Great keyboards are a dime a dozen, but finding a keyboard that offers a great typing experience and doesn’t irritate others in the room can be challenging. If you use a shared workspace, a quiet keyboard is an asset that your co-workers will silently appreciate.
Logitech MX Keys S
Logitech MK295 Wireless Mouse & Keyboard Combo
Logitech K780
Corsair K55 RGB PRO
Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Best Quiet KeryOverall:Logitech MX Keys S
TheLogitech MX Keys Sis a low-profile, wireless keyboard designed to maximize space and minimize noise. It is the full-size version of theMX Keys Mini, with dedicated numeric and navigation keys.
According to Logitech, the keys are fingertip-shaped, improving speed and precision. The scissor switches offer a smooth typing experience without the clickity-clackity that can disturb others around you.
It includes a smart illumination feature that lights up the keyboard when your hands approach it. It pairs seamlessly with the MX Master 3S mouse, and when you buy both together, you get a free desk mat.
It works well for productivity tasks and can be used for gaming, but remember that this is not a gaming keyboard. The battery lasts up to 5 months with backlighting off and up to 10 days with backlighting on.
The Logitech Keys S is a full-size, wireless keyboard that looks good and works great. It includes a numeric pad that can be useful for crunching numbers and navigation keys for moving up and down the screen without a mouse. It can be connected to up to three devices and can switch between them with a button press.
Best Budget:Logitech MK295
TheLogitech MK295is a keyboard and mouse combination featuring Logitech’s SilentTouch technology which is said to reduce keyboard and mouse noise by up to 90 percent.
The keyboard is full-size, with an integrated numpad and eight shortcuts to aid productivity. The mouse is designed to be convenient to use and to take up as little space as possible when tucked into your bag.
According to the manufacturer, the keyboard’s battery can last up to 36 months, and the mouse’s battery can last 18 months. Both devices come with an on/off power switch and work plug-and-play with most operating systems.
The MK295 is an affordable, wireless keyboard and mouse combo that emphasizes a quiet and comfortable typing experience. It offers eight shortcuts and a numpad for smoother productivity. It is not the most advanced combo on the market, but it is convenient to use and well-built overall.
Best for the Office:Logitech K780
TheLogitech K780is yet anothergreat product from the Swiss company. While there were other strong candidates, the K780 came out on top in this category due to its availability and affordability. It is a wireless keyboard that can connect to up to 3 devices and switch between them seamlessly.
It offers a comfortable and silent typing experience. It is one of the quietest keyboards and produces little typing noise when in use, making it excellent for the office.
It is built for multi-device use, and a nice touch is the integrated keyboard tray that can support a tablet or smartphone. It includes an on/off switch, and the battery can reportedly last up to 24 months. It pairs via Bluetooth or theLogitech Unifying receiverthat comes in the box.
There’s no need to restrict yourself to cheaply-produced keyboards when you can use the Logitech K780. This Logitech keyboard can be used with up to three devices simultaneously, allowing you to integrate your iPad and upgrade your workflow beyond conventional limits.
Best for Gaming:Corsair K55 RGB PRO
TheCorsair K55 RGB PROis awired gaming keyboardthat makes it easy to get lost in your games, with silent rubber-dome switches and six programmable macro keys. The first wired keyboard on the list, it offers very low latency and customizable onboard lighting for an immersive gaming experience.
It is quite affordable for a gaming keyboard at $60 MSRP. It also supports anti-ghosting with up to 12-key rollover. Furthermore, it offers five separate lighting zones that can pulse, shift, and cascade. While designed for gamers, the Corsair K55 RGB PRO’s dedicated macro keys can also be used for productivity tasks by video and photo editors.
The K55 RGB PRO is IP42-rated for dust and water protection. The build quality matches the price; you can tell this is a low-priced keyboard. However, if you are in the market for an affordable, quiet gaming keyboard, you can’t go wrong with the Corsair K55 RGB PRO.
The Corsair K55 RGB PRO is an affordable gaming keyboard with a membrane design and is backlit with letter and key illumination. It offers six programmable macro keys, anti-ghosting, and other dedicated gaming features. It is rated IP42 water and dust-resistant and comes with a detachable palm rest in the box.
Best for Mac –Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Whether you thinkApple Magic Keyboards are worth their asking price or not, it is still true that they work seamlessly with Macs and other Apple devices. TheApple Magic Keyboard with Touch IDadds fingerprint recognition to the sleek, well-built keyboard that Apple users have come to know and love.
It comes with the Apple premium price tag, but you also get Apple’s well-known quality. It is compatible with Mac, iOS, and iPadOS devices, but Touch ID can only be used with Mac models withApple Silicon, i.e., the M1 and M2 series. It can also be used with limited functionality on non-Apple platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Android.
It charges via the Lightning port and can work in wired mode if you prefer not to use Bluetooth. The rechargeable battery is stated to last up to a month or even more between charges.
The Apple Magic Keyboard is a wireless, low-profile keyboard that is built for use with Mac devices. It pairs automatically and lasts for a month on a single charge. It also works with iPadOS, iOS, Android, and even Windows, but with limited compatibility.
Q: Why are mechanical keyboards so loud?
Mechanical keyboards are generally louder thanmembrane and chiclet keyboardsdue to the physical actuation mechanism they use. The loudness ranges between 50 and 70 decibels, about the same level as a moderate conversation. This would be loud enough to attract attention in a quiet office, but not in a relatively active workspace. However, keep in mind that this varies with thetype of mechanical switch used, as well as the speed and intensity of typing.
Q: Which mechanical keyboard switches are the most quiet?
There arethree main types of mechanical switches: linear, tactile, and clicky. All types vary in loudness and feel, with linear being the quietest and clicky being the loudest.
Q: Do keyboard dampeners work?
It is possible toreduce the sound made by a mechanical keyboard using dampeners. You can opt for O-rings, Sorbothane, neoprene, or Thinsulate acoustic foam. You can use a desk pad, or lubricate the mechanical switches in the keyboard to make it sound quieter.
Q: What is the difference between a mechanical keyboard and a membrane keyboard?
The key difference betweenmechanical and membrane keyboardsis the switch or actuating mechanism by which they operate. Mechanical keyboards have a physical switch under every key that registers each keystroke and provides tactile feedback. Membrane keyboards, on the other hand, have a flat or rubber dome switch that makes contact with the membrane sheet in the bottom layer.
Mechanical keyboards typically last longer but are usually more expensive than membrane keyboards. Some people prefer the tactile feedback they offer.
