A simple experiment can tell you whether an ergonomic keyboard could be more comfortable for you: With your elbows hugged into your sides, bring your thumbs to touch in front of you. Now angle your elbows slightly outward and separate your hands. If the latter position feels better, you may appreciate the design of an ergonomic keyboard. These boards split, tilt and/or angle the keys in so your shoulders and chest feel more open and your forearms and wrists stay aligned.
Some ergonomic keyboards are fully split, some are unibody split (Alice designs). Some use a columnar orientation, have thumb clusters and take advantage of programmable keys. I tried more than 15 with a mix of all these features and included info about the benefits of various designs so you can pick the best ergonomic keyboard for you (because it won’t be the same for everyone).
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Best ergonomic keyboards for 2025
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget Best wireless ergonomic keyboard Logitech Ergo K860 Wireless Split Ergonomic features: Alice split, center tenting, optional negative tilt, wrist rest | Host connection: Bluetooth or USB receiver | Switch type: Scissor | Hotkey compatibility: Mac and Windows | Ten key: Yes | RGB lighting: No | Programing interface: Logi Options+ (app) | Language/Layout: QWERTY The Ergo K860 from Logitech closely resembles standard, full-size keyboard designs, so there’s not much of a learning curve. But subtle changes like the Alice layout, tented middle and optional negative tilt make typing noticeably more comfortable. I could keep my elbows comfortably away from my ribs, my wrists were straight and my palms could rotate naturally inward. The board connects quickly and reliably via Bluetooth, the build is solid and the price of $150 isn’t outrageous. It’s Mac, Windows, Chrome and Linux compatible (though you’ll need software for non-basic key functions for the latter two). Buttons allow you to swap between three previously connected devices, which worked great for me, even between a MacBook and a PC. Function keys like volume and brightness and the Option/Start and Command/Alt combo keys worked correctly on each machine. My only qualms are that the palm rest is not removable (though it’s springy and firm). The arrow keys and a numeric keypad on the right side adds length to that side of the board, which forces your mouse farther out. The scissor switch keys can feel mushy if you’re coming from a mechanical board, but they’re responsive enough to make this one of the best wireless ergonomic keyboards. Pros Rotated keys and palm rest make for comfortable typing
Wirelessly connects quickly to three devices
Hotkeys work with MacOS and Windows Cons Takes up a large footprint
Wrist rest is not removable $150 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $150 at Best Buy$150 at Walmart
Amy Skorheim for Engadget Best wireless ergonomic mechanical keyboard Kinesis mWave Mechanical Keyboard Ergonomic features: Alice split, center tenting, optional negative tilt, wrist rest | Host connection: Bluetooth or USB-C | Switch type: Mechanical Gateron low-profile Brown | Hotkey compatibility: Mac or Windows (two models) | Ten key: Yes (with layers) | RGB lighting: No, just backlighting | Programing interface: Kinesis Clique (browser) | Language/Layout: QWERTY (programmable) The mWave from Kinesis has very similar ergonomics to our top pick from Logitech. A unibody, tented, Alice-split design that makes typing more comfortable while not being difficult to learn. But this adds mechanical keys, a tenkeyless design and programmable layers — plus it’s about $30 cheaper. You also get three magnetic feet to create an optional negative tilt. The missing number pad lets right handed folk put their mouse closer but you can still use tenkey input using the layers function. In fact, all keys are programmable using Kenisis’ browser-based Clique software. It’s not the simplest programming software and there aren’t a ton of extra or blank keys for you to mod, so if you want a lot of programmability, you’ll likely rely on layers. The mWave should also appeal to people who just want a plug-and-play option. It comes in two models, a white board with macOS function keys and a black PC version. One drawback is the sound from low-profile mechanical switches. They're springy and responsive but produce a loud, hollow clunk as you type. It also comes with an USB-C to A cable, which is a little dated for Mac users. The Kinesis rep confirmed the mWave was designed as a replacement for the now-discontinued Microsoft Sculpt — but with a few upgrades like mechanical keys, no dongle, and programmability. Pros Springy mechanical key switches
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