Which keyboard is the best

Instead of a radical redesign, though, Zergotech took a split ergonomic keyboard and improved it with unique gliding palm rests that let your hands float while you type. Bays below the keyboard allow individual palm rests to slide around so you can reach all the keys while keeping your wrists up and level. The keycaps are also specially designed with an ergonomic curve for more natural finger positioning. Each half of the keyboard tents up toward the center at a 5-degree angle.

But, for more lift in any direction, there are four folding feet underneath to raise the bottom, top, left or right of each side to get the perfect wrist rest positioning for you. With the split design, Zergotech also tweaked the key layout to make the rows more symmetrical. That means there will be an adjustment period for most people. It took me a couple of weeks of regular use, but I recommend committing to using it full-time because going back and forth between this computer keyboard and a standard layout seemed to make things worse.

You can use its sliding wrist rests on a desk with a regular keyboard or mouse, though, which helped relieve pain when I wasn't using the Freedom. Also, I liked that no software was needed to program the keyboard for your needs -- such as creating shortcut keys, copying or swapping keys or switching from a Windows to MacOS key layout. It's all done with simple key combos and a text editor like Notepad for the interface. Check out the PDF guides on its site to get a better idea of how it works.

There's also a mouse layer you can activate if you'd rather keep your hands on the keyboard all the time. The overall feel of the keyboard is great thanks to the custom-made Kailh Box mechanical switches that eliminate any scraping or ping from the springs. The result is a smooth actuation with no off-putting sound and no wobble due to the boxed stem design. The Kailh white switches I tested have a pleasing click but might be too loud if you're sharing space.

The company also offers a quieter tactile switch and includes O-rings to dampen clack when the keys bottom out. Zergotech's fresh approach to the ergonomic keyboard really works. Since the keyboard layout doesn't change too much from what you're likely used to, the adjustment period is relatively short and being able to get the proper positioning for me is much better than the one-size-fits-most approach by others.

But it's the sliding wrist rests that really help get you in the right position to relieve wrist and shoulder pain. While this keyboard isn't cheap, it's a worthwhile investment covered by a day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty. Large, wired and designed primarily for Windows users, this is the overstuffed recliner of ergonomic keyboards. It's more affordable than most ergo models, although it's a full-size keyboard and requires a good bit of desk space.

You're probably better off keeping this on an under-mount keyboard tray and your mouse on your desktop. Like most ergonomic keyboards, this one takes a little time to adjust to -- partly because of the split keyboard design but also due to its high actuation force. It is comfortable, though, and an attachable lift at the front puts your hands at a negative angle for better positioning.

There are three programmable hotkeys at the top left, followed to the right by a row of media controls and quick-launch buttons for the calculator, screen snips, TaskView to see your open windows, system lock and search. It even has a shortcut button for symbols and emoji. Lightweight, thin and with long battery life, the HBB is a thrifty solution to adding a Bluetooth keyboard to a phone, tablet or computer.

Despite the small size, its layout doesn't take much time to adjust to, and while I expected it to feel like I was typing on a tabletop, the keys are actually comfortable with a fair amount of travel considering its thin body. Arteck even managed to give it a backlight that can be changed to one of seven colors, which is something far pricier keyboards don't have.

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CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Joshua Goldman. We purchase our own keyboards and put them under the same test bench, so that you can compare the results easily. No cherry-picked units sent by brands. These days, most of us spend a considerable amount of time in front of a computer with a keyboard as our main input device.

As such, it's important to choose a keyboard with features that suit our needs, whether it's for gaming or productivity. It can be hard to choose the best keyboard for your needs because there are mechanical and non-mechanical keyboards; even at that, there are tons of mechanical switches, so the possibilities of which keyboards you prefer are endless.

We've tested over keyboards, and below are our recommendations for the best keyboards available. Also, see our picks for the best gaming keyboards , the best mechanical keyboards , and the best RGB keyboards. The best computer keyboard for gaming that we've tested is the SteelSeries Apex Pro. As a wired-only model, it has a unique feature that lets you customize the pre-travel distance of each key.

Setting it to the lowest helps provide a quick and responsive gaming experience while setting it to its max introduces some force needed to actuate the key, which helps reduce the number of typos. You can set the pre-travel distance through the user-friendly SteelSeries Engine software. You can also reprogram and set macros to any key using the software, available on both Windows and macOS, and the keyboard has onboard memory if you need to switch computers.

Latency is low, and it has full RGB backlighting with individually lit keys. We tested the full-size model, which has a Numpad, but there's a TenKeyLess version available if you prefer something smaller.

