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Best mechanical keyboards in 2024
Our pick of the best wired and wireless mechanical keyboards, for office work to gaming
Mechanical keyboards are no longer a niche proposition, with more people than ever switching back to classic keys for their stellar durability and scope for personalization. The keyboards on this list deliver a near-perfect typing experience right off the bat, with adequate room for experimentation if you feel like fine-tuning things further. Speaking of fine-tuning, most of the keyboards allow you to change the keycaps, and some have hot-swappable PCBs for conveniently using switches of your choice. These keyboards are built to last you several years, with hot-swappable boards potentially lasting longer because you can replace defunct switches.
Cherry KC 200 MX mechanical keyboard review: Workplace warrior
A bulletproof office keyboard with enthusiast-grade switches
Mechanical keyboards are technically superior to the average membrane boards on store shelves or the integrated keyboard in most of our favorite Chromebooks. Mechanical options are built to serve you a lot longer than rubber dome and scissor switches in notebooks, and the longevity of the former isn’t tied to other components, which makes laptops feel dated after a couple of years.
X-Plus VickyBoard Ergo Split-V mechanical keyboard review: Fun in the danger zone
Beauty may be just skin deep
Of all computer parts, keyboards arguably have the least dramatic job despite their critical role in human-machine interaction. Worryingly, then, the layout of keys hasn’t changed since the typewriter days. They still look like boring old tools encased in black plastic, existing just as a means to an end. However, a small community of enthusiasts hasn’t forgotten the IBM Model M’s heyday, and a resurgence of mechanical keyboards has spawned an industry of vibrant designs and experimental layouts.
How to use your iPhone's secret trackpad
The trackpad is just one of many little known iPhone features
Although iPhone owners got a nice keyboard update with the release of iOS 17, it still lags Gboard. And if you're the proud new owner of a Samsung Galaxy S24, you're lucky enough to have all the sweet new AI features on the Samsung keyboard. That said, the iOS keyboard has several tricks up its sleeve to fix typos on the go. You may sometimes run into typos when you write business emails or X threads on your iPhone.
11 great ways to improve the Samsung Keyboard
Samsung's keyboard can be improved — here's how to make it better
Smartphones are gateways to communication and productivity. At the center of this interaction is the keyboard. Samsung, the biggest Android manufacturer, equipped its One UI keyboard with customization options, especially on its top Samsung Galaxy phones. While these features might seem overwhelming at first glance and are often deactivated by default, they enhance your typing experience. We compiled 11 essential tips to supercharge your Samsung Keyboard.
Lofree Flow mechanical keyboard review: Small stature, big thocks
The new benchmark for low-profile mechanical keyboard sound and feel
Mechanical keyboards are the talk of computer peripheral town, and every brand is vying for a piece of the pie. We cut through the noise and filter out the best options available for you on the market, but you may notice the abject lack of choice when you seek a mechanical replacement for your laptop keyboard or products equivalent to the sleek Apple Magic Keyboard and Logitech MX Keys series.
Best Keychron keyboards in 2024
Keychron makes great keyboards for all budgets and personal preferences — here are the best
In the world of mechanical keyboards, few brands are respected as much as Keychron. Its keyboards regularly top lists of the best mechanical keyboards thanks to their high-quality build quality, reasonable prices, and customization options. However, Keychron makes a lot of products, so even if you've settled on the brand for your next mechanical keyboard, it can be difficult to wade through the options for the ideal pick.
How to change the keyboard on your Android phone or tablet
Don't like the default keyboard? Android's got you covered
Your phone's keyboard is an essential part of your user experience. Most of us have wrestled with a default keyboard on an unfamiliar Android device. Some Android users prefer the pre-installed keyboard. You have a choice of several keyboard options if you use a top Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, or another Android smartphone or tablet. Let's look at some of the best and show you how to switch to one that suits you.
There's finally an iPhone accessory that doesn't make us jealous
The Clicks keyboard attachment turns an iPhone into... a Palm Pre?
The younger generation often gapes in disbelief when hearing that people used to have smartphones featuring actual buttons. As they evolved, manufacturers developed keyboards to cater to the emergence of text messaging. Much has changed since the early days of texting, thanks to the arrival of touchscreen smartphones — such as the iPhone — which eliminated the need for keyboards. This doesn’t mean that some don’t occasionally miss the physical sensation of typing with buttons, however, and Clicks is here to satisfy that desire, in its own awkward way.
How to customize Samsung Keyboard on your phone or tablet
There's a lot you can do with your Samsung Keyboard, if you know how
Samsung phones and tablets provide numerous ways to improve your keyboard. The settings menu is loaded with style and layout options, including theme changing, size and transparency controls, and font size adjustments.
