Keyboard Buyers Guide For Mac Users
- Ergonomic Keyboard For Mac Laptop
- Keyboard For Mac Laptop
- Usb Keyboard For Mac Laptop
- Musical Keyboard For Mac
- Since it’s a full-size keyboard, you get 110 different keys. It has a full numeric keypad, which is ideal for finance applications and spreadsheets. The iHome Mac keyboard runs on a wired connection, so you’ll need to plug it into a USB port. Unlike some other products, it doesn’t need to be synced with your Apple Mac computer.
- Whether you're looking for a wireless keyboard, bluetooth, ergonomic or media keyboard, Microsoft Hardware offers a variety of computer keyboards to fit your needs.
- Get Magic Keyboards, trackpads and mice for Mac. Shop sensor switches and keyboard cases for your Mac. Buy online with fast, free shipping.
As a long-time Mac user, I once had to rely on Key Caps, an early Mac helper that would show you where special characters hid on a keyboard. Holding down Option and Shift-Option would reveal the.
Like almost all of the other products released by Apple, the Mac is a popular device. Many consumers prefer Apple computers because they offer functionality that you can’t get from windows. A lot of people use the Mac because it’s user friendly and doesn’t suffer from many of the software errors that make Microsoft Windows difficult to use. If you own an Apple computer, then you’ll need a keyboard for your Mac. The only problem is the endless selection of keyboards to choose from. Fortunately, if you know what to look for, it’s quite easy to find the best keyboards for Macs.
What to Look For In The Best Mac Keyboards
Before you start browsing products, there are some important considerations to make. First, you’ll need to consider whether or not you want wireless connectivity. Consumers have spoken and forced manufacturers to start making wireless keyboards.
The wireless technology can give you unmatched mobility, but you might not get the same performance as you’d get from a wired Mac keyboard. Before you decide on a product, the functionality should be considered. A number of keyboards are very simple and offer basic functions.
Although they don’t offer some of the advanced key functions and macros, basic keyboards are much easier to use and don’t require nearly as much brain power. If you choose a simple keyboard, you don’t have to spend as much time getting used to the positioning of the keys.
Style
Style is also important because you’ll have to look at the keyboard frequently. Most keyboards for the Mac are naturally slim, and they’re almost always colored grey. However, some manufacturers make ultra-thin keyboards, so you’ll need to decide how slim you want the keyboard to be.
To make sure that you get the most out of your computing experience, you need to decide if you want convenience keys. A number of Mac keyboards are made with convenience keys, which allow you to adjust the volume, brightness and disc tray.
When it comes to computing, functionality is important, but it’s important to strike a balance between functionality and convenience. There are several Mac keyboards that are made with built-in USB ports, so you get additional functionality.
Before deciding on a specific model, you should consider the price. Cheaper keyboards might not have some of the advanced features that you’d get from expensive alternatives, but if you’re looking for basic functionality, they should get the job done.
Mac Keyboard Comparison Table
Model | Image | Features | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Top Rated Apple Mac Keyboards | Apple Magic Wireless Extended Keyboard with Numeric Keypad | Extended layout Lightning to USB Port | $$$ |
Apple Magic Wireless Keyboard - Silver | Bluetooth Technology Ultra-thin design | $$ | |
RGB Keyboards for Apple Mac | E Element Z-88 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Red Switch - Linear & Quiet for Mac, PC | Anti-ghosting 104 keys Outemu Red Switches - linear and quiet Per-Key RGB backlit | $ |
AUKEY Mechanical Keyboard with Blue Switch | 24 Month Warranty Card RGB backlit 104 key | $$ | |
Cheap Keyboards for Apple Macs | Macally USB Wired Computer Keyboard for Macs | 15 Apple specific shortcut keys No drivers required | $ |
iHome Full Size Mac Keyboard | Space-saving size Executive Apple Design | $ | |
Mechanical Keyboards for Apple Macs | Das Keyboard Model S Professional for Mac Clicky MX Blue Mechanical Keyboard | Cherry MX Blue mechanical key switches 5-key rollover | $$$ |
Nixeus Moda Pro Mechanical Switch Clicky Tactile Bump Feedback Keyboard | MX Compatible Key Switches Up to 50 Million Keystrokes | $$ |
Top Rated Keyboards for Apple Macs
Here’s what we think are the best keyboards for apple macs. We have tested so many keyboards in this category and here are the top rated.
