Officially, the 9 Best Keyboards

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When you write for a living, the typing experience is a significant part of the game. And getting really into keyboards has been one of my favorite go-to ways of procrastinating the work that comes out of them. I need it to feel a certain way in order to really work, you know? Can't be too loud (distracting) or too quiet (hear my own thoughts? no thanks). I need a setup for my different places of work, too: a heavy clicky one for typing on my desk at home, a quiet portable one for working from the library, and a handful of others for no reason other than maybe I'll work better on it.

So, instead, I've gotten really into how a keyboard looks, sounds, and feels. Many of these are mechanical, but for this, that's more for the feel than it is for the gaming capabilities (although many of the keyboards included here are good for that, too). Your options range in weight—some are light while others are heavy, meant to work with tough typers and gamers; size—some are full size with number pads while others are varying degrees of compact; and switch types—mechanical keyboards construct their keys so that they have more or less resistance when you hit them.

Here, we've rounded keyboards that span the range of lightweight to heavy, smooth to tactile to clicky, and portable to entirely customizable. If you're anything like me, you'll find that you actually prefer different keyboard types for different tasks. Dress like an athlete before you can be an athlete sort of technique. Start your upgraded typing experience here.

RK98 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

This wireless mechanical keyboard is nice to feel, pretty to look at, and easy to use. It's a great everyday option for working from home: I use the brown switch version, which is tactile. It has a solid, satisfying click to it, but I have to say, it could get pretty annoying to anyone working around me.

Air75 V2 Portable Mechanical Keyboard

Nuphy's lightweight, compact keyboard is popular for its portability. It's hard to get a solid typing experience on something that's also easy enough to carry around. It has a low profile and is 75 percent of a full keyboard for taking up a small amount of space. It's designed to fit over top the built-in laptop keyboard, so you can improve your typing experience without taking up more room.

K1 SE

The Keychron K1 SE is a great starter pick for anyone looking to dabble in mechanicals and looking for an idea on where to start. It's 80 percent of a full size keyboard, but it's made with a low-profile Gateron mechanical switch. This makes it a bit quieter and fun to use.

Wave Keys

Logitech's Wave Keys are a great ergonomic shape without having to get a split design. The keys are angled slightly upwards to put your hands in a more comfortable position, and the cushioned palm rest adds to the whole ergonomic design. Keep it on your standing desk and you'll have a whole new posture by the end of the week, maybe.

K380 Multi-Device Keyboard

For a cheap, easy-to-use, and easy-to-carry keyboard, it's this Logitech one. I keep it as my work-from-cafe keyboard that is lightweight and easy to use and significantly better than hunching over my laptop. It's also easy to sync between your laptop, iPad, or phone.

Slim X3 Bluetooth Keyboard

If you don't want a whole mechanical keyboard but Apple ones are just too slim, Satechi's keyboard is a sold Mac alternative. It's sleek, full size, and has a bit more feedback on the keystroke than other thin keyboards. Adjustable brightness to your preference.

Model S

Das Keyboards are, what my software engineer brother calls the "Cadillac of keyboards." It's a great, solid option for keeping on your desk at home, and the metal construction makes it feel significantly more high end than other options. Choose the right keystroke for you: Cherry MX brown, soft and tactile; Cherry MX blue, clicky; and Cherry MX red, tactile clicky.

Launch Heavy Keyboard

For an at-home upgrade, you'd be hard-pressed to find something higher quality and more fun to use on the daily than the System76. It's heavyweight, which is technically meant for people who are using this for gaming or hacking, but it also just makes for a satisfying type.It’s fully customizable and hardwired, making it good for coding and gaming tasks.

TH80 Pro

For a fun, compact option, this 75 percent Epomaker takes up minimal space but gives you the full feel of a mechanical keyboard. Customize the backlight to your liking, and, a fan favorite detail, that little knob is customizable, too. It's a happy addition to any desk.

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