Unfortunately, because the switches have a linear feel, typing may feel too sensitive to some because there's no tactile feedback.

It comes with a wrist rest to provide good ergonomics, but it's a dust magnet. If neither of these two tiny issues bothers you, it's one of the best keyboards we've tested. You can't customize the pre-travel distance like on the SteelSeries Apex Pro , but at least you can connect it either with the USB receiver or three Bluetooth devices at a time.

It's available with clicky and linear switches, so you can get the ones you prefer, and the clicky ones we tested provide more tactile feedback for a better typing experience, but they get loud. You can set macros to any key.

It also has full RGB backlighting. Unfortunately, the Razer Synapse 3 software isn't available on macOS, and even though the keyboard has onboard memory, it doesn't save the RGB settings. If you're in the market for the best full-size keyboard for gaming, you can't go wrong with the feature-rich SteelSeries, but if you're a fan of wireless keyboards with really low latency, then check out the Razer.

The best keyboard for office use that we've tested is the Logitech MX Keys. It's a slim, full-size model with a metal chassis, base plate, and ABS chiclet keycaps. It uses scissor switches that require a bit of force to get over the tactile bump, but it feels light overall and shouldn't cause fatigue over time. While it doesn't have any incline settings or wrist rest, it has a low profile, so you shouldn't need one. You can use it wirelessly via its USB receiver or Bluetooth, and you can pair it with up to three devices and easily switch between them with the dedicated keys.

It has white backlighting with a built-in sensor that automatically turns the lighting on when you're in the dark. Unfortunately, while its scissor switches are quiet, there's a bit of a pinging sound when you bottom out a key because of the board's metal base plate. Also, its key customization is limited to a preset list of functions, which may disappoint some people who like to set macros. Nonetheless, this is a good office keyboard if you're looking for something low-profile, wireless, and doesn't have a curved ergonomic shape.

It doesn't have backlighting like the Logitech MX Keys , and the unique split keyboard design may take some time getting used to, but it feels comfortable to type on once you do. It has negative incline settings, meant to relieve strain on your wrists. It has many of the same features because it has multi-device pairing, you can reprogram the function keys to a specific list of commands, and it's well-built.

Unfortunately, the scissor switches can feel a bit heavy to press at times as the operating force is a bit high, but typing quality is great regardless. If you need the best keyboard for the office, you should be happy with the MX Keys, but if you want something with a split keyboard design, then the K is as good.

See our review. This full-size mechanical board comes with a plushy wrist rest and one incline setting, which should help you type comfortably for long periods. It has many extra features, including dedicated media keys, a volume control wheel, a USB passthrough, and six dedicated macro keys, though you can set macros to any key as well.

It feels excellently well-built, with a metal top plate and a solid plastic base with only a bit of flex. It has doubleshot PBT keycaps that feel sturdy and stable. Our unit has clicky Cherry MX Blue switches which feel responsive, but they are a bit heavy and loud to type on. Unfortunately, since it's a wired board, you can't use it wirelessly or pair it to more than one device, which isn't ideal if you work on multiple devices during your day.

Also, some keys like the macro keys don't work on macOS and Linux, but at least it has onboard memory where you can save your settings to. All in all, this is a great mechanical option for programming if you're looking for a full-size model with lots of customization options. The best mobile keyboard we've tested is the Logitech K This is an excellent option if you're looking for a model that's slim, compact, and wireless to take with you while traveling.

You can pair it with up to three devices via Bluetooth and easily switch between them using the F1-F3 hotkeys, and it's compatible with most common operating systems, although some keys don't work on certain devices. The keys need to spring back and release that sweet clicky hit of dopamine. The NovelKeys NK65 was recommended by four tech experts in our guide to the best mechanical keyboards. With actual springs, called switches, under each key, mechanical keyboards give you better accuracy and responsiveness two things beloved by gamers and an incredibly satisfying click.

It has multiple kickstand levels to help you find the right level of wrist support. If you do take it to a coffee shop, be ready for some glares from neighbors annoyed by the loud click-clacking sound. Those small movements from moving your fingers and wrists along the keyboard can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome or other chronic issues, says Dr.

Scott Weiss , a physical therapist and board-certified athletic trainer. He recommends you use a split keyboard like this one. With an average rating of 4. The design of the keyboard is nice and very user friendly.

Additional number pad on the right hand side is definitely a plus as it makes it easy to key in the numbers. With four different viewing modes, it also works great for many different activities, including sketching, typing, watching videos, and reading.

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