Our prime picks for M2-powered Apple computer systems

Our Top Pick: Best Keyboard

Logitech MX Keys Mini

1. Best overall

Low profile wireless Mac keys

$95.99 $99.99 Save $4

Logitech’s MX Keys Mini is a brilliant smaller keyboard that’s a real joy to use.

Pros

• Small, wireless and portable
• Multi-computer switching
• USB-C fast charging

You’ll notice this list is dominated by Logitech, and rightly so. The MX Keys Mini is – we think – the pick of the bunch for most people looking for a decent all-round experience.

It’s a smaller version of the MX Keys, just like the name implies, with lots of great features. Chief among them is easy device switching which enables you to quickly switch between three different devices using Bluetooth, and has some of the comfiest keys for typing that we’ve ever used.

All this in a lightweight design that still manages to have good key travel and lovely back lighting that reacts to the ambient light around you. It’s a premium keyboard, but one that’ll elevate your work.

Keyboards we also recommend

While the Logitech MX Keys Mini is at the peak of this list, it’s not necessarily the right keyboard for everyone, especially with such a wide range of styles and price points on the market. That’s why we’ve also selected the following devices for you to consider.

Apple Magic Wireless Keyboard 2

2. Runner Up

Best for convenience

Apple shows that simplicity is often its own reward with its straightforward and great keyboard.

Pros

• Apple ecosystem compatibility
• Small, light and portable
• Premium finish

Cons

• Very thin and low to the surface, may not suit everyone

If you have a Mac, the most convenient place to start is with Apple’s own peripherals. The Magic Keyboard isn’t literally magic, but because it’s Apple, it pairs automatically with any Mac with very little effort. What we love about Apple’s keyboard is how small and portable it is. It’s very slim, and the keys are nice and big, plus they’re light and easy to type on quickly.

The low-profile keyboard ensures your hands aren’t at too much of an angle, making it comfortable to type on over long periods as well.

And because of its size and compatibility with iPad, it’s easy to throw in a bag with the tablet when you’re out and about.

Pocket-lint

Logitech MX Mechanical Mini

3. Best low-profile mechanical Mac keys

Simple and easy

A brilliant mechanical keyboard that’s perfect for the office and leisure.

Pros

• Great quiet mechanical switches
• Perfect size
• Satisfying action

Cons

• Not cheap at all
• Still clackier than non-mechanical

If you’re drawn by the allure of mechanical switches but want something super reliable and easy to connect, that requires no expertise at all, Logitech is here to answer your call.

The MX Mechanical Mini (a superb full-size option is also out) is a brilliant little keyboard that uses super-quiet mechanical switches for a really satisfying typing experience that shouldn’t alienate anyone else working near you.

You get three-device switching like Logitech’s other keyboards, can connect with Bluetooth or a receiver, and it’s compact and light enough to easily slip into a bag for travel. We almost prefer it to the standard MX Keys Mini, but it’s just a heck of a lot more expensive.

Logitech ERGO K860

4. Best ergonomic keyboard for Mac

Comfy as heck

$93 $130 Save $37

Superb for added comfort while you type, this is a brilliant ergonomic keyboard.

Pros

• Reduces wrist strain
• Lovely padded wrist support
• Easy device switching

Cons

• The split keys can take some getting used to

Logitech has returned to ergonomic keyboards with a splash in the form of the K860, and we’ve loved transitioning to it.

It carefully gets your wrists into a more natural position to ease the strain on them and has a soft but firm wristpad built-in for added comfort.

With raisers that make it perfect for standing or sitting desks, the same superb key system as the Logitech MX Keys, and totally silent operation, it’s a dream to use.

Easy pairing and device switching make it even smoother, and once you’re used to it you’ll struggle to go back to a normal keyboard, at least for work.

Das Keyboard

Das Keyboard MacTigr

5. Best full-sized mechanical Mac keyboard

High-end Mac keys

Das Keyboard applies its premium design and mechanical nous to a Mac keyboard for the first time. It’s a no-frills, but incredibly solid and practical keyboard that’s wonderful to type on. 

Pros

• Typing experience is first class
• High quality build and structure
• Volume knob and media keys
• Built-in USB-C dock

Cons

• No backlighting
• It’s pricey
• No wireless option

If what you’re after is a fully functional, full-sized mechanical with a sublime typing experience, few do it better than Das Keyboard, and with the MacTigr it’s launched its first Mac-centric keyboard. The company is well-regarded in the keyboard world for producing incredibly well-made keyboards with a typing experience that’s second to none, and that’s exactly what you get with the MacTigr.

