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It’s tough to provide a covering suggestion for functional designs, as the term most precisely equates to “what jobs best for your body” — and all bodies are various. However if you’ve landed right here, possibilities are you’re seeking a key-board that’s much easier on your shoulders, neck and wrists. Conventional key-boards maintain your arms close with each other and compel you to splay your hands exterior. Eventually, that can really feel stressing. By moving the alignment of the secrets, ergonomic key-boards can maintain your top body in an extra neutral setting, avoiding you from turning or over-extending your hands and arms. We’ve damaged down the numerous attributes that make some boards much more body-friendly than others and examined a handful ahead up with the most effective ergonomic key-boards to match various demands and choices.

What to seek in an ergonomic key-board

Alice vs split

A lot of ergonomic key-board formats fall under 2 groups: Alice and split. The previous is a solitary board with both fifty percents of the secrets revolved concerning 30 levels apart near the bottom. The splitting up develops an A-shaped area in between the secrets — which has absolutely nothing to do with why it’s called an Alice format, it’s simply a pleased coincidence. This refined tweak presses your elbow joints far from your ribs while maintaining a straight line from your lower arm to your center knuckle. Making use of one, I rather immediately really felt much more open along the front side of my body. This format much more very closely looks like a conventional key-board, so it needs to be much easier for the majority of people to obtain utilized to than a totally split alternative.

Mentioning, split boards damage the secrets right into 2 different components you can place independently. You can place them take on range apart, bring them more detailed with each other or angle them as long as really feels comfy. You can additionally place your computer mouse in between the fifty percents, which might seem like a much easier journey for your arrow hand. Directly, I such as having the ability to place my existing treat in between both components.

Tenkeyless

You can discover ergonomic key-boards with and without number pads. Not having those number secrets on the appropriate side allows you maintain your computer mouse more detailed in, reducing total reach. However if you collaborate with numbers a whole lot, you’ll likely desire that pad consisted of. Some programmable boards enable making use of layers, which briefly repurpose secrets and can offer you with a ten-key alternative with smart remapping of letter secrets.

Tenting and adverse tilt

Tenting elevates the center of the key-board up, so your hands relocate more detailed to a “handshake” setting. Alice key-boards typically angle up in the direction of the center and constantly to a set level, given that both sides are linked. Split boards typically allow you change the level of tenting, going from level to refined to severe lift.

You might have come across key-boards with an optional lift at the rear of the board, increasing the leading secrets greater than the area bar. Every collection of hands is various, but also for the majority of people, drawing the rear of the hands in the direction of the lower arms raises stress. Adverse tilt has the contrary impact by sloping in the various other instructions, reducing the leading number secrets while increasing the side with the spacebar. Numerous Alice and some split key-boards use an optional adverse tilt. I discovered it was much more comfy to allow that attribute when I’m standing, and I favored to have the secrets level when rested at my workdesk.

1 / 5

Staggered vs columnar

This choice appears to be among the much more hotly-contested amongst ergo fanatics. A conventional key-board has actually surprised secrets, with each row a little countered to the rows over and listed below it — so the A secret has to do with midway in between the Q and W over it. This is a holdover from classic mechanical typewriters, in which each press triggered a hammer that wrecked ink onto paper in the form of a letter. To fit the hammers as close with each other as feasible, while still enabling finger pads, the secrets were surprised.

Columnar or ortholinear key-boards pile the type in organized columns, typically with rows that are not direct. Advocates declare this makes the secrets much easier to get to. Whether that’s true will certainly depend on your fingers to determine, yet I can state for sure that if you discovered to kind on a staggered key-board, switching over to a columnar format is difficult. It will certainly take days, perhaps weeks prior to you intuitively struck the C secret. The N, M and B secrets don’t fare much better.

Programmable keys

With a few exceptions, most ergonomic keyboards will work with PCs or Macs as a standard typing input, but the use of function and hot keys may require some remapping. It can be as easy as an onboard switch to toggle between Mac and PC layouts, or as involved as downloading software to change up the keys. Some boards even include (or let you buy) extra keycaps to change, say, the Mac’s Command and Option keys to PC’s Start and Alt buttons.

For some boards, remapping or programming keys is a crucial feature. Gaming peripherals have extra keys that you can set to execute a series of keystrokes with the push of a single button. Keyboards that work with layers, in which a single button can perform several functions, typically allow you to change what those are. Some ergonomic keyboards have non-standard layouts, like thumb clusters with multiple keys near the space bar that you operate with your thumb. You’ll also be able to program those.

Other considerations

Ergonomic keyboards come in mechanical, membrane, and scissor switch versions. Which works best for you is, again, up to your preference. I won’t get too deep into the particulars here, but the short of it is that membrane and scissor switches are less customizable than mechanical and typically cheaper. Typing on them tends to be quieter and softer. Mechanical switches are more customizable, offer a more responsive typing experience and are usually pricier.

