Nov 05, 2018 Best multidevice Bluetooth keyboard The compact, smooth-operating K380 is a desktop wireless keyboard replacement that connects to up to three devices -- including tablets and phones.
If you spend a lot of time creating content on your PC, the Logitech Craft is one of the best keyboards you can buy today. Read the full review: Logitech Craft 5.
BestAlternatives to Apple's Magic KeyboardiMore2019
Every iMac and iMac Pro comes with a specially designed, Apple-branded Magic Keyboard and you either love it or hate it. If you love the look of the Magic Keyboard but don't love the feel, or maybe you were hoping for a little more than what comes in the box, we've got a list of keyboards that have a very similar design but offer something a little different.
Easy multi-pairing: Logitech Easy-Switch K811
If you love everything about the Magic Keyboard, but you really want a numerical pad, this model's nearly identical to the Magic Keyboard except that it has a 10-key number pad, a couple of additional function keys, and dedicated control keys. It's the perfect solution for Mac users that need more keyboard functionality.
Staff pick
This little ditty is my personal favorite. It's a compact keyboard designed with Mac in mind that has plenty of useful additional features. It has the added benefit of being specially designed to control features on your iPhone or iPad, like navigating to the Home screen and audio playback controls. With one button, you can switch between three different devices.
$99 at Logitech
Comes with Numeric Keypad: Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad
If you love everything about the Magic Keyboard, but you really want a numerical pad, this model's nearly identical to the Magic Keyboard except that it has a 10-key number pad, a couple of additional function keys, and dedicated control keys. It's the perfect solution for Mac users that need more keyboard functionality.
From $112 at Amazon
Trackpad intact: Twelve South MagicBridge
If you already have a Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad and want to keep it in a tidy unit, the MagicBridge is the perfect setup for you. It's not a keyboard, but a case for your keyboard and trackpad. It fits both perfectly and you can switch the trackpad to either side. All ports and switches are exposed for convenient access.
$35 at Amazon
More color options: Matias Wireless Aluminum Keybaord
Matias' keyboard looks very similar to the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and has a nice, comfortable slant for typing. You can also pair up to four different Bluetooth supported devices, including your Apple TV. You can get the standard Matias Wireless Aluminum Keyboard in space gray, gold, silver, and rose gold.
From $80 at Amazon
Solar charged: Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750
The K750 is a hugely popular alternative to Apple's Magic Keyboard because it's a full-sized keyboard, complete with a very similar spacing pattern. Though it's called 'solar,' it actually charges up using any light, including a desk lamp in your hotel room.
$54 at Amazon
Budget friendly: Anker Ultra Slim keyboard
For a low-cost alternative to Apple's Magic Keyboard, you'll be happy with Anker's universal Bluetooth keyboard. It uses the Magic Keyboard's scissor mechanism keys, so your typing experience will be very familiar. It doesn't come with a lot of bells and whistles, but for the price, it's the perfect alternative.
$22 at Amazon
Which one should you choose?
There are lots of third-party keyboards for Mac on the market. These are specifically for those of you that like the Magic Keyboard's design but are looking for something slightly different. My personal favorite is the Logitech K811. I love being able to quickly switch between my Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
However, if you just want something inexpensive that you can toss into your bag when you're on the go, then pick up an Anker Ultra Slim Keyboard. It's compact, just two thirds the size of a traditional keyboard. The battery will go six months between charges with typical use and takes only 2.5 hours to charge fully.
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Best Keyboard 2018
Just In Case
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Every so often, the two worlds in which I inhabit collide. Take this question from reader Scott Masel:
I have started taking piano lessons with my daughter to encourage her and have some father-daughter shared experiences. The problem is I rarely can practice because the kids are asleep when I am free to do it. I am looking for a full-sized (88 keys?) electronic keyboard that I can practice on with headphones, that feels like a real piano, that makes it easy to record things my daughter plays so we can share with family around the world, and that won’t break the bank. Do you have any suggestions?
Kudos to you on two counts. The first is showing your daughter that even adults can struggle to learn new skills (I hate to break it to you, but she’ll likely pick it up more quickly than you as her fingers and hands will adapt more easily). And the second is that you’re considering a full-sized keyboard that feels like the real thing (or close to it). Mini-keys are difficult for adult-sized fingers and when you graduate to a “real” keyboard it will be harder to adapt. Plus you and your daughter need to develop some strength in your fingers and the unweighted keys that you find on all cheap keyboards don’t provide enough resistance.
Best Keyboard For Mac Pro
At this point you can go in one of two directions. You can purchase a keyboard that has on-board sounds or one that’s simply a controller—a keyboard that doesn’t make sounds of its own but rather controls music applications and devices connected to it. In either case, you want your keyboard to have a USB port so that you can connect it to your Mac for recording in an application such as GarageBand.
Apple Wired Keyboard
By way of example, a controller keyboard would be something like M-Audio’s Oxygen 88, which runs around $600 at the major music stores. If you’re new to music and MIDI its many controls may be confusing. You can ignore them for the time being. To record your or your daughter’s playing string a USB cable between the keyboard and your Mac, fire up GarageBand, call up a piano sound, and then play that sound via your keyboard. For those times when you need to play without waking the kids, just jack in some headphones.
As for keyboards that have sounds built-in, take a gander at some of Yamaha’s weighted action keyboards—the DGX-640, for example. Priced at around $800 it has 88 keys and some solid piano sounds. It too has a USB port for either storing songs or making a connection to your computer. It also includes built-in speakers, though you’d likely get better sound via headphones.
Shopping for musical instruments is a bit like shopping for a car. You want to “test drive” a few models and resist the pressure of some of the sales people (some of whom work on commission and are more interested in making a sale than setting you up with the best instrument). Ideally, bring a laptop with you and have someone show you how to make the keyboard work with GarageBand. That way you’re certain that it works before taking an instrument home.
Best of luck and happy music making!
Best Wireless Keyboard For A Mac
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