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What are the best mechanical keyboards for Apple Mac computers?

8

Options
Considered

75

User
Recs.

Mar 31, 2020

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

The Best 1 of 8 OptionsWhy?

Best mechanical keyboards for Apple Mac computers	Price	Weight	Warranty
93 CODE Keyboard	$145+	87 keys: 2 lbs ( 0.9 kg ); 104 keys: 2.42 lbs ( 1.09 kg )	2-year limited warranty (mechanical or electrical defects)
-- Kinesis Advantage2	$349	1 kg / 2.2 lbs	3 years
-- Matias Tactile Pro 3	$144.81	-	-
-- Das Keyboard Model S Professional For Mac	$133	-	-
-- Velocifire M87	59.99	1.42 pounds/646 g	1 Year

CODE Keyboard

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Top Pro

Minimalistic design

The CODE keyboard has a textured finish that resists fingerprints and scratches. It has no stickers or logos and the back-lighting is very clean and elegant. See More

Top Con

Expensive

Compared to alternatives which offer RGB lighting, USB passthrough or other features, this keyboard is pretty expensive. See More

Specs

Weight:87 keys: 2 lbs ( 0.9 kg ); 104 keys: 2.42 lbs ( 1.09 kg )

Warranty:2-year limited warranty (mechanical or electrical defects)

Accessories:1.8 m ( 70.8'' ) Micro USB cable with cable tie, wire keycap puller, USB to PS/2 adapter

Available Switches:Cherry MX Green, Clear, Brown, or Blue

Top Pro

Available with or without a numeric keypad

Users can choose between versions that have and don't have a numeric keypad. See More

Top Con

Too small for some, particularly those with big hands

This keyboard's small size may prove difficult for some people to get accustomed to. See More

Top Pro

DIP-Switches allow quickly disabling or switching certain keys and changing the layout completely

DIP-switches on the back of the keyboard can be used to disable the Windows key, switch Caps Lock with Ctrl, swap Alt with Command (if you're on macOS), and change to QWERTY, Dvorak, or Colemak layouts. See More

Top Con

Sculpted keys make switching to Dvorak difficult

Dvorak is a keyboard layout that's an alternative to the commonly used QWERTY layout. While QWERTY was designed in the early days of typing, Dvorak is a more comfortable, modern layout which is technically superior. It is designed to have more flow than QWERTY, where the left hand does most of the work. Here, keys are strategically placed to spread the typing out more evenly. This creates better flow (left hand types a letter, then the right hand, then back to left and so on). In this keyboad, the keycaps are sculpted for the QWERTY layout, which means that, when you switch the keys around, each of the keys is at a slightly different angle than the one next to it. See More

Top Pro

Saves time with complex key combos

Key combos can be configured, supporting combinations of up to six keys. However, Ctrl, Alt and Shift don't count to this total. As a result, using these keys actually increases the combo key limit to nine. See More

Top Con

No wireless connection

CODE keyboards connect via USB. No Bluetooth or any other form of wireless connection is available. See More

Top Pro

Solid construction

This keyboard is built solidly, using sturdy parts made of robust materials. It's mounted on a solid steel backplate, weighs over 2 pounds and has a dual layer PCB board. In this aspect, it’s comparable to other keyboards renowned for their build quality, such as those from the Ducky series. See More

Top Con

Spare parts and keycap sets can only be obtained from third parties

The manufacturer doesn’t sell spare parts or keycap sets, so if users want to change the layout, they have to get these components from a third party. See More