Royal Kludge H81 mechanical keyboard review: Compact clack
Perfect right out of the box, with good looks to match
When shopping for a new keyboard for your Chromebook, you will notice that most popular alternatives outshine an integrated keyboard by a massive margin. The best mechanical keyboards take things a notch higher, adding personalization and repairability to the mix. Royal Kludge (RK) is a well-known mechanical keyboard brand you're bound to come across during your search, especially if you're looking for sub-$100 compact mechanical keyboards.
I would buy this $100 mechanical keyboard in a heartbeat
The SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL is the perfect typing accessory with a 33% discount this Black Friday
A keyboard is an irreplaceable part of your devices, from the one built into your Chromebook to the Gboard app installed on stock Android. If you miss the keyboards we had in the 1980s and crave durability without sacrificing quality-of-life features in your keyboard, you ought to check out our favorite mechanical keyboards. One such keyboard, the SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL, is selling for just $100 after Black Friday discounts on its $150 sticker price.
SwiftKey Beta now lets you generate AI images right from your keyboard
Microsoft's keyboard now also supports Material You dynamic theming
While it’s a feature that many of us don’t think about frequently, your phone's keyboard is perhaps the most used tool on the device. Whether you prefer to swipe to type or tap letter-by-letter, the keyboard you choose to use greatly impacts how quickly you communicate. These days, there are several different keyboard options to suit your personal preferences. Microsoft is now taking things one step further with its SwiftKey keyboard app, integrating new features for livelier conversations. Those who are using SwiftKey Beta will be able to generate AI images right from their keyboard.
Bitmojis are among the many ways to personalize your texting experience. They are cartoon versions of yourself and can express multiple reactions, from anger and sadness to joy or goofiness. You can customize these avatars with different clothing choices and send them in chats. While they're popular on Snapchat, that's not the only place to use them. If you have an account on Telegram, WhatsApp, or one of the other social media apps, Bitmojis are available to you.
Android 14 is working on a massive new list of physical keyboard shortcuts
Large-screen devices can already try the new shortcuts on Android 14 Beta 2
Google is highly motivated to improve the Android experience on big-screen devices now that the company has announced its Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. Android 14 has a number of new features that should help in this regard, from split-screen app pairs to using gesture navigation while dragging and dropping. But the biggest improvements in the new version, at least for tablet users, might just be with external physical keyboards.
Android 14's new keyboard and touchpad features sound great for productivity
Remapping modifier keys, customizing touchpad gestures, and more
One of Google’s main goals with Android 14 is to build upon the momentum of Android 12L and 13 by improving the experience on big-screen devices like tablets and foldables. While changes like native app cloning for multi-account logins and a slick new back gesture will surely be welcomed by everyone, people who use their larger Android devices as workstations stand to benefit from some changes for external keyboards and touchpads in the latest OS version.
Gboard is the stock keyboard app on many of the best Android phones for a good reason. It's one of the best keyboard apps for Android and iOS, thanks to its ease of use and wealth of useful features. While every Android user will find Gboard helpful, advanced users will find plenty of helpful tools hidden under the hood. Tools like integrated Google Translate and One-handed mode are always handy, but often-forgotten features like quick fractions and the text editor can be equally valuable.
Mechanical keyboard switches: An in-depth guide
Understanding what they are can make your next purchase easier
Smartphones may have taken over the world of touch screens; however, there's still a massive market for external physical keyboards. The two primary keyboard types we have today are mechanical and membrane, each with unique properties. Many indirectly know of membrane keyboards since most laptops these days use them; however, not everyone will be familiar with mechanical ones. Mechanical keyboards have been around for a long time, but they've only recently resurfaced as a popular option. In this guide, we'll go over what a mechanical keyboard is and why you might consider getting one.
Gboard's Pixel 6 grammar checker now spreading to other Google phones
Love it? Hate it? Depends on you're type
Google was able to incorporate machine-modeled grammar checks onto Gboard in the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, but it would've been silly not to spread it across more devices. Fast forward to today and we're seeing more Pixels correcting they their users' sentence structuring.
Samsung needs to stop pushing its own software and just give Galaxy users what they want
And more often than not, what they want is Google's solution
It's a widely held belief that competition fuels innovation. When we've got multiple companies all trying to win our business, they've got to find their own ways to stand out from the crowd, and that can drive the development of exciting new technologies. At least, that's the idea, but is there ever a point where we just need to call it? Where we've had enough friendly competition already, and wouldn't it be better for everyone involved if we could just agree on a winner? That's pretty much where I am with Samsung right now, and I'd love nothing more than for the company to stop wasting time and effort trying to replicate Google's superior software and services.