The slim, slanted keyboard body features a strong, matte black stainless steel plate beneath the keys and is encased in dark grey aluminium. The keys themselves feature low profile doubleshot PBT keycaps design not to wear or fade over time, while the Cherry MX red switches provide that accurate, clicky feel when typing that’s easy to speed type on and sounds fantastically clacky. Plus, because it’s a low-profile mechanical keyboard you don’t need a wrist rest to raise your arms to a comfortable level.

There are caveats – of course – being a no-frills keyboard means you miss out on some nice-to-have things. For instance, there’s no backlight of any description, and the keyboard is wired, not wireless. Neither of these is a particular problem for touch typists who need reliability more than a cable-free desk and RGB.

Plus it more than makes up for those misses by featuring two USB-C ports which you can use for charging your devices or transferring files and data to your Mac. it also features all the correct Mac keys, as well as a rotating volume knob and media keys.

Keychron

Keychron Q1 Pro

6. Best compact mechanical

75% mechanical wireless keyboard for Mac

Keychron’s Q-series offers an incredibly solid build, noise-dampening and hot-swappable switches, so you can build it the way you want. The Q1 Pro is a small platform-agnostic 75 per cent keyboard, and it’s wireless. 

Pros

• Heavy build means it doesn’t slip around at all
• Great noise-dampening
• Ships with Mac and Windows keys
• Pre-lubricated switches

Cons

• Pricey
• Chunky design demands a palm rest

Keychron has been churning out all manner of keyboards over the past few years, but the Q1 Pro is arguably the pinnacle of its achievements. It’s a platform-agnostic keyboard – so works for Windows or Mac users and ships with keys for both. More importantly, it’s built really well, crafted from a solid chunk of CNCd aluminium, has pre-lubed hot-swappable switches and – unlike previous Q-series models – is wireless (although you can use a wired connection if you want).

Keychron K14

7. Great value wireless keys

Retro feel

Keychron delivers a beautiful design that sounds just as good in use, even if it’s not to everyone’s taste.

Pros

• Superb build quality
• Very comfortable to type on
• Friendly RGB

Keychron is no stranger to delivering superbly rounded keyboards, and the K14 is among the very best we’ve used. It has a bit of a chunky profile and a retro feel to it, which perhaps won’t be to everyone’s taste, but we’ve found it an absolute joy to type on.

It’s comfortable, it delivers a satisfying sound without it being too loud for open offices, and there are even some RGB backlights to keep you entertained if you’re using it in lower lit environments.

Where the K14 stands out, compared to other Keychron models, is that it’s a more compact, 72-key design. It’s also able to work over Bluetooth or USB-C, and we’ve not noticed any significant latency issues during testing.

All in all, if you want something that feels and sounds like a premium keyboard, this is absolutely one to learn more about.

Our only real gripe with the K14 is that there’s no wrist rest, but it’s still very useable even for those who don’t have a third-party rest to draft in.

How to choose a keyboard

With such a wealth of options on the market, it can be hard to narrow down the right keyboard for you. With that in mind, we’ve put together a shortlist of things to think about before you commit to your next keyboard.

Keyboard Sizes

A traditional keyboard has 105 keys and includes a number pad as well as arrow keys and a function row, many modern keyboards remove the number pad in favour of a smaller and more portable design. These keyboards are called tenkeyless (TKL) designs, and many prefer them as they take up less desk space, leaving more room for your mouse.

Some designs are even smaller and are usually referred to as a percentage of the size of the traditional keyboard. For example, 60% is a popular size that removes the function row and either relocates or removes the arrow keys. These styles are largely reserved for keyboard enthusiasts as they take a fair bit of getting used to, for the majority of people we’d recommend sticking with either full-size or TKL.

Switch Types

The two main types of switch you will encounter on your search are membrane and mechanical. Some keyboards are advertised as “mechanical” but this is mostly just a marketing term, it means that the keyboard is membrane but the brand has taken some steps to make the keyboard feel closer to a mechanical design.

In reality, both styles work just fine, the majority of the keyboards you will have used are membrane. It’s the cheaper option and is found across the widest number of devices. Mechanical keyboards have a cult-like following and offer a tactile typing experience that’s almost reminiscent of using a typewriter.