Top Pro

Available with 4 different kinds of Cherry MX switches

The CODE keyboard uses Cherry MX mechanical key switches, regarded as top-quality switches. They have impressive levels of durability and consistently pass, with high marks, all the performance tests they are subjected to. There are 4 kinds to choose from: Blue, Brown, Green or Clear. The MX Blues are the most common kind. They are responsive, but soft, and quite noisy. The MX Browns feel similar to the Blues, but slightly less noisy. The MX Greens are often described as heavy Blue switches. They still make the click sound and offer tactile feedback, however the activation force is 80g (for the Blue switches, it's 50g). The MX Clear switches have medium stiffness and a tactile response but are non-clicky (similar to Brown switches but heavier and with a greater tactile feedback). It's characteristics make it fantastic for general typing in office environments. See More

Top Con

It's hard to source the MX Clear version

The version of the CODE keyboard that comes with the MX Clear switches is constantly out of stock. See More

Top Pro

Removable/replaceable USB cable

Many keyboards come with a permanently attached cable, meaning that if it gets damaged, you need to get it fixed or replace the whole board. CODE keyboards come with removable cables, which means they're easy to replace if broken. This also has the added benefit of allowing for more customization options: braided cables, different coloured cables, or longer/shorter cables for different setups without having excess cables hanging around. See More

Top Pro

Media control

Even though there aren't any dedicated media keys, the navigation cluster has secondary media control functions. To access these functions, the keys should be pressed in combination with the Fn key. See More

Top Pro

Very portable

This keyboard’s detachable cable, dimensions, and weight make it extremely easy to carry around. See More

Top Pro

Full white backlighting

The CODE keyboard comes with backlighting that feels similar to the one found on Apple products. You can pick from seven brightness levels and the onboard memory saves your lighting preferences. They also have gone to a lot of trouble getting the backlighting even by painting the backplate white and positioning the key symbols just right. See More

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7 Other Options Considered

Kinesis Advantage2

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Top Pro

Tweaked layout that saves your hands

This keyboard has numerous ergonomic advantages over a keyboard with a standard layout. Some of them are obvious and some are subtle, but they are synergistic and result in a typing experience that places far less stress on the hands. Learning a tweaked keyboard layout is a small price to pay to avoid RSI (repetitive strain injury). See More

Top Con

Can be a bit flakey at times

The downside of this keyboard is that it can occasionally act up. The biggest problem is that the up-event for a key occasionally gets lost and then some key will auto-repeat until you press it again. Or even worse, it's a key that has no visible effect like an Alt key, and then you have to figure out which key it is that is in the virtual down position, and press it again. It has had this same problem for the last 20 years. You learn to live with it for the sake of your hands. See More

Specs

Weight:1 kg / 2.2 lbs

Warranty:3 years

Accessories:Quick Start Guide, self-adhesive palm pads, keycap puller and 4 extra keycaps ( 2 Command keys, 1 Alt/Option key and 1 Alt key)

Available Switches:Cherry MX Brown

Top Pro

Optimised, ergonomic shape that significantly reduces the risk of RSI

This keyboard is sculpted to fit the curvature of your hand more naturally than regular flat boards. This helps reduce the risks of suffering repetitive strain injuries. See More

Top Con

Quite bulky, therefore not very portable

As a direct consequence of its unconventional ergonomic shape, the Advantage2 is quite bulky. At 16.5 in’ x 8 in’ x 2.88 in’ (419 mm x 203 mm x 73 mm), it's not the most portable keyboard. See More

Top Pro

Prepared for macOS, Windows and Linux

Besides the option of easily changing between preprogrammed layouts of these 3 systems, extra OS-specific keycaps come with the keyboard. See More

Top Con

Not great for gaming

This keyboard is amazing for typing, but not great for gaming. Many games make intensive keys such as the Arrow keys or the Alt, Control and Shift keys. With this keyboard, it's not very comfortable to use them so frequently. See More

Top Pro

No need to constantly move hands sideways

One of this keyboard's best features is that the keys are vertically aligned in straight columns, so that you're not constantly exercising the muscles to move your fingers slightly to the left or to the right. It makes a huge difference. See More

