The 5 Best Keyboards For Mac - Fall 2023 Reviews

The Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad is one of the most iconic keyboards on the market. Unsurprisingly, it's our top pick for the best keyboard for Mac devices, as it's specifically designed to complement them with its features and aesthetics. This latest entry to the Apple's Magic Keyboard lineup offers biometric sign-ins with its Touch ID chip that works with M1-equipped Mac devices. Although, it's important to note that the feature doesn't work with M1-equipped iPads.

It connects to your Mac using Bluetooth and only supports pairing with one device at a time, making it a good choice if you're using a standalone iMac or a more permanent MacBook setup with an external monitor. However, thanks to Apple's Universal Control feature, you can use one keyboard across multiple Mac devices. Depending on your usage, the battery life lasts around a month, so you won't need to worry about charging it frequently.

At an upper mid-range price point, we recommend the Logitech MX Keys S. This premium-feeling office model and its companion software are fully compatible with macOS systems. You can get the most out of the keyboard's software features, like Logitech Flow, which lets you seamlessly use one keyboard across multiple devices and operating systems. Note that there's also a Mac version of the keyboard with Mac-specific key legends on the modifier keys, but the base version has both Windows and Mac legends.

Logitech has paid close attention to small details with this keyboard, making it a popular fixture in many offices and workspaces. Its low profile is comfortable to type on without a wrist rest, and each keycap has a small indent in the middle to help guide your fingertips to the center of the key and avoid accidental keystrokes. On a full charge, it lasts up to 10 days with its backlighting on and up to five months with the backlighting off, so you don't need to worry about recharging it right during a busy work week.

You can set the backlighting to adjust to the lighting conditions around you, ensuring the keycap legends are easy to read. There's also a compact version of this keyboard called the Logitech MX Keys Mini. It's a great option if you have a smaller desk or don't need a Numpad. Uniquely to this version, it's also available in a few colorways, including Logitech's take on Space Gray' which fits very nicely into Mac setups.

For a slightly less expensive mid-range option, we recommend the Keychron K3 (Version 2). This compact model is a popular choice for Mac users, so it may be out of stock from some retailers when you're reading this. Thankfully, Keychron has been quick about restocking. Unlike our first two picks, the Apple Magic Keyboard and the Logitech MX Keys S, the Keychron keyboard uses low-profile mechanical switches.

These switches offer a typing experience that crosses between a standard mechanical keyboard and a laptop keyboard. They provide a premium-feeling typing experience and ergonomic benefits as they're very light to press. Also, because they're not tall, you can rest your wrists comfortably on your work surface without straining your hands upwards at an awkward angle.

Like all Keychron models, this keyboard also has a compatibility toggle on the top to switch between macOS and Windows, including extra OS-specific keycaps. You also don't have to worry about finding a dongle or an adapter for a receiver, as this keyboard connects using Bluetooth and has decent battery life, typically lasting up to 34 hours with backlighting on or up to 240 hours with backlighting off.

The Logitech Signature K650 gets our recommendation if you're on a tight budget. While it doesn't have a Mac-specific version, like our upper mid-range pick, the Logitech MX Keys S, or Mac-specific keycaps like the above Keychron K3 (Version 2), it does have pad-printed legends on the keys for both Windows and Mac systems. Despite the budget price, this keyboard offers several ergonomic features to keep you comfortable, including a built-in palm rest, two incline settings, and deep-set keys that don't require you to strain your wrists at a sharp angle to type.

Plus, it has a host of easily accessible shortcuts along the function row and a suite of dedicated media controls, which are fairly rare features for a budget keyboard. As a bonus, you won't have to worry about charging this keyboard very often as this keyboard uses AA batteries, which can last up to 36 months.

There are some downsides, as it doesn't support multi-device pairing over Bluetooth. Alternatively, if you have a multi-device setup and want a keyboard that can support more than one Bluetooth connection at once, the Logitech K780 is a great choice. Unlike the K650, this keyboard has a grippy tray on the top to hold devices while you work. However, it lacks any ergonomic features.

The Logitech K380 is the best cheap keyboard for Mac that we've tested. This compact unit works great with Mac products as it only connects using Bluetooth, so you don't have to worry about dongles, adapters, or needing a USB port. You can pair it with up to three devices at once, and you can switch between devices at the press of a button. While specific Mac variants are available, the base version also has both Windows and Mac legends printed on the keycaps.

The standout feature of this board is its incredible battery life. With a fresh pair of AAA batteries, you may get as much as two years of battery life, and you'll never have to worry about cramming a charging cable into your backpack. However, as you might expect from a keyboard at this price, there are some downsides.

While the low profile makes it comfortable to type on, it has no additional ergonomic features like adjustable incline settings. Also, the keycaps have a circular shape and are smaller than those on most standard keyboards. The keys themselves are also quite close together. You'll likely have no problems getting used to the design, but you may make more typos than usual when first using it.