Kinesis Mwave keyboard review

Ergonomic keyboards make sense if you are someone who spends all day behind the computer and then uses the same game set in the evening. Divided keys, tent and tilt can be foreign conditions for many computer users, but when you make a jump, you are wondering why you got stuck in a established system for so long.

After saying, some keyboards are not ergo -user -friendly (Dyma Defy and Zsa Moonlander compressed here), but here is one that was designed for beginners. Kinesis is not strangers to the world of ergonomics, and its freestyle edge is still the best ergonomic game keyboard.

MWAVE is a kinesis approach on Microsoft ergonomic keyboards, but you can also throw Logitech K860 on the ring because it is quite similar in design. What distinguishes MWAVE from the competition is the apply of low -profile mechanical key switches, which ensures a more responsive impression of typing than membrane systems used by Logitech and Microsoft.

Mechanical switches are also better for games and although Mwave is very much NO In the sale of games, the fact that the goalkeeper switches require little strength and travel to Actoace, makes them very useful in the crazy round of counterattack or fortnite.

One difference between Mwave and such as the K860 is that it is not a full -size keyboard. Kinesis sells Separate, wireless padBut with a few cents for 70 USD, it’s probably not worth buying. Like many compact ergonomic keyboards, they can be activated to them numbads and media keys using the second “layer” – dedicated keys between different key maps.

What can make some people initially Baulk in Mwave is his general ergonomic project. The key division is quite wide-veneer than the K860-a tent is not linear. I understand that instead of a keyboard rising in a indefinite angle in the middle, they are a bit hurting in Mwave.

These two aspects make it arduous to deal with it, although I have used ergonomic keyboards for many years, getting used to Mwave took me more time than for the Freestyle Kinesis edges. While my left hand settled perfectly on the spot, my right hand fell slightly too close to the center.

This caused, for example, a constant hit K instead of L, and I was a bit surprised by how long it took me to stop doing it. The tilt is only negative (i.e. you can raise your wrist resting up) and requires magnetic attachment of tiny legs. It sounds a bit of rubbish, but it really works quite well, although I would prefer to have an integrated system.

Picture 1 With 3

However, when I did this, I really liked using Kinesis Mwave. I am not a fan of thunderous, keyboards, so the subtle clicking of the goal switches was perfect for me. All the keys had a very positive reaction, although the space wrenches are perhaps too threat for my preferences.

What I really don’t like are materials used for keys and wrist pads. They are pleasant enough to touch, but they attract grease and sweat, and Mwave gets very grubby very quickly. Despite the crazy cleaning, I have never managed to recover the keyboard to the state in which he arrived, and if you look closely at the images of the keyboard in this review, you will see what I mean.

Something else that can disappoint you is a backlight. To save on battery life, white LEDs activate only when Mwave is connected via the included USB Type-C to type A cable (note: it’s a attractive cable, a super long and solid feeling).

However, they are simply not featherlight enough, even when they are used in a obscure office. After saying, the Lock Caps key shows a decent level of green featherlight after activation, so the LEDs are completely ineffective.

Picture 1 With 4

Considering that you can buy very inexpensive games keyboard with such radiant LEDs that you can signal an international space station, the backlight in Mwave seems a bit of reflection. If such a function is vital to you, look elsewhere.

Fortunately, there are many other things to like in Kinesis Mwave. The wireless connection can only be Bluetooth, not a low -delay system of 2.4 GHz, but I can’t say that I have noticed any delay in games. There are two profiles that can be switched, thanks to which it is a piece of dough to apply one keyboard on many devices – in the case of MWAVE testing, I connected to my main computer with a USB cable, and then operated a separate laptop and a portable computer for Bluetooth games.

Hopping between the three devices was almost immediate and no computer gave me problems with it, which often causes problems when using Bluetooth in Windows.

Something else that is good is a software package that you apply to change key functions. This is not a download application; Instead, you attach MWAVE via USB and then start the web browser and go to Kinesis click.

Picture 1 With 2

While the interface seems a bit tiny and tight on my 32-inch 4K monitor, it was very straightforward to configure macros, add additional layers and simply replace the keys for specific commands. Just click the key on the entire image of the system, apply the menu to select the desired function, click the desired option, and then press Save.

That’s all; Without a delayed application, you don’t have to worry about software updates. It is pristine and straightforward to apply, and other keyboard manufacturers should look at what kinesis did here for a long time.

This only leads us to the price and whether Mwave is worth buying. If you have a headquarters in the USA, you can choose one directly from kinesis for a fraction below 120 USD-it’s about 30 USD cheaper than Logitech K860, but it’s a full-size keyboard. However, he does not apply mechanical switches.

It is much cheaper than the ergonomic Microsoft keyboard, so on this basis Kinesis Mwave has a clearly good price -quality ratio and it is worth considering whether you want to enter the ergonomic keyboard market. The fact that writing is much prettier than K860 or any of the ergonomic Microsoft models simply seals the contract.

If you are outside the US, you will be able to pick up Mwave only by one of the authorized Kinesis sellers. Fortunately, prices are still the same. For example, in Great Britain it costs Mwave 123 £while in Germany it is 169 €.

But would I buy one alone? To be sincere, the answer is “no”, but it’s only because I would like a full -size version (hey kinesis, how about making mwave pro with an integrated numepad?) And I don’t like how easily artificial plastics collect lubricant and sweat. Apart from these aspects, I would be elated to apply Kinesis Mwave every day.