KINESIS Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB Split Mechanical Keyboard | Cherry MX Linear Red Switches | RGB | Ergonomic | Detachable Palm Support | Fully Programmable | TKL | Available Tenting

I write for a living, and I play a lot of games, so Ive been hunting for a good ergonomic mechanical keyboard (in MX Brown, please) for a long while. I finally got my hands (heh...) on one of these and yeah, this is exactly what Ive been after. Its comfortable, easily customizable (uses Cherry Profile keycaps), and tactile in all the ways I want it to be. My hands are very thankful for the ergo assist, and the gamer in me loves being able to move the right side away for left-hand keys and right-hand mouse. Even the wrist-rests, usually the first thing I take off on a keyboard, are wonderful to use. The closest I can get to a complaint is the software that runs the RGB is more than a little barebones compared to the iQue software my old Corsair K70 used. This is a *fantastic* board. Highly recommended!

Overall, this keyboard is OK. The split design is nice, but thats about it. For over $200, I expected something high quality, but this is a disappointment. I dont know if I was expecting too much, or if Im just picky, but this keyboard was a letdown. I have never owned a keyboard with Cherry switches, but I heard great things about them. Are these really Cherry switches? If so, I feel Cherry is extremely overrated. Squeaky, inconsistent switches: The switches on this keyboard (MX Brown) were squeaky from the start. Not all of the keys squeaked, some where fairly quiet, but about 1/3 sounded terrible every time they were pressed. There is a TON of variation in the sound each key makes. Some are solid, some feel looser than other, some are quiet, some squeak. The keys in the center of the board also make a weird Ringing-bell type of sound that is pretty annoying too. Terrible tactile feedback: The tactile feedback on these is a joke. If I press the key slowly, I can feel the bump, but in normal typing, I cant feel anything. When I compared these side-by-side with my $35 Logitech keyboard, the Logitech is much quieter, and has much, much, MUCH better tactile feedback. The travel is about the same, the Logitech feels much more solid, and has a more pronounced bump with no vibration or squeaks. Keys dont always register after the bump: I can carefully press the keys past the bump, and if they are not depressed enough, they do not actuate. What little bump is present is in the wrong place. This makes the tactile experience frustrating when your fingers tell you that the key actuated, but nothing registers on your screen. Again, compared to my $35 Logitech, the Logitech is FAR superior, and actuates every time the key passes the tactile bump without fail. The tenting supports cost an extra $25: Really? This is sold as the ultimate ergonomic keyboard, but without the tenting, it isnt really ergonomic at all. The split is nice (this keyboards only redeeming quality), but for over $200, they could include the $1 plastic pieces to make this function as an ergonomic keyboard. Instead they charge $25 for them, and they dont work without the wrist rests, so if your desk has rests already, you cant use the tenting supports. I had high hopes, but I cant justify the cost of this keyboard, and I cant stand the squeaky, inconsistent keys.

I honestly do not write reviews for any products I buy however I am so pleased with this keyboard I feel the need to add my two cents. I loved my Microsoft ancient keyboard that was purchased 10 years ago and its been a great 10 years but this particular keyboard is so much more and so much better. I am an application analyst for a healthcare company and I am on a keyboard 10-14 hours a day. I have needed an ergonomic keyboard for awhile and I have read reviews upon reviews. I would love to break this apart for other users that want a keyboard for a similar reason. Things I love about this keyboard: 1) The ability to move and reposition the keyboard based on my posture or when my wrists feel stiff has been amazing and a huge plus for ergonomics 2) Programmable hotkeys shortcuts and of course colors-yes I love them and the individuality it allows 3) Plug and play I can easily switch from workday job to weekend editor for my husband easily without fuss. Cons (honestly I was reaching....) 1) I have to create and program all of my hotkeys and color patterns/profiles on my home laptop then plug it into my work machine. 2) No 10 key (I bought an off brand separate....wish they made a complementary 10 key as a package) I also want to address some negative comments on somehow the keyboard turning inward and being forced to feel like you have to buy the tent attachments. I didnt have this experience and my keyboard was perfectly flat, I honestly dont feel the need to buy the attachments but might at a later date to see if there is a difference and/or improvement in ergonomics.

