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If you’re looking for a Mac keyboard, you’ll find that there are a lot of options out there. Apple has a few, for example, but there are also other reputable brands that offer cheaper, or better alternatives depending on your situation. Regardless of whether you’re looking for a replacement for your iMac keyboard, or you’re just looking for a great for MacBook Pro, we’ve got a few options for you to take a look at. In this article, we have reviewed the top keyboards for Mac.
They’re all great in their own regard, and come at different price points, so choose whichever works for you based on your needs and budget. Additionally, you can check out our review of the mechanical keyboards for Mac if you are looking for a more tactile typing experience.
Read Related Article: Wireless Keyboards for Mac
Mac Keyboards: Buying Guide
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Das Keyboard 4
Mechanical keyboards are the ideal choice for people who do a lot of typing on their Macs, and few are as good as Metadot’s Das Keyboard 4.
The Das Keyboard 4 is available in MX Cherry Brown and MX Cherry Blue options. Both of these are good. Albeit, the MX Cherry Brown is recommended for people who type a lot. This is because of their less audible tactile bump. However, regardless of which of the two you choose, you’re guaranteed to receive a keyboard that’s rated to last 50 million keystrokes and boasts DAS German engineering.
Further adding to the DAS Keyboard 4’s superior build quality and durability are the gold contacts of the mechanical key switches, as well as the aluminum top panel, and laser-etched keyboard inscriptions.
Rugged construction aside, the DAS Keyboard 4 is also functional. It comes with its own set of dedicated media controls. It also has an instant sleep button and an oversized volume knob. Metadot also threw in two super-speed USB 3.0 ports for good measure, as well as full N-key rollover with anti-ghosting for the ultimate typing experience.
If you’re serious about improving your typing experience on your Mac, the Das Keyboard 4 is an investment well worth making.
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Apple Magic Keyboard
Even though their reputation isn’t all that good after they created the ultra-slim butterfly switches on the new MacBook models, Apple still makes one of the best keyboards for Mac – their Magic Keyboard. This is a great wireless keyboard, as it is the easiest to connect and works really well. If you don’t like the small design, there’s also a variant with a numpad, and you can get it in black and white.
The keyboard comes with a long-lasting rechargeable battery. The scissor mechanism below each key provides plenty of travel, and even though this is a low-profile keyboard, it’s a surprisingly comfortable typing experience. It does also give you a few multimedia buttons that let you control your music if you don’t want to reach for your mouse.
The design simply screams Apple – it has that brushed metal look, it’s really slim and it’s really lightweight – a great option for just about any Mac. The downside is that it does cost quite a bit. However, if you want something that matches your Mac visually, and will pair with it in an instant, this is a good option.
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Logitech Easy-Switch K811
Logitech is certainly one of those peripheral manufacturers that have a very good reputation when it comes to keyboards. Their Easy-Switch K811 is meant to be a portable option that you can take along with you and use it with your laptop, tablet or smartphone.
Starting things off with the design, it’s obviously meant to be used with Apple products – you have that aluminum finish and sleek, modern design, as well as the Mac layout. The battery is rechargeable, and there’s a USB cable that you can use to charge it.
The Easy-Switch is a great alternative, if you’re one of those people that aren’t fans of Apple’s butterfly switches. However, if you use it with multiple devices, there’s a single button that will allow you to toggle between them, which is a nice addition.
The keys are backlit and have sharp legends, so typing even in the dark will not be an issue. There’s plenty of travel, and the K811 makes for a very comfortable typing experience. It’s also really, really quiet, so you can use it in a shared office as well, without disturbing your coworkers. Overall, it’s a great option.
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Macally Full Size Keyboard (MKEYE)
When you’re shopping for accessories for your Mac, you don’t have to pay the “Apple premium” – there are products by other manufacturers that are excellent replacements. A great example is this Macally full-size keyboard which serves as a budget replacement for the Apple full-size keyboard.
To begin with, this is a 104-key keyboard with a numpad to the right. It also comes with 15 shortcut keys that are Apple-specific such as cut/copy/paste commands, as well as media playback controls. These will work out of the box, no drivers are required.
The typing experience itself is great. The keys are low profile, yet have plenty of travel, so you don’t feel like you’re smashing on your desk. The legends don’t look like they’ll wear out anytime soon, so if you want something that will last a good while, you should give it a shot.
Last but not least, this is a wired keyboard. Even though some might prefer a wireless option, you never have to charge this one. Just plug it in, and you’re good to go.
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Logitech K750 Wireless Solar Keyboard
While most of us would prefer a wireless keyboard due to the simplicity and convenience of one less cable, it’s no secret that most of us would also want to avoid charging it. Logitech seems to have come up with a solution, and it’s their K750 wireless keyboard with solar charging.
This keyboard has Mac-specific layout which includes a Launchpad hotkey, and a design that matches Apple’s aesthetics really well. It’s only a third of an inch thick, and the brushed aluminum look is beautiful.
