this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2023
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Mechanical Keyboards

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Are you addicted to the clicking sounds of your beautiful and impressive mechanical keyboard?
If so, this community is for you!

Here you can discuss everything about mechanical keyboards (and only mechanical keyboards).

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Looking for Recommendations: Portable MacOS-Compatible Keyboards for Remote Work (self.mechanicalkeyboards)
submitted 1 year ago by menisadi to c/[email protected]
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Hey all

I've been searching for a portable keyboard that I can easily carry in my backpack as I switch between different working spaces. Since I primarily use MacOS, I'm looking for a keyboard with a MacOS layout. After some research, I've narrowed down my options to three models:

  1. Nuphy Air60
  2. Logitech K380
  3. Keychron K7.

I'd appreciate your insights and recommendations on which one would be the best fit for my needs. Here are a few things I'm considering:

  1. Portability: How easy is it to carry in a backpack? Is it lightweight and compact enough for on-the-go use?

  2. Compatibility: I need it to work seamlessly with MacOS. Have you had any compatibility issues with these keyboards on a Mac?

  3. Typing Experience: How comfortable and responsive is the typing experience? Is it suitable for extended periods of typing?

  4. Build Quality: Does the keyboard feel durable and well-constructed? Any issues with keys or connectivity?

  5. Battery Life: How long does the battery typically last on these keyboards?

  6. Any Additional Features: Are there any standout features or drawbacks that I should be aware of?

If you've used any of these keyboards or have other recommendations in mind, please share your experiences and thoughts. Your input will be a big help in making my decision!

Thanks in advance for your assistance! 😊

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you get a keyboard that supports QMK/Via etc there’s no such thing as a Mac layout because you can just map the keys as you see fit.

I can’t speak to the K7 specifically, however I bought a Keychron K2 back in 2020 and it got me into the hobby. Solid build quality and still going strong almost four years later (not by me, I’ve gone down the rabbit hole but it is my sons daily driver).

[–] menisadi 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you're willing to go down this rabbit hole: I have a Planck keyboard. It's super tiny, only weighs 300g and feels good enough that I use it daily for work (programming) even though I bought it for travel. Don't get too discouraged by the missing keys. It does have a slight learning curve and in my case I also tweaked the software quite a lot to get exactly what I want, but if you're up for it, it can be super rewarding. I got the pre-built Planck EZ but it's discontinued but there are other Planck-style boards out there.

[–] menisadi 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Made me curious. I'll Google it :)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Since this community focused on mechanical keyboard. Have you considered Mx mechanical mini?

[–] menisadi 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh actually I haven't. Somehow I didn't see this model pop-up. Do you recommend?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Tbh Logitech Mx mechanical models have longer battery longevity than their competitors and good software as well

[–] menisadi 1 points 1 year ago

Sounds great. Thanks

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

If you're still looking, I have a used K7 I'm selling. It's a great little keyboard, wireless, with a Mac layout setting. This one has blue switches and a travel case. I bought it for travel, but I haven't ended up traveling as much as I expected.

Lmk if you're interested.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have a Keychron k2 with the German layout and the PBT Retro caps with Blue switches and I am more than happy with it. Very lightweight and portable and the 3 Bluetooth slots are handy. I know it's not the best one out there but it gets the job done pretty well.

I will do foam padding and o rings in the future to reduce the hollow sound and the bottoming out of the keys. I dont low well the other keyboards are made in this regard.

You will eventually need a wrist rest with the keychrons due to their height. Also the battery life is not as great as it could be. I am most of the time directly connected to my MacBook so I won't notice this much but I know that the battery lasts around 1-2 days of work depending on the type of lighting you choose.

Hope that helps somehow.

[–] menisadi 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Thanks! Just a little question: will it indeed fit into a backpack? :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I have a K6 and it fits fine in a backpack. A bit heavy. I don't generally travel with it but if I did I'd probably choose one of the many low profile 65% instead.

Build quality, like others have probably said, you can't go wrong with Keychron, and they have mac keys. If you just want to get the one kb for your use case and not interact with the hobby beyond that, they're who I'd chose from.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

K2 is very lightweight imo. And it fits easily in all my bags.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I have a Keychron K2 with some retro looking keycaps and blue switches. I don’t know for sure how it compares to the K7 though.

It’s a really great keyboard, solidly built, not too heavy, nice sounding and even nicer to type on. The battery holds up pretty well, I rarely have to charge it.

I don’t carry it around but it is pretty portable.

The only thing I‘m missing from my original MacBooks keyboard is the little globe button on the bottom left for emojis, special characters and such. But this is mapped to another key combination so all is well. And it is pretty high, you might need a wrist rest for very long typing sessions. In my usecase (gaming and a few hours of uni a day) I don’t struggle with this.

It is connected via bluetooth with up to three devices at a time and you can swap between them via a keyboard shortcut. It has a switch for MacOS/iOS and Windows/Android so swapping between devices is almost seamless.

There is no software for it afaik. For me thats a plus (less bloatware on my devices), but if you want highly customized lighting or super elaborate custom behavior, it might be a minus.

Overall this is a great little keyboard, especially considering that I got mine on sale for 50 or 60€.