Hi! What keyboard do you recommend for a MacBook? I bought the Logitech Mechanical Mini and it's great, but the unfortunate placement of the FN key really bothers me, as well as the fact that it doesn't work the same way as on the standard MBP keyboard. Some shortcuts that I have set up do not work on this keyboard.
I'm curious if there is something better. I've even thought about the Apple keyboard, but first of all, it's not mechanical, and secondly, you can't connect it to more than one device.
Comments
Wundering the same
I have a logitech k380 and I love it but fn not working for sirtain things sucks. Although I'm wundering if that behavior could be changed with the app? Last time I tried though the app wasn't accessible, not natively, anyway, although this was maybe 2 years ago so things might have changed since then but, yeah wundering the same thing about the fn key not working for sirtain shortcuts that involve fn.
The app is still…
The app is still unaccessibility.
Re, the app is still
Could it work via vo ocr, maybe? Again, I don't know if the app could even fix it but, maybe?
Never mind, let's not focus…
Never mind, let's not focus on things that are not important to the topic. I'm looking for a keyboard and some suggestions. On the left sideof the Logitech, there are no 4 keys to remap the FN key, so that app won't help.
Best go with Magic Keyboard
If you really need the fn key to work one to one likw on the MacBook keyboard, unfortunately there is no way to replicate this on other keyboards.
As far as I can tell no manufacturers have managed to do this so far.
Best stick with Apple Original once.
re, apple magic keyboard
That’s honestly what I have been thinking of doing myself, the problem? Well, usually I use the keyboard with my mac but sometimes I use it with my phone, or when having my two max nearby, I sometimes when I’m using the keyboard, I switch from my personal Mac to my work Mac via keyboard, and that's from my understanding, not as fast of a switch as the say, pressing f1 on logictech 380 to switch to device 1 f2 to switch to device 2 etc. So, for those who own magic keyboards... How do you deal with this? Any quick way to switch between devices?
Keychron Keyboards
I have experience with Keychron keyboards. https://www.keychron.com
They have a range of options from budget to expensive depending on what you're willing to spend. Fair warning that they have a bunch of series, and it's okay to feel overwhelmed. I recommend the VMax series if you want something under $100. The different numbers within the series is for different size keyboards. Q and QMax will be the high end keyboards. K and KMax is somewhere in between.
You can connect up to 3 devices. Switch between them by pressing fn + 1, 2, or 3. There is 1 switch that toggles between wired, bluetooth, and wireless receiver modes. Note that older models don't have the wireless receiver option, but the tri-mode boards have been out for a while now. A second switch toggles between Windows and Mac, so you can easily switch. And yes, the fn key works as expected with Mac devices in Mac mode.
You could also look into other mechanical keyboard brands. I think the ability to work with both Windows and Mac is more and more common, but I think a lot of keyboards require you to press some combination of keys to toggle the modes. That's one thing I like about Keychron.
Hope you find something that works for you.
re, keycron keyboards
these sound neet, but I have a couple of questions. I did research and from the research I did the k3pro 75% has the function keys row and its basically the size of say the logitech k380 more or less. From the research that I did, the k3pro outputs the battery status to mac os menubar so one could potenciall read it with voiceover, is this correct? Would the fn key still work like it does on mac?
Keyboard Use Cases
I am a macos user. Wondering what you doing with external keyboard that is not achievable using the built in keyboard. I may need to order one soon for using my mac on my couch or cold evenings.
Keychron
I also use keychron keyboard extensively with my Mac.
No the fn key on those keyboards don't have the same functionality as Mac fn keys. The fn key on those keyboard are used to turn on an off function lock and adjust the firmware in the keyboard.
@Maldalain A mechanical…
@Maldalain
A mechanical keyboard provides a completely different typing experience compared to the very flat one from the MacBook Pro. Additionally, I need to switch between devices. Also, I have the MacBook Pro placed on a cooling stand, which makes it a bit too high for me.
Keychron Questions
My knowledge of the 75% keyboard is from the first Keychron keyboard I ever tried. I give that caveat because I know different brands might choose to take out certain keys for a 75%, and Keychron may have adjusted their layouts and such over the years. That being said, I believe their 75% has all the keys minus the numpad. Maybe no insert, but I don't remember. The keys have also been compressed together, so no gap between the function row and the number row. The 6 cluster nav keys will be vertical, like how it's done with some laptops.
The battery status is not reported in the status menu unless that's a new thing within the last few years. The only way to know the status as far as I know is a light indicator on the keyboard.
FN keys. I reiterate that the function row, along with the fn key next to CTRL, works as intended on a Mac. For example, if I press F1 and F2 right now, it changes the display brightness. If I press VO + FN + F1, it announces the current applications and the number of running applications. You do have to be sure you're in Mac mode, if you use your keyboard for both operating systems, so watch out for that.
