Every "split" mechanical keyboard currently being sold that I know of

split_keyboards.md

• Kinesis Freestyle (Terrible key switches. Mushy and un-lovable)

• Kinesis Freestyle Edge (Traditional layout with too many keys, mech switches, proably too big to be tented easily/properly)

• Matias Ergo Pro (Looks pretty great. Have not tried.)

• ErgoDox Kit (Currently, my everyday keyboard. Can buy pre-assembled on eBay.)

• ErgoDox EZ (Prolly the best option for most people.)

• Diverge 3 (Looks great. Might buy one. Ergo-dox really has too many thumb keys anyway. This might be a better design.)

• Diverge TM 2 (Cool idea. Magnets! Too few keys for me.)

• Keyboardio (Halves can optionally be separated. Looks promising, but too few keys)

• Dygma Raise (Nice thumb keys layout, but no arrow keys and probably too big/unweildy for effective tenting)

• UltraErgo (Does not appear to be mechanical)

• Ultimate Hacking Keyboard (Small layout, mech switches, intersting-looking thumb attachments but missing arrow keys! And Kinda ungly)

• Lets Split (Dunno what this is yet)

• Mistel Barocco (no arrow keys, but looks good if you like 60% keyboards)

• Goldtouch (Technically one-piece, but close enough. I've used these. They're crap.)

• Goldtouch Go (Technically one-piece, but close enough. These are also crap.)

• Comfort Keyboard Split Magic Keyboard (This looks terrible)

• SafeType Keyboard (Also looks terrible)

• Axios (Something gloriously weird that is under development. Maybe.)

• Cheap Split PCB Boards for sale (Totally DIY. Soldering required!)

You should add KeyMouse.

Great gist. I've been on this quest as well. Looking for a multi-device bluetooth portable mechanical split keyboard - man, I'm picky 😛

I like 75% keyboards, and was previous using a Keychron K3 thinking the low profile means I wouldn't need a wrist rest. Lots of arm / wrist injuries later. I just picked up a Mistel Baracco MD770 Bluetooth (with Cherry Red Silent) from mechanicalkeyboard.com. Shipping from US to AU in 3 days - was mighty impressed.

This is day 1:

• + solidly build keyboard. Can really feel the quality in the keycaps
• + bluetooth connection is pretty solid so far
• + Cherry Red silent feels pretty good, not too loud, and I like Linear keycaps. Esp for gaming.
• - Tenting was a bit high I thought, but I DIY'ed with plastic tents of my own
• - No inbuilt wrist rest. Will see next couple of days if this becomes a problem
• - No alternate keycaps. Was hoping for some Mac substitutes
• - fn switch for F* keys are not working on Mac. So have to choose either the F* keys or the multimedia keys by changing it in Keyboard settings.

One tip: before you use it, update the firmware on the MD770 using the instruction in this reddit post

Some other Staggered options I looked (wasn't keen on Ortholinear as I still wanted to use my laptop keyboard):

• Kinesis Freestyle 2 - membrane, have multi-device bluetooth option
• Kinesis Freestyle Pro - mech, but no bluetooth
• Matias Ergo Pro - no bluetooth. Seeing lots of quality issues on Amazon / Youtube comments
• Dygma Raise - seem to really fit the bill. But not very portable as wrist rest is fixed

r/MechanicalKeyboards and r/ErgoMechKeyboards on reddit have a ton of info. Including custom built options if that's your thing.

Happy searching everyone!

@johnathanz are you my lost keyboard twin? I was searching too for a multi-device bt mech split keyboard, with the only difference being the added difficulty of finding it with an ISO layout (I'm Italian and I take notes during lessons on the pc, so I need the ISO) and I too ended up ordering the Mistel Barocco MD770, just unfortunately not BT because I was unable to find one that had BT + ISO + shipping to UK/Italy. Also it was only available with Cherry MX Red, I'll have to learn to desolder them and try to find some very lightweight very quiet linear switches to put instead.
Glad you found the keyboard impressive, and thanks for the tips!

@ccrowles . MD770 is a good keyboard - only if there was battery out warning. Mine just stops working after 4~5 days.
Shouldn't be a problem if I recharge every 3 days.

I also ended up using Autohotkey (PC) and Karabiner (Mac) to remap some of the the function keys.

The MX Silent Reds are ok, still satisfying to type, and not super loud.

Hope you enjoy the keyboard too, and may be find an ISO layout in the future (mechanialkeyboards.com no go?)

