This is gonna be short,
I used many keyboards on my life -I'm 30 and I like to try different hardware- I also like to test parts for some months before sharing my opinion so here it is.
The choice
After testing it since February 2020 I can ensure that
Logitech G915 / Logitech G915 TKL with Tactile switches
is the best keyboard for coding.
Why?
It's a low profile mechanical keyboard which means it will be better to your wrists while keeping mechanical switches, also low profile avoids the need of a wrist rest.
Anything to keep you healthy and avoid carpal tunnel is good for any of us who stay long terms in front of a screen.
It has Romer G switches made by Logitech. I was a bit skeptical at the beginning but are my favorite since I put my hands on.
It comes with 3 different switch types, all Romer G:
- Linear
- Tactile
- Clicky
The Romer G switches are a big upgrade when coming from any other mechanical switches keyboard when coding (or even gaming), this is because the action point is near the top, so when you start clicking the key is triggered as fast as possible.
Of course the linear switches as you may know are not meant for typing, they provide a weird feedback when doing that so ignore them, I personally don't like them even for gaming.
Clicky are usually more noisy while providing a high feedback which is also not necessary.
Tactile are a mix between those. Quick actioned, lower noise, fast activation, nice feedback.
I tried the G915 on February, then on August I switched to the G915 TKL, both having the same Romer G tactile switches. No difference for the task, I'll keep the TKL because I like getting my hands near the mouse and occupying less space on my desk as I code for 8-9h a day at least while keeping my hands on the keyboard like 2 to 4 hours more doing other tasks (writing, gaming, helping people on r/buildapc and so)
I also would like to add this video here, I didn't tested all that keyboards that appear on it but hey, it's a reference:
What keyboard do you use? Have you watched for ergonomics and health at your workspace?
Also if you need help with hardware and peripherals, ask me anything!
Have a great day
Latest comments (75)
The g915 doesn't use Romer G switches dude, it uses GL switches.
You're right for the current series but the very first series they released (hence the one I wrote about here) came along with Romer G switches.
I have one of each at home (I bought another G915 TKL with english layout after they moved to GL) and can't decide which one I feels better though, both are great if you ask me 🤷🏻♀️
I own the G815. My main issue with it is that the actuation point doesn't match the click, and it isn't even uniform across the keycap since the keys are very wobbly.
It's actually great in concept but poorly executed and I think I'm going to switch to something else after using it for two years.
The actuation point should be just at the beginning of the "click" so you don't really need to "fully click".
That's exactly the neat part, it allows you to type super fast by releasing your finger when the key starts resisting the push.
On the other hand, check the keys one by one with your index finger, it may seem not to be uniform because the angle and strength of each finger is different, but it should not be an issue.
Either way if you want a low-profile keyboard there are other options out there. Keychron has some low-profile models as far as I can remember, or you can ditch the mechanicals aside and pick a membrane one. I'm currently using the Apple Magic Keyboard (Scissor Switch/Rubber Dome) and I got used to it quite fast.
Best regards
For $200, it better be good. lol
Is the main tool we use to interact with the computer and it's not the most expensive piece of hardware we have for sure even at a cost of $200 :D
Always pick the loudest one.
Macbook keyboard is nice to me, feels good and never had any wrist issues. I think it’s low profile as well. 👍
Yes it is, just the same as Huawei or other brands high-end ultrabooks. Those keyboards are nice but not comparable to a good external one, try it out!
I don't have image of it now. I use Keycron K2 Red Switch. It's great. I use red switch because I dislike clicking sound. I has inclined stand so it's better for my wrist.
It's few keyboard with Thai layout. There are 44 alphabets and more than 5 vowels and other characters such as number. I can't remember all of them and touch type now.
Ever tried the kinesis advantage?
Nope, I didn't. I searched it on google and it really looks uncomfortable tbh 😆 Did you? What was your experience?
Just now trying it. The alphabet letters are easy to adapt to and feel great. My challenge is everything else. I have to switch between windows and Mac OS on the same machine so have my own set of chlallenges from that. Just concerned I’ll fully adapt to it and then have issues using a “normal” keyboard.
Going to also try the g915.
hahaha I always saw many brands pushing weird products as "ergonomic" which actually have no foundation or independent studies, this products usually end its lifecycle on an early stage or keep surviving on a super small market niche.
So just got the logi 915. The kinesis is going back. Very impressed with the logitech. Wish the keys were pbt like some of my other KBs. ABS just feels so cheap. And the micro USB...what is this 1990?!
I also want USB C but there's no point for that from an electronic ingeneering point of view tbh. By the way which model do you got? TKL or full width? Which kind of switches?
tactile, full.
USB-c cables are already on my desk for other things. Would've been nice to not have to take old cables out of storage for a (new) keyboard. Oh well. The sacrifices one must make.
