mechanical keyboards

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on mechanical keyboards:

Clean workstation boasts killer mechanical keyboard [Setups]

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full size mechanical keyboard
Compact keyboards are so popular now that seeing a full-sized one -- or even a nearly full-size, tenkeyless layout like this one -- is almost a rarity.
Photo: [email protected]

More than ever these days, computer setups flaunted on social media tend to show off compact keyboards with as low as 60% layouts. So it’s almost a surprise to come across today’s featured MacBook Pro setup, which relies on a tenkeyless keyboard. It’s almost, but not quite, full sized. And the excellent Keychron mechanical keeb is customizable, too.

Cherry next-gen keyboard switches target battery efficiency

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Cherry next-gen keyboard switches
Cherry unveiled four new keyboard switch products this week.
Photo: Cherry

Keyboard manufacturer Cherry makes a significant push into smart switch technology with four new products debuting at Computex 2025 this week. The new switches for keyboards offer particular appeal to Apple users who prioritize wireless connectivity and battery efficiency in their peripherals.

Buy more, save more (up to $150) on key Logitech peripherals

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Logitech sale
You could get an MX Mechanical Mini keyboard and MX Master 3S mouse.
Photo: Logitech

Logitech kicks off summer with its Buy More & Save sale on an array of peripherals for your Apple setup. You can scoop up keyboards, mice, webcams, iPad keyboard cases and more, through June 1. In this Logitech sale, some individual items get discounts, but the main deal comes on how much you spend, the company said: $150 off $450; $70 off $250; and $30 off $150.

As a person who relies on Logitech gear every day, I can vouch for it — especially when you can get a deal on a few items at once to really improve your setup.

Affordable Aune open-back headphones thrill for the price [Setups]

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aune
Two rarities here: Aune open-back headphones and Wobkey mechanical keyboard.
Photo: [email protected]

I love a solid setup featuring Apple’s killer Mac Studio desktop computer — and all the more so if some of the peripherals look fantastic and are completely new to me. Today’s compact workstation, for example, features a cool Wobkey 80 mechanical keyboard. But I was even more distracted by a fascinating set of relatively affordable open-back headphones — Aune AR5000.

When I think at a glance that it’s a pair of $2,000 headphones, but they only cost $300 despite having premium features, I get excited.

Get into mechanical gaming keyboards with this $40 pick [Setups]

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affordable mechanical keyboard
This mechanical keyboard for gaming will run you only about $40.
Photo: Newmen

For people who have only used membrane keyboards in office and at home, whether Magic Keyboard or similar wares from the likes of Logitech, mechanical keyboards can be a tempting world to check out — especially for gamers (because mechanical keystrokes hit at the same time won’t cancel each other out). And mech-keeb customization can be fun. But where to start? Today’s MacBook Pro and gaming PC setup puts forward an excellent candidate for an affordable mechanical keyboard.

Fine-tune typing with Keychron’s new Hall effect mechanical keyboard

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Keychron K4 HE mechanical keyboard
The fanciest version has wood trim in both colors (white or black).
Photo: Keychron

The new premium Keychron K4 HE mechanical keyboard combines a 96% layout with customizable actuation for Mac power users. The new keyboard integrates Hall effect technology into the popular K4 design. That creates a versatile option for users who demand precision and customizability for both productivity and gaming.

“The K4 HE is a game-changer for professionals and gamers who demand precision and flexibility in their keyboard setup,” Paul Tan, COO of Keychron, said Tuesday in a press release. “With Hall effect technology, users can now customize their typing experience like never before, ensuring every keystroke meets their exact needs.”

Get up to 63% off popular Keychron mechanical keyboards

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Get huge discounts on Keychron mechanical keyboards
A wired version of the customizable Keychron Q3 mechanical keyboard is on sale.
Photo: Keychron

Amazon bargain site Woot! currently offers incredible deals where you can get huge discounts on Keychron mechanical keyboards — up to 63% off normal prices. Plus, you can nab an extra $10 off if you’re a new Woot! shopper. While quite a few of the keebs have sold out, you still have six excellent choices, listed with details and direct links below, and a bit more than a week to grab yours. The sale end January 31 at 10 p.m. PT.

Satechi’s first full-size mechanical keyboard might tempt Mac users

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Satechi SM3 mechanical keyboard
Satechi's new SM3 is low-profile but full-sized, larger than the popular SM1.
Photo: Satechi

The new full-size Satechi SM3 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard builds upon the success of its compact predecessor, the SM1. But it offers Mac and Windows users enhanced functionality through a complete 108-key layout including a numeric keypad, Satechi said upon unveiling the new keeb at CES 2025.

