Mechanical Keyboards For Mac

BestMechanical Keyboards for MaciMore2019

Many current Mac keyboards are not mechanical – pushing a key pushes two membranes together, which sends an electrical current to your Mac to tell it to produce a letter. Mechanical keyboards have physical switches, which make them louder, and ensure you really know when you've pressed a key. A lot of folks are going back to mechanical keyboards since the 'mushy' keyboards of today aren't responsive enough. If you miss the clickety-clackety keyboards of yore, then check these out!

I don’t have any Mac geared mechanical keyboards but I’m a big fan of tenkeyless keyboards with Cherry reds. I love the light feel and the softer sound as compared to the browns and blues. I have a Filco and also a Poker with cherry red switches. Another favorite keyboard of mine is my Realforce with topre keys. The Magic Keyboard is a wireless, rechargeable keyboard that comes included with most Mac computers. However, those of us who are on old Macs or want a new keyboard, the small Magic keyboard might.

Top pick: Das Keyboard 4 Professional

Staff Favorite

Das Keyboard 4 Professional gives you the choice between Cherry MX Brown or Blue, depending on how loud you like your keyboard, and it even has dedicated media controls, including an oversized volume knob, as well as a number pad. Two USB 3.0 ports make it perfect for the ultra-productive folks.

$169 at Amazon

Backlight champ: WASD CODE 87-key keyboard

If you have a dimly lit workspace or find yourself regularly typing in the dark, then this is the keyboard for you. It features a bright white LED backlighting with seven brightness levels, and the DIP switch makes it easy to switch on Mac mode.

$160 at Amazon

Quietest option: Matias Quiet Pro

This keyboard, which is specifically made for Mac, has very quiet keys, so it delivers all of the comforts of a mechanical keyboard with much less clickety-clack. The Matias Quiet Pro also features a full number pad, as well as fold-out legs to raise it if you prefer it that way.

$140 at Amazon

For power users: Logitech G710+

Logitech's G710+ has a vast feature set for its price. You've got high-speed keys with great feedback, dual-zone backlighting, which means you can adjust the brightness of the WASD on their own — perfect if you do any gaming on your Mac. You can even configure six buttons for 18 different gaming functions, including single key presses.

$138 at Amazon

RGB backlighting: AUKEY RGB backlit keyboard

Rainbow backlighting is the prettiest backlighting, and AUKEY does it well with its inexpensive keyboard, which may have Outemu Blue switches, but they still feel like MX Cherry switches and provide excellent tactile feedback. There are 10 LED presets for different patterns and lighting effects, and there are game lighting combinations if that's your fancy. If you're looking for a straight-up cool keyboard, this is the one.

$65 at Amazon

Steampunk aesthetic: Azio Artisan Bluetooth keyboard

If you're into steampunk or just like your peripherals to have an aesthetic that pops and looks different from what everyone else has, then Azio's copper-colored Artisan keyboard is where it's at. It features a genuine leather top plate, a zinc-aluminum frame, round keys, and a number pad. This is a conversation piece, but it's fully functional and quite well-reviewed.

$220 at Amazon

RGB lighting for less: EagleTec RGB LED keyboard

If you're looking for a backlit keyboard that fits in more with Apple's aesthetic than others, then EagleTec's is the one you want. It's all white, but has RGB backlighting, with five lighting modes, as well as five levels of brightness. This keyboard is reinforced with aluminum, making it sturdy and substantial so that it's not sliding across your desk while you type.

$45 at Amazon

A better typing experience

The dissatisfying keyboards that come with Macs aren't enough for some people. If you like real key feedback and that satisfying clicking sound, pick up a mechanical keyboard.

Cherry MX switches —the ones available on the Das Keyboard 4 Professional — will feel the best and last the longest. Plus the Das Keyboard 4 Professional comes formatted for Mac right out of the box with all the appropriate keys, features media controls, and a full number pad.

If gaming is the main reason you want a mechanical keyboard, the Logitech G710+ is a reliable option. With a ton of customization for programming hotkeys and separate lightning for the WASD keys, any gamer can set this keyboard up perfectly for their preferred games.

Any updates on a patch or workaround? Now it still says 'scheule meeting'. I've tried clearing everything, reindexing, re-installing, praying - but am now having to use webex instead. Gotomeeting for mac.

We know the price of a mechanical keyboard can be a little hard to swallow for people with smaller budgets, but the EagleTec RGB LED keyboard is actually a fantastic keyboard in its own right. With full RGB backlighting and its aluminum construction, it's sure to last you a long time, look just as cool, and cost significantly less than the competition.