Top Con

Different switches for the function keys

The functions keys are not build with the same switches than the other keys: they use Cherry ML switches instead of Cherry MX Brown switches. Because of their shorter travel distance, the ML feels quite different. It's awkward to have such different sensations for different parts of the keyboard. See More

Top Pro

Very programmable

This keyboard has several programmable options, like Macro recording, key remapping or keyboard layout (the keyboard can be changed from QWERTY to Dvorak with the touch of a button). See More

Top Con

Proficiency means overcoming a learning curve

Becoming an expert at using this keyboard’s optimized design needs time and patience, since it’s so different from what most people are used to. Some of its drastic layout changes can be disorienting at first. For example, the four arrow keys are separated: up and down on the right side cluster; left and right on the left side cluster. It’s also built to enforce healthier hand posture and movements, that may feel weird at first. For instance, the keyboard trains you (using a deactivatable key feedback) to press keys smoothly instead of smashing down, which reduces hand strain. Usually, it takes between two to four weeks of regular use to feel completely comfortable at using this keyboard. See More

Top Pro

No undesirable movements

Because of its size, this keyboard stands firmly on the desk and doesn't suffer from unwanted movement during use. See More

Top Pro

No thumb conflict over the spacebar

On common keyboards, both thumbs rest over the spacebar, meaning they can knock against each other. On the Advantage2 keyboard, only one thumb can press the keyboard, eliminating this problem. See More

Top Pro

Good for learning how to touch type

This layout, because of its uniqueness, is perfect to learn touch typing. Even for those that were never able to learn it with common keyboards. It still requires practice to get proficient, of course. See More

Top Pro

Comfortable palm rests

The large, raised palm rests provide comfort while typing. See More

Top Pro

Clusters of keys under each thumb means less reaching

Having multiple keys under the thumbs lets you keep the rest of your hands still, and helps prevent reaching. For example, the backspace key on a regular keyboard is way in the top right corner, while on the Kinesis keyboard it's under the left thumb. So, to hit the backspace button you just need to move your thumb while on regular keyboards you need to move your whole right hand and stretch your pinky to reach it. See More

Velocifire M87

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Top Pro

White backlight

Top Con

No number pad

Since it's a TKL (tenkeyless) design, it doesn't feature a number pad, which can be inconvenient to some. See More

Specs

Weight:1.42 pounds/646 g

Warranty:1 Year

Available Switches:Brown

Top Pro

Brown switches gives perceptible feedback with every keystroke

Top Con

Some of the keys have tactile noise inconsistencies

Due to not being genuine Cherry MX switches, they are not as consistent sound-wise. Though the feel should still be the same of every key. See More

Top Pro

Compact layout

Top Con

The feet occasionally slide

Top Pro

Pairs with Mac automatically

QPAD MK80

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Top Pro

Make 4 keys of your choice stand-out

The MK80 comes with four orange keycaps, that be swapped with the default keycaps to make 4 keys stand-out See More

Top Con

Takes up two USB ports

This keyboard has a two-port USB hub, but it also uses two of the computers USB ports. See More

Top Pro

Variety of ports

The MK80 has high speed USB slots and mini jack inputs and outputs. See More

Top Con

Noisy

Cherry MX Blue key switches are noisy. See More

Top Pro

Removable wrist rest

This keyboard comes with a detachable, comfortable wrist rest. See More

Top Pro

Individual key backlightinh

Each of the MK80's keys has an individual backlighting LED, with 4 levels of brightness to choose. See More

Top Pro

Resistant

This keyboard is sturdy and well-built. See More

Top Pro

Wide choice of keycaps

You can have Nutella keycaps or colorful skulls keycaps, if you're into it. Since this keyboard uses Cherry MX switches, this means there's a vast set of keycaps to choose from. See More

Top Pro

Good value for its price

For a mechanical backlit keyboard, the MK80 is extremely affordable. See More

Top Pro

Scandinavian quality assurance

QPAD is from Sweden, so the QA is scandinavian. See More

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