Best ergonomic keyboards — quick guide & picks (summary)

Short summary of an Engadget guide on ergonomic keyboards: a simple at-home test can indicate whether a split or angled keyboard might help your comfort. With elbows hugged into your sides, touch your thumbs together; then angle your elbows slightly outward and separate your hands. If the latter feels more natural, an ergonomic keyboard (split, Alice/unibody, columnar, or with thumb clusters) could reduce shoulder, forearm, and wrist strain.

Quick test

Hug elbows to sides & touch thumbs. Then angle elbows out and separate hands. Prefer the angled position? Consider an ergonomic keyboard.

Types of ergonomic keyboards

• Alice / unibody split: Single board with halves rotated outward ~30°. Easier transition for most users.
• Fully split: Two separate halves you can splay, tent, and position independently. May let you put a mouse or trackpad between halves.
• Columnar / ortholinear: Keys arranged in straight columns instead of staggered rows. Can improve reach for some, but has a learning curve.

Key ergonomic features

• Tenting: Raises the middle of the board toward a handshake position.
• Negative tilt: Lowers the top row and raises the spacebar edge to reduce wrist extension.
• Thumb clusters & programmable keys: Move common modifiers to reachable thumb positions; layers let you repurpose keys (useful if you need a numpad).
• Switch types: Mechanical (customizable, tactile), membrane/scissor (quieter, cheaper).
• Wired vs wireless: Wired is typically cheaper and lag-free; wireless reduces cable clutter.

How these were tested

The reviewer tried many boards for days to weeks, checking comfort, tenting, programmability, build, and software. Picks reflect what should work for most people; your best choice will depend on size of hands, existing injuries, and tolerance for relearning key layouts.

Notable models mentioned (with quick notes)

• Naya Create — fully split, mechanical, modular thumb platforms (trackpad/trackball/dials). Starts around $500 from the manufacturer. Amazon search: Naya Create on Amazon
• Kinesis Advantage 360 — fully split, columnar option, per-key programmable, tenting adjustable. More info: Search on Amazon
• Periboard 835 — Alice-style mechanical board with wireless options and tenting. Search on Amazon
• Goldtouch Elite Adjustable — connected adjustable split (ball-joint), limited programming but solid build. Search on Amazon
• Kinesis Form Split Touchpad — split layout with integrated trackpad between halves; low-profile mechanical switches. Search on Amazon
• Logitech Wave — minimal ergonomics (wave-shaped key row and wrist rest), more of a comfort tweak than a true split board. Search on Amazon

FAQ (short)

Do I need a split keyboard? If you tense shoulders or want to reduce reach, a split board can help.
How long to adjust? Alice-type often is quicker (days); fully split with thumb clusters can take weeks to a month.
Is one layout the ‘most ergonomic’? No — it depends on your body and habits.

Where to find them

Search for specific models or browse ergonomic keyboards on Amazon (affiliate search): Ergonomic keyboards on Amazon

Final note

New hardware alone won’t solve pain — combine the right keyboard with movement, stretches, posture adjustments, and breaks. This summary is based on an Engadget guide; for the full review and deeper model details, see the original article on Engadget.