We’ve all been there, staring at a blank page at a complete loss on how to get started on a written project. The dreaded writer’s block makes it feel like our brains are all dried up, but all it really needs is a little nudge to get the creative juices flowing again. That can sometimes come from a fidget toy or, more often than not, a favorite tool that stimulates our senses, especially our sense of touch. That’s the kind of experience that this retro-style keyboard wants to offer, presenting a modern keyboard that looks like a classic typewriter yet also has the elegance of a luxury item, giving both your eyes and your fingers a feast to get that brain running again.
There’s actually no shortage of computer keyboards that lay claim to the title of “retro” or “classic, but many of them heaps on embellishment after embellishment to the point that the design becomes showy and distracting. The keyboards become more like decorative pieces to show off rather than functional tools to help you get the job done with as little friction as possible.
AZIO’s new collection of retro mechanical keyboards tries to strike the balance between minimalist design and detailed retro aesthetics. Inspired by the design of classic typewriters, it shaped the keys into concave circles encased in what looks like polished metal. The keys have a rather sizable gap between them, allowing the backlight underneath to shine through the spaces and give the keyboard a distinctive yet gentle glow.
The retro keyboard, however, goes beyond simply trying to mimic a typewriter. AZIO opted to use premium materials for both the frame as well as the surface of the keyboard itself, mixing aluminum with wood or leather. These materials are already a sight to behold, but their textures can also stimulate the skin. You don’t need to reach for a fidget toy or any other object when you can just glide your finger across the luxurious materials of the keyboard instead.
Of course, this is a mechanical keyboard, so it comes with all the benefits that this kind of device entails, from a solid, tactile typing experience to the satisfying clicky sounds that each key makes. The overall design is distinctive yet subtle, giving your eyes something nice to look at without taking your mind off the task at hand. It’s a tool that is a pleasure to see, touch, and use and doesn’t get in the way of you creating your next big writing masterpiece.
Computer keyboards are often regarded as purely utilitarian products. Aside from the RGB lighting that gaming-focused keyboards have, the majority of the designs tend to lean towards black or white color schemes, with a few colorful exceptions here and there. These input devices are rarely considered works of art, or even anything related to art. Of course, there is a very small number that doesn’t fit inside this box, putting as much attention to aesthetics as is paid to performance and ergonomics. This rather peculiar keyboard design, for example, splatters a variety of colors on the case, recreating an artistic style used by Italian artisans to create their rather unique and artistic ceramic.
Some people might have preconceived notions of what ceramic products look like, either completely brown like clay jars or pure white with elaborate patterns painted on their glossy surfaces. Italy, however, has another and rather unique variation to that design, employing a technique called “schizatto,” which literally means splatter, to glaze and decorate their ceramics. The end result is, as the name suggests, a splattering of paint drops with random shapes and volume, giving the design a unique and whimsical character.
That’s the kind of unconventional appearance that the Mason60 keyboard cases deliver, adding not just visual interest but also an element of fun to your computer use. Each keyboard case is individually hand-crafted using this artistic technique, making every single one an exclusive limited edition product of sorts. And since no two splatters will ever be the same, each case carries its own personality, reflecting not just physics but the artist’s “brush” during the time of its creation as well.
The Mason60 Schizzato series doesn’t stop at just mimicking the appearance of those artisan ceramics. Made from gypsum resin composite, the cases give keyboards a heft that’s not unlike those very same ceramic products. The material is also polished to give it a glossy finish that one might even mistake for real marble. In other words, the Mason60 will really make your keyboard look and feel like an authentic Italian ceramic product, or at least something that definitely looks artistic from any angle.
It’s too easy to take for granted how a simple change to the keyboard’s appearance could affect your use of the computer. Yes, it won’t directly affect your typing experience, at least depending on the kind of keys and switches you will be pairing with these cases, but it will affect your mental state at the very least. If you spend a lot of time in front of the computer, having something beautiful and interesting always in your sight could definitely help perk up your mood and stimulate your brain. Plus, it never hurts to have something so novel and unique as a conversation starter and maybe even a source of envy among your friends.
There has been a great deal of effort and attention put on keyboards these past years, whether for actual products or for ideas that embody the hopes and wishes of both users and designers. From split-type ergonomic keyboards to keyboards with all sorts of knobs and touch screens, these designs are all made in an attempt to make people’s lives easier and to cater to their needs. Of course, not everyone’s needs are the same, so features on one keyboard might not work for different audiences. This keyboard design concept is already interesting because of its modularity, but it becomes even more eye-catching thanks to an unusual choice in the shape of its keys and controls.