The solar charging is definitely the highlight feature here. Any light source will keep the keyboard charged, and the battery can last at least three months without a charging source, which is impressive.
Last but not least, the typing experience on the K750 is really, really good. It has Logitech’s concave keycaps that are really comfortable, and keep the noise level to a minimum. There’s plenty of travel as well.
We should also mention connectivity – this isn’t a Bluetooth keyboard. Instead, it requires a USB port and comes with a Logitech Unifying receiver that you plug in to use.
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Anker Ultra Compact
Anker is a very reputable brand in the world of tech accessories and electronics in general, and they’re known for products that perform much better than their price tag would suggest. Such is the case with the Anker Ultra Compact keyboard, a small keyboard that is light, and compact.
Kicking things off with the design, it’s obvious the keyboard took some design cues from Apple’s own Magic Keyboard, and we mean this in a good way. There’s a sleek looking aluminum finish with white buttons, very Apple-like. It also comes with a Mac-specific layout, but you could potentially use it with iOS devices, too, as well as Android and Windows ones.
The typing experience on the Ultra Compact is excellent in any regard. The keys are low profile, but they still have plenty of travel and you do get a comfortable experience, with the added benefit of having a really quiet keyboard.
In terms of connectivity, it uses Bluetooth, and it will connect to the last used device as soon as you switch it on. The battery should last you for a month if you use it around 2 hours per day, and there’s an included charging cable. A great budget option!
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Velocifire M87
The market is full of budget mechanical keyboards nowadays, with a host of layouts, from 60% ones to full-size boards. The Velocifire M87 is one of those budget keyboards for Mac, and it comes with a ten keyless design without a number pad, with keycaps obviously meant for use with a Mac. If you want a mechanical keyboard but are on a budget, read on.
The switches in the M87 are brown switches. They do have a tactile bump, but are quiet, making them great if you have other people in the room where you’re working. As a mechanical keyboard, you’re getting plenty of travel and a truly remarkable typing experience.
The keycaps are slightly curved for a bit more ergonomics when you’re typing, and there is a white LED backlight on the entire keyboard, so you can type in the dark as well.
Even though Velocifire isn’t a really well-known name in the mechanical keyboard world, the M87 is a great pick for users who want the typing experience of a mechanical keyboard, but would rather avoid a dent in their wallet.
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Satechi Aluminum USB Keyboard
Satechi is one of the first names that springs to mind when you’re looking at accessories for your Mac. Mac. It covers all the basics, and then some, and it has a reputable brand behind it.
First things first, the design is very obviously Apple-inspired. You get an elegant aluminum body, which is available in silver or grey, as well as white keycaps that remind us of Apple’s own keyboards a bit too much. The full-size keyboard comes with a Mac-oriented layout, so you aren’t missing out on any keys or shortcuts.
Below the keycaps, you will find scissor switches. They’re a very popular low profile option which still has plenty of travel, and Satechi has made a great choice by using them in this keyboard. You not only get an accurate typing experience, but it’s also very comfortable while remaining calm.
This is a wired keyboard, which some will love due to the fact that you don’t need to charge it, but others not that much, so it’s a matter of choice. However, if you want a great design and don’t want to miss out on any features and shortcuts, this is one for you.
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Macally USB Wired Compact Keyboard
Whether you’re on a tight budget, or just want a cheap spare keyboard to throw in your backpack when traveling with your MacBook Pro, the Macally USB wired compact keyboard is an excellent choice. It doesn’t cost a lot, it comes with a sleek and compact design, and it’s wired, so you don’t have to worry about battery levels.
The design takes some inspiration from the Apple Magic Keyboard, with the aluminum build and white keycaps, but it still looks great. There is no numpad, as this is a compact keyboard, but all the Apple shortcuts that you’ve grown to love are still there. This is certainly one of the smallest keyboards we’ve seen, which makes it extremely portable.
Moving on to the typing experience, it is incredibly comfortable. The keycaps have a nice texture and feel to them, and there’s plenty of travel as well. The legends don’t look like they’re going to fade quickly, which is another great thing.
All things considered, this keyboard packs quite a lot of features for the price and is certainly a good choice if you’re on a budget.
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Twelve South MagicBridge
Even though not technically a keyboard, the Twelve South MagicBridge is a product like no other. If you’re the owner of an Apple Wireless Keyboard, as well as Apple’s Magic Trackpad 2, it’s certainly something you should take a look at.
The MagicBridge is something like a case for your keyboard and trackpad, and it’s meant to keep them next to each other. They’ll fit snugly inside the case, and you get to choose whether you’d like the trackpad on the left or the right of the keyboard.
On the back side of the MagicBridge are holes that are designed to keep the Lightning ports available for charging, so you don’t have to take out the keyboard or trackpad to charge them.
Yes, this is not a keyboard. However, if you’ve got a Mac, and you want something that will help you keep things tidy and looking clean, it’s a great product. Also, it’s a product by Twelve South, a brand that specializes in accessories for Apple products, which does speak volumes about the quality.
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Read Another Related Article: Mechanical Keyboards for Mac Computers