Should you spend an excellent portion of your waking hours behind a desk, merely slapping an ergonomic mouse and keyboard in your desk gained’t clear up the actual drawback, which is sitting nonetheless for too lengthy. However after you’ve peppered in a number of walks and added some stretches for good measure, your workstation ergonomics is the subsequent factor to contemplate. Hunching, twisting and contorting are all more likely to result in discomfort in the long term.
Ergonomic keyboards will help: these boards break up, tilt and/or angle the keys in ways in which assist maintain 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 thought of a mixture of ergonomic options that embrace Alice and absolutely break up designs, columnar orientations, thumb clusters, programmable keys and extra. Listed below are one of the best ergonomic keyboards we may 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 varieties an A-shaped area between the keys — which has nothing to do with why it’s referred to as an Alice structure, it’s only a completely satisfied 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 structure extra intently resembles a standard keyboard, so it must be simpler for most people to get used to than a completely break up possibility.
Talking of, break up boards break the keys into two separate elements you’ll be able to place individually. You’ll be able to put them shoulder distance aside, convey them nearer collectively or angle them as a lot as feels snug. You too can put your mouse between the halves, which can really feel like a better journey in your cursor hand and will doubtlessly assist with circumstances like repetitive pressure accidents. Personally, I like having the ability to put my present snack between the 2 elements. I’ve additionally discovered that pairing a break up keyboard with an excellent ergonomic mouse has helped me much more, significantly a vertical mice.
Tenkeyless
You could find ergonomic keyboards with and with out quantity pads. Not having these quantity keys on the appropriate aspect enables you to maintain your mouse nearer in, minimizing general attain. However if you happen to work with numbers quite a bit, you’ll doubtless need that pad included. Some programmable boards permit for using layers, which quickly repurpose keys and may 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 normally angle up in direction of the center and at all times to a set diploma, for the reason that two sides are related. Cut up boards usually allow you to alter the diploma of tenting, going from flat to delicate to excessive carry.
You will have encountered keyboards with an elective carry behind the board, elevating the highest keys larger than the area 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. 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 break up keyboards supply an elective destructive tilt. I discovered it was extra snug to allow that function once 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 determination 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 beneath it — so the A secret is about midway between the Q and W above it. It is a holdover from classic mechanical typewriters, wherein every press activated a hammer that smashed ink onto paper within the form of a letter. To suit the hammers as shut collectively as potential, 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 achieve. Whether or not that’s true will likely be as much as your fingers to resolve, however I can say for sure that if you happen to realized to sort on a staggered keyboard, switching to a columnar structure is hard. It’ll 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 an ordinary typing enter, however using perform 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 alter up the keys. Some boards even embrace (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 function. Gaming peripherals have additional keys that you would be able to set to execute a sequence of keystrokes with the push of a single button. Keyboards that work with layers, wherein 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 area bar that you simply function along with your thumb. You’ll additionally have the ability to program these.
Different issues
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 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, supply 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 inexpensive. Aggressive players who depend on split-second responses might desire 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 maintain 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 show you how 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 must be resting, not your wrists, and also you may discover you want having that assist 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 value testing. We think about manufacturers with good reputations that we’ve heard good issues about from colleagues and take a look at keyboard evaluations in boards and different trusted publications. For this information, I seemed for keyboards with ergonomic options like tenting, break 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 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
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Alice break up, middle tenting, elective destructive tilt, wrist relaxation | Host connection: Bluetooth or USB receiver | Change 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 an ordinary, full-size keyboard, so there’s not a lot of a studying curve. However delicate adjustments just like the Alice structure, tented center and elective destructive 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 shortly and reliably by way of Bluetooth, the construct is strong and feels high-quality and it is moderately 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 assist non-basic key features for the latter two working programs. 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 assessments. Constructed-in perform keys like quantity and brightness labored effectively and the Possibility/Begin and Command/Alt combo keys labored accurately 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 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 appropriate aspect put all potential 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 if you happen to’re coming from a mechanical board, however they’re responsive sufficient. Logitech affords software program for programming the keys, however this mannequin will doubtless enchantment most to these on the lookout for 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 shortly to a few devides
- Hotkeys work with MacOS and Home windows
- Takes up a big footprint
- Wrist wrest shouldn’t be detachable
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Totally break up | Host connection: USB-C port | Change 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
Should you (expertly) sawed a mechanical keyboard in two, it will appear to be the Keychron Q11. You’ll be able to even push the 2 halves again collectively to make it appear to be an ordinary, 75 % 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 extensively revered within the mechanical keyboard world as a result of they make keyboards with a formidable 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 personal keycaps and switches. I examined a completely assembled mannequin with Gateron G Professional Crimson 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 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 programs, guaranteeing 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 could 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 appropriate 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 shortage of tenting and the reasonably brief USB-C bridge cable connecting the 2 sides. I discovered I needed a bit of 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.