The basic design of keyboards is almost set in stone, at least for the combination of letters and numbers that make up the essentials for keyboards of any size. The layouts might differ from region to region or from laptop to laptop, but there are more or less 80 keys even on the smallest configurations. Beyond that is almost fair game, with some preferring a numeric keypad to the side, while others probably wish for a different set of controls.
The K-Bird Spec Project is a concept design for a modular keyboard that tries to address that need by providing a different side module for different applications. You can have the typical numpad for fast numeric input or you can have a set of sliders and dials for quickly controlling or editing audio. You can even have a small drawing area with a groove to place a stylus. Or you can have no modules at all and be left with admittedly odd-looking handles protruding from the side.
The base shape of the keyboard theoretically allows for modules to be placed on either side, but the modules themselves would have to be designed to be ambidextrous. The default seems to presume the current convention of placing modules on the right side where the numeric keypad would usually be, and you can’t simply put it on the left because of the handle extending from that side.
What makes this design a little different from other modular keyboard concepts is its use of hexagons as the main shape for all the controls, even the sliders and dials on the modular extensions. The keys themselves are indented, which is already unconventional as far as keyboard designs go. It gives the keyboard a more visually interesting appearance, though it’s not clear whether that will have any negative impact on the ergonomics of typing on such a kind of keycap shape.
Computers are powerful tools that enable all kinds of workflows, including designing products, architectures, or artwork. As powerful as they may be, the devices that we currently have for creating these digital artifacts aren’t exactly conducive to the creative process. Keyboards are large and clunky, and while there are indeed styluses that act like electronic pens, they still require the use of keys at some point or another. Keyboard shortcuts are supposed to help manage those dozens if not hundreds of actions available, but the finger gymnastics and memorization required create more stress and break the creative workflow. That is why custom-made keyboards are becoming popular among creators and designers, and this newest addition offers plenty of power in a small and cute package.
Almost all software for designers and creatives makes use of keyboard shortcuts so that you don’t have to dig through countless menus every time you need to do something. Sadly, the way keyboards work means you have to string a series of keys that may or may not have anything related to the action like Ctrl and Z keys to undo and Ctrl and Y to redo. Not only does it make it harder to remember these shortcuts, they can also be painful for your fingers in the long run.
Enter the Figma Creator Micro Keyboard, a small square keyboard with only 12 mechanical keys arranged in a cross formation. The idea is that you can map each of the keys to a single function so you don’t have to press two or more keys to get the same outcome. Of course, 12 keys won’t be enough for many software (Figma itself has over 150 possible actions), but the Figma Creator has four “layers” so that each key can actually have four actions. That gives you a total of 48 keys in groups of 12, available by simply tapping a capacitive sensor in the corner.
In addition to these keys, there are two analog controls available as well, a dial and a wheel, both of which are also clickable. These can be mapped to changing brush sizes or going through a sequence of undos and redos in rapid succession, basically, anything that would involve a slider or list of some sort. These are must-haves for digital painting and design software, proving how this keyboard was made with this kind of work specifically in mind.
The design of the keyboard itself is quite captivating and fun, using a frosted polycarbonate case that lets the RGB lighting inside shine through. The low-profile concave keycaps are replaceable, so you can pick your theme or design to match your mood and workflow. The catch is that the keyboard costs $139 and is currently still on pre-order, though it does make for a worthwhile investment if you find your fingers always aching and sore after an intense work session.
It’s only been a week since Halloween! What’re all these Christmas (and other related holiday decorations) doing on my neighbor’s front lawn? Where did the summer go, for crying out loud? If I have no choice but to accept the season’s greetings, I’ll do it my own way: by replacing a few keycaps on my gaming keyboard with three miniature snow globes containing all the typical Yuletide treasures. That’s the idea behind Dwarf Factory’s latest invention, anyway. These ArtiSANTA keycaps from Dwarf Factory are bright, festive, and adorable — all traits any true gamer would want their gaming keyboard to have, as the weather turns cold and the holiday cheer turns… uh… warm.
The AntiSANTA keycaps are not exactly compatible with every keyboard on the market. At least, it doesn’t seem so, given what’s advertised on their store page. But as long as you have a clicky, tactile, or linear keyboard with Cherry MX switches, you should be alright. You can stick these three keycaps anywhere on your keyboard you’d like, giving it a handmade decorative flair — befitting a festive ornament that looks like it belongs on your tree. Or on your mantle. Or, anywhere else you might stick festive holiday decorations.
These handmade keycaps come in packs of three, and each one is a little bit different. There’s the Yule Tree, the Père Noel (basically, Santa Claus), and Frosty the Snowman. Look closely enough, you’ll see how each piece features a handful of intricate details, like ornamental string lights and miniature holiday gifts. It’s disappointing there are only three per pack, but that’s just because they look so good.