Apple Magic Wireless Extended Keyboard with Numeric Keypad
One of the top products on the market is the Apple Magic Wireless Keyboard. Once it’s connected, this keyboard allows you to access a variety of different Mac features. You can use it to rewind, play and pause content, and the number pad is great for quick accounting and spreadsheet work.
For extra functionality, it has a lightning to USB port, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting it connected to different computers. The keyboard also charges through this port. Since this is an ultra-thin keyboard, it looks good and doesn’t make it difficult to hit specific keys.
It has an anodized aluminum enclosure, and the low-profile/ low key travel keys can make it easier to type. Unlike some alternative products, this keyboard has several convenience keys, which make it easy to quickly adjust your Mac’s volume, screen brightness and disc tray.
It has a numeric keypad and delivers a responsive, crisp feel. The function keys provide one-touch access to several Mac functions. With an extended layout, it offers document navigation controls, and there are several keys that are particularly useful for games. The Apple Magic wireless extended keyboard is compatible with macOS 10.12.4 or later and iOS devices with 10.3 or later. This is undoubtedly one of the best wireless keyboards for Mac.
Apple Magic Wireless Keyboard – Silver
Another top rated keyboard for Mac, related to the above model is the Apple Magic keyboard. It shares many of the same features as it’s cousin above, but is a more compact keyboard without the extended layout and numeric keypad. Since it offers wireless Bluetooth connectivity, it gives you the freedom to type from almost anywhere. The wireless functionality is especially useful when you’re operating your Mac through a large display.
For example, maybe you’ve decided to hook your Macbook up to a 60-inch television. Although wireless connectivity can be beneficial, it doesn’t make a product an automatic win. Many consumers would rather use a wired keyboard. This Bluetooth keyboard however, is a fan favorite and can operate from a distance of up to 30 feet. It has an ultra-slim design, and is 24% smaller than many full-size keyboards.
As it’s a wireless product, you’ll need to juice up the built-in rechargeable battery from time to time with the supplied Lightning to USB cable and port. This keyboard is ideal for the Mac, but it will even work for the Apple iPad. Like all Apple products, this keyboard features a simple, elegant design, and it’s designed to withstand everyday abuse.
The only problem with this product is the lack of the arrow keys and numeric keypad. If you’re looking for one of the best keyboards for Mac and don’t need advanced functionality, this product is worth considering. The Apple Magic keyboard is flatter than the original Apple wireless keyboard, it has very low profile keycaps and the battery life is great. The Magic keyboard will work with Mac OS X 10.11 or later and iOS 9.1 or later. It will work well then on most iMac and Macbooks, or even tablets using compatible software.
RGB keyboards For Apple Macs
E Element Z-88 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Red Switch – Linear & Quiet for Mac, PC
If you’re looking for an RGB keyboard for Apple Mac, the E Element Z-88 RGB Mechanical Keyboard has plenty to offer. It has 104 different keys with full anti-ghosting, so it’s great for gaming and there is no shortage of functionality. It’s a wired keyboard and plugs into a convenient USB pot. It also comes with n key rollover.
You can customize the RGB backlighting for each key individually, or set a solid color backlit mode. It’s compatible with the Mac OS X, and all versions of Windows back to Vista. You get 7 different solid color modes for the lights, as well as the ability to customize.
The illuminated lights help to improve your gaming experiences, but they also make it easier to see the individual keys. All of the keys are built into an alloy aluminum chassis, which is smooth and comfortable. The chassis is even designed to resist water, with drainage holes for any splashes.