Ive done a lot of research to find an ergonomic setup that fits my lifestyle. I do a lot of typing and gaming on my computer, and I needed a keyboard that could transition from both seamlessly. I was using a cheap mechanical keyboard before that left my hands useless. I love mechanical keyboards and wanted to find an ergonomic version that also had a backlight. The Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB keyboard was my answer, but it might not be yours. The split design allows for more natural hand placement, ideally relieving unnecessary strain from your hands and wrists. I have wide shoulders, and the split design allows for a more ideal placement that better fits my frame. As far as mechanical keyboards go, the Edge is on the quieter side. I did opt for the quieter brown switches because I wanted softer key presses, but you can get one with the louder and more tactile blue switches if that fits your style better. The brown switches arent completely quiet, and you do get some sound, but it isnt as loud as some of the cheaper mechanical keyboards out there. This keyboard comes with nine programable macro keys that can be easily adjusted on the keyboard or through the official software. You can save two different profiles, which is nice if you share a computer with someone else or if you need nine extra macro keys. I dont have much use for the macros except for media keys at the moment, but setting them up was very simple. The RGB profile can also be adjusted easily through the software. Any changes you make to this keyboard whether it be macros, profiles, or RGB is saved to the keyboard directly. If you switch to a different computer, all your profiles and macros transfer with the keyboard. Its nice to not have to have another account to access your preferences or lose them if your computer wipes. I love this keyboard and have been daily driving it for nearly three years without any issues. My only complaint with this keyboard is that it doesnt come with the lift kit. Kineses offers a separate kit which isnt necessary, but I do recommend it getting one. I used the keyboard without the kit for about a week before giving in and buying one. There was nothing wrong with the flat setup of the keyboard, but I use my computer too much and needed the additional ergonomics. The lift kit offers a more natural position for your hands, and I honestly cant go back to using anything else. The keycaps are nice. They are very soft to the touch, but you can customize your keyboard with third-party caps if they fit MX switches. Be mindful of the measurements. You might have trouble finding spacebars that fit this board. If you have a mac, Kinesis offers a separate kit to change your command keys. Unfortunately, the kit is an additional $28, and you have to install it yourself. The installation is very easy, even if you have no prior experience. The Freestyle Edge is an adequate keyboard for gaming. The keys are responsive and easy to press, but the function keys are a bit out of reach for me. I often had to stretch to hit these keys, and my performance suffered. Games where I needed to press these keys more often would also tire my hands out more quickly. This is possibly a personal problem for my short stubby fingers, but it is something to keep in mind. Games that dont require the function keys are fine. I could play for a lot longer before feeling any discomfort. I still recommend taking regular breaks and doing stretches keyboard this wont fix the issues completely. For people who play and work a healthy amount, the Freestyle Edge is a fantastic solution. So is it worth it? Honestly, this keyboard is a bit pricey for what you get. I bought it because I liked the style and the RGB and didnt mind the tax for both options. But if you are on a budget and only need the ergonomics, there are better options. The Kenisis Freestyle Edge has made a huge difference in my setup, and I do not regret my purchase. I understand that this keyboard isnt for everyone, but for those interested, you can buy it on Amazon.

Ive been a satisfied owner of the previous (original?) Freestyle Edge. I bought the new RGB Freestyle Edge for a second computer. Its basically the same keyboard except for two things. First, this one has programmable RGB. I didnt think I would care for RGB, but its grown on me. Second, the Fn keys have been shifted to the right in order to accommodate a physical Esc key. The Scrlk key has been removed and is bound to the Del key as a secondary action. This makes it a tad difficult to go back and forth between the two keyboards. I basically have to look down when using a Fn key. As for Esc, I reprogrammed the big << key to function as Esc in order to mimic the old keyboard. I really like the flexibility to configure the keyboard. You can edit a text file that is stored on the keyboard. It is accessed by pressing a combination of keys. This will make the keyboard appear as a mountable drive on the computer. You then open the folder and edit the file with any text editor. This works on Windows and Mac. I havent tried Linux. You can also reprogram keys directly on the keyboard using the Remap button. As for the keys, I have weak fingers, so I like low force, quiet keys so I went with the Cherry Red.

I bought this keyboard in desperation after I started experiencing severe pain in my wrists and fingers from constantly typing on regular keyboards or my laptop keyboard. Im a big guy (6 ft 4) with monster hands, so the idea of a split keyboard to keep my arms in a more natural position was extremely appealing. I was wary of spending so much, but decided to take the risk. Took a few days to get used to the keyboard being split in half, but my wrist pain has pretty much vanished within 2 weeks. I cant possibly recommend this product enough, this plus an ergonomic sideways mouse has made work and just general computer use significantly less painful. The programmable displays are gorgeous, the Cherry MX Red keys respond perfectly, and the interface for custom mapping of the keys is easy and intuitive to use. 5/5 for functionality, 5/5 for ergonomic use, my one and only complaint is that the tenting kit (which allow you to angle up the keyboard) is an absolute necessity to keep your wrists in proper position, and at the price tag this keyboard is at should be standard. The fact you have to pay extra for an essential component for the keyboards intended use (ergonomic typing) is a bit outrageous.

The keyboard is as advertised. Although I cant give it a higher rating due to a few issues: - The cord connecting the 2 splits are fixed and short for someone with wide shoulders like me, Ive seen other offerings that has different forms of connection between the splits which you can replace as you see fit. - The Esc key sits right next to the F1 key and makes me sometimes accidently press the wrong Fn key. Could use some spacing. - Palm rests are soft but the material feels a bit cheap. - No lighting on the 4 small buttons on the very top of the right side.

I am a remote worker and type a lot. A LOT, loads of reports, facilitation, notes, diagrams.... I really hated this keyboard initially, but after three days, I got more used to it. I began typing faster and even saw ways I can utilize the macros to optimize to daily flow. BUT, the keys are loud! I cannot be off mic during calls, which not feasible for the facilitator of a meeting or even a key participant...so sending it back. I did a lot a research and this makes sense...I would say for productivity A, just get BROWN....bluh bluh...look it up! Just consider typing noise, if it is an issue...this is not the best option. I type loud, I guess and this made me sound profoundly louder.

Love this keyboard! I use it for software development everyday. Love programmable keys. Love that my hands and arms can be shoulder width apart, ending all sorts of shoulder and neck tension. I did purchase the lift kit, which helps wrist tension. Easy to type on, smooth feel, even with the more tacticle keys.