Product improvement ergonomic keyboards

Ergonomic Keyboards

The old 'reliable' to many users since its release, the K860 is a well-crafted split-layout keyboard for sparing your arms and wrists when the typing gets hot and heavy. With a curved, ergonomic shape, the Ergo K860 complements arm placement with its asymmetrical design and plush wrist rest, while certain sized-up keys and a full layout with a number pad make it easy to navigate across the board. These features make it relatively easy for newcomers to adapt to the curves of an ergonomic keyboard. The K860 is a great preventative measure if you're already feeling the stiffness of everyday office work. The K860 is for buyers who are new to ergonomic keyboards and want a comfortable experience with a manageable learning curve.

The Matias Ergo Pro is a few years old but remains a solid choice for dedicated professionals looking for a split-design ergonomic board. It offers three USB pass-through ports, comfortable wrist rests, and flexible feet that provide ample tilt and tenting for additional height. Like all similar split models, this split keyboard has a demanding learning curve. But those willing to take the time will find it a dependable daily driver with a comfortable typing feel, strong ergonomic features, and a couple of technical flourishes that set it apart. Motivated users who see adjusting to a split keyboard as a challenge worth mastering will find productivity and comfort with the Matias Ergo Pro.

The Logitech Wave Keys shares some things in common with our top overall pick, the Logitech Ergo K860, but it's much cheaper. Also, its undulating design is less pronounced, making the Wave Keys a more traditional keyboard than the K860. With a slight ripple at the center of the board, the keyboard’s curves give it a distinctive look, and the indents subtly position both hands just far enough from one another to promote comfort. A lightweight body and long-lasting battery make the Wave Keys an ideal companion if you're looking for a keyboard for traveling, even if its build is a little flimsy and its wrist rest a little stiff. Users who want to improve their desk ergonomics without spending too much (and who don't have the time to acclimate to a full-split design) should look closely at the Wave Keys.

Hot-swappable keyboards were once limited to enthusiasts and tinkerers, but recent keyboard releases have brought this functionality to the mainstream. The Keychron Q11 isn't the top keyboard on the market, but it's a rare combination of a split design and the ability to customize the key switches individually. The Keychron Q11 features an attractive color scheme and a unique jigsaw-puzzle split down the middle, giving the board its own aesthetic. It's missing some of the features we've come to expect from modern ergonomic split keyboards, like angled feet and a wrist rest (the latter is sold separately). But it's a premium board that looks and feels the part, and if you fancy keyboard tinkering, you might be willing to stomach its premium cost. For tinkerers who want to customize all aspects of their split keyboards—down to the key-switch mechanisms—the Keychron Q11 obliges.

Another split ergonomic keyboard joins our list, this one for gamers. Available with Cherry MX switches in three varieties, and featuring per-key customizable RGB lighting, the Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB Split Mechanical Gaming Keyboard remains one of our favorite splits, almost five years on from when we tested it. With a layout reminiscent of a 75% keyboard, the split board is gaming-ready, even if it's not quite esports-ready. The Freestyle Edge has adjustable feet at the inner sides of the board, though achieving an inverted-V "tent" angle requires Kinesis' optional lift kit. Still, this keyboard is a perfect companion for health-conscious gamers spending hours on their favorite PC games.