The very best ergonomic keyboards for 2025

I in all probability have a look at my laptop display screen greater than I have a look at my members of the family. And copious hours sitting at a desk haven’t performed favors for my already wonky neck and shoulders. In case you additionally really feel some discomfort from typing and mousing the day away, you would possibly wish to spend money on an ergonomic keyboard. The primary time I attempted a completely cut up, thumb cluster board, I knew I had discovered the reply to my explicit drawback. However it was difficult to determine learn how to kind on it. Different unibody boards with angled keys, similar to Alice model keyboards, would possibly make issues extra comfy for you with out requiring a lot relearning.
I attempted out greater than 15 fashions of ergonomic boards and located a number of that stood out. Whereas there’s no single “greatest” possibility for everybody (since our bodies are inherently completely different), this information explores the choices so you could find the most effective ergonomic keyboard for you.

Desk of contents

Best ergonomic keyboards for 2025
What to look for in an ergonomic keyboard
How we tested ergonomic keyboards
Other ergonomic keyboards we tested

Greatest ergonomic keyboards for 2025

What to search for in an ergonomic keyboard

Alice vs cut up

Most ergonomic keyboard layouts fall into two classes: unibody (or Alice) and cut up. The previous is a single board with the 2 halves of the keys rotated about 30 levels aside on the backside. The separation kinds an A-shaped area between the keys — which has nothing to do with why it’s known as an Alice structure, it’s only a blissful coincidence. This refined tweak pushes your elbows away out of your ribs whereas protecting 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 carefully resembles a standard keyboard, so it must be simpler for most folk to get used to than a completely cut up possibility.

Talking of, cut up boards break the keys into two separate elements you possibly can place individually. You possibly can put them shoulder distance aside, convey 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 neater journey in your cursor hand and will probably assist with circumstances like repetitive pressure accidents (RSI). Personally, I like with the ability to put my present snack between the 2 elements. I’ve additionally discovered that pairing a cut up keyboard with a good 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 proper aspect enables you to preserve your mouse nearer in, minimizing general attain. However in the event you work with numbers rather a lot, you’ll seemingly need that pad included. Some programmable boards permit for using layers, which quickly repurpose keys and might give you a ten-key possibility via intelligent remapping of letter keys.

Tenting and unfavorable tilt

Tenting raises the center of the keyboard up, so your arms transfer nearer to a “handshake” place. Alice keyboards often angle up in the direction of the center and all the time to a hard and fast diploma, because the two sides are linked. Break up boards usually allow you to alter the diploma of tenting, going from flat to refined to excessive raise.

You will have encountered keyboards with an non-compulsory raise behind the board, elevating the highest keys greater than the area bar. Each set of arms is completely different, however for most individuals, pulling the backs of the arms in the direction of the forearms will increase pressure. Detrimental tilt has the other impact by sloping within the different course, decreasing the highest quantity keys whereas elevating the sting with the spacebar. Many Alice and a few cut up keyboards provide an non-compulsory unfavorable 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.

Staggered vs columnar

This determination 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’s about midway between the Q and W above it. This can be a holdover from classic mechanical typewriters, by 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 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 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 kind on a staggered keyboard, switching to a columnar structure is hard. It should take days, probably weeks earlier than you instinctively hit the C key. The N, M and B keys don’t fare a lot better.

Programmable keys

With a number of exceptions, most ergonomic keyboards will work with PCs or Macs as a typical typing enter, however using operate and scorching keys might require some remapping. It may be as simple as an onboard change to toggle between Mac and PC layouts, or as concerned as downloading software program to vary up the keys. Some boards even embrace (or allow you to purchase) further keycaps to vary, say, the Mac’s Command and Choice keys to PC’s Begin and Alt buttons. These are what’s known as hot-swappable keys, that means you simply pull the outdated key off (often with a offered key puller) and stick the brand new one on, no soldering required.

For some boards, remapping or programming keys utilizing software program is an important function. Gaming peripherals have further keys you can set to execute a collection of keystrokes with the push of a single button, and we cover the best gaming keyboards in a separate information. Keyboards that work with layers, by which a single button can carry out a number of features, sometimes can help you 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 together with your thumb. You’ll additionally have the ability to program these.

Different concerns

Ergonomic keyboards are available mechanical, membrane, and scissor change variations. Which works greatest for you is, once more, as much as your desire. I gained’t get too deep into the particulars right here, as now we have a complete information devoted to the best mechanical boards, however the in need of 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 often pricier.

You’ll even have the choice of wired or wi-fi ergonomic boards. All different issues being equal, wired fashions are cheaper. Aggressive avid gamers who depend on split-second responses might favor 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 could be cushioned or exhausting. That is one other space the place opinions diverge: proponents declare they make it easier to keep a impartial hand place, whereas detractors say they put stress on the tendons in your wrist and might exacerbate circumstances like carpal tunnel. Ideally, your palms must be resting, not your wrists, and also you would possibly discover you want having that assist or you could discover the stress uncomfortable.

Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

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 have a look at keyboard critiques in boards and different trusted publications. For this information, I regarded for keyboards with ergonomic options like tenting, cut 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 anyplace from a number of days to a couple weeks. I attempted out the remapping and macros software program and thought of 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. For subsequent updates to this information, I’ve continued to accumulate and take a look at out new keyboards as they arrive in the marketplace, including and changing the highest picks as warranted. If and when Microsoft ergonomic keyboards, just like the Sculpt, come again in the marketplace, as a collaboration with Incase has promised, I am going to attempt these fashions, too.

Different ergonomic keyboards we examined

Naya Create

I didn’t get to completely take a look at the Naya Create keyboard, however I used to be in a position to attempt one out for a couple of minutes throughout CES this year. It’s one of many extra customizable keyboards you’ll discover. Not solely is it a completely cut up, mechanical board with programmable keys, the thumb clusters sit just under two modular platforms that every settle for a touchpad, rollerball, dial or a 3D joystick. These are supposed to exchange your mouse and different enter units, eliminating journey in your cursor hand. Every half of the keyboard physique bends in two locations to permit for exact tenting and, from my quick time with the Naya, the hinges and your entire board felt solidly constructed. The Naya Create begins at $500 earlier than you add on any of the mouse modules, however that’s not stopping individuals from ordering. Based on Naya’s web site, the primary three batches of pre-orders bought out and the fourth batch will ship in July 2025.

Goldtouch Elite Adjustable

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 linked but adjustable cut up board is certainly a product you should buy. It’s a solidly-built board and the ball joint connecting the 2 halves seems like it can put up with numerous 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 power to swap a number of operate keys like print display screen 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 further neck and shoulder pressure on my half, which is kind of the other of the aim. 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 Break up Touchpad Keyboard

The thought behind the Kinesis Form Split Touchpad Keyboard is fairly ergonomic: put the trackpad between the 2 halves and reduce journey in your mouse hand. The gap between the 2 places your elbows at a snug distance and retains your wrist almost in-line together with your forearms. The construct is great, with low profile mechanical switches that really feel easy 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 preserve my wrists totally unbent. There’s no tenting or unfavorable tilt both, each of which might assist a bit extra, ergonomically talking.

Logitech Wavekeys

Whereas it is a completely positive and inexpensive Bluetooth keyboard, the Logitech Wavekeys has minimal ergonomics. The keys stand up barely within the center and there is a comfy wrist relaxation hooked up, however the structure is identical as some other keyboard, with no splitting of the keys to open up your arms or preserve your wrists straight.

This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/equipment/best-ergonomic-keyboard-130047982.html?src=rss

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