- Top quality construct
- Easy and buttery mechanical keys
- Totally break up keys maintain your palms at a cushty distance aside
- Simply toggle between Mac and Home windows programs
- No middle tenting
- Brief bridge cable included
Kensington
Ergonomic options: Alice break up, middle tenting, elective destructive tilt, wrist relaxation | Host connection: Bluetooth or USB receiver | Change sort: Membrane | Hotkey compatibility: Home windows | Ten key: No | RGB lighting: No | Programing interface: Kensington Konnect | Language/structure: QWERTY
The compact Kensington Professional Match Ergo sells for $70 at full value, however is commonly on sale for round $55. That makes it an excellent price range board, nevertheless it feels rather 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 destructive tilt, hits my palms at simply the appropriate spot, not placing stress on my tendons whereas maintaining the backs of my wrists straight. In fact, completely different hand sizes could have completely different experiences, however my males’s medium/girls’s massive mitts had been snug.
It related simply by way of Bluetooth or radio dongle to each the Mac and PC I attempted, staying reliably related and woke shortly from sleep. And the LED indicator for the rechargeable battery stayed inexperienced (full) over the month or so of testing wherein I used it and saved it intermittently. Recharging is easy by way of the USB port. Whereas it’s easy to modify to a Mac or Home windows structure, the keyboard works higher as a PC peripheral.
Kensington’s software program lets you 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 fantastic 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. Should you simply desire a comparatively cheap keyboard that’s way more snug to sort on than most, this can be a good one to seize.
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Totally break up, middle tenting, thumb cluster | Host connection: USB-C port | Change 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 structure 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 area bar, however different essential 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 gradual 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. Not often do my palms want to depart the house place, but each key I would like frequently is definitely accessible.
Because you don’t must reorient your fingers once you use arrow keys, hit the mute button or sort with the quantity pad, you’re at all times in the identical place, which might prevent some severe 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 absolutely break up and additional compact design allow you to place the 2 boards wherever 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 function, nearly all of folks will doubtless 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 manner that labored for me, so I received fairly accustomed to Oryx. It doesn’t require you to lookup keycodes, as a substitute supplying you with an unlimited library of searchable instructions. However adjustments aren’t applied mechanically — it’s important to flash the keyboard’s firmware by pushing a button on the prime fringe of the machine to make the adjustments.
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 regularly allows a second perform). I additionally flashed the board as soon as and misplaced all use of the appropriate aspect, however reflashing fastened it.
The Voyager shouldn’t be for somebody on the lookout for 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 maintaining a screenshot of your newest Oryx-configured structure in your desktop for reference till you keep 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.
In order for you one thing absolutely break up with thumb clusters and a columnar structure however that’s rather less minimal — and wi-fi as well — the Benefit 360 from Kinesis, makers of the common Benefit 2 is an efficient one to take a look at. It seems to be 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.
