I’ve gone back and forth on mechanical keyboards a few times over the years. This isn’t due to any indecisiveness about whether or not I prefer them – I very much do – but a couple of practical issues. One of these is that I’m not aware of any mechanical keyboard available with a Touch ID key. This is one of those features that once you’ve had it, you don’t ever really want to go back … For a very long time, there was only one problem with using a mechanical keyboard – that of constantly switching back and forth. At my desk, I use an external monitor, keyboard, and trackpad; elsewhere I use my MacBook Pro on its own, typing on the built-in keyboard. That means I’m switching back and forth between mechanical and chiclet keyboards, with slightly different layouts and a very different feel, which can be a little jarring. But back in 2016, a second issue arose: Apple added a Touch ID to the MacBook Pro keyboard, and in 2021 added it to the Magic Keyboard too. It’s an incredibly useful feature for unlocking the Mac itself, using passkeys on websites, authenticating App Store purchases, and authorizing payments with Apple Pay on the web. It wasn’t something I wanted to give up. For a while, I had the ridiculous situation of using a mechanical keyboard while keeping the Magic Keyboard on my monitor stand purely so that I could use Touch ID. However, I’ve now switched to another solution which may seem rather silly but works really well for me. You can buy brackets to mount on the underside of a desk. These are primarily intended for holding a laptop to keep your desk clear when using an external monitor, keyboard, and trackpad. However, I found brackets exactly the right length for the Magic Keyboard, and since each side is a standalone piece, I could also mount them the right width apart for the keyboard. The result is the keyboard is out of sight but the Touch ID button is sat right next to my sit-stand desk controls, so very easily accessible. The depth of the brackets is 4cm, so there is easily enough room to touch my finger to the key without the need to slide the keyboard out. Key (sorry!) to this working is that the Touch ID sensor is not directional, so it works perfectly well despite the fact that I’m using it at a 90-degree angle to its normal orientation. Hiding it away under the desk like this means that I would also be able to run a permanently-connected power cable so that it never needs charging, though I haven’t yet bothered to do so. My trackpad always tended to need charging first, so I simply charge this for a while and then switch to doing the keyboard next. I can’t find the exact model I bought in the US Amazon store, but there are a variety of suitable-looking options here. One thing I would say is that you do want around 3-4cm height in order to be able to use the key without needing to slide the keyboard out first. What are your thoughts? Silly or sensible? Let us know in the comments. Highlighted accessories