AUKEY Mechanical Keyboard with Blue Switch
Here is another top RGB keyboard for Macs. Like similar products, it has 104 individual keys, and for your enjoyment, it has RGB backlighting. When used for gaming on the Mac, it’s capable of delivering an immersive experience.
If you’re looking for colorful typing, this could be the perfect keyboard. It has blue switches and produces an audible click sound. The individual switches are great because they offer accurate, responsive key commands. Once you have this keyboard in your possession, you can choose from a variety of unique lighting effects.
There are even presets for popular games, which is a huge bonus for prolific gamers. The tactile keys are very responsive, and they give you total control over your computing experience. The pre-loaded RGB lighting patterns can make your computing experience much more interesting.
If you’re an avid gamer or love to type, this keyboard is worth considering. It delivers a faster response rate than many of the alternatives and works well for the Mac.
The expected lifespan of the keyboard is 50 million keystrokes. The only potential downside with the AUkey Mechanical Keyboard is that the cord isn’t made of nylon. Overall, this is one of the best RGB keyboards for Mac, but it’s not the cheapest product on the market.
Cheap Keyboard for Apple Macs
Macally USB Wired Computer Keyboard for Macs
Here is a cheap keyboard for Apple Mac computers. If your original keyboard broke, this product can serve as a budget replacement. Although it’s one of the cheapest keyboards available, it comes with 103 individual keys and has a numeric keypad.
With 15 different shortcut keys, you can perform several convenient functions with your Mac computer. There is even a built-in key for iTunes control. Unlike some of the alternatives, this keyboard doesn’t require drivers, so you can plug it into your Mac and start using it immediately.
It has low-profile keys, so you can enjoy a comfortable, quiet typing experience. This is especially important for students because it’s quiet enough to use in a dorm room. The Macally USB keyboard is wired, and it must be plugged into your computer’s USB port.
Once you’ve plugged it in, you’ll see that it functions like any full-size keyboard. Each individual key is designed to be tactile and features a low-profile design. Since the keys are punctual and responsive, this keyboard can make typing especially enjoyable.
iHome Full Size Mac Keyboard
Here we have another cheap keyboard for Mac computers. The style of this keyboard leaves much to the imagination, but if you’re looking for basic functionality, this product shouldn’t disappoint you. With a brushed-aluminum finish, this keyboard delivers an executive style, and it’s a great choice for Mac computers.
Since it’s a full-size keyboard, you get 110 different keys. It has a full numeric keypad, which is ideal for finance applications and spreadsheets. The iHome Mac keyboard runs on a wired connection, so you’ll need to plug it into a USB port.
Unlike some other products, it doesn’t need to be synced with your Apple Mac computer. Although it’s a full-size keyboard, it’s designed to save space. The compact design could be particularly useful for tight workspaces. One of its greatest features is the anodized aluminum finish.
For quieter typing and convenience, it has low-profile keys. The ultra-slim design makes this keyboard ideal for most office workstations, but you should be able to use it anywhere in your home.
Mechanical Keyboards for Apple Macs
Das Keyboard Model S Professional for Mac Clicky MX Blue Mechanical Keyboard
If you’re looking for a top-notch mechanical keyboard for Mac, this is one of the best products that money can buy. It’s a German-engineered product, and the key switches have gold contacts. To prevent fading, the keys have been etched with a laser.
This keyboard has all of the Mac function keys that you’d expect, so you can adjust the screen brightness, volume and video settings. It has a two-port USB hub, which is great for charging your iPhone and iPod.
Ergonomic Keyboard For Mac Laptop
The USB hub is compatible with a variety of devices. If you’re a fast typist, you’ll love this keyboard’s five-key rollover. It’s also an excellent feature for gamers.
It has a glossy black upper enclosure, and there is even a matching black USB cable, which has a length of 6.6 feet. Although this mechanical keyboard works well with Mac, it’s compatible with most other operating systems.