- Fully split board
- Center tenting for a natural hand position
- Thumb cluster lets your thumb do more work
- Compact size and clever key mapping keep your hands in the home position
- Difficult to relearn ortholinear layout
- Takes time to program and learn the right key functions
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic features: Fully split, columnar keys, thumb cluster, wrist rest, optional tenting and negative tilt (additional cost) | Host connection: Wired or Bluetooth and USB receiver (wireless costs extra) | Switch type: Mechanical (tactile, linear or clicky) | Hotkey compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS & Android | Ten key: Programmable | RGB lighting: Yes | Programing interface: Bazecor | Language/layout: QWERTY (but programmable to any layout)
Like the Zsa Voyager, The Dygma Defy is another fully split, columnar board with thumb clusters and keys and layers that are per-key programmable. It has a little more going on than the Voyager, with full sized keycaps, built-in wrist rests and twenty more keys, including eight keys in each thumb cluster. The programming software, Bazecor, is super simple to figure out, making it easy to program shortcuts, macros and layers (again, sticking a screenshot of your keys layout on your desktop will help as you learn what you’ve programmed every key to do). The keys are a delight to sort on with springy and responsive mechanical switches. As an entire, the Defy feels effectively designed and the (removable) wrist rests have a just-right consistency.
Optionally, you’ll be able to add an LED underglow, tenting mechanisms and wi-fi capabilities (Bluetooth and RF) however every add-on will increase the value 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 almost vertical.
The Defy is a well-made, deluxe board, particularly with the add-ons. It’s in all probability finest for many who desire a maximalist working setup and want numerous additional choices for programmable keys. I discovered myself at a loss for what to do with all of the keys and had a tricky time maintaining 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 steadiness between providing additional keys and taking over minimal desk actual property.
- Premium construct
- 16 thumb cluster keys
- Programming software program is simple to make use of
- Costly, particularly with elective options
- Excessive studying curve
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Ergonomic options: Totally break up, middle tenting, detachable wrist relaxation | Host connection: USB-A cable | Change sort: Mechanical (tactile, clicky, linear) | Hotkey compatibility: Mac and Home windows | Ten key: No | RGB lighting: Sure | Programing interface: SmartSet (app) | Language/Format: QWERTY
As I stated in our information to ergonomic mice, my sporadic, console-only gaming doesn’t make me a gamer. However I’ve a good understanding of what players may like. PC players who depend on the WASD keys might respect not having to take care of the appropriate aspect of a keyboard in any respect, and as a substitute use that area for his or her mouse. The Freestyle Edge from Kinesis is a gaming variation on the model’s unique Freestyle 2 is a completely 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 provide you with three peak choices for tenting and may also be eliminated fully.
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 occasionally enchantment if you happen to’re on the lookout for a programmable gaming keyboard with a number of ergonomic methods. Simply remember the fact that all of these options add as much as a considerably cumbersome peripheral.
- Totally break up means you’ll be able to simply use the left half
- Excessive diploma of elective tenting
- Further programmable shortcut keys
- Considerably cumbersome
- Constructed-in cables aren’t customizable
Different ergonomic keyboards we examined
Goldtouch Elite Adjustable
I keep in mind questioning if one thing just like the Goldtouch Elite Adjustable existed once I first began testing ergonomic keyboards. It didn’t on the time, so far as I may 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 looks like it is going to put up with plenty of use. A squeeze of the lever on the prime of the keys enables 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 flexibility to swap a number 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 a substitute 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 aim. However if you happen to’re not into tenting anyway and desire a flat, Alice-split board with an adjustable splay, this works fairly effectively.
Kinesis Kind Cut up Touchpad Keyboard
The concept behind the Kinesis Kind Cut up Touchpad Keyboard is fairly ergonomic: put the trackpad between the 2 halves and decrease journey in 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 long way aside, a slight angle would maintain my wrists absolutely unbent. There’s no tenting or destructive tilt both, each of which may assist a bit extra, ergonomically talking.
Logitech Wavekeys
Whereas it is a completely fantastic and reasonably priced Bluetooth keyboard, the Logitech Wavekeys has minimal ergonomics. The keys stand up barely within the center and there is a snug wrist relaxation connected, however the structure is identical as another keyboard, with no splitting of the keys to open up your arms or maintain your wrists straight.
