All posts tagged: keyboards

Best iPad Accessories (2026): Keyboards, Cases, Styli

Best iPad Accessories (2026): Keyboards, Cases, Styli

Published by skeptic

Other iPad Accessories We Like iPad accessories are endless. Here are some other options that are perfectly fine, though some have issues that knock them down a rung. Zagg Pro Keys 2 Photograph: Brenda Stolyar Zagg Pro Keys 2 Keyboard Case for $150: Zagg’s case (7/10, WIRED Review) isn’t as elegant as Logitech’s system, but you can connect it via Bluetooth to two different devices. That means you’ll need to recharge the keyboard case via USB-C. It’s more protective, thanks to the folio cover, and it’s a detachable system with a case that’s separate from the slate. But it’s also a lot bulkier. The second-generation version doesn’t come with a trackpad either, so you’ll have to supply your own mouse. This one is only available for the iPad Pro (M4), but you can still purchase the first-gen version for the ninth-gen iPad, iPad Air (including the 11-inch iPad Air with M2), and 11-inch iPad Pro, as well as the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. ESR Rebound Case for $120: When I was gifted the iPad Pro (M4) …

Logitech G512 X 98 Review: A Hybrid Mish-Mash

Logitech G512 X 98 Review: A Hybrid Mish-Mash

Published by skeptic

The transition from analog switches back to mechanical isn’t perfect, either. When you plug in a normal switch and press the “scan” button to reset the board, the multi-input functionality still stays semi-functional. In my testing, where I set a WASD half-press to be the normal letter, and a full press to be [Shift + WASD], pressing any of those keys and a second key immediately after would cause the next input to combine with the Shift input, resulting in wOrdS with raNdOMly capitaLized letters! The strangest part is that the G-Hub app knows when a mechanical switch is plugged in, and gives you an alert that the multi-input won’t work with a standard switch, but it doesn’t default to the key’s standard input to avoid issues. The tedium of swapping out switches, scanning, and changing keymaps every time you start up a game is not ideal. I found myself groaning at the prospect, and using only the mechanical switches for gaming. Much like glasses with transition lenses, the BMW i8, or a McRib, this …

Keychron K2 HE Concrete Edition Review: Rock-Solid Typing

Keychron K2 HE Concrete Edition Review: Rock-Solid Typing

Published by skeptic

The stabilizers are PCB-mounted, which is preferable to the typical plate-mounted units that many keyboards use, and are lubricated from the factory. The lube on these stabilizers, while a bit excessive (there were small clumps of lube visible on the outside housings, which is not typical), feels great. The stabilized keys are smooth and consistent, with no audible rattling or sticking when typing. But as it turns out, the greatest downside of this keyboard is, also, the material choice. As much as unsealed, raw concrete is quirky and fun, it is ultimately a utilitarian material: It’s heavy, has an inconsistent texture, and stains easily. During my time with this keyboard, it gathered quite a few smudges and stains, nearly all of which had unknown-to-me origins. Maybe they came from cleaning sprays, or from something on my hands, but I honestly have no clue. Depending on your perspective, this can be a flaw or a bonus. What some consider dirty, others will see as “patina.” But as someone who likes keeping their electronics squeaky-clean for as …

Corsair Galleon 100 SD Review: Stream Deck Now Included

Corsair Galleon 100 SD Review: Stream Deck Now Included

Published by skeptic

Instead of using cutting-edge Hall Effect switches with adjustable actuation points and features like Rapid Trigger, this keyboard comes with standard mechanical switches. This means the actuation point cannot be changed, and some performance and customization are left on the table. The benefit of mechanical switches is that there is more physical customization. Underneath each key is a hot-swap socket, meaning these switches can be replaced with any MX-style switch. While this allows for extensive fine-tuning of the typing feel, the feature won’t objectively increase gaming performance. Considering the switches and the size of this keyboard, it’s really not meant to be a fully performance-oriented gaming keyboard. Instead, it strikes a middle ground of high performance paired with open-ended customization options. Shipshape Typing Experience The Galleon is made using a gasket mount assembly, which means the entire internal assembly is suspended inside the case using rubberized gaskets instead of screws. This creates a softer typing feel. I found this to be very comfortable. When you bottom out on a key press, it feels like landing …

Keyboard Shortcuts I Learned From My Cat

Keyboard Shortcuts I Learned From My Cat

Published by skeptic

My cat Mira is perfect, and has never done anything wrong. She also loves walking on laptop keys—both my MacBook and my wife Kathy’s Windows PC. You might think that walking on laptops is an example of Mira doing something wrong. She disagrees. And, in any case, we’ve both learned a lot about how our computers work because of this. Every time she walks across our keyboards she triggers some new, confusing keyboard shortcut. I wonder how she did it, but then I find out the keyboard shortcut by Googling around. Here’s what I learned. Mira Hides Important Things Multiple times Mira has walked across my keyboard and caused most of my windows to disappear. This sends me into a panic—is my work gone?—until I click a dock icon and realize everything is still there. What happened? It could be a few things. On the Mac the keyboard shortcut Command-Option-H hides all windows except the current one. Or maybe Mira switched virtual desktops in Mission Control—that’s done with Control–Left/Right arrow key, and could make it …

