5 Best KeyBoards for Programming (2021 Reviews)
In 2021, what is the best keyboard for programming?
I will review the 5 best current keyboards for developers who wish to acquire a keyboard that suits them. Being myself a relentless programmer, it is important to choose your keyboard well to optimize your working time!
Most of the keyboards we use are rarely given special attention. It is a basic element in our work and allows us to perform many tasks in our coders’ jobs.
Why should we neglect the quality of a device we use 8 hours a day?
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No Time to Waste? Here’s My #1 Favorite!
Best keyboard for programming
5 Best Mechanical Keyboard for Programming
- Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja
- RealForce 87U
- Razer BlackWidow Elite
- Das Smart Mechanical Keyboard
- Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB
Filco Ninja Majestouch 2
The Filco brand is one of the best mechanical keyboard producers on the market in 2020 and the Filco Ninja Majestouch 2 is the most popular product it offers.
The Filco Ninja Majestouch 2 offers a different and innovative design compared to other players in the market. It has capital keys for front printing and offers an interesting look.
Why is its design interesting for programmers?
Developers know the locations of all keyboard shortcuts. Basically, this means that labels on capital letters are usually of little use to them. It also offers a second aesthetic advantage, since front print labels help eliminate the problem of labels peeling off as a result of hitting the keys on the keyboard.
This is not the only reason why users of the Filco Ninja Majestouch 2 love this keyboard, they also appreciate the quality of its construction. It is one of the best on the market in this respect. It is very robust and has a rough surface that increases the grip of the keys.
If you have to choose only one keyboard, I personally advise you to choose this keyboard which is for me the best working one at the moment.
RealForce 87U
The RealForce 87U is equipped with Topre switches (there are very few Topre switches on the market). Topre is a Japan-based OEM company that specializes in the manufacturing of electrical components, switches and many other areas.
Topre switches have a unique feel. The switches are smooth and satisfying and the bumps are finger perceptible and very smooth. They also produce a noticeable click sound when you press a key on the keyboard.
The USB cable is not detachable and is placed in the upper left corner of the keyboard.
RealForce 87U is available in different colors (black and gray), its structure is very robust and has a superior quality construction with a slightly rough surface. It is made of PBT which is a very high quality material that allows an exceptional durability (according to tests the PBT should last 3 times longer than the ABS generally offered on competing models).
Its only defect is that the key labels are printed, which makes it difficult to see the keys in the dark (the only exceptions are the escape key and the windows key).
Razer BlackWidow Elite
Razer is world famous for these gaming products but this keyboard is perfectly suited for use by a programmer. Its performance is just remarkable and it is impossible to deny its efficiency and performance. It is estimated that each key can be pressed 80 million times, while on average most keyboards average around 10 million keystrokes per key.
Are you a person who types as well as a typist? No problem with its anti-ghosting none of your keystrokes will be neglected.
Based on mechanical technology, this elegant keyboard is of rare strength with its metal and plastic design. It is very compact yet offers a nice space for each key and very comfortable spacing. Each mechanical key offers a safe, high-performance typing experience.
Macro users will be able to set their own shortcuts and record them on the fly via the Razer utility. Typing is dry, firm and very sound. It is not too thick, but slightly breaks the alignment of the hand, wrist and forearm. The wrist rest delivered with the Razer corrects the position and provides additional comfort. The keyboard is offered in USB with a length of 1.6 meters.
Interested in this keyboard? Click here!
Das Smart Mechanical Keyboard
The DAS keyboard uses Cherry MX switches. These switches have an exceptional lifetime of 50 million (while on average it is more like 10 million). The touch is very soft, a mix of black and brown Cherry MX switches.
Das is a very low-profile keypad and one of the best on the market, also equipped with a wrist rest for experienced coders. It is comfortable to hold, easy to use and allows an accelerated typing speed.
You can control the volume using the dedicated key and 3 media keys. This is very useful if you want to watch a video or listen to music. The 12 function keys are programmable and you can reassign these keys for other purposes. You can also program the flashing keys to warn you in case your phone rings.
I particularly like this keyboard for its design and robustness.
Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB
The Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB keyboard is the best mechanical and ergonomic keyboard on the market. The TenKeyLess mechanical option offers excellent ergonomics, ideal for the comfort-conscious programmer, and is very well constructed, with textured keys that make it very stable. It has a detachable wrist rest (ideal when working long hours in front of your PC) that you can divide in two parts if you wish.
The typing comfort is very light, thanks in particular to the Cherry MX Brown keys. These keys offer a very quiet touch feedback (ideal when working in an open-space). It is possible to customize the RGB lighting and program macros from the supplied RGB SmartSet software. The keyboard is compatible with different operating systems (Window, Linux and MacOS). Note that MacOS the Pause key does not work.
It is possible to buy a litf kit if you want to include the keyboard.
The Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB keyboard is also available with the Cherry MX Linear Red, Clicky Blue and Linear Speed Silver.
All in all, the Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB keyboard is an excellent solution for programmers and one of the best mechanical keyboards on the market.
Best keyboard for programming : What makes a keyboard user-friendly?
First of all, a good programmer keyboard should provide excellent feedback on every key. This feedback is provided by the switches so it is important to choose your keyboard accordingly.
When you decide to buy a keyboard, it is important to check whether it is offered as a USB or wireless keyboard. Personally, I’m not a fan of wireless keyboards but some people like them for more flexibility.
Keyboard layout and roll-over are other factors but it is preferable to use the standard layout because of its popularity.
Ergonomy
When you’re a programmer, you spend whole days typing on your keyboard. The ergonomics of the keyboard can prevent injuries and strain on your wrist and arm. It’s best to use tilting keyboards that allow your wrists to be aligned at a comfortable level for typing. Ergonomics is also important for typing speed. For a programmer, this is a very important criterion! You have to be as productive as possible.
Typing
Switches are an essential element in ensuring a comfortable and efficient typing experience. The types of switches used in a keyboard also make a big difference in the feel of the keys. There are scissor switches, rubber dome switches, and mechanical switches, each offering a different level of sensitivity, noise, and most importantly, comfort. It really depends on your preferences and what you find most comfortable.
You should also make sure your keyboard can add quick keyboard shortcuts. This will save you a lot of time on a daily basis.
Layout
For a programmer, it is important that each key on the keyboard be well spaced to avoid restricting typing speed. It is very important that you choose a keyboard with a numeric keypad and additional function keys (to launch some applications for example).
USB or wireless
Both wired and wireless keyboards have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Wireless keyboards minimize clutter on your work table since they do not have a cord. Wireless is ideal when you want to move around outside the office. But if you don’t want to constantly recharge it, I advise you to acquire a keyboard with a wired option at the very least.
To summarize, The best keyboard for programming:
- Must have an excellent key return using mechanical switches: Cherry MX, Topre
- Must have a USB and/or PS/2 connection
- Must be as simple as possible
- Must be available in standard and Tenkeyless versions
Conclusion
Finding the best keyboard for programming is not an easy task with the amount of keyboards available on the market. This is where tutorials like this one come in handy.
I hope that you will choose the best keyboard that suits your needs and budget. Feel free to tell me in comments if you have any hesitation between two keyboards, I would be happy to answer it.
See you soon!
Comments
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