In case you spend a superb portion of your waking hours behind a desk, merely slapping an ergonomic mouse and keyboard in your desk gained’t clear up the actual downside, which is sitting nonetheless for too lengthy. However after you’ve peppered in a couple of walks and added some stretches for good measure, your workstation ergonomics is the following factor to contemplate. Hunching, twisting and contorting are all more likely to result in discomfort in the long term.
Ergonomic keyboards may help: these boards break up, tilt and/or angle the keys in ways in which assist preserve your shoulders and chest extra open and your forearms and wrists extra aligned. One ergonomic board gained’t work for everybody, so I examined out 15 completely different fashions, and regarded a mixture of ergonomic options that embody Alice and totally break up designs, columnar orientations, thumb clusters, programmable keys and extra. Listed below are the very best ergonomic keyboards we might discover.
Desk of contents
What to search for in an ergonomic keyboard
Alice vs break up
Most ergonomic keyboard layouts fall into two classes: Alice and break up. The previous is a single board with the 2 halves of the keys rotated about 30 levels aside on the backside. The separation types an A-shaped house between the keys — which has nothing to do with why it’s known as an Alice format, it’s only a completely happy coincidence. This refined tweak pushes your elbows away out of your ribs whereas holding 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 needs to be simpler for most people to get used to than a totally break up choice.
Talking of, break up boards break the keys into two separate elements you may place individually. You possibly can put them shoulder distance aside, deliver them nearer collectively or angle them as a lot as feels comfy. You may as well put your mouse between the halves, which can really feel like a better journey to your cursor hand and will probably assist with circumstances like repetitive pressure accidents. Personally, I like with the ability to put my present snack between the 2 elements. I’ve additionally discovered that pairing a break up keyboard with a superb ergonomic mouse has helped me much more, significantly a vertical mice.
Tenkeyless
You will discover ergonomic keyboards with and with out quantity pads. Not having these quantity keys on the precise aspect permits you to preserve your mouse nearer in, minimizing general attain. However in the event you work with numbers so much, you’ll possible need that pad included. Some programmable boards permit for the usage of layers, which quickly repurpose keys and may give you a ten-key choice by means of intelligent remapping of letter keys.
Tenting and unfavourable tilt
Tenting raises the center of the keyboard up, so your palms transfer nearer to a “handshake” place. Alice keyboards normally angle up in direction of the center and all the time to a set diploma, for the reason that two sides are related. Cut up boards usually allow you to modify the diploma of tenting, going from flat to refined to excessive elevate.
You could have encountered keyboards with an optionally available elevate in the back of the board, elevating the highest keys increased than the house bar. Each set of palms is completely different, however for most individuals, pulling the backs of the palms in direction of the forearms will increase pressure. Damaging 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 break up keyboards provide an optionally available unfavourable tilt. I discovered it was extra comfy to allow that function after I’m standing, and I most well-liked to have the keys flat when sat at my desk.
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Staggered vs columnar
This choice appears to be one of many extra hotly-contested amongst ergo fanatics. A standard keyboard has staggered keys, with every row barely offset to the rows above and beneath it — so the A secret is about midway between the Q and W above it. This can be a holdover from classic mechanical typewriters, during 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, usually with rows that aren’t linear. Proponents declare this makes the keys simpler to succeed in. Whether or not that’s true shall be as much as your fingers to determine, however I can say for sure that in the event you discovered to sort 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 significantly better.
Programmable keys
With a couple of exceptions, most ergonomic keyboards will work with PCs or Macs as a normal typing enter, however the usage of perform and sizzling keys might require some remapping. It may be as straightforward as an onboard change 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 Choice 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 collection of keystrokes with the push of a single button. Keyboards that work with layers, during which a single button can carry out a number of features, 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 simply function along with your thumb. You’ll additionally be capable to program these.
Different issues
Ergonomic keyboards are available mechanical, membrane, and scissor change variations. Which works greatest for you is, once more, as much as your choice. I gained’t get too deep into the particulars right here, as we have now a whole information dedicated 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, provide a extra responsive typing expertise and are normally pricier.