If you’re shopping for the gamer in your life, these are only going for $49 per pack, and that’s a holiday miracle if there ever was one. They’re perfect for stocking stuffers or even just trinkets to have around in a gaming room. Now if only the holidays would get here sooner (so we can get back to that summer weather much sooner).
A great gaming keyboard is ergonomic and versatile. Some may use controller thumbstick-like analog mechanical switches for precise input, whereas most others use standard mechanical switches with binary input. Some take up a larger portion of your desk, whereas others are only about 60% of the size of a full-sized keyboard. Many modern gaming keyboards include some form of integrated RGB lighting, though there are a few in the wild that don’t include any lighting. You may prefer your keys with a satisfying click after each keystroke, or you might prefer the smooth silence of linear keys.
In any case, you should be able to use your PC keyboard all day long for both gaming and non-gaming tasks, and not feel any discomfort in your fingers or wrists while doing so or any time thereafter. There are a ton of different keyboards out there, but you shouldn’t have to spend all day trying to find the best designed PC gaming keyboard that suits your exact needs and also matches the style you’re going for. I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 favorite gaming keyboards, and since there’s something for everyone, there’s probably something for you too.
1. SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL
SteelSeries is famous for producing durable, high-quality gaming peripherals that also manage to look snazzy and tasteful. The Apex 3 TKL (short for tenkeyless, or 80% of the size of a full-sized keyboard) should be an instant contender for any PC gamer looking for a compact gaming keyboard that can sustain long periods of play over many years. Its switches are rated to sustain over 20 million “whisper quiet” keypresses, it comes with eight RGB zones that can sync to games via onboard software, and it’s rated for IP32 water resistance, meaning you can spill your drink all over the keys, worry-free. Not to mention, it’s a steal at $44.99.
2. Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro
If you’re looking for a full-sized gaming keyboard instead of a TKL, you’re probably looking at the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro. It admittedly looks a lot like the Logitech G915 Lightspeed keyboard featured just below, and this is thanks to its five macro keys on the left side of the keyboard – and the multi-function volume roller and media control buttons on the top right. It’s even more versatile, thanks to three additional macro buttons to the left of the macro keys (where your hands would grip onto the edge of the board) as well as the easily reconfigurable Razer Command Dial and wrist rest with RGB LED underglow that lights up the entire desk thanks to Razer Chroma RGB lighting software. It’s a bit spendy for a gaming keyboard at $229.99, but its possibly one of the most well-rounded, feature-complete gaming keyboards around.
3. Logitech G915 Lightspeed
A fantastic wireless competitor to the previously mentioned Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro is Logitech’s G915 Lightspeed wireless keyboard. It gives up a bit of the latter’s versatility in favor of not being bound to one spot. The lack of a need for a wired connection lets you use it more comfortably in a more compact gaming space, with a sit-stand desk, or from a greater distance – like on the couch, for instance. Its RGB lighting system, Logitech Lightsync, is a little less impressive than Razer Chroma, but it can also easily connect to the full suite of Logitech Lightsync accessories, like the G560 gaming speakers.
4. Razer Huntsman Mini
Razer’s Huntsman Mini 60% keyboard is known as one of the strongest compact gaming keyboards on the market. RTings gave it a 9.5 for gaming, highlighting its high build quality and macro-programmable RGB-lit LED keys. Granted, the fact that it’s a 60% keyboard by default means it provides insufficient wrist cushioning in comparison to larger and more feature-complete keyboards like the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro. It also lacks extra control functions and macro buttons, meaning what you see is exactly what you get. For an MSRP of $119.99, the Huntsman Mini is still an extremely well-designed, compact, and visually appealing PC gaming keyboard that will fit perfectly on a smaller desk.
5. ASUS ROG Azoth
ASUS ROG Azoth fits between the Razer Huntsman Mini and some of the larger keyboards we’ve mentioned so far. It’s a 75% TKL board with a number of unique features that you won’t find on other popular gaming keyboards. For instance its three-layer dampening system should make typing on it a cushier, smoother experience than clacking away on a non-cushioned keyboard. It’s also wireless in 2.4 GHz mode, with support for ROG SpeedNova and out of the box support for MacOS. If you’re a primary Mac user who also plays games on a Mac, this may be the absolute best keyboard of the bunch at an MSRP of $249.99.
