Keyboards don’t always get as much attention from designers and developers as mice do. But whether you’re designing digital products or developing apps, the right keyboard can improve your productivity and eliminate some repetitive commands. What’s more, it can help you avoid the strain that comes with using a keyboard that’s bad for your wrists for hours every day.
Let’s take a look now at the four best keyboards for designers and developers and understand the key differences between them. These top performers will make you want to upgrade your keyboard right now.
At first glance, Kinesis Advantage2 makes you pause and question its design. But then you realize that it’s made to keep your wrists fixed while you use it. The best part? The super-ergonomic design actually works. If you’re worried about (or suffering from) repetitive strain injury or other wrist-related condition, this Kinesis Advantage2 can be a lifesaver.
But it’s not just about the ergonomics. This keyboard comes with advanced built-in key remapping and macro functions powered by the SmartSet Programming Engine. Thanks to this engine, you can easily program and customize keys without having to install additional software. You get a whopping 48 programmable macros, which puts many gaming keyboards to shame.
What’s more, the low-force keys provide excellent tactile feedback, making this one of the best keyboards for designers and developers who write their own code. If you’ve never used a Kinesis keyboard before, you may need some time getting used to the layout, but after that, you’ll be fast on your way to designing more every day.
Developed with Adobe’s creative suite of apps in mind, Logitech Craft is a quiet and responsive keyboard that works equally well on Windows and Mac. Its key feature is the Crown, a creative input dial in the top left corner of the keyboard whose function adapts to the Adobe (Photoshop or Illustrator) or Office app you’re using. It allows for finer controls than your mouse. You can use the dial to zoom in or out, adjust the size of the brush, create charts faster, and more.
In addition to the dial, you’ll also like the smooth, minimalist design of the keys and the elegant backlights, which turn on when you start typing and adjust depending on light conditions in the room. The battery won’t disappoint you either – this keyboard can keep going for a week on a single USB-C charge. To boot, Logitech craft has a 10-meter wireless range.
The new and improved Loupedeck, an old favorite of graphic designers and web developers, gives you full control over Hue, Saturation, Vibrance and a dozen other controls. It’s compatible with Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, and Skylum Aurora HDR. Loupedeck+ comes with a big control dial which gives you the precision you need sometimes to make a photo just perfect.
The Loupedeck+ is more of a console than a keyboard. But it’s because of its seventeen customizable mechanical buttons that it stands out. You can use it alongside another keyboard when needed, or even better, combine it with a mini keyboard to save space.
When you work with a large number of files and need to tweak and adjust them fast, Loupedeck+ can make a big difference. It keeps your eyes on the screen and reduces the number of clicks you have to make. Few keyboards can help you save more time than this one.
DeLux claims that this mini keyboard can help you design up to 80% faster. When you design you don’t necessarily need all the keys of a full keyboard, and the DeLUX Mini Designer T11 does away with most of them. It packs just the essential ones and a useful dial. Similarly to Logitech Craft’s Crown, you can use the dial to adjust parameters like opacity, zoom in or out, or play with different brush sizes.
This works with all the major design apps and supports computer-aided design and drawing-tablet apps. Indeed, the space you can save with the DeLUX Mini leaves plenty of room on your desk for a graphics tablet and possibly a designer console as well.
The tactile feeling of the keys won’t let you down either. Also, you’ll like the premium-looking aluminum finish and the backlit modes. Last but not least, the custom shortcut keys can further speed up your work.
The best keyboards for designers on this list can remind you just how important it is to have a great keyboard. More than speeding up your workflow and streamlining repetitive commands, they enable you to work without strain.
But which should you choose? It all depends on what you need. While the Kinesis Advantage2 takes ergonomics to a whole new level, the Logitech Craft and the Loupedeck+ use control dials and other buttons for maximum precision. Similarly, the DeLUX mini, while a newer and less known entry, offers a fresh new take on mini keyboards.
Whether you’re a designer or developer, you won’t go wrong with any of these great mechanical keyboards.
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