The FN key is indeed also used to do things like change RGB lighting and other things specific to the keyboard.
re, keycron questions
So for the fn key say if you go press vo k for keyboard help then press the fn key voiceover says fn. If you do this on keycron does voicorvoiceover still say fn? Just want to make sure before I commit.
Backing the Magic Keyboard suggestion
I too recommend Apple's Magic Keyboards, as I have the USB-c US ANSI layout variants of both the full-sized Magic Keyboard with TouchID and Keypad as well as the low-end Magic Keyboard and love them. They're sitting on my desk right now as I have both my Mac Studio and iMac here and use the big one to type on the Mac Studio and the little one to type on the iMac. Whenever I need to type on my MacBook Air I just unplug the little keyboard and plug it into the laptop, which pairs it automatically so if I actually wanted to go wireless I could unplug the USB-c cable right away, but I like using these keyboards as well as my AirPods Max wired which was the main selling point of these devices for me, so I always have at least 3 USB-c cables on my desk.
As for your case, while these are not mechanical keyboards and the key travel is significantly shorter than on those old-style desktop keyboards, it is still both noticeable longer and clickier than that of the keyboard on my 2020 M1 MacBook Air, so I think that the biggest problem you might face with going with a Magic Keyboard is having to physically unplug and plug the keyboard to switch devices. This is not a significant problem for me, but I also have two keyboards so I don't have to switch devices that often. These keyboards also work on the iPhone and iPad, either directly if they have a USB-c port or using Apple's Lightning to USB-a dongles with a USB-a to USB-c cable, as well as over Bluetooth but I suppose that this is obvious, however the iOS version of VoiceOver lags far behind its macOS counterpart when it comes to keyboard support, and the TouchID functionality of these keyboards is not supported on iOS.
While composing this comment I recalled that there's actually an option somewhere in System Settings on macOS that makes it possible to automatically switch input between computers in some situations, however I've never used that myself, but can try to find out if it actually accomplishes your goals if you wish.
Re, backing the magic keyboard suggestion
If you could look if that's possible that would be great to know.
Just tested Universal Control
The feature that allows people to seamlessly switch input to another Mac or iPad is called Universal Control, however it does not seem to work with VoiceOver. I just tried it, my Mac Studio and iMac successfully connected together with the Mac Studio configured as the main display (I'm actually running it headless) and the iMac configured to receive input events from the Mac Studio when the mouse cursor moves to its screen space, but nothing of this actually works with VoiceOver, as even when I tell VoiceOver to focus whatever control is under the mouse when it's supposed to be on the iMac, VoiceOver just focuses the Mac Studio's Desktop, so no luck.
RE: Keychron FN Key
Yes. VO announces the FN key in the keyboard help.
I add to my opininion to…
I add to my opininion to Logitech Mechanical that I managed to switch the functionality of the function keys. Now VO has started to actions its functions. So one problem is solved. The question is whether I will get used to the function key on the right side.
What kind of Keychron keyboard do you have, or from which series?
Keychrons I have tried
I'm currently using a VMax keyboard, and I like it enough that I'll be sticking with it for a while. I also still have an early version of a low profile from the K series for when I don't want a normal height board.
I've also tried a K pro. They're heavier and even though it's supposed to be better quality than the VMax series, I found the typing experience to be a bit harsh. But I know that all comes down to personal preference.
Re, keycrons I have tried
If You don't mind my asking, could you go into more detail with each of the keyboards you've tried? I'm considering getting one but not sure what are the differences from say the vmax to the pro etc.
Re, keycrons I have tried
Sure. I won't say too much about the low profile. These are basically thin keyboards if you want something more portable or just really want something slim..
The main difference between pro and max is that pro has bluetooth and wired connection, and max adds on the wireless dongle.
So with that said. I'll refer to these as the V and K meaning the V Max and K Pro that I've used. The V has a more plasticky construction and feel. it's lighter and has more flex when you pick it up and move it around. I'd say that it's maybe what you'd expect from the average keyboard? Keychron describes it as using a gasket mount which is supposed to have a softer typing feel. The K is more solidd. It feels chunky and solid when you pick it up. Not quite a brick, but way more of a brick than the V. Keychron says it uses a steel plate, which I think is supposed to give it a harder, stiffer feel. I think there's an argument to be made that the K is "better" because of it's more solid construction, but I also think it comes down somewhat to personal preference. As I said before, I ended up liking the feel of the V more.
Other than that, the feature set between them is comparable. One minor detail I'll throw in is that the V Max as a knob that is default programmed to adjust volume. Honestly, I could take it or leave it.