6. HyperX Alloy Origins 60
HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is a competitive wireless alternative to the previously mentioned Razer Huntsman Mini. Much like the latter, it also contains programmable keys and fully-backlit keys. It’s also famously durable, with reviewers saying great things about its build quality across the board. The main difference for the end user is the Alloy Origins 60’s lower MSRP ($99.99), a wire-free experience, and its integration with HyperX NGENUITY, which can control lighting across other HyperX products. If you already own other HyperX products with controllable RGB through that software, this is probably the keyboard to get. Just know that it only works out of the box with Windows.
7. Wooting Two HE
The Wooting Two HE analog keyboard is a lot more like a video game controller in terms of input responsivity. Its analog mechanical switches are designed to react to the amount of pressure applied to them, allowing you to, for instance, walk slowly through an environment in a video game based on how far you press your finger into – presuming you’re like me and you never rebind the keys – the W key. Like many of the other keyboards on this list, it also features RGB backlighting, however, you can switch on Tachyon mode to turn that off and push the Wooting Two HE’s latency to below 1ms. That’s a great pitch for a full-sized gaming keyboard that sells for an MSRP of $194.99.
8. Corsair K70 RGB Pro
The Corsair K70 RGB Pro keyboard is comparable to the Logitech G915 Lightspeed or the Razer BlackWidow V4, with some key variations including 8000Hz polling speed and one feature in particular that stands out: Tournament Mode. By flipping the Tournament Switch on the back of the keyboard, you can immediately (temporarily) turn off all RGB lighting and macro profiles, setting the keyboard to do exactly what the keybindings in your game of choice tell it to do. It’s a bit spendy at $169.99, however, it’s catered directly to gamers who play competitively in certain games – then also play games with custom macros on the side – and want to be able to support both playstyles on the same keyboard.
9. HyperX Alloy Origins Core
The HyperX Alloy Origins Core is a lot like the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 we mentioned earlier. The main difference here, despite it retaining the same basic keyboard design, is its expansion to a TKL layout. To be fair, this is the option I’d personally prefer, since I’m not a huge fan of 60% keyboards. The good news is that it’s just as snazzy at the Alloy Origins 60 thanks to the signature HyperX branding and RGB backlighting with NGENUITY integration.
10. Logitech G413 SE
Easily the most minimalistic gaming keyboard on the list, the Logitech G413 gets rid of all the flashy RGB LED lights, macro buttons, and extra doohickeys in favor of a very simple PC gaming experience that (theoretically) puts build quality over everything else. Reviewers are a bit lukewarm across the board, with The Verge saying “the Logitech G413 TKL SE definitely feels like a $69.99 keyboard,” though some users love its low latency and its “what you see is what you get” personality. Still, as a Logitech G gaming keyboard, it has its place. It’s likely a great gaming board to place on a desk with little to no RGB lighting, where an RGB-backlit keyboard with tons of extra macro buttons and gaming features would look tacky.
There’s no shortage of keyboards and mice available in the market today, each of them trying to cover an equally wide range of needs and tastes. There are keyboards designed for gamers, mice made for artists, and all sorts of designs claiming to deliver the perfect ergonomic experience. Mechanical keyboards, in particular, are quite popular among heavy computer users, but the majority of the options available lean more toward gamer aesthetics with their hard edges and psychedelic RGB lighting. Fortunately, there are exceptions, like this collection of computer peripherals that make use of big, chunky keys, soft colors, and plenty of gold accents that earmark them for a different and more appraising clientele.
It’s actually not that easy to design a correct and usable keyboard. One has to consider performance first, with comfort usually following it. Aesthetics often takes a back seat, as if it was mutually exclusive from a good technological product. The visual and tactile experience of a product, however, can make or break its success, and devices are no different. The IZO keyboard, mouse, and numeric keypad try to prove that by delivering a design that is not only functional but also luxurious.
Unlike your typical keyboards, the IZO wireless keyboard and numpad use rather chunky and big keycaps that look more like smooth pebbles than the usual trapezoidal shape. Even the choice of white color for the keys gives it a softer aura, which complements the colors of the frame which is treated with a glistening pearl finish. The most eye-catching parts, however, are perhaps the gold accents on some of the keys and on the mouse, elevating the objects from being tools to fashionable accessories.
The devices do have a few tricks up their sleeves beyond just looking sophisticated. The keyboard, for example, has a knob that actually houses two different dials to control different things. The numpad has its own display and functions as a calculator on its own. These aren’t mind-blowing additions, but they help assure buyers that the devices are more than just pretty faces.
The AZIO IZO wireless keyboard, numpad, and wireless mouse present not only a unique design but also a challenge to manufacturers. At this point in time, we have already perfected the essentials of performance, ergonomics, and features for these peripherals, so it’s about time that we start focusing on materials, aesthetics, and the human experience that these products provide. Why should you settle for plain dark accessories when you can have the same performance wrapped in elegant and luxurious designs that better match your style.
