Best mechanical keyboards for Mac in 2024: All the mechanical clack for Mac
Miss the clickety-clack of old keyboards? You're in the right place.
1. Quick list
2. Best overall
3. Best productivity
4. Best budget
5. Best portable
6. Best custom
7. Best barebones
8. Q&A
Some users don't mind a shallow keyboard - one that's got little chiclet keys that feel a little mushy. These users will happily tap away on Apple's magic keyboard, blissfully unaware that there are better typing experiences to be had out there. Typing experiences that are more tactile, more satisfying, and more comfortable. Ones that click, clack, thoc even. One of the best mechanical keyboards can make you more accurate, and help you type better with more feedback under the finger.
Mechanical keyboards use physical key switches that give that vital feedback when you type. They can also be endlessly customizable, even if you don't have an electronics degree or a soldering iron. You can build one from the ground up with parts that click together with ease, letting you choose the exact key switch you want, and what you want the whole thing made out of. Fancy some fancy-looking art on your keycaps? You can do that. Want your new keyboard to sound a certain way? You can do that too. Don't want to do any of that, and just want to pick up a slick keyboard without the need to build it? you can do that too, and we've gathered up some of the best.
Quick list
Best overall
The NuPhy Halo 75 is one of the best keyboards we've ever tested, with some seriously impressive features. It's dense, heavy, and gives an incredible typing feel, no matter the key switches you choose – and the new, silicon-filled space bar is a masterwork in keyboard sound design.
Best productivity
The Keychron Q1 Pro improves almost everything from the previous version, with a better typing experience and sonic performance all around. It's heavy, attractive, and super easy to mod. You won't find much better at a price as good as this one. Just don't expect stellar battery life if you use RGB.
Best budget
The first GMMK from Glorious was good, but this is even better. The key switches, from glorious itself, are smooth and perfectly lubed, and the RGB lighting is stunning. The GMMK 2 took everything Glorious learned from the GMMK Pro and put it in a very solid prebuilt.
Best portable
The NuPhy Air 75 is a low-profile board, so it's super portable. It retains that all-important typing feel, however, with some very impressive low-profile switches. The case, available separately, is also great, and makes it even more portable, letting you toss it in a bag without worry.
Best custom
The Zoom75 arrives at your door in kit form — it needs to be built from the ground up. That allows for remarkable flexibility when it comes to making a keyboard that's just for you, and the keyboard you get out at the end of it might just be one of the best typing experiences you've ever had.
Best Barebones
NuPhy's Gem80 is the brands first foray into the barebones custom space, and it's a great option if you're looking to customize a keyboard and don't want to deal too much with mad kits and group buys. Lovely color selection with this one too, the lilac being especially attractive.
Best overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The NuPhy Halo 75 is a pre-built keyboard, so you won't have to worry about tuning it to get it 'just right' — and just right it is straight out of the box as well. This is our pick for the best overall mechanical keyboard because it hits all the right points, with very few negatives; it looks cool, the RGB implementation is good, the typing feel is excellent, and it sounds great.
There are plenty of options on the NuPhy website, letting you choose the color of the board, the kind of switches that you want, and even letting you add a cool wrist rest. Build quality is impeccable, and the angled feet set it apart against some of the other options, allowing you to get the perfect typing angle for your comfort.
It's not too expensive either at $130, which in the mechanical keyboard world makes it almost a bargain. It's not going to be the best for customizers, as the board is clipped shut with plastic clips, but you can change out the keys and the switches as well. Wireless connectivity through a small wireless dongle and Bluetooth allows you to go totally wire-free as well, and the battery lasts a good long time even with the RGB lights on. An excellent keyboard, and our pick for best overall.
Best productivity
Specifications
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Reasons to avoid
Keychron has long made some of the best mechanical keyboards in the business, and the Q1 Pro is the culmination of everything the company has learned over its long journey. Taking everything that made previous models brilliant while adding some nice pre-built features, the Q1 Pro is the ultimate tinkerer's keyboard with plenty on board for the less adventurous as well.
There's metal all over the place, and it weighs absolutely loads — this is not a portable board, by any stretch of the imagination. It will stay completely static on your desk, however, and there's a kind of reassurance that comes from such a heavy piece of tech.
The keycap height out of the box is a little tall, but that just highlights the brilliance of the board — it's super easy to open it up and change out the switches, the dampening material inside, and the keycaps. Even when used straight out of the box, however, it's a great board that has something for everyone. Need more keys than the 75% provided here? Look at the rest of Keychron's output and find more of its Pro models that have the same features but more key layout options.
Best budget
Specifications
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Reasons to avoid
The Glorious GMMK 2 is the sequel to an excellent, well-priced gaming keyboard, and is one of the best-priced boards on the list. It costs $119, which while no small sum is still a great deal for a top-quality mechanical keyboard. We like the GMMK 2 not just because it's a great budget option, but also because it's a solid mechanical keyboard if you just want to pick something that you're not going to have to build up and muck about with.
The GMMK 2 misses some of the more premium features of the GMMK Pro — it's not as weighty, and it doesn't sound quite as good as Glorious' custom option. While that might sound like a large complaint, it's also not $400 odd like the Pro model, so it puts it back in perspective.
