What is a keyboard if not the original brain-computer interface? You can tap on a touchscreen or talk to your computer, but if your work involves getting information out of your head and into the machine, you're probably spending a lot of time using a keyboard. The Verge has written about many keyboards over the years, from the legendary Optimus Maximus to the ultra-luxe Seneca to even stranger fare. But one writer wanted to know what their coworkers actually use. As hoped, there's a wide range: some are strictly utilitarian, optimizing for ergonomics or functionality; others obsess over every detail of feel, sound, layout, and looks; still others - maybe the most enlightened - just use whatever's in front of them.
NuPhy came up a lot. So did Keychron. The Apple Magic Keyboard has its stalwarts. The Kinesis Freestyle split is surprisingly well represented. And there are other, odder entries.
One writer currently uses the Kinesis Freestyle Pro and has used it for so long they've forgotten when they first got it. In the late 2010s, they had wrist pain that led them to try a lot of ergonomic keyboards so they could keep using computers. The Freestyle Pro - with its optional tenting add-ons that give the keyboard a significant angle and the palm rest accessories - just feels the best under their hands. If this keyboard broke, they'd buy another one the same day.
For work, another uses a simple Keychron K2. But for their gaming PC, they use the Logitech G713 wired mechanical keyboard - the one that comes with the cloud wrist rest. Did they mostly buy it for the wrist rest? Perhaps. But they do love the tenkeyless layout. Their previous gaming keyboard had a number pad and two rows of programmable keys, which was cool, but they mostly used the number pad to type the alt code for em dashes. The G713, on the other hand, meets their gaming requirements without taking up half their desk. They're not playing anything competitive on their PC that requires adjustable actuation points, so the GX red linear switches do the trick. (And they're the right amount of clicky, unlike the overly loud ones on their K2.) So yeah, maybe they bought it for the sleek all-white look and the cute wrist rest, but it's also a great keyboard, too.
One staffer is using Apple's Magic Keyboard with the numeric keypad. Some version of Apple's keyboard has been on their desk for over 20 years, starting with the Apple A1048 that came with their first Mac in college. They loved that keyboard (the sound of fingertips hitting the keys - swoon!) and wore it down to the point of keys falling off. Since then, they've stuck with Apple's wireless keyboards. Honestly, it's a pretty keyboard, but otherwise unremarkable, and blends in with their desk setup (which also is kind of the point, right?). Their biggest complaints are that the key legends wear off faster than they'd like and the Bluetooth connection isn't totally reliable. It's not their favorite Apple product (by far), but after two decades of muscle memory, they're not switching anytime soon.
Another really wants to be a mechanical keyboard guy. They love typing on mechanical keyboards! They love the clackiness, the way they look on their desk, the huge personality upgrade that comes with them. But then they start typing notes during a call, and someone goes, "Sorry, what's that noise in the background?" and they bail on their mechanical keyboard. They used Logitech's MX Keys S for the last few years, and love that keyboard, but recently replaced it with an Apple Magic Keyboard (black keys, number pad) because they got tired of typing their 1Password password all the time. They bought a $200 keyboard for the Touch ID button. Ugh.
One writer's keyboard is probably the single dumbest thing they have ever spent money on, but it brings them joy every time they look at it. The setup matches a Boop Redux case with the GMK Dots keycaps and Silent Bluish White (V2) switches. They didn't so much want to get deep into the mechanical keyboard hobby as they wanted to have this exact keyboard after they saw images of the Dots keycaps on the (original) Boop case floating around in around 2022. It looks cool, right? (Right?) From a practical standpoint, this is fully a downgrade from the Apple Magic Keyboard they were using before: It's bigger and louder, with fewer keys, and they probably type a bit slower on it, too, owing to the longer key strokes. It's also a few hundred dollars more expensive. But you know what? They think it looks really cool.
Since they review laptops and occasionally mechanical keyboards, one staffer is constantly changing what they type on. But one of their personal keyboards that remains close to their heart is their TM680 (aka the Gamakay LK67). It's a cheap bare-bones 65-percent kit they bought from AliExpress in 2021. They were inspired by the video that YouTuber Scott "Keybored" Kim did on it, so they dabbled in modding it. They started with basic Gateron Milky Yellow linear switches and some crummy knockoff Evangelion keycaps, but later upgraded to a much nicer MT3 3277 keycap set. They then spent hours individually lubricating and adding switch films to each of the Gaterons, lubing the stabilizers, inserting some foam into the base of the chassis, and adding layers of painter's tape to the bottom of the PCB. This combination made their basic build sound and feel much better, and it shaped their preference for deeper, "thockier"-sounding boards that they still have today. Their old TM680 is easily outdone by just about any budget board these days. Many switches now arrive pre-lubed from the factory, and even a sub-$100 keyboard can sound and feel nicer right out of the box. But doing the mods themselves felt special. They doubt they'll ever bother with all that work again, because lubing and filming switches is just too tedious and time-consuming, but they're glad they at least experienced it once. And no matter how many new keyboards they test, they intend on keeping their TM680.
