Seeking USB-C keyboard

April 26, 2024 5:17 AM

Can anyone recommend a USB-C keyboard that feels nice to type on? This is for my Android-based e-reader. Using a Bluetooth keyboard with it was glitchy, so I want something that is USB-C based (cable -- not dongle), and it's been harder to find this than I expected.
posted by matkline to Technology (10 answers total)

I have such sights to show you.

What's your price range?
posted by mhoye at 6:17 AM on April 26 [4 favorites]

I've got the Keychron C2 and really love it.
posted by GamblingBlues at 6:31 AM on April 26

There are SO MANY OPTIONS when it comes to keyboards.

What does "nice to type on" mean for you? Many people, including me, prefer mechanical keyboards (the clicky kind) but some prefer rubber dome keys, which are usually cheaper.

Are you looking specifically for a keyboard with a "C" style USB cable because you don't want to use an adapter, or would you be OK with any USB keyboard? The adaptors are tiny and are pretty cheap.

You mention this is for an e-reader, are you looking for a certain size keyboard? Do you want the full size setup with dedicated number pad and arrow keys, or a more minimal setup (often called a "TenKeyLess")
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 6:48 AM on April 26 [1 favorite]

I like Nuphy keyboards. They're wireless / wired, whatever you prefer.
posted by dobbs at 6:59 AM on April 26

I also think we need a lot more input to help. It does seem that most people lean toward mechanical keyboards — people who know about keyboards, use them a lot, and have strong preferences, and don't mind dropping a hundred bucks or more, that is.
They don't *have* to be clicky. Some go thunk/thock, some make almost no noise, or less than the dome switch ones. Much ink has been spilt on this. I like my Ducky a lot, very rugged and good build quality. The usb c cord detaches from the board, and it can route to the left, right, or center, which is a nice usability feature for portable use imo.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:17 AM on April 26 [1 favorite]

I'd drop the USB-C requirement and get a small adapter.

If you want to keep some portability in mind, there are a lot of 75% keyboards that are pretty compact and have a nice feel to them. Takes me a little time to adjust to the tighter layout, but it's not terribly hard.

My current favorite keyboard is the Kinesis Freestyle Pro Quiet. Oddly, since it's two halves, I find it easy to carry in a bag, even though it's full sized. But mostly, I love it because I need an ergo angle, and the split and the tenting (with additional tenting kit) really help my wrists.
posted by advicepig at 8:35 AM on April 26 [2 favorites]

My spouse has a Keychron Q5 and even with my older Vortex Race 3 that's still going strong. I am super jealous. It feels nice.
posted by supercres at 10:16 AM on April 26

There are bajillion choices for keyboards on the market nowadays, from 20 bucks to well over 200, almost all can be connected via USB C or Bluetooth. And if you want, you can mod your keyboard for further customization of sound or feel. So the question is very much like "what car should I buy?"
posted by kschang at 11:03 AM on April 26

I also have a Keychron, and I love its feel and sound.

But yeah, what's your preference for the noise?
posted by wenestvedt at 11:29 AM on April 26

Regardless of how you feel about NewEgg as a company, their product search is among the most granular ever, and I often use it to narrow a wide field of options down by adding preferences until I get a manageable set to work from. Here's a search for USB-C Keyboards for example, but if you really want to get into the weeds, just start applying filters via the left-rail checkboxes, or use the Power Search button.

That said, I'd agree with the above posters that you're more likely to find something you like if you're willing to add a USB-C to A adapter to the mix.
posted by Aleyn at 1:16 PM on April 26