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Review

By Amber Neely
Sunday, November 03, 2019, 08:36 am PT (11:36 am ET)

Whether you're gaming or typing, a mechanical offers far better accuracy and an overall better feel than traditional keyboards. Keychron has made a Mac-friendly mechanical keyboard that has a few neat tricks up its sleeve.



Mechanical keyboards are the choice of both professional typists and hardcore gamers, largely due to their reliability and high quality feel. If you're looking to grab yourself a mechanical keyboard, check out Keychron's K2. It features customizable lighting, can switch between Mac and Windows layouts, and comes in several different switch types.

Build quality




The first thing that I noticed about the Keychron K2 mechanical keyboard was the build quality. It's a substantial keyboard and plenty heavy. It feels like it could last a long time—something I appreciate as I tend to go through keyboards fairly quickly.
The developers note that the keys on the K2 are designed to last for 50 million keystrokes, which is longer than the average dome-switch keyboard. If you tend to wear through keycaps like I do, you can replace them easily as well. In fact, the K2 even comes with a keycap remover, as well as a few extra key caps if you'd like to switch out your Option and Command keys with Alt and Ctrl for a Windows layout.
The K2 is an 84-key keyboard, meaning that you'll have to do without your number pad if you go this route. For me, that's not a deal breaker, but for those who are professional number crunchers, it might be.

Sort of portable


A neat feature of the K2 is that it is portable —insofar as it has an internal battery. While there's somewhat limited cases for needing this feature, we like it. You could pair it with an iPad or even your iPhone while you're on the go. It will work while directly connected to your computer, though, through a USB-A to USB-C connector, which also charges the keyboard.


Performance

Wireless mechanical keyboard for mac
I was impressed with the K2. The keys are responsive, the texture of the keys is smooth, but doesn't feel slippery, and overall it fits my hands pretty well. I like the six-degree angle you can achieve by flipping the feet on the back of the keyboard out, which does make typing quite a bit more comfortable than if they're left down.

Best Mechanical Keyboards For Mac




My only complaint, which is true of almost every mechanical keyboard I've used, is that they tend to be a little tall for my hands. If you've got smaller hands, you might find that you occasionally hit the option or command buttons without meaning to. I find that this isn't the case if I'm working at a lower desk, or if I raise my chair quite a bit higher, but I'm not always given these options. I may end up needing to invest in a wrist-wrest later down the line if I plan on continuing to use this as my main keyboard.

To click or not to click


Depending on what your personal preference is, you can opt for a variety of different switches in your keyboard. I like a linear switch that works well for both gaming and typing, so I opted for the Cherry Red switch. I find that I type pretty fast on Cherry Red switches, and they're somewhat less annoying for those around me who might not want to hear the click-click-click of a tactile switch.
That isn't to say that the Cherry Red switches are silent. They're not. This is a louder keyboard than what an average might sound like, though the benefit of faster typing might be worth the extra noise.
Of course, if you like something more tactile, the K2 comes in Cherry Blue and Brown as well.

One keyboard to rule them all.




Another neat feature of the K2 is that it can connect with multiple devices and quickly switch from one to another via keyboard shortcuts. Holding down Fn and pressing 1, 2, or 3, will allow the device to change which device the K2 is paired with.

A little extra


One of the coolest things about the K2 is that it comes with about 15 different lighting modes. Some modes are animated, while others are static. Some respond to key presses, others don't.
On top of that, each lighting mode can be customized to a specific color by holding down the fn button and hitting either the left or right arrow key.

Of course, if you're not into the lighting effects, you can turn them down or off by pressing the F5 button.

Overall


If you're a fan of mechanical keyboards there's no reason to think you wouldn't like the K2. It's a joy to type on, you can customize the lighting effects to your hearts desire, and it can control multiple devices all at once. What's not to like?
The Keychron K2 Mechanical Keyboard starts at $69.99 for white backlit keyboards and $79.99 for RGB backlit keyboards. Prime members can get Blue or Red cherry switch RBG keyboards with free shipping from Amazon. Alternative options, including Cherry Brown switches and non-RGB lit keyboards, are available on the Keychron website.

Mechanical Keyboards For Mac And Pc

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Keyboards For Mac Computers


    Pros
  • Keys are easy to press
  • Lighting effects offer hundred of customization options
  • Solid build quality

Rgb Mechanical Keyboards For Mac


    Cons
  • Keyboard may be a bit tall for shorter people or those with taller desks
  • Some switches may be potentially too loud for those who share a room with others