Unfortunately the axios.io domain looks to have expired

I have a matias and it's total crap after a few years. The height adjusting bits snapped after just a few months of being in tilt mode and the keys are starting to fail on it after a few years of use. Avoid at all costs.

can confirm. i LOVE the alps switches (my favorite keyboard was the Apple Extended Keyboard II and i used one via ADB adapter for years until it needed to be put to pasture) and i also loved my matias ergo pro keyboard. all three of them. first problem was the right half was repeating keys, nbd they shipped me another one no questions no return. i thought this was great.

then missing keystrokes and other weird behavior happened and one by one they all fell ill to whatever keyboard disease they had and matias no longer offered me a replacement probably because i had three of the g-ddamned things and they thought maybe i was running some sort of scam or something but really i was just an enthusastic user that wanted one everywhere i work but not anymore.

now i'm moonlander and some rgb clackety clunk gaming keyboard. and i'm about to get my second and third moonlander.

@johnathanz https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/q2s8w2/glove80_the_end_result_of_hundreds_of_ergonomic/ "multi-device bluetooth portable mechanical split keyboard"?

If you made it this far: This list hasn't been updated since 2018.

Note that the Dygma Raise now has a tenting solution (but no tilt).

@moergo-sc Glove80 looks interesting, it's orthlinear unfortunately, which I can't make the jump to.

Had the Mistel 3 months for now. I've been using the out of box tenting and no hand rest. Been good soo far. If anything the double PBS keycap has been training my finger strength, switching to a laptop keyboard occasionally drastically increases my typing speed :D

So def could recommend the Mistel Bluetooth for anyone looking for a non-orthlinear multi-device bluetooth split keyboard

Mister Barocco MD770 is now with F keys and arrows! At last! :-)

There are the two Cloud Nine Ergo options, surprisingly good for the price, but cons are real dealbreakers for some..

pros:
relatively cheap [in comparison to most being > $300 , you can manage to get one for $120 if you look hard enough]
multi function rotary knob
programmable macro keys
not a fly by night, has staff and active discord

cons:
no adjustments to small fixed tent/tilt
limited option of switches [typical: cherry mx red,blue,brown]
firmware/software : not open / windows only [[ SonixQMK could be an option if someone makes it work for two chips connected ]]
macro keys are programmable but timing is flaky and differs between firmware versions like they just can't get it right.

ErgoFS is a large keyboard, some keys are a stretch at best , someone with a small hand wouldn't be able to pivot to left ctrl.

ErgoFS
ErgoTKL

@dmiller423 Actually both have a fixed 7º tent and the ErgoTKL has a 2-level (negative) tilt, which for me is essential in replacing my current Sculpt. The ErgoTKL looks fantastic and ticks all boxes for me. But then I read reviewers complaining about the ringing noise it makes when typing, then heard it (at the 7:00 mark). That is a dealbreaker right there. I've emailed Cloud Nine about that as I'm really keen to get it..

@dalmo3 yeah sorry, I meant to prefix that with 'adjustable' likely. updated

Check out Ben Vallack on Youtube. He's deeep down this rabbit hole and is trying many different products and some DIY keebs with many different layouts.

• No Menu key - never knew I really use it.

@martin-wanderer the menu key in the MD770 is Fn+Z :)

Missing the ZSA Moonlander keyboard

I have 3 of the MD770s, they are solid. Just wish they had hot swap/ and qmk/zmk.

Look out for Naya Create

Redix, Corne, Sofle, ...

Sinc rev 3 now has hotswap. Keychron Q11. Nullbits snap is a kit but looks amazing

…

On Wed, Mar 8, 2023 at 4:47 PM Marco Bresciani ***@***.***> wrote: ***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------ Redix, Corne, Sofle, ... — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/ae27b30f7517dc18b8df110c1d98bccb#gistcomment-4495847> or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAAWKZOVUUEP4HBHRQO2NH3W3DV6RBFKMF2HI4TJMJ2XIZLTSKBKK5TBNR2WLJDHNFZXJJDOMFWWLK3UNBZGKYLEL52HS4DFQKSXMYLMOVS2I5DSOVS2I3TBNVS3W5DIOJSWCZC7OBQXE5DJMNUXAYLOORPWCY3UNF3GS5DZVRZXKYTKMVRXIX3UPFYGLK2HNFZXIQ3PNVWWK3TUUZ2G64DJMNZZDAVEOR4XAZNEM5UXG5FFOZQWY5LFVA2DGMRZHE2TKM5HORZGSZ3HMVZKMY3SMVQXIZI> . You are receiving this email because you commented on the thread. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub> .

Another list on https://compare.splitkb.com

a newer one worth adding to the list is the Dygma Defy.
Does anybody have experience with this one and want to share their thoughts?

@joachimweyl No one owns a Dygma Defy yet. According to Dygma's last update (on July 13th), they will start shipping the keyboards in late August.

I'm trying to decide whether to order a Dygma Defy. I'm using a regular keyboard but want to switch to a split keyboard with tenting for health reasons. Everything from ZSA and Dygma looks decent, but the Defy seems like the ideal keyboard for me. Metal body with no moving parts (aside from the tenting), and with the 8 keys under each thumb it won't be a problem if I can't reach all thumb keys on the board. It'll be a challenge switching to an ortholinear layout though.