The RGB performs well, the switches are smooth, and the deck is very sturdy. It comes in 65 and 95% layouts, so you can choose which one you prefer. It also works with all of Glorious' keycap sets, so you can personalize it as well. You do have to plug it in, but that just makes sure that input lag is low.
Best portable
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Reasons to buy
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The NuPhy Air 75 is a super slimline keyboard that you can take anywhere with you. it's light, comfy to type on, and has all the features of an excellent mechanical board in something as thin as your MacBook. Buy the separate folding case that NuPhy make, and it'll be something you toss in your bag whenever you go out with your laptop.
There is a wide choice of switches on the NuPhy website, including linear, tactile, and clicky. Each switch type is silky smooth, and in combination with the rest of the metal and plastic frame makes for a very satisfying portable typing experience.
The feet aren't foldable and are, as such, extremely losable, but there's not much to complain about here. Battery life with RGB could be better, but typing feel on a portable deck will keep that from annoying you too much. Works seamlessly with mac, too.
Best custom
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Meletrix Zoom75 is a spectacular keyboard — once you've put it together. You see, the Zoom75 comes in the form of a kit, so you have to grab the (included) screwdriver and get to building. That allows for some extreme flexibility, letting you put (almost) anything inside. Your own choice of plate foam or silicon? You can do that. A different plate material? You can do that too. Want to fill it with gravel from the driveway? Well, we wouldn't recommend it, but you could. Weirdo.
When you've spend a few hours putting it all together with your choice of keyswitches and keycaps you'll find one of the best keyboards you'll ever use. And while it's not cheap, it's one of the more reasonably price custom keyboards which can sometimes climb above the $1000 mark.
There are some great options that you can add into your Zoom75 — our favorite being the small screen that you put in the top right hand corner. It's a truly stunning board, and if you don't mind doing some building work (or, indeed, if its something you're seeking out) then it'll be $200 well spend.
Best barebones
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
NuPhy have made some of our favorite keyboards — the Halo75, the portable Air series. Now it's put its considerable chops into a more customizable form factor in the barebones package of the NuPhy Gem80. Barebones means that you get the board, sans switches and keycaps, and then you choose the bits that you want to put in your keyboard.
Then, the keyswitches and keycaps arrive with the board and you can spend a nice half hour popping the switches into the plate — et voila, finished keyboard. It also allows for a certain degree more customization of the keyboard, letting you fit different keycaps or switches depending on your preference. This is the first NuPhy board that you can open up as well, so you can change the silicon dampening and change out the plate.
Typing feel is great here when it's all put together, and NuPhy's RGB use is, as always, exemplary. It costs more than the rest of the NuPhy line, but it's a quality peice of kit that's well worth the extra.
Q&A
Which Mechanical keyboard should I buy?
You can always trust iMore.
Our favorite from the list is the NuPhy Halo 75. It comes completely built without any need for modding, with a stunning typing feel and some gorgeous keycaps. It's well priced too, coming in at $129. One of the coolest things about the keyboard is what NuPhy calls the 'Ghost Bar' – a space bar that has a silicon buffer in it to give the space bar a deeper tone when hit. The whole keyboard sounds amazing, in fact, and the package is a great one. If the 75 percent layout isn't for you, then you can also get a 95% and 65% version, depending on what you like.
The Keychron Q1 Pro comes in a very, very close second, as you'll pay a little more for the keyboard. If you do, however, you'll get an imminently moddable board with some great features including Bluetooth and RGB. The taller keycaps may take some getting used to, but it's a stunning board for a great price that opens up the world of modding.
For those looking for something more like the Magic Keyboard, one of the best keyboards for Mac, then the NuPhy Air 75 is an excellent choice. It's a compact board that is also available in 96% and 65% layouts to make sure there's an option that you'll like. Crucially, despite being low profile, it retains all the best bits of a mechanical deck.
Why use the best mechanical keyboards instead of the Magic keyboard?
The Apple Magic Keyboard doesn't cut it for everyone, although there are some good alternatives. But if you prefer real key feedback, the satisfying clickety clack, or just want the ability to fully customize your keyboard, you really ought to consider a mechanical keyboard. In fact, I would say mechanicals are the best keyboards for Mac, period. Honestly, once you discover the magic of mechanical keyboards, it's tough to go back to the flat, chiclet-style laptop keyboards like the Magic Keyboard — plus you just feel so much more productive.
Are mechanical keyboards good for Mac?
A mechanical keyboard is a great addition for your Mac — they're more comfortable to type on than traditional keyboards, and even if made for Windows they'll work well with MacOS. If you buy one made for Mac then you'll have no problems at all — so we'd recommend going that route.
If you need a little more guidance on this (expensive) hobby, don't miss out on our Mechanical Keyboards 101: Beginner's Guide for a deep dive into mechanical keyboards as a whole.
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As iMore's Senior Staff writer, Tammy uses her background in audio and Masters in screenwriting to pen engaging product reviews and informative buying guides. The resident audiophile (or audio weirdo), she's got an eye for detail and a love of top-quality sound. Apple is her bread and butter, with attention on HomeKit and Apple iPhone and Mac hardware. You won't find her far away from a keyboard even outside of working at iMore – in her spare time, she spends her free time writing feature-length and TV screenplays. Also known to enjoy driving digital cars around virtual circuits, to varying degrees of success. Just don't ask her about AirPods Max - you probably won't like her answer.