One writer used to buy pretty expensive gaming keyboards that they can't even name now without digging deep through email archives for receipts. They know they once spent nearly $200 on a full-size Razer mechanical keyboard with a numpad that took up a ton of desk space. The key travel felt amazing and it had a great sound. But what they really remember was knocking over a full glass of water on it. Oops! Farewell, keyboard. Unfortunately, this happened not once, not twice, but three times for them with relatively expensive keyboards over the years. Yes, they should have learned to contain liquids in bottles on their desk. But now they've settled for cheap - but - still-good options the same way they've done with the several pairs of earbuds they've ruined over the years. (Former serial AirPods Pro user here, now fully on board the Nothing Ear train.) They're currently rocking a Keychron K2 with a 75-percent layout. It took them a minute to get their 120-plus WPM back on a cramped keyboard, but now it works just fine and they like the look. They'll probably splurge again someday on a really compelling set of keycaps.
One staffer uses the laptop that is attached to the M2 MacBook Air they were issued by their employer. It's right there whenever they need it, but they think they should make a version that's covered in way fewer crumbs.
Another has a toxic relationship with their keyboard, a Corsair K55 RGB Pro that they picked up for half the price at a thrift store a few years ago. It's a decent, budget-friendly keyboard that's fine to use for gaming and writing. But recently, it's been getting on their nerves. The keys no longer light up when they turn their computer on, and it sometimes doesn't sync properly with their Corsair iCUE software. They can't see what they're pressing unless the keyboard is lit up (the keys are translucent), so they've had to resort to unplugging the keyboard and plugging it back in when they turn on their computer, which usually does the trick. The issue is probably software-related, but they might just get fed up enough to buy themselves a fancy new mechanical keyboard.
The latest version of a Verge favorite, this low-profile mechanical keyboard has long battery life, tri-mode wireless, hot-swappable low-profile switches, and remappability.
One writer has never been a keyboard guy. They were content to use the one attached to their laptop or whatever wireless Apple version they could get for cheap. But they changed when a coworker turned them on to the NuPhy Air75 mechanical keyboard. The keys feel great, the "clack-clack" sound is so satisfying, and the overall design is retro without seeming outdated. That big yellow spacebar, the delightfully orange Enter button, the subtly aquamarine Escape key - chef's kiss. Connectivity is robust and the battery lasts for days before needing to be recharged. It took some getting used to, but they chalk it up to not being able to use their left ring finger while typing since breaking it in a freak scooter accident years ago. But that's a different story.
A 65 percent gasket-mounted wired mechanical keyboard kit. Use the Design Lab to customize its top, bottom, switchplate, and accent colors, plate materials, and mechanical or electrocapacitive PCBs. (Switches, stabilizers, and keycaps sold separately)
These days one staffer mostly swaps between a Leopold FC660C and a couple of Omnitype Bauer Lites. The Leopold is a Topre board they've had since 2017; they've modified it a fair bit over the years, with silencing rings, a new controller board, and Ursa keycaps. They fell in love with the unbeatable tactility of Topre switches early, but they love the customizability of regular mechanical keyboards too, so they've spent a lot of time over the past decade trying to find something that combines the best of both. They got most of the way there with their first Bauer Lite a couple years ago; its Kailh Deep Sea Silent Islet switches are linear, but they're the closest to Topre they ever found in an MX-compatible switch. (They're basically identical to the ones in the HHKB Studio). It's also fluorescent orange, which just makes them happy. They built another one recently with DynaCap electro-capacitive switches and MTNU Space Cadet keycaps. Do they need three wired 65-percent keyboards with very similar layouts and pretty similar typing feel? Probably not. But they have them anyway. Also several other keyboards.
One writer loves trying out new mechanical keyboards (and has reviewed dozens of them), but for the last year straight they've been using a NuPhy Halo75 V2 as their daily driver. They've built several custom mechanical keyboards over the years, but they haven't changed anything on this one yet. They may swap out the switches and keycaps at some point. NuPhy's tactile Mint switches are fairly good, but they miss the Leobog Juggle V2 switches they have on a wired keyboard that used to be their daily driver. They've been pretty happy with how the Halo75 sounds and feels out of the box. They also appreciate that the design's simple enough to not be distracting while still having a few pops of color. The battery life could be a bit better, but there's not much to complain about overall - the build quality feels solid, the keycaps and switches have held up well over months of heavy typing, and the Halo75 works smoothly with both Mac and Linux. It also has Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, which was a must-have for them since they like to hop between multiple devices from the same keyboard. They've had a great experience with the Halo75 so far, but they'd recommend it mainly for Mac users - macOS is where it really shines. It works fine for gaming, but they'd suggest configuring it with linear switches if you want to use it for gaming, rather than the tactile switches they went with.
One staffer started building mechanical keyboards a few years ago, and has a few in their quiver, but the one they use most often is a NovelKeys NK65 in white. This 65-percent keyboard is sturdy and compact, with just enough extra buttons for work or surfing the web, and arrow keys in case they want to sneak in some gaming. It's a hot-swap board, so they change up the setup occasionally, but it's currently equipped with SA Mizu keycaps and C3Equalz x TKC Dragonfruit tactile switches, with a matching desk pad and metal Escape key.
One writer upgraded their writing equipment since 2021, when they proudly displayed an Apple Magic Keyboar