Nixeus Moda Pro Mechanical Switch Clicky Tactile Bump Feedback Keyboard
Here is another top mechanical keyboard for Mac. It has certified mechanical key switches, and to enhance the overall experience, it offers click tactile feedback. If you decide to purchase this keyboard, you might never need a new one because each key is designed to last for 50 million keystrokes.
For maximum durability, the aluminum chassis is reinforced with a steel plate, so this keyboard can take a serious beating and continue to provide an exceptional typing experience.
The Nixeus Moda Pro mechanical keyboard has polished edges, so it sports a premium appearance and should look good on any office desk.
Each key is mounted onto a military-grade metal plate and appears to be floating. When compared with the keys on a normal keyboard, the key switches on this product last 10 times longer.
Conclusion
Apple Mac computers continue to gain popularity, so manufacturers have started making keyboards that are compatible with Mac.
Whether you’re testing the latest game or typing up a research paper, a high-quality Mac keyboard can dramatically improve productivity and satisfaction.
The products that have been mentioned above are some of the best options in their respective categories, so regardless of the choice, you should be happy with the product.
You might also want to check out our other buying guides that have loads and loads of product suggestions on many different keyboards for different uses.
If you do a lot of typing either at work or at home, then you’ll love our guide on the best mechanical keyboards for typists.
Best text expansion app for Mac
Whether you’re new to Mac or have been using it for years, highly specialized things like shortcuts, special Mac symbols, and accented characters might result in a web investigation spiralling out of control.
If you’ve just recently switched from Windows, you should know that Macs don’t really use alt codes to type special symbols. Instead, all of the most popular Unicode characters can be typed in right from the keyboard. Unfortunately, Apple could do a much better job of shining light at this functionality.
Keyboard For Mac Laptop
For example, if you want to get a copyright symbol on Windows (©), you need to type in Alt 0169 — whereas, a copyright symbol on Mac is just Option + G. Similarly, a degree symbol on Mac (º) is Option + Zero and a registered trademark symbol on Mac (™) is Option + 2.
Truth is there are many more like this and below we’ll explore different ways of how to type copyright symbol on Mac or any special characters Macs allow, where to find Apple keyboard symbols, and whether there’s an emoji keyboard on Mac.
What Are All The Mac Keyboard Symbols?
While a standard computer keyboard contains around 80 keys, you’re able — in one way or another — use it to input all of the Unicode characters, of which there are about 130,000.
To start, simply explore how all the face-value characters change when you combine them with modifier keys — Control, Option, and Command. You can even combine multiple modifiers together as well. To see all Mac keyboard shortcuts symbols clearly, however, you need to turn on the full keyboard layout.
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Display all Mac keyboard symbols
Even if you’ve been using your Mac for a while, it’s useful to look at all the possible keyboard combinations from time to time to refresh your memory and discover new ways of quickly inputting information.
Luckily, it’s easy to show all Mac key symbols at once:
- Go to System Preferences ➙ Keyboard
- Check the box next to “Show keyboard and emoji viewers in menu bar”
Now you can click on the language flag in your menu bar and choose Show Keyboard Viewer. The interactive display will appear, showing all the keyboard symbols and altering the view in real time when you use modifier keys.
Of course, even using all the modifier keys and combinations available, it’s impossible to fit all the characters in such constrained amount of space. To see all Mac key symbols, you need to select Show Emoji & Symbols option from the same language flag menu, or use a shortcut Control + Cmd + Space.
Here, you’ll see all kinds of categories on the left: Emoji, Arrows, Currency Symbols, etc. In the center are all the characters within a given category. And on the right you can pick a font variation of the same symbol.
To type in a TM symbol Macs use, for example:
- Open your word processor of choice
- Call the Mac symbols menu
- Navigate to Letterlike Symbols on the sidebar
- Double-click on ™ to paste it into your editor
How to create custom Mac keyboard shortcuts symbols
With the Show Emoji & Symbols window, you have access to nearly all Unicode characters you’ll ever need. However, if you need to use some special characters — such as a copyright symbol on Mac — rather frequently, it would be quite inconvenient to call up a menu and search for what you need every time. Of course, you can add the copyright symbol to your favorite characters, which will save you some time, but there’s a much better way.
