Getting a brand new keyboard is, aside from investing in a brand new desk chair or monitor, one of many quickest methods you may degree up your expertise of utilizing your pc. Like your mouse, it is the factor you contact each time you utilize your machine, and relying on what you utilize your pc for, having a keyboard that is snug to make use of might be the distinction between getting work completed or not. Laptop computer keyboards have radically improved over the past 5 years, whether or not it is Apple transition away from the much-aligned butterfly keyboard or the dramatic strides Home windows laptop computer keyboards have made in high quality. However since you’re actually caught with the keyboard your laptop computer ships with, you will want an exterior keyboard to get any form of customized expertise.
Learn extra: Apple iPhone 15 and USB-C: Everything you need to know
When it comes to ease-of-use, consolation, and selection, a USB-C keyboard is your best option. USB-C keyboards join and cost over essentially the most ubiquitous port on desktop and laptop computer computer systems, they themselves steadily provide wi-fi connectivity choices, and you will not even should put money into new cables or chargers if you have already got a smartphone that fees over USB-C. We have chosen a number of the greatest USB-C keyboard choices for the gathering beneath, so should you’re making an attempt to enhance your typing expertise, take a browse.
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Keychron / Pocket-lint
Keychron K2 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
Best overall USB-C keyboard
The Keychron K2 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard (Version 2) is part of Keychron’s cheaper K series of keyboards but don’t let that dissuade you. Even with a plastic casing and frame, the K2 is satisfyingly rigid and big enough to be comfortable. It can connect to up to three devices or Bluetooth, or one over a wired USB-C connection.
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Keychron / Pocket-lint
Keychron Q3 Wired Custom Mechanical Keyboard
Best premium USB-C keyboard
For the high-end keyboard enthusiast, look no further than the Keychron Q3 Wired Custom Mechanical Keyboard. The Q3 has a sleek aluminium frame that comes in several different stylish colours, with just as many switch options for a versitle typing experience. It’s all fully customizable via software and better yet, there’s a built-in knob that you can set to adjust volume and more.
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Royal Kludge / Pocket-lint
Royal Kludge RK61 Wireles Mechanical Keyboard
Best budget USB-C keyboard
$50 $65 Save $15
Being cheaper and more compressed than our other picks doesn’t make the Royal Kludge RK61 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard any less capable. It connects wirelessly (over Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz connection) or USB-C and offers 13 hours of battery life that can be extended to over 300 in standby. Just keep in mind it’s designed for Windows machines and doesn’t ship working with macOS out of the box.
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Nuphy / Pocket-lint
Nuphy Air75
Best low-profile mechanical keyboard
A verifiable social media sensation, the Nuphy Air75 Mechanical Keyboard is one of the best looking and lowest-profile keyboards in this collection. It comes in a playful set of colours, works just as well with Macs or Windows machines, and works with a wireless dongle or over a wired USB-C connection.
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Apple / Pocket-lint
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad
Best keyboard with Touch ID
$189 $199 Save $10
Apple’s Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad exists in an odd grey area for USB-C devices. It technically charges via its Lightning port, but the braided cable it ships with is a USB-C to Lightning cable. It’s highly likely Apple will swap it to USB-C just like the iPhone 15, but in the meantime it’s a great option for Apple users thanks to its dedicated Touch ID button.
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Corsair / Pocket-lint
Corsair K55 RGB Pro Gaming Keyboard
An affordable gaming keyboard
$59 $69 Save $10
Don’t worry, we thought of the gamers too. The Corsair K55 RGB Pro Gaming Keyboard is a membrane keyboard for Windows, so it won’t have the “clack” of our mechanical picks, but in exchange you get it six dedicated macro keys (you can use these for Elgato), dust and spill resistance, and a detachable palm rest.
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8Bitdo / Pocket-lint
8Bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboard
Best Nintendo-inspired keyboard
8Bitdo’s Retro Mechanical Keyboard looks like a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). But that gaming-inspired design doesn’t mean these keys are exclusively for playing games. 8Bitdo’s keyboard works with Windows or Android devices over Bluetooth, wireless 2.4Ghz adapter, or a wired USB-C connection, and ships with two big, red buttons you can assign to do just about anything when you press them.
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Zagg / Pocket-lint
Zagg Connect Keyboard 12C
Best keyboard for tablets and phones
The Zagg Connect Keyboard 12C is as simple as USB-C keyboards come. It has round keys (kind of like Logitech’s Pop Keyboard) that fit into a compact body that should easily fit in a backpack. The Connect Keyboard is designed to work with all the major operating systems, but its simple USB-C cable and small size make it perfect for typing on a tablet or smartphone.
What is the best USB-C keyboard?
USB-C keyboards come in all shapes and sizes, but for our money, we think the Keychron K2 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard will make most people happy with its options for wireless or USB-C connections, satisfyingly clacky keys, and solid construction. If you’re willing to pay a bit more, the Keychron Q3 Wired Custom Mechanical Keyboard adds a knob and an aluminium frame, and for a bit less, the Royal Kludge RK61 can get you a mechanical USB-C keyboard for less than $100.
What’s the difference between a membrane keyboard and a mechanical keyboard?
There are a variety of different ways to detect when someone presses a key on a keyboard, but when you’re comparing price and features, membrane keyboards and mechanical keyboards are the 2 varieties that get in contrast most frequently.
Membrane keyboards have rubber domes underneath every key that when pressed, full a circuit that registers the important thing as pressed in your pc. Membrane keyboards are typically quieter, mushy with little or no tactile suggestions, and way more inclined to break that requires restore. Crucial factor to learn about membrane keyboards, although, is that they’re far cheaper than mechanical keyboards.
Mechanical keyboards use particular person mechanical switches that should be pressed to register a stroke of a key in your pc. They’ve extra tactical suggestions as a result of every particular person change can have completely different ranges of pressure and bounce. That bounce again and the sounds of the switches and keys being depressed, is what makes mechanical keyboards so satisfying to make use of. The person switches are additionally what makes mechanical keyboards infinitely extra customisable and that rather more costly.
In the event you care about typing, mechanical keyboards are the way in which to go, and contemplating their rising recognition, the typical mechanical keyboard costs will solely go down, eliminating the necessity for low-cost membrane keyboards.
What are the completely different sizes of keyboard, and which one do I want?
What measurement of keyboard you want goes to rely on the keys you utilize and the dimensions of your palms, and to be clear, the choices can differ drastically.
- On the massive finish 100% keyboards have all 104 keys, together with the quantity pad, operate keys, arrow keys, and all the opposite regular keys.
- 80% keyboards ditch the quantity pad however sometimes preserve every little thing else
- 75% keyboards typically lose the quantity pad and a few modifying keys
- 65% keyboards do not have a quantity pad, operate keys, and a few navigation and modifying keys (like Delete or PrtScn)
- 60% keyboards do not have the quantity pad, operate keys, navigation keys, or arrow keys
- 50% keyboards are even smaller, primarily together with the letter and quantity keys and shoving every little thing else behind Fn key combos.
The whole lot between 75-100% feels just like the candy spot for individuals who kind frequently, however you will be one of the best decide if you may get away with much less house and key to get your work completed.
