Key findings
- The Logitech Wave Keys for Mac offer comfort, functionality and wrist support.
- Switching from mechanical keyboards to ergonomic keyboards can increase comfort and reduce pain from heavy typing.
- Ergonomic keyboards like the Wave Keys offer comfort and utility without sacrificing the fun of typing.
As a tech tester, I'm always trying out the latest gadgets, so nothing ever stays on my desk for too long. The best keyboards fall into this category too – I test each one for a few weeks and then move on to the next. However, when something stays part of my workflow, you know it's excellent. I've tested several flagship phones, desktop PCs, and laptops over the past few months, but an ergonomic keyboard has impressed me the most.
The Logitech Wave Keys for Mac proved to be a comfortable, functional, and stylish keyboard that made me want to sit down at my desk and start typing. It's called “Wave” because the keys literally look like a wave, and are angled upward in the middle to improve ergonomics. The built-in wrist padding helps, too. All in all, I think the Wave Keys for Mac might represent my final keyboard destination. I never thought I'd give up my low-profile or top-class mechanical keyboards for an oddly shaped ergonomic alternative, and yet here we are. It's been a game changer for my productivity and comfort, and you might want to consider one.
At first I was a mechanical keyboard convert
When I finally tried these big and clunky keyboards, I thought I had reached the end
Most of us spend some time typing on a keyboard every day, and others – like me – spend almost all of their entire Typing Day. How does the average consumer go from typing on a laptop keyboard to using an ergonomic keyboard? I know the jump feels huge, but it could be worth it. I spent most of my life scoffing at mechanical and ergonomic keyboards before I finally gave in and tried them. Starting with low-profile mechanical keyboards, I was able to slowly open my palate to different form factors until I finally had an ergonomic keyboard on my desk that I liked.
I started with the Lofree Flow, a mechanical keyboard that's not much bigger than a regular keyboard. Now that the Lofree Edge is available, I'd recommend starting with that model if you've never tried a mechanical or ergonomic keyboard before—it's about the same size as Apple's Magic Keyboard. Both offerings give you a taste of how different switches can improve the typing experience without drastically changing the form factor and key travel you're used to.
The Lofree Edge keyboard compared to the Apple Magic Keyboard.
Eventually, my journey with mechanical keyboards took me through models like the Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard and the NuPhy Field75. By this point, I was sold. The tactile and auditory feedback that mechanical keyboards offer makes them more comfortable and satisfying to use. However, they weren't perfect. In particular, the thicker chassis and extra travel that mechanical keyboards usually have can lead to wrist and hand pain without a solid palm rest.
An ergonomic keyboard solved comfort problems I didn't even know about
The Logitech Wave Keys for Mac combine comfort and utility in a perfect way
Then the opportunity came to test the Logitech Wave Keys for Mac. This keyboard was unlike any other I've ever used, featuring a slanted design on each axis. The main part of the keyboard layout is slightly curved and not completely flat either. The center of the keyboard offers raised keys that form a “wave” shape. At the bottom of the Wave Keys is a built-in cushion for your wrists. I didn't understand the point of this strange design until I started using it.
After trying it for just a few minutes, I completely understood. The point of this keyboard is quite simple: you can comfortably reach every key in the main body of the keyboard without having to move your hands. The curved and sloped layout ensures that every key is reachable by both your left and right hand when it is comfortably seated on the palm rest. This immediately felt more comfortable and resulted in a reduction in the pain and soreness in my wrist and forearm when typing. Pain that I didn't even know I was suffering from.
If you choose the Wave Keys over mechanical alternatives, you will have to make compromises. First of all, the switches are not as impressive or satisfying as the mechanical ones I am used to. The keys on the Wave Keys feel kind of soft and a bit mushy, which is not unusual for a membrane keyboard. The good thing is that the key travel is large enough and you are still satisfied. This does not affect the switches or the key actuation, but the comfort and ergonomics, which are satisfying in their own way.
Now I'm here to stay
But what about ergonomic keyboards? And mechanically?
When I got the Logitech Wave Keys for Mac to review, I was really scared to use them on a daily basis. My preconceived notions about ergonomic keyboards kept me from trying one out with an open mind. When I finally gave an ergonomic keyboard a chance, I found that they really are great and can significantly improve comfort while reducing pain for heavy typists. Few keyboards are ergonomic and mechanical, because both are beautiful categories, but I found that I preferred an ergonomic keyboard over a mechanical keyboard.
If you're undecided or have been hesitant about trying an ergonomic keyboard, I highly recommend you give one a try. Even if you go to Best Buy or another big box store to try out a demo unit, you might be impressed. Who knows, you might end up realizing that you prefer the comfort of a great ergonomic keyboard over a mechanical one.