Macs allow you to create shortcuts for all keyboard symbols to be able to easily type them in whenever you need. For example, to create a shortcut for the copyright symbol on Mac:
- Type in the © character into your editor as described above and copy it with Command + C
- Open System Preferences ➙ Keyboard
- Navigate to the Text tab
- Click the plus sign
- Paste your © symbol in the With column on the right
- Type in a desired key combination to trigger the copyright symbol on Mac in the Replace column on the left
Although this default shortcuts method works well for characters or emoji, it doesn’t effectively translate into longer strings of text or paragraphs. If you want to, for instance, create a shortcut that outputs a sales email template, you’d need to use a little nifty tool called Rocket Typist.
Rocket Typist is a full-featured text expansion app created to minimize repetition in composing any form of text-based communication. It’s essentially a small database of text snippets you’ll use over and over again.
Starting with Rocket Typist is easy: use File ➙ New to create a new snippet, specify the abbreviation, fill out as much text (sentences or even paragraphs) as you need, and then use the abbreviation to expand text in any application.
How to switch between keyboard languages quickly
Sometimes, the Mac keyboard symbols you need are only available in another language — say, they could be Cyrillic-based. To access them, you’d need to enable another keyboard layout on your Mac.
Luckily, it’s easy to do:
- Go to System Preferences ➙ Keyboard
- Navigate to Input Sources
- Click the plus sign
- Choose the language you need and press Add
Now, the second keyboard layout will be activated. Don’t forget to check the box next to “Show Input menu in menu bar” to see which layout is currently active. The standard shortcut to switch between layouts is Cmd + Space, but you can also change it to Caps Lock key in the Input Sources options.
Extra tip: typing emoji on iPhone is much easier if you add an emoji keyboard layout to your languages.
Special Characters: Type in various symbol variations
In some cases, you might just want to access a variation of the symbol that’s already on your keyboard, such as an accented letter.
One way to do this is to find the character of your choice in the Keyboard Viewer, as described above. Another way is to use a keyboard shortcut. You can get an acute accent by typing Option + E and then the letter. Similarly, circumflex is Option + I, grave accent is Option + backquote, tilde is Option + N, and umlaut is Option + U.
A quicker option though is to simply press the key of the letter you want to modify and hold it for a second until a small menu appears. Then just choose a number that corresponds to the modification you seek.
Digitize complex math expressions
If your studies or line of work require the use of complex math, you might be spending too much time crafting LaTeX and MathML expressions by hand. But as with nearly everything else nowadays, there’s an easier way.
MathKey is a Mac app specifically developed to write complex equations in academic papers and math documents. Instead of composing dozens of obscure symbols together, the app allows you to hand-write the equation using your trackpad (or mouse) and output perfect LaTeX or MathML, ready for publication.
Usb Keyboard For Mac Laptop
Search for anything instantly
It’s likely that you won’t retain all the information provided here. But don’t worry, the only thing you need to keep is a supercharged search that can take you right back to the answer you’re looking for.
Lacona is an intelligent search for your Mac that contextually analyzes the query and outputs a range of possible solutions, whether it’s launching a certain app, looking it up online, or performing a pre-defined action.
Any question about Mac keyboard shortcuts symbols — such as “how to type copyright symbol on Mac?” — would be met with a guiding response. And all you have to do to start Lacona is press Option + Space.
So there are a lot of things your Mac is capable of that you might have not even considered before. With regards to symbols and characters, what you see on the keyboard is just a tiny slice compared to the total amount available. Using Mac symbols properly will enrich your communication, making it clear and efficient, especially if you get used to creating snippets with Rocket Typist, transferring math equations with MathKey, and keeping everything at the tips of your fingers with Lacona.
Best of all, the apps mentioned above are available to you on a free trial through Setapp, a platform of more than 150 specific Mac apps that are designed to make your days more productive and fun. Now you’re ready to solve some equations!
Musical Keyboard For Mac
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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