut up makes typing extra snug
- Useful sizzling keys
- Construct doesn’t really feel premium
- Hotkeys solely appropriate with Home windows
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Totally cut up, middle tenting, thumb cluster | Host connection: USB-C port | Change kind: 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 easy methods to kind, 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 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. Nonetheless, now that I’ve the grasp of how the Voyager works, it feels magical. Hardly ever do my fingers want to go away 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 kind with the quantity pad, you’re at all times in the identical place, which might prevent some critical gathered 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 totally cut up and further compact design allow you to place the 2 boards anyplace they really feel snug and the elective magnetic legs give it a delicate however efficient middle tenting.
The place some keyboards supply remapping capabilities as a nice-to-have characteristic, the vast majority of individuals will doubtless 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 method that labored for me, so I acquired 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 adjustments aren’t applied robotically — you must flash the keyboard’s firmware by pushing a button on the high 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 permits a second operate). I additionally flashed the board as soon as and misplaced all use of the proper aspect, however reflashing fastened it.
The Voyager is just not 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 maintaining a screenshot of your newest Oryx-configured format in your desktop for reference till you keep 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 totally cut up with thumb clusters and a columnar format however that’s rather less minimal — and wi-fi in addition — the Kinesis Advantage 360 is an efficient one to take a look at. It appears prefer it comes from an ‘80s-era IBM workplace however is in some way additionally from the long run. 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.
- 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 hold your fingers within the dwelling place
- Troublesome to relearn ortholinear format
- Takes time to program and be taught the proper key capabilities
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Totally cut up, middle tenting, detachable wrist relaxation | Host connection: USB-A cable | Change kind: 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 players would possibly like. PC players who depend on the WASD keys might admire not having to cope with the proper 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 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 offer you three top choices for tenting and will also be eliminated fully.
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 will attraction in case you’re in search of a programmable gaming keyboard with a number of ergonomic tips. Simply remember the fact that 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 elective tenting
- Extra programmable shortcut keys
- Considerably cumbersome
- Constructed-in cables aren’t customizable
Trending Merchandise