Best MacBook Accessories (2026): Chargers, Covers, Keyboards, and More

Best MacBook Accessories (2026): Chargers, Covers, Keyboards, and More

Published by skeptic

More Good MacBook Accessories We’ve tested a lot of MacBook accessories. Here are 10 more solid options if you’re hunting for something more specific. Harbor London Sleeve for $159: Prefer a more luxe laptop sleeve? WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu has had a good experience with Harber London’s full-grain leather sleeve. The inside is lined with wool felt to keep your machine scratch-free, and the black or tan leather exudes luxury. It fits a variety of MacBook models, including the largest 16-inch model. The flap stays shut thanks to magnets, so your MacBook won’t easily slip out. You can even charge the laptop while it’s in the sleeve.—Brenda Stoylar CalDigit TS5 Plus. Photograph: Luke Larsen CalDigit TS5 Plus for $500: Many of the accessories on this list appeal to the average MacBook user, who probably uses a MacBook Air or Neo. But there are people out there who are looking to base an entire workstation setup around their MacBook Pro, and that’s who the CalDigit TS5 Plus is for. This is an absolutely decked-out Thunderbolt 5 …

Logitech K98M Wireless Keyboard Review: Great for Productivity

Logitech K98M Wireless Keyboard Review: Great for Productivity

Published by skeptic

Options, of course, also has built-in integration for AI assistants like ChatGPT, with a dedicated “Prompt Builder” UI that can be summoned with the press of a button. Thankfully, unlike some keyboards, AI functionality can easily be disabled, with the key defaulting to Page Down and being remappable to anything else. Unlike other new keyboards, there is not a dedicated Copilot key. Instead, there are only Alt, Function, and Control keys to the right of the spacebar. The keyboard comes with a USB-A wireless dongle that can be stored in a slot on the back, and also has Bluetooth connectivity. Wired connectivity, though, is entirely absent. Instead, like most of Logitech’s productivity items, the USB-C port is used exclusively for charging. This decision has always made some sense for Logitech’s mice, since a cable can get in the way of moving a mouse, but makes far less sense for a keyboard, which is entirely stationary. This isn’t the end of the world, but it doesn’t make much sense. Photograph: Henri Robbins The K98M also features …

The Best Ergonomic Keyboard I’ve Tried (and Other Comfortable Typing Options)

The Best Ergonomic Keyboard I’ve Tried (and Other Comfortable Typing Options)

Published by skeptic

While there are countless types of ergonomic keyboards, the most common are typically going to be angled keyboards and split keyboards. Angled keyboards, often referred to as “Alice”-style keyboards in the mechanical keyboard world (named after the TGR Alice), split the alphanumeric keys along the middle, positioning the two halves at an angle from one another while keeping the modifier keys (backspace, enter, shift, and so on) in their standard positions. The angle will vary between keyboards, as will the number of keys, but the main constant in an Alice-style keyboard is that, despite the halves being separated from one another, the keyboard itself is not split. It has one case that all of the keys are held in. Alternatively, a standard split keyboard does the opposite: A standard split keyboard will keep all of the keys in their standard position (with no new angles) and instead cut the entire keyboard in two, creating two distinct halves that can be moved independently of one another. Some of these keyboards will connect the two halves with …

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro 8KHz Review: A Keyboard for the Competitive

Razer Huntsman V3 Pro 8KHz Review: A Keyboard for the Competitive

Published by skeptic

The screen on the right side is convenient and practical. I appreciate the gimmick of the actuation visualizer, which is a small line of dots that illuminates from left to right as you push down a key. It can help with determining and setting an ideal actuation distance, but beyond that, it’s almost entirely aesthetic. The rest of the indicators on the keyboard are nice, but they are underwhelming compared to the full OLED screens that many gaming keyboards have today. The rarely used cluster of keys above the arrow keys now has a secondary purpose, where each of them can be used with the Function layer to select one of five preset profiles. Four of them are customizable, but the first, called “Factory Default,” seemingly functions as a fail-safe in case you royally mess up another profile map (such as remapping your space bar to your controller’s “A” button—something the software actually warns you against if you attempt it). Across these profiles, you can make all of the standard Hall effect adjustments. Each key’s …

Keychron Q16 HE 8K Review: A Ceramic Disappointment

Keychron Q16 HE 8K Review: A Ceramic Disappointment

Published by skeptic

The internals of this keyboard are unique. Instead of standard Hall effect equipment, the Q16 is one of Keychron’s first keyboards to utilize TMR sensors. These are very similar to standard Hall effect switches, but they have a few key differences. The largest benefits are their improved accuracy and reduced power draw compared to Hall effect sensors, while the downsides are primarily their increased price and a lack of development. For gaming, these switches are great. They’re fast and responsive, returning quickly after being pressed and having quite a few ways to adjust their performance. The Rapid Triggers setting allows for switches to immediately be pressed again after they’re released (as opposed to waiting for the switch to reset past its original actuation point), and the SOCD (simultaneous opposing cardinal direction) settings allow for opposite movements (typically A and D, for strafing) to override one another when both are pressed at the same time. This means when A is pressed, then D is pressed, the D key will take priority and disable input from the …