I've owned a Dygma Raise since Feb 2021, and I have a Defy on order. Before the Raise, I used a Kinesis Freestyle Edge that I purchased in November 2019. I now characterize the Kinesis as an economical family sedan and the Raise as a luxury car.

The Raise was a major upgrade to the Kinesis. It took me one or two days to fully adjust to having the arrow keys and other such functionality on a layer. It was almost a natural transition.

When I purchased my Raise, I wasn't sure I was ready to make the transition to a staggered columnar keyboard. (The Moonlander, and UHK made up the others on my short-short list.) I've been extremely impressed with the Raise. The construction is solid, and the fit and finish are exceptional. The upper shell is metal. I added the tenting kit, and I did transition from the Kailh Silent Browns I ordered with the Raise to Boba U4 switches. (The Kailh Silent Browns were a bit light for me.)

While the tenting kit did add a bit to the thickness of the Raise, it provides a quick and easy setup for a wide range of tenting angles. Sadly, it does not offer tilting.

The Raise can be easily disassembled, which I have done a couple of times. It is fairly straightforward, and Dygma has videos that show you how. They've done the same with the Defy, and they have already published a video that walks you through the disassembly.

I've continued to be curious about staggered column keyboards. When Dygma announced the Defy with the integrated tenting, tilting, and wireless (RF & Bluetooth), I decided to give it a try. I was one of the early Kickstarter supporters (but not early enough to get into the first 100).

I've been touch-typing on QWERTY keyboards since high school over 45 years ago. I'm going to be interested in seeing how quickly I can change from a standard QWERTY keyboard to a keyboard such as a Defy, where some of the keys will need to move simply because of the design.

The Raise's thumb keys have spoiled me, and I'm looking forward to the increased number on the Defy. I believe the additional thumb keys will be beneficial when it comes to using layers and moving some of the keys. We'll see how it goes in a few months. I'm not expecting the transition to be quick, but we will see. Forty-five years plus is a lot of muscle memory to retrain.

Yes, I have evolved into a Dygma fan. Are their keyboards perfect? No. But, for me personally, the Raise come close. The Defy has features that move the bar even closer (more thumb keys, wireless, tilting). (I didn't realize how much I wanted thumb keys until I started using the Raise.)

If you want to find out more, check out Dygma's social media. They have fairly active communities with solid engagement by Dygma employees. Their Discord is active with over 2000 members.

I do want to acknowledge their level of transparency throughout the journey to the Defy. If you are interested in understanding what it can take to mass produce a keyboard to reasonably high-quality standards, I suggest going through the updates they provided starting in the Kickstarter campaign. They are still producing the updates fairly regularly. It has been an interesting and educational journey. Unlike some of the other Kickstarter campaigns I have funded, thanks to the nature of their updates, I have felt comfortable with what Dygma is doing, and I have not worried about my investment.

Alas, Dygma insists on adding non-removable wrist rests to their keyboards. I believe using wrist rests can contribute to carpal tunnel issues. They also make keyboards unnecessarily clunky. Get a keyboard tray and operate your keyboard low down near your lap where it should be and wrist rests become totally obsolete. If the wrist rests were detachable with the Dygma products, I'd be all over them.

Alas, Dygma insists on adding non-removable wrist rests to their keyboards.

In their defense, the Dygma Defy is capable of some extreme tenting, doing that without a wrist rest wouldn't be very ergonomic, I think. Either way, making a detacheable wrist rest with tenting would be very hard to accomplish.

Also, the wrist cushion of the Defy is easily removable. Not the whole wrist rest, but may be something.

I also just discovered the Ergohaven K:02, which should be on this list. https://ergohaven.xyz/k02

In their defense, the Dygma Defy is capable of some extreme tenting, doing that without a wrist rest wouldn't be very ergonomic, I think. Either way, making a detacheable wrist rest with tenting would be very hard to accomplish.

Glove80 does have both tenting and removable wrist rest. Both the main keyboard and the wrist rest have feet with threaded rods you can unscrew to tent (and optional longer rods for higher tenting). That method also lets them do mounting for their camera/quick release plates since the threaded rods go through holes in the plate and then the feet go on under to secure it (and let it be flat on a table for the quick release version).

As an aside, it is worth looking into mounting options in general. If you’re willing to spend a bit, can get some really high quality clamps and then arms which you can fully adjust and lock down with a single mechanism. You can then clamp to a chair for a “captain’s chair” setup or clamp to the edge of a table and have the halves be down below, do any tilt you want, etc.

I got the wider plate on the right side with my Glove80, but that does limit the tilt of the plate itself if you’re using a mouse. I may end up getting a Magic Trackpad and Velcro it to the plate for a more flexible solution.