You’ll even have the choice of wired or wi-fi ergonomic boards. All different issues being equal, wired fashions are cheaper. Aggressive players who depend on split-second responses might want 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 might be cushioned or onerous. That is one other space the place opinions diverge: proponents declare they make it easier to preserve a impartial hand place, whereas detractors say they put stress on the tendons in your wrist and may exacerbate circumstances like carpal tunnel. Ideally, your palms needs to be resting, not your wrists, and also you may discover you want having that help or you could discover the stress uncomfortable.
How we examined ergonomic keyboards
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 take a look at keyboard critiques in boards and different trusted publications. For this information, I appeared for keyboards with ergonomic options like tenting, break up keys, palm help 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 wherever from a couple of days to some weeks. I attempted out the remapping and macros software program and regarded the consolation, design, worth and sturdiness of every mannequin earlier than arriving at picks I feel will work greatest for the most individuals on the market.
Greatest ergonomic keyboards for 2024
Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Alice break up, heart tenting, optionally available 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/Format: QWERTY
The Ergo K860 from Logitech intently resembles a normal, full-size keyboard, so there’s not a lot of a studying curve. However refined modifications just like the Alice format, tented center and optionally available unfavourable 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 stable and feels high-quality and it is fairly priced at $130 (and is commonly on sale for round $100).
It’s appropriate with newer iterations of Home windows, MacOS, iPadOS, ChromeOS and Linux, although you’ll want software program to help non-basic key features for the latter two working methods. There are three switching buttons that swap between beforehand related units, and the board speedily swapped between a MacBook and a PC laptop computer in my checks. Constructed-in perform keys like quantity and brightness labored properly and the Choice/Begin and Command/Alt combo keys labored accurately relying on which pc was related to.
The rotated Alice-split design and raised heart 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 precise 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 change keys can really feel mushy in the event you’re coming from a mechanical board, however they’re responsive sufficient. Logitech affords software program for programming the keys, however this mannequin will possible enchantment 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 stable construct, low profile switches, RGB lighting, comfy tenting and some additional programmable keys.
- Rotated keys and palm wrest make typing comfy
- Wirelessly connects rapidly to 3 devides
- Hotkeys work with MacOS and Home windows
- Takes up a big footprint
- Wrist wrest shouldn’t be detachable
Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Absolutely 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/Format: QWERTY
In case you (expertly) sawed a mechanical keyboard in two, it could seem like the Keychron Q11. You possibly can even push the 2 halves again collectively to make it seem like 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 try this).
Keychron is broadly 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 units, you should buy this one assembled or barebones, to which you’ll add your individual keycaps and switches. I examined a totally 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 change on the prime of the board toggles between the 2 working methods, guaranteeing the perform keys act appropriately. Further 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 might 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 precise 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 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 somewhat 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 elevate.
- Top quality construct
- Clean and buttery mechanical keys
- Absolutely break up keys preserve your palms at a cushty distance aside
- Simply toggle between Mac and Home windows methods
- No heart tenting
- Quick bridge cable included
Kensington
Ergonomic options: Alice break up, heart tenting, optionally available 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 Professional Match Ergo sells for $70 at full worth, however is commonly on sale for round $55. That makes it a superb funds board, nevertheless it feels far more premium than the value 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 precise spot, not placing stress on my tendons whereas holding the backs of my wrists straight. After all, completely different hand sizes may have completely different experiences, however my males’s medium/girls’s massive mitts had been comfy.
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 during which I used it and saved it intermittently. Recharging is easy 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 permits you to 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 effective with my PC laptop computer, however this in all probability is not the keyboard to get if you need minute, custom-made key remapping anyway. In case you simply need a comparatively cheap keyboard that’s way more comfy to sort on than most, this can be a good one to seize.