You’ll also have the option of wired or wireless ergonomic boards. All other things being equal, wired models are less expensive. Competitive gamers who rely on split-second responses may prefer the zero-lag of wired keyboards. Wired models also never run out of battery life and have fewer connectivity issues. But wireless keyboards keep your desk less cluttered.

Some ergonomic keyboards come with permanent or removable wrist or palm rests, which can be cushioned or hard. This is another area where opinions diverge: proponents claim they help you maintain a neutral hand position, while detractors say they put pressure on the tendons in your wrist. Ideally, your palms should be resting, not your wrists, and you might find you like having that support or you may find the pressure uncomfortable.

A closeup shot of an ergonomic keyboard that shows the two sides splitting apart. — Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

How we tested

All our guides begin with extensive research to figure out what’s out there and what’s worth testing. We consider brands with good reputations that we’ve heard good things about from colleagues and other trusted publications. For this guide, I looked for keyboards with ergonomic features like tenting, split keys, palm support and so on. I also zeroed in on boards that didn’t require a deep amount of familiarity with the vast and exhaustive world of custom keyboards.

Once I settled on ten boards, I acquired them and used each one for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. I tried out the remapping and macros software and considered the comfort, design, price and durability of each model before arriving at picks I think will work best for the most people out there.

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

The Ergo K860 from Logitech closely resembles a standard keyboard, so there’s not much of a learning curve. But subtle changes like the Alice layout, tented middle and optional negative tilt make typing noticeably more ergonomic. Logitech makes some of our favorite PC accessories, and the reasons why are all evident with this keyboard: it connects quickly and reliably via Bluetooth, the build is solid and feels high-quality and it’s reasonably priced at $130 (and is often on sale for around $100).

It’s compatible with more recent iterations of Windows, MacOS, iPadOS, ChromeOS and Linux, though you’ll need software to support non-basic key functions for the latter two operating systems. There are three switching buttons that swap between previously connected devices, and the board speedily swapped between a MacBook and a PC laptop in my tests. Built-in function keys like volume and brightness worked well and the Option/Start and Command/Alt combo keys worked correctly depending on which computer was connected to.

The rotated Alice-split design and raised center made a difference in the way I held my arms as I typed, allowing me to keep my elbows comfortably away from my ribs and my palms rotated inward instead of forcing them flat. The palm rest is springy but firm (albeit not removable) and the arrow keys and a numeric keypad on the right side put all possible keys within reach. Unfortunately, that adds length to that side of the board, which forces your mouse farther out. The scissor switch keys can feel mushy if you’re coming from a mechanical board, but they’re responsive enough. Logitech offers software for programming the keys, but this model will likely appeal most to those looking for a plug and play option.

For a mechanical Alice keyboard with both wireless and wired capabilities, I recommend the Periboard 835. The Mac and Windows-compatible board has a solid build, low profile switches, RGB lighting, comfortable tenting and a few extra programmable keys.

Pros

Rotated keys and palm wrest make typing comfortable
Wirelessly connects quickly to three devides
Hotkeys work with MacOS and Windows

Cons

Takes up a large footprint
Wrist wrest is not removable

$110 at B&H Photo

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

If you (expertly) sawed a mechanical keyboard in two, it would look like the Keychron Q11. You can even push the two halves back together to make it look like a standard, 75 percent mechanical board (though once you discover the expediency of a snack bowl between the halves, I don’t know why you’d do that).

Keychron is widely respected in the mechanical keyboard world because they make quality keyboards that aren’t astronomically expensive. Like all Keychron devices, you can buy this one assembled or barebones, to which you can add your own keycaps and switches. I tested a fully assembled model with Gateron G Pro Red linear mechanical switches, which provide smoother action and a quieter clack than tactile or clicky switches. The keycaps are made from PBT, a higher-quality polymer than the ABS plastic keys found in less expensive keyboards. The machined aluminum body feels substantial and there’s no wobble. All of that combined creates a luxe and durable feel and a satisfying, buttery clack as you type.

The assembled version comes with keycaps (and a keycap puller) to set up the board for either Mac or Windows. A switch at the top of the board toggles between the two operating systems, ensuring the function keys act appropriately. Extra keys include the two customizable knobs at the top corners and five macro keys to the left of the board. Those and the rest of the board can be programmed with open source keyboard firmware QMK and VIA, which most Keychron boards are compatible with out of the box.

I have very basic keyboard needs so I used VIA to give the right knob zoom capabilities, make the M1 key open a clipboard manager and have the M2 key execute a screenshot. Programming with VIA requires the use of keycodes and you’ll need to define macros within the app to get the knob to do more advanced things beyond the pre-selected options, but the implementation of your new instructions is instantaneous (and quite satisfying).

