The best keyboard is essential for typing and gaming. A good keyboard can make a world of difference while you type. It doesn’t matter whether you spend most of your time typing up documents, writing emails at work, or playing PC games after hours – there is no denying how amazing some top-notch ones really are.
These best keyboards are noticeably more responsive, accurate, and comfortable to use as compared to other standard keyboards which means they can also help users with wrist, shoulder and arm pain over time. All of these features make them a vital part of any setup for those who value their health as well as performance.
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How to choose the best keyboard for you
Keyboard preference is very subjective. Different people like different keyboards for a number of reasons, such as ergonomics or noise level. Different keyboards have different layouts, shapes, and designs. Some are ergonomic while some mimic the laptop style of having flat keys laid out in a grid called a chiclet-style keyboard and the other type is mechanical keyboards.
The best thing you can do is try as many styles to find one that feels comfortable for your hands but even then there isn’t any universal ‘perfect’ layout type because everyone’s needs are different. Below are some types of keyboards available in the market.
Compact keyboards
The best part about compact keyboards is that it has all the extra keys. Imagine this, you’re typing away on your laptop when all of a sudden the number pad pops up and gets in your way while trying to type. That can never happen with these new compact ones. This keyboard is small and light, so it’s easier to keep with you on the go. It has all of its extra keys removed for a streamlined design that takes up less room than other keyboards.
Traditional keyboards
These keyboards are old-fashioned and they have typewriter-style keys over a membrane or mechanical switch. The key travel tends to be greater than that in modern devices but the action can vary drastically from keyboard to keyboard.
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Ergonomic keyboard
Ergonomic keyboards provide a more comfortable typing experience than traditional keyboards by using an adjustable and ergonomically shaped design. These types of designs position the wrists at all times, ensuring that they are rested while keys on the keyboard face downward for easy access to fingers with proper keystroke habits. This means less strain as well as a reduction in carpal tunnel syndrome risk.
Ergonomic keyboards have a split design that tilts both the left and right-hand’s keys towards each other. This allows for more natural movement of your wrists while typing, as well as making sure you do not accidentally hit multiple keys at once which is common with standard flat keyboard designs.
What else should you look for?
Conventional keyboards come with a dedicated numeric pad, function keys, and a cluster of Home, Insert and Delete keys. If you use the numeric pad or PgUp/PgDn often consider this before buying one. Enter/Return is common while some have smaller layouts where keys are squeezed together in order to save space for other things on the top row like volume controls etc.
When choosing a wireless keyboard, you have to decide between wired or wireless keyboards. Wired models are great for gaming because they don’t run out of batteries but come with extras like a built-in USB hub. Some support several different PCs/mobile devices with the click of a switch. However, these come at an additional cost since there is often no option for just buying them individually without receiving the bundle that includes the mouse as well.
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The Best Keyboards NZ
1. Logitech Ergonomic Keyboard
Logitech’s K860 is an innovative best keyboard that places comfort, style and performance at your fingertips. This keyboard offers a curved, split keyframe design that keeps your hands in a relaxed position for more comfortable typing. The pillowed wrist rest supports your wrists while you type and gives you a convenient place to rest your hands when you’re not typing.
2. Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard
This Microsoft best Keyboard is designed to keep your hands in a healthy position. Its ergonomic design makes it easy to type and reduces the risk of injury. It also has a palm rest that lets you place your hands in the proper position while typing to reduce strain on wrists and forearms.
3. Das Keyboard 4 Root Clicky Mechanical
The Das Keyboard 4 Professional mechanical keyboard is the ultimate productivity tool. Its high-performance, gold-plated keys deliver the best contact and typing experience with every stroke while you get direct access to an array of shortcuts and commands using the function (Fn) key combinations.
It also has a volume knob that allows you to quickly adjust the volume while on a Skype call, in a Google Hangout or streaming online music. Plus, it comes with 2 extra USB ports so you can connect your mouse or other USB devices directly to your keyboard.
4. Logitech G815 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
The Logitech G810 features a modern design with a thin profile, ultra-slim keycaps and an all-new font. The Logitech is designed to be as compact as possible without sacrificing functionality.
It’s the perfect keyboard for those who want a smaller form factor but still have the full standard 104-key layout. It is powered by LIGHTSYNC RGB technology, which combines individual key lighting with synchronized illumination across all keys for an impressive light show in any environment.
5. Logitech G613 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
The Logitech G613 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is designed for gamers who demand high-performance capabilities of mechanical switches. With the freedom of wireless connectivity, you can power through long gaming sessions without worrying about battery life.
It features multi-host connectivity so you can game or work on your computer wherever you want. It has a durable design that delivers more reliability than standard keyboards, thanks to its Romer-G mechanical key switches that are rated up to 50 million keystrokes and an improved anti-ghosting matrix with 26 keys.
6. SteelSeries Apex Pro Gaming Keyboard
SteelSeries Apex Pro gaming keyboard is engineered to give you an unfair advantage. The mechanical switches actuate at a speed of 1.5mm, 8x faster than standard keyboards, and are optimized for rapid command entry that’s crucial in the heat of battle.
It features full key matrix anti-ghosting and n-key rollover over USB to ensure accurate gameplay when hitting multiple keys simultaneously. Its feet with rubber pads provide stability during high-intensity play.
7. Razer Blackwidow Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
The Razer BlackWidow Ultimate features a mechanical switch design that is guaranteed to last for over 60 million keystrokes. It has an optimized set of actuation forces and tactile feedback for ultra-fast double-tap response and a crisp feel with every keystroke.
Your fingers will fly across the keys at lightning speed thanks to our improved gaming-grade tactile scroll wheel, which also serves as a button. This allows you to instantly select weapons, navigate maps or do anything else you need to do.
8. Logitech G512 RGB Mechanical Gaming
This Logitech G512 Carbon Lightsync RGB Mechanical Gaming Best Keyboard is the world’s first keyboard to feature per-key 16.8 million colour backlighting with full lighting customization and effects, all set easily through Logitech Gaming Software.
The keycaps are made of durable, high-quality materials that will resist wear and tear while you’re gaming for years to come. The light sync technology allows you to customize the colours of your keys based on what game or app you’re playing.
9. Corsair K95 RGB XT Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Mechanical Gaming Best Keyboard is a full-size keyboard that’s ideal for gaming, productivity and entertainment. This keyboard features a brushed aluminium finish with textured keys and contoured keycaps for a comfortable typing experience. The K95 RGB Platinum can store up to five profiles on its onboard 8MB memory.
10. Razer Blackwidow V3 Tenkeyless Mechanical Gaming
The Razer BlackWidow V3 mechanical gaming best keyboard is designed to give you the edge over your competition with a revolutionary design that will help you play like the pros.
The Razer Mechanical Switch actuates at an optimal distance, giving you speed and responsiveness like never before. With a tenkeyless form factor, this keyboard offers you more room for your mouse movement.