A lot of people who live and die by computers swear by mechanical keyboards for one reason or another. There are quite a few benefits to this type of computer keyboard, even if you don’t exactly subscribe to the sound or typing experience they bring. It almost seems like a by-product of their audience that mechanical keyboards happen to be significantly more customizable than their softer-sounding counterparts. This is often seen in the way you can change keycaps or even switches, but there are also quite a number of mechanical keyboards that have extra buttons, dials, and whatnot to give owners even more control. This new keyboard puts a unique twist on that characteristic, adding not only knobs and buttons but also a small display on the side in the hopes of enhancing your workflow and improving your productivity.
A keyboard with a display is no longer an alien concept, thanks to the somewhat controversial MacBook Pro Touch Bar. In fact, that thin strip did more than just show icons, it served as a row of icons you can tap, replacing the row of function keys with something that dynamically changes depending on the current application being used. That idea has been retired, for better or worse, but the idea of adding a display on a keyboard lives on in different ways.
The Work Louder Nomad Keyboard is less ambitious and less spectacular than the Apple Touch Bar, but it could prove to also be less intrusive and more usable. In essence, it’s a vertical 1.9-inch LCD display off to the left of the tenkeyless (it has no numeric keypad) keyboard. There’s no mention of any touch functionality, so it simply acts as a very small display to show different kinds of information. It could be some pieces of data that you need for a specific application, a list of settings for the computer or the keyboard, a Pomodoro timer, or even just a large clock. The display adds a simple yet effective way to have critical information always present without getting in your way by being too smart or too complicated.
That, however, isn’t the only special thing about the Nomad Keyboard’s design. Just like its siblings, it has a number of buttons and knobs that you can configure for different purposes, depending on whether you need it for creating content or simply changing the computer settings. Some might argue that these could be less effective than the somewhat standard Fn key combinations on some keyboards, but in addition to their flexibility, the physical controls add a bit of flavor to the workflow, making the experience more enjoyable and special.
Interestingly, the Nomad Keyboard defies mechanical keyboard conventions by using concave crater-like keycaps rather than the typical raised design. This adds some personality to the keyboard while still maintaining the mechanical switches underneath. That said, it also limits the types of keycaps you can use to replace these, effectively tying you into the manufacturer for the lifetime of the keyboard.
From keyboards to mice to webcams, computer peripherals have existed since the dawn of computers themselves, and most of these were designed for technical function more than anything else. It has only been in the last few decades that ergonomics and comfort have become a core focus for some but not all of these products, and aesthetics have arrived even more recently only. Of course, function, ergonomics, and form aren’t mutually exclusive, but it takes a lot more work to make sure that all three boxes are checked. It requires a lot of back and forth between designers and engineers and definitely a lot of prototyping and waiting time. With the right tool, however, that waiting time could take only minutes, or at most two days, allowing manufacturers to play around with materials and finishes that lead to eye-catching results like this almost literally sweet collection of peripherals for desktops and laptops.
It’s not really that much of a surprise that computer accessories have traditionally been labeled as utilitarian or even geeky products. The most common designs don’t inspire much appreciation because of their, well, common forms, and they aren’t even that comfortable to use for long periods of time. Fortunately, we have come to a point where good ergonomics and good lucks have become more important and also more common, like these prototypes for three of the most common computer accessories that look almost delicious enough to lick.
The Mayku Accessories collection comprises a keyboard, a mouse, and a more traditional webcam that attaches to the top of a monitor. While their designs don’t show anything functionally new, it’s their appearance that really catches the eye. Instead of using the usual flat surfaces and sharp corners, these products use “softer,” more curved forms, like the sides and tops of the keycaps, the entire surface of the mouse, or the body of the webcam.
While the designs themselves are already interesting, the story behind their creation is equally so. It is the result of multiple iterations and prototypes that played around with different colors, materials, and finishes, more commonly known as “CMF” in the design world. The end result is a series of shells that use soft colors and sometimes transparent materials, making these usually cold and impersonal devices look like hard candy or even soft marshmallows.
What actually made this possible is a novel machine called the Mayku Multiplier that allows the creation of molds and parts in just minutes rather than hours. This has made it easier to create those prototypes with different CMFs, allowing designers to quickly discuss and change designs in just days instead of weeks. With tools such as this multiplier and 3D printers becoming more accessible, it will be easier and more feasible to create designs that buck trends and appeal to the sensibilities of different people while still maintaining their technical features and ergonomics.