Picture by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Absolutely break 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) | Language/Format: QWERTY (programmable)
A rep I spoke with at ZSA warned me in regards to the Voyager, saying the board has an impact “like a brain injury: A moment ago you knew how to type, and now you don’t.” That’s precisely how I felt after plugging within the impossibly compact accent. For one, the columnar format places keys (significantly 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 vital keys like return. Lastly, the board makes use of layers, giving every key as much as three features.
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 hold of how the Voyager works, it feels magical. Hardly ever do my palms want to depart the house place, but each key I would like frequently is well accessible.
Because you don’t must reorient your fingers whenever you use arrow keys, hit the mute button or sort with the quantity pad, you’re all the time in the identical place, which might prevent some critical collected 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 totally break up and additional compact design allow you to place the 2 boards wherever they really feel comfy and the optionally available magnetic legs give it a refined however efficient heart tenting.
The place some keyboards provide remapping capabilities as a nice-to-have function, the vast majority of individuals will possible need 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 enormous library of searchable instructions. However modifications aren’t applied robotically — it’s important to flash the keyboard’s firmware by pushing a button on the prime fringe of the machine to make the modifications.
Sure system-specific features, just like the Mission Management key on a Mac, must be programmed utilizing key sequences (on this case, management + down arrow). And infrequently the board will mistake a single faucet for a faucet and maintain (which frequently permits a second perform). I additionally flashed the board as soon as and misplaced all use of the precise aspect, however reflashing fastened it.
The Voyager shouldn’t be 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 holding 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.
In order for you one thing totally break up with thumb clusters and a columnar format however that’s rather less minimal — and wi-fi besides — the Benefit 360 from Kinesis, makers of the fashionable Benefit 2 is an effective one to take a look at. It appears to be like prefer it comes from an ‘80s-era IBM office but is somehow also from the future. The tenting goes from low to intense and the keys curve concavely to meet your fingers where they naturally land. The 360 is per-key programmable, works with layers and has four macros keys.
Different ergonomic keyboards we examined
I keep in mind questioning if one thing just like the Goldtouch Elite Adjustable existed after I first began testing ergonomic keyboards. It didn’t on the time, so far as I might inform, however now a related but adjustable break up board is certainly a product you should buy. It’s a solidly-built board and the ball joint connecting the 2 halves appears like it can put up with a whole lot of use. A squeeze of the lever on the prime of the keys permits you to set the board simply how you want, adjusting each the vertical tenting and the angle between the 2 halves. There’s no programming to talk of, simply the power to swap a couple of perform keys like print display and residential.
Sadly, the tenting doesn’t work for me. Due to the additional keys on the outer edges, elevating the center edges upwards lifts the middle keys significantly, which brings my wrists and forearms off the desk as an alternative of letting them relaxation. Holding them like that created additional neck and shoulder pressure on my half, which is form of the other of the purpose. However in the event you’re not into tenting anyway and need a flat, Alice-split board with an adjustable splay, this works fairly properly.
Kinesis Type Cut up Touchpad Keyboard
The thought behind the Kinesis Type Cut up Touchpad Keyboard is fairly ergonomic: put the trackpad between the 2 halves and decrease journey to your mouse hand. The gap between the 2 places your elbows at a cushty distance and retains your wrist almost in-line along with your forearms. The construct is superb, with low profile mechanical switches that really feel clean and simply the correct amount of clacky. The trackpad is responsive, however gestures solely work with Home windows computer systems. Even dragging and dropping doesn’t work on a Mac right here, so I don’t see Apple customers getting a lot use out of the board. I additionally discovered myself wishing for the slightest rotation of the keys — although they’re a good way aside, a slight angle would preserve my wrists totally unbent. There’s no tenting or unfavourable tilt both, each of which might assist a bit extra, ergonomically talking.
Logitech Wavekeys
Whereas it is a completely effective and reasonably priced Bluetooth keyboard, the Logitech Wavekeys has minimal ergonomics. The keys stand up barely within the center and there is a comfy wrist relaxation connected, however the format is identical as every other keyboard, with no splitting of the keys to open up your arms or preserve your wrists straight.