Realforce R3 mechanical keyboard handles input for MacBook Pro [Setups]

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Realforce R3
The Realforce R3 TKL mechanical keyboard looks formidable. And it costs a formidable $242.
Photo: [email protected]

In most MacBook-based computer setups people put together at home or in offices, an external keyboard stands in for the laptop’s own. That’s typically because the laptop sits open or closed on a stand, where reaching the keyboard is either awkward or impossible. Today’s MacBook Pro setup relies on a pricey and cool Realforce R3 TKL mechanical keyboard used in combination with a Magic Trackpad.

When a desk lamp trumps a monitor light bar [Setups]

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architect desk lamp
Ever heard of an architect desk lamp? Well, it goes by other names and it might be a better choice than a monitor light bar.
Photo: [email protected]

Monitor light bars are commonplace in computer setups for good reason. They often do a better job of cutting monitor glare and lighting up desks than overhead lights or simple desk lamps. But what if a desk lamp worked more like a monitor light bar? That’s what so-called architect desk lamps do. They’re often called double-headed LED lights. Attached to their own stand or clamped arm, they can arch right over a display, providing tons of light, control options and physical flexibility.

Snag cool mechanical keyboards at up to 63% off for Black Friday

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Black Friday mechanical keyboard deals
The Pro version of Keychron's Q2 mechanical keyboard is 20% for Black Friday, among many other deals.
Photo: Keychron

Keychron is pretty much synonymous with mechanical keyboards, having flooded the market with solid and affordable models for years. And when it comes to Black Friday mechanical keyboard deals, the maker is discounting keebs from its Keychron and Lemokey lines on Amazon, with 15% to 25% off deals on more than 100 keyboards. Below you’ll find a sampling of cool options.

And you can nab even better deals on Keychron mechanical keyboards at Amazon bargain site Woot! — up to 63% off — and more will be added Thanksgiving week, the company said.

MacBook Pro rig rocks cool NuPhy mechanical keyboard [Setups]

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Nuphy mechanical keyboard setup
This MacBook Pro setups rocks a NuPhy Air96 mechanical keyboard.
Photo: [email protected]

Run by a software developer, today’s M1 Pro MacBook Pro setup doesn’t just rock two external displays. It also features a very cool input-device duo — the mouse we see more than any other in setups, which is the Logitech MX Master 3S wireless mouse, and the super-cool NuPhy Air96 V2 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard.

Killer mechanical keyboard handles gaming and more [Setups]

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Keychron K10 wireless mechanical keyboard
The Keychron K10 wireless mechanical keyboard in this product shot is full-size and ready for gaming.
Photo: Keychron

Today’s M1 Mac mini user highly recommends a killer keyboard we rarely see in setups, from a brand we see everywhere in setups — Keychron. The maker’s popular K line of affordable keebs features a full-size mode that doesn’t show up all that often, perhaps because many folks favor smaller ones these days, eschewing the number pad.

Hall effect magnetic keyboards: The next big thing for Mac gamers?

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NuPhy Field75 HE Keyboard
The NuPhy Field75 HE Keyboard packs Hall effect magnetic switches under those key caps.
Photo: NuPhy

As a Mac user, you’re no stranger to cutting-edge technology, like the hottest new mechanical keyboards. But have you heard about Hall effect keyboards, which are gaining popularity, especially among gamers? Let’s dive into why people turn to these specialized magnetic mechanical keyboards and what they could mean for your Mac gaming setup. They’re not actually new, but more of them have hit the market lately. And a lot of people think they offer big advantages.

Would you dare try this radically split keyboard? [Setups]

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split keyboard setup
Just imagine typing on that split keyboard.
Photo: [email protected]

Classic keyboard designs continue to reign supreme in computer setups, but a split keyboard makes for a more ergonomically healthy choice. Some split keebs look just a little different than a regular keyboard. But some, like the one in today’s M2 Mac mini setup, look almost alien. This one has two completely separate halves that the user places on either side of a Magic Trackpad 2.

Quirky compact keyboard doesn’t sacrifice practicality [Review] ★★★★☆

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Wombat Willow Pro keyboard on desk★★★★☆
It has a fun, playful color scheme.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The Willow Wombat Pro is a great keyboard without much compromise. It’s mechanical, with comfortable key switches to type on all day, but it’s not loud. It’s narrow, but it still has all 102 keys, with an unusual key layout. It’s thin, but it’s not flimsy: It’s sturdy and well-made.

