Daily Times

Very few tech accessories matter as much as a good keyboard. Between e-mail, your work, searching for answers to questions you’re too embarrassed to ask, and using social media, you’re going to be typing an awful lot every single day. Most people settle for the keyboard they’re given at work, or the one that comes with their computer, but you can do better than that.

These days, the best keyboards come in all shapes and sizes, and some have really cool features, like backlit keys, a fold-able design, or a built-in trackpad. If you’re ready to make an upgrade, we’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find 10 keyboards that run the gamut from simple to flashy to luxe, with plenty of options in between.

Some are cabled, but most of the best wireless keyboards now use Bluetooth, so you don’t even have to plug them in. Additionally, Bluetooth keyboards can be paired to your phone or tablet, which makes them a lot more versatile than the alternative.

A SIMPLE BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD — XINKSD’s Ultra-Slim Keyboard is the perfect place to start if you need a compact keyboard that can get the job done. It has full-sized keys in a smaller frame, and a series of function buttons on the top row that control your device’s brightness and volume settings or music playback. It can be used with computers, but certain function keys, like the search and lock function buttons, were designed with tablets in mind.

A FULL-SIZED KEYBOARD WITH A TRACKPAD — this full-sized keyboard from Amazon Basics has a trackpad where the number pad usually sits, which allows you to use your computer without connecting a mouse. It was designed to allow people with computers hooked up to televisions to comfortably control them from their couch, but it’ll work on a desk, too. Because it was designed with a computer in mind, this keyboard has a traditional escape key to the left of its function row. Despite the Windows logo next to the alt key, this keyboard can be used with Apple devices too.

A POCKET-SIZED KEYBOARD — if you need a keyboard that can fit into your pocket, Rii’s R4 is the right way to go. The keypad resembles a physical version of a smartphone keyboard, with dedicated volume, home, and back buttons in the upper-right hand side. A mini trackpad — complete with right and left mouse clip areas — sits on top of the keys, so you can control your entire computer with this handheld keyboard. It works over Bluetooth and comes with a wireless adapter, so you have options if your computer’s Bluetooth is a little flaky.

A FOLDABLE KEYBOARD — if you use your devices while traveling, you’ll want a keyboard you can pack without taking up too much space. Jelly Comb’s Pocket-Sized keyboard folds up to a 6 x 3.8-inch frame you can easily stick in a backpack. The compact keyboard has slightly smaller keys than a full-sized option and the ones near its two folds are particularly slim. The right fold contains a miniature trackpad, so can carry this keyboard without a mouse, which saves even more space in your bag.

A BACKLIT MECHANICAL GAMING KEYBOARD — if you’re a gamer who wants to add some flair and comfort to their setup, we strongly recommend Razer’s Black Widow wired keyboard. It’s built for desktops, and what it lacks in portability it makes up for in style. The full-sized keyboard has a giant padded palm rest for your wrists, and mechanical keys, which are softer and easier on your fingers than the slim, chicklet style keys found on compact keyboards and laptops. But, the main reason to get the BlackWidow is its RGB lights, which can be programmed to show one of 16.8 million colours through Razer’s app. You can stick to one colour or create a rainbow pattern of your favourites.

A BACKLIT BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD YOU CAN USE WITH MULTIPLE DEVICES — if you’d like a backlit keyboard that makes it easier to type in the dark, but don’t want the flair of Razer’s option, you should consider this one from Satechi. The full-sized keyboard has a number pad in addition to a function row with a standard set of controls, including volume and brightness. Satechi’s keyboard also allows you to pair three devices to it at once, and toggle between them using the Bluetooth one, two, and three buttons on the top row of the number pad. This feature is extremely useful if you’d like to use the same keyboard at home and work, but don’t want to go through the process of pairing and unpairing it several times a day.

A BACKLIT WIRED KEYBOARD — Logitech’s K740 is kind of like a greatest hits keyboard. It has many of the individual features that make the other keyboards we recommend great, but in a single package. Its keys have more travel than an ultra-slim keyboard, and it has a wrist rest, which makes it pretty ergonomic. It’s backlit, so you can type in the dark and it has a number pad, which makes it easier to work with spreadsheets. The only potential downside is that it’s a wired keyboard, which means you can’t move it around as much, or use it comfortably on your lap.

AN ERGONOMIC KEYBOARD — ergonomics and comfort aren’t words you typically associate with your computer keyboard, but they’re really important to consider if you have a text-heavy job. Microsoft’s Sculpt Keyboard and mouse are designed to reduce fatigue and additional strain put on your wrists and fingers while you type. The keyboard’s wave-like design and large palm rest allow your hands to be spread apart and pointed inward rather than straight forward. These features help prevent Repetitive Strain Injury, which can occur when typing for extended periods of time every day. This keyboard is paired with Microsoft’s Sculpt Mouse, which has a curved shape and thumb rest, which makes it easier to hold it rather than hovering over it. The one downside to this keyboard is that it does require you to plug in a wireless receiver to your computer’s USB port to work.

AN APPLE KEYBOARD – if you use an Apple computer every day, it’s worth getting the company’s Magic Keyboard. This full-sized version has a number pad on the left side, but there is a compact option if you don’t need it. The reason MacBook, iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro users should use this keyboard is because its function row is tailor-made for features found in MacOS. You can launch Expose, which allows you to see all of your open windows at once, and Launchpad, which shows all of the apps on your computer, with a single key. These little time savers can add up, and let you access deeper operating system features without lifting your fingers off of the keyboard.

AN OLD SCHOOL MECHANICAL KEYBOARD — some people prefer mechanical keyboards because of the clickey sound they make when you type, the longer key travel, or the aesthetic. This one from Durgod is billed as a gaming keyboard, but it’s basically a Bluetooth version of the mechanical keyboards that came with desktop computers several years ago. It even has a pair of flip-up feet that angle the keyboard upward to make it a little more comfortable to use.