The 7 Best Keyboards For Writers - Summer 2020
Reviews

The best keyboard for writers that we've reviewed so far is the Razer BlackWidow Elite. The unit that we reviewed features Razer's proprietary Orange switches, which are similar to Cherry MX Brown switches, but you also can get it with Green (tactile and clicky) or Yellow (linear and silent) switches.

The Orange switches provide great tactile feedback when typing and they're nearly silent, making this keyboard suitable for quiet offices. Typing on this keyboard feels light and responsive, and a well-padded wrist rest is included for optimal comfort. Overall build quality is excellent and the doubleshot keycaps ensure that key legends won't fade over time. This keyboard comes with a ton of extra features that are quite convenient. It has dedicated media controls, a USB passthrough to charge mobile devices or to connect another peripheral, and full RGB backlighting for those who like to work in the dark. Each key's backlight can be customized individually, and you can reprogram or set macros to any key.

Profiles can be saved on the keyboard's on-board memory, making it easy to switch to another computer, or they can be saved using Razer's Synapse 3 software. Sadly, the latter is only available for Windows, but macOS and Linux users can still program macros using hotkeys. If you're a writer or you spend all day typing, this keyboard is worth a try, making this the best keyboard for writers with mechanical switches.

The best keyboard for writers with an ergonomic design that we've tested so far is the Logitech ERGO K860 Wireless Split Keyboard. It has a split keyboard design and reverse incline settings to help promote a natural typing position.

The built-in wrist rest is well-padded and covered with a fabric that feels very premium. Although the scissor switches require a bit of force to actuate, the overall typing experience is very pleasant, as the switches have a very pronounced tactile bump and their low pre-travel distance make the keyboard feel extremely responsive. That said, the keyboard's unconventional layout does have a bit of a learning curve and you may notice a greater number of typos at first. This keyboard can be paired to multiple devices simultaneously either through Bluetooth or its unifying USB receiver, and you can switch between them with a press of a button, making multi-tasking easy.

There are also a few other downsides: it doesn't have backlighting, it uses disposable batteries, and the keycaps are pad-printed, which means that key legends can fade or chip with regular use. However, Logitech's Options software lets you reprogram the function keys; however, it's only available for Windows and macOS, so Linux users won't be able to customize. If ergonomics are a priority or you're concerned about repetitive strain injuries, this keyboard could be a good option.

The best keyboard for writers with non-mechanical switches that we've tested so far is the Logitech MX Keys. This full-size keyboard features scissor switches that are great to type on, and its chiclet-style keys are also lightly indented to help with typing accuracy.

It has exceptional wireless connectivity, with a multi-device pairing feature that lets you connect up to three devices at the same time, and switching between the paired devices is easy and seamless. It has fantastic compatibility with most operating systems, as it can be used with any device that's Bluetooth-capable, and there are only a few OS-specific shortcuts that don't work on Linux and mobile operating systems. Although this keyboard operates on a built-in rechargeable battery, it has backlighting for those who like to work in the dark. Also, the typing noise is very quiet, so you shouldn't have any issues using it in quiet environments.

Sadly, this keyboard doesn't come with a wrist rest and there aren't any incline settings; however, it's decently comfortable to type on for long periods due to its low profile. There are a number of keys that can be reprogrammed to other functions through Logitech's Options software, but you can't set any macros to them and it doesn't have any dedicated macro keys. All in all, if you don't like mechanical keyboards, this is the best non-mechanical keyboard for writers.

The best keyboard for writers in the budget category is the Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard. It's a very simple, yet good overall office keyboard that most writers should be happy with.

This keyboard has simple rubber dome switches that have a low pre-travel distance and offer some tactile feedback, but require quite a bit of force to press. The keys are stable and offer good overall typing quality, and they're very quiet if you work in an open-office environment. Even though it doesn't have a wrist rest of incline settings, you shouldn't feel fatigue typing on this keyboard for long periods because of its low profile. It's a wireless keyboard, but it doesn't have multi-device pairing, so you can only connect to one device at a time via Bluetooth.

Sadly, this keyboard doesn't have many extra features. There's no backlighting and you can only set macros to the F4-F7, which is still convenient for a simple, budget-friendly keyboard. Since it's a full-sized keyboard, it's also not the most ideal to carry around with you. All in all, this is the best keyboard for writers in the budget category that we've tested.