The whimsical yellow color scheme will also add a flash of color and flair to your Mac setup. Buy it now on Amazon or keep reading below.

Want to try a mechanical keyboard? Don’t miss these deals.

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mechanical keyboard deals -- Keychron's tenkyeless Q3 follows the popular Q1 and Q2 custom keebs.
Keychron's customizable, tenkyeless Q3 followed release of the popular Q1 and Q2 custom keebs.
Photo: Keychron

Amazon bargain site Woot! celebrates summer with a big blowout sale on an unusual item — mechanical keyboards. The site offers up to 61% off an array of Keychron mechanical keebs, plus a couple of other can’t-miss mechanical keyboard deals.

A dozen keebs are on sale. Most items are discounted to at least half off regular prices. The sale runs through Friday, July 12, at 10 p.m. Pacific.

Mechanical gaming keyboard revs up Mac mini rig [Setups]

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NZXT Function mechanical gaming keyboard
This wired mechanical gaming keyboard from NZXT is hot-swappable.
Photo: NZXT

For those unfamiliar with NZXT, it’s a company based in Los Angeles that makes high-performance gaming PCs and the gear that goes with them. Today’s M1 Mac mini setup relies on a raft of NZXT devices, including a NZXT Function keyboard. It’s a customizable mechanical keeb designed for gamers with some pretty high-level functionality.

Alogic’s new Echelon keyboard and mouse make a dynamic duo [Review] ★★★★☆

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Alogic Echelon keyboard and mouse★★★★☆
The new Alogic Echelon keyboard and mouse get the job done with understated style.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Alogic rolled out its new Echelon wireless keyboard and mouse last week, offering a pair of sleek, solid, affordable and eminently practical input devices for Mac users. I swapped out a couple of Logitech devices to try Alogic’s, and I’m not missing Logi’s gear so far. In a word, you could call the Echelon input devices “minimalist.” But they have all the features you need, and then some.

Crystal-clear mechanical keyboard wins style points [Setups]

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Yunzii X75 mechanical keyboard
In this shot from Yunzii, the X75 Mechanical Keyboard features clear key caps and clear switches with RGB lighting.
Photo: Yunzii

Ever since computers like iMac G3 pulled off the trick, transparent computer gear has come in and out of style. And now transparent keyboards are having a bit of a moment. One good example is the Yunzii X75 Mechanical Keyboard seen in today’s MacBook Pro setup.

Crown this mechanical keyboard ‘customization king’ [Setups]

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Keychron custom mechanical keyboard
This shot from Keychron shows the Q2 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard.
Photo: Keychron

Some people are happy typing away on quiet membrane keyboards like Apple’s Magic Keyboard. Others are obsessed with pimping out their clickity-clackety mechanical keebs with the exact key caps, switches and design flourishes they prefer. Today’s M3 Pro MacBook Pro setup goes for the latter style with a Keychron Q2 custom mechanical keyboard.

It’s an excellent, moderately affordable option in a crowded market.

Keychron brings new ultra-slim keyboard options for Mac users

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Keychron ultra-slim keyboards -- B6 Pro
This full-sized wireless keyboard goes for $45.
Photo: Keychron

For years Keychron made its bones on good mechanical keyboards. Now it’s jumping into the scissor-switch game with a pair of Keychron ultra-slim keyboards that are direct Magic Keyboard competitors.

They looks the part, include solid features and beat Apple on price by a mile.

This compact new mechanical keyboard sports customizable screen

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Epomaker TH80 Pro V2 VIA mechanical keyboard
You don't see a screen on a keyboard every day.
Photo: Epomaker

A new 75% compact mechanical gaming keyboard with a retro look includes a decidedly modern and unusual feature — a customizable LCD screen. The Epomaker TH80 Pro V2 VIA is “designed for an extreme gaming and typing experience,” the company said Thursday.

The cool new keeb is an update on Epomaker’s popular TH80 Pro keyboard.

Artist loves his iPad Pro stand for good reason [Setups]

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Lab22 Infinity Adjust iPad stand
This M1 Mac mini setup features a lot to look at, but don't miss that cool iPad Pro stand on the right.
Photo: [email protected]

Sometimes what stands out in a computer setup isn’t a major piece, like a computer or display, but a cool accessory. Today’s colorful M1 Mac mini workstation with dual displays and loads of artwork features a cool accessory one could easily miss — a Lab22 Infinity Adjust iPad stand.