The only drawbacks are the lack of tenting and the rather short USB-C bridge cable connecting the two sides. I found I wanted a little more separation than nine inches, so I swapped it for a longer cord. But there’s no easy fix for the lack of center lift.

Pros

High quality build
Smooth and buttery mechanical keys
Fully split keys keep your hands at a comfortable distance apart
Easily toggle between Mac and Windows systems

Cons

No center tenting
Short bridge cable included

$220 at Amazon

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Perixx makes a number of ergonomic keyboards and the Periboard 512 offers basic features at a low price. The standard keys will work with a Mac, but the included media keys and function keys are programmed for Windows machines. It worked well on the PC I tested it with, jumping to the search bar, opening the built-in Mail app and muting the sound when I hit the respective keys. The membrane keys are sturdy without wobble and the Alice split and tenting put your hands in a comfortable position. The rigid wrist rest angles down, which makes it easier to rest your palms and not your wrists.

At just $70, the 512 isn’t the most premium board and you can feel that in the lightweight design and cheaper-feeling keycaps. But if you’re just looking for a basic Windows interface with ergonomic features that’ll take some of the strain off your work posture, this is an inexpensive way to go.

Pros

Inexpensive
Alice split makes typing more comfortable
Helpful hot keys

Cons

Build does not feel premium
Hotkeys only compatible with Windows

$55 at Amazon

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

A rep I spoke with at ZSA warned me about the Voyager, saying the board has an effect “like a brain injury: A moment ago you knew how to type, and now you do not.” That’s exactly how I felt after plugging in the impossibly compact accessory. For one, the columnar layout puts secrets (particularly those on the bottom row) in spots you don’t intuitively reach for. Then there’s a thumb cluster where you’ll find not just the space bar, but other important keys like return. Finally, the board uses layers, giving each key up to three functions.

I actually had to interrupt testing at one point and plug in another keyboard because I just felt too slow and disconnected like I was typing with oven mitts on. However, now that I have the hang of how the Voyager works, it feels magical. Rarely do my hands need to leave the home position, yet every key I need on a regular basis is easily accessible.

Since you don’t need to reorient your fingers when you use arrow keys, hit the mute button or type with the number pad, you’re always in the same position, which can save you some serious accumulated time. Your thumbs, which are fairly dexterous, are capable of doing more than just mashing the spacebar; here, they operate the return key, tab button and can even initialize layers. The fully split and extra compact design let you position the two boards anywhere they feel comfortable and the optional magnetic legs give it a subtle but effective center tenting.

Where some keyboards offer remapping capabilities as a nice-to-have feature, the majority of people will likely want to use either the browser-based Oryx configurator or Zsa’s Keymapp app to switch up what these keys do. It took me multiple tries to get them set in a way that worked for me, so I got pretty familiar with Oryx. It doesn’t require you to lookup keycodes, instead giving you a vast library of searchable commands. But changes aren’t implemented automatically — you have to flash the keyboard’s firmware by pushing a button at the top edge of the device to make the changes.

Certain system-specific functions, like the Mission Control key on a Mac, need to be programmed using key sequences (in this case, control + down arrow). And occasionally the board will mistake a single tap for a tap and hold (which often enables a second function). I also flashed the board once and lost all use of the right side, but reflashing fixed it.

The Voyager is not for someone looking for a quick adjustment to improve their ergonomics. It’ll take weeks of practice and reprogramming (both the board and your brain) before typing feels fluid again. I recommend keeping a screenshot of your latest Oryx-configured layout on your desktop for reference until you remember which keys do what. That said, once things start clicking, the Voyager really does maximize your output while minimizing your movements.

If you want something fully split with thumb clusters and a columnar layout but that’s a little less minimal — and wireless to boot — the Kinesis Advantage 360 is a good one to check out. It looks like 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.

Pros

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

Cons

Difficult to relearn ortholinear layout
Takes time to program and learn the right key functions

$365 at ZSA

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

PC gamers who rely on the WASD keys may appreciate not having to contend with the right side of a keyboard at all, and instead use that space for their mouse. The Freestyle Edge from Kinesis is a fully split model with Cherry MX mechanical switches. The tactile Brown ones in my tester unit had a satisfying click and a not overly loud clacky noise. The wrist rests are removable and clever folding legs give you three height options for tenting and can be removed completely.

It has per-key RGB lights and nine macros buttons that can be programmed with the configuration app or without it using keyboard commands. All of this may appeal to gamers looking for a programmable keyboard with a couple of ergonomic tricks. Just keep in mind that all of those features add up to a somewhat bulky peripheral.

Pros