Nice, it feels a bit weird at the beginning isn't it? After some minutes you get used to it and for me it's the best on typing speed, I love it :)
Just realized that this "programmable" keyboard only has 5 keys that are programmable. True you can have 3 layers of those 5 keys...but no way to even remap a key like CTRL to ALT or whatever. What a huge bummer. Kinesis you could do whatever you want to any key on the board. Hmm. Guess in my quest for a new keyboard forgot to even consider the logitech wasn't designed this way. I just read "on board profiles" and "macros", etc. Totally didn't realize they were just talking about 5 keys. Guess I need to give it some more thought...
Well still don't know why u guys need so many macros and programable keys tbh, I suppose it's just about what you are used to, I use zero of them and prefer emmet, a good intellisense and ability to type fast
For me it’s more about being able to remap keys. Having to switch back and forth from windows to Mac on the same machine can be brutal.
Oh I see, I ditched back Mac some time ago, didn't see any advantage using it, I even see some caveats that it didn't solve on a good manner
I got the G915 clicky this summer and it had been one of the best keyboards I've ever used. The battery is surprisingly great too. I did however notice that I kept pulling my mouse and hitting the keyboard with it constantly. Ended up buying the white G915 TKL and now it's perfection. Don't miss the 10key as much as I thought I would, but I do miss the clicky as the white is only tactile
My wife is now digging the full G915 I passed to her.
On the note of the switches: they are not from logitech but from Kailh/Kaihu (you can see that when pulling off a keycap) which means you can also get them aftermarket if you want to use them on another keyboard (they are Kailh choc switches), and there is a full height version of them available as well(Kailh box series), they are extremely similar, I tested a g815 with choc white and solely ditched they keyboard because of the mushy media keys and the super loose volume wheel, now I am running Kailh box Pink in my old Corsair Vengeance Gaming K95, which is the best productivity keyboard in my opinion due to it's 18 Makro Keys.
No they aren't, the switches may be similar in some way, thing I totally ignore but they are made by logitech and the only keyboards I saw with that switches are G815, G915 and G915 TKL. It's true that the volume wheel is a bit weird on G915, I picked one on release date. By the way it seems that they fixed it on late releases, as TKL version works well.
I've got the full version of that keyboard. It is without a doubt, the best keyboard I've ever used.
I really don't see the attraction of TKL keyboard layouts though.
less distance between mouse and keyboard, less space occupied on the desk. That's important to me because I started a second career on Digital design and creation, and I'm using a Huion Kamvas Pro 12, which I need to move to the front, moving the keyboard back or sideways.
Also I almost never use macros so when I use one is because I have a good reason for it and does not hurt me to use Fn+Key to activate it.
Logitech makes some nice looking keyboards that seem very well built.
But a word of warning!
I went through two keyboards with Romer G switches in two years. The key caps for heavily used keys have a tendency to snap off, and replacements are very hard to find.
Well if it happens to me I'll send it back to Amazon and get a replacement :D
I was 7 months with G915 and now less than a month with the G915 TKL, no issues at this point tbh
Using Logitech MK240 for last there years. I know it's lot mechanical or anything but still can you at 80wpm constantly. Plus great battery life (more than a year with 2 AAA batteries). I swapped few keys with a white version of the same keyboard (which died within a year somehow).
looks nice, did you attached it to the laptop or just put it up?
Turned out the they keyboard size is just perfect to put it up. So when typing on the laptop, i never put the laptop built in keyboard. And the laptop works as a wrist rest.
Is not clear for me that this "writ rest" could be comfortable or ergonomic enough, it may be better to use the keyboard over the table as is, don't you think so? 😅
It really feels very good, specially the natural elevation due to the laptop deck. My laptop is only 14 inch, I was planing to get laptop stand first, but quickly realize that the visibility will decrease. So keep using it on top of my laptop. The fit is perfect that, people think that it's a accessory of this laptop, lol.
Having a great keyboard that's easy on your wrists is a great thing but spending 400$ on it just insane. I've been using RedGear mechanical keyboard for the past 3 years now and it's great albeit not fancy but, hey, it doesn't give me carpal tunnel and is a joy to use, and, this is the best part, it cost 40$!!
I have the G815 with tactile switches (same but wired and with 10 key). It's amazing
Agree, I love that switches 🌝
Have a look what I did with my Logitech G815 dev.to/klyse/my-g815-keyboard-is-o... :)
That's pretty cool! You deserve a big POWNIE!
If you provide a UI to customize it, it could be a must have for all G815, G915 and G915 TKL owners!
simply awesome :)
I build my own split keyboard based on two arduinos. I choosed gateron clear linear with a peakforce of 35g.
very nice and well looking one!
When I started to read your comment I thank you cut down a regular keyboard 😆