As a freelance writer with no set schedule, I am always typing away on laptops and sometimes even smaller digital devices (I once wrote an entire article on a smartphone). But while portable keyboards have gotten much better in recent years, they’re ultimately no match for the feeling of typing on a proper mechanical keyboard.
I learned this lesson the hard way when I began experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome after an extended writing session on a budget Chinese laptop in March. Since then, I’ve made more of an effort to split my time between working out of coffee shops and at home on my proper desktop set-up. I personally have been using the Das 4 Professional keyboard, probably the gold standard in the field. But there are a lot of alternatives from Asian brands that come in all shapes and sizes.
With the help of my keyboard enthusiast friend, I was able to test five mechanical keyboards from Asian brands over the past few weeks. Here are my three favorites.
Penna
Manufactured in South Korea, Penna’s retro bluetooth keyboard wins the most stylish look hands down. Clearly inspired by the classic typewriter, its circular keys use the Cherry Key Switch mechanism, which I found to offer a lot of travel and make a very satisfying click with each press.
I particularly love that Penna gave modern spins to two parts of the traditional typewriter: the first is return lever, which in old typewriters used to return the paper back to the left margin. Now, it’s been re-imagined as a “macro bar,” which Penna uses to record key presses so you don’t have to keep copy and pasting for repetitive work. I found the bar a bit too loose and wobbly to pull off the task reliably, however. The other re-imagined typewriter part is the paper slot, which is now a pedestal of sorts, which helps to prop up a mobile device. Thanks to that pedestal, I could use this at a coffee shop with my smartphone or iPad — though I’d probably get a lot of weird looks.
On typingtest.com’s Aesop’s Fables test, I was able to type at 104 words-per-minute, which is not far off from my peak speed of 110-words per minute.
There are some shortcomings with the Penna. The company made it compatible with both PC and Macs, but the keyboard is only available in a Windows layout. There’s also no option for cable connectivity, so Bluetooth is your only option.
In a baffling decision, the keyboard uses AA batteries instead of rechargeable lithium-ion battery like, you know, every other gadget on earth. Maybe Penna is taking this retro thing a bit too far.
The Penna retails for around $139 depending on region.
Azio MK Mac
Coming from Taipei, the Azio MK Mac keyboard is, as the name implies, built exclusively for Macs. Unlike the Penna, the Azio allows for wired or Bluetooth connectivity, has all the Mac function keys plus number keys as well.
The highlight for me was the scroll wheel in the upper right corner, which allows me to adjust volume or scroll up and down on webpages.
This aluminum-plated keyboard feels premium yet is noticeably lighter than the Penna, but the Kaih Brown switches Azio went with are, in my opinion, inferior to the Cherry Key switches. One of the biggest reasons for using mechanical keyboards is because they offer very responsive tactile feedback but I found the this unit’s keys to be a bit mushy. Bluetooth connection also took much longer to set up than other devices, as it had trouble pairing with my MacBook or iPad Pro.
The Azio MK Mac is priced at $99 and is available on Amazon and other retailers.
Lofree Four Seasons
The Shenzhen brand’s Four Seasons keyboard is, like the Penna, also inspired by the classic typewriter, which explains the circular keys. It’s by far the most portable and light of the three keyboards here. It’s also more versatile than the Penna and Azio because it supports both Macs and Windows and can be used wirelessly or wired.
I found the shift and enter keys’ odd shape take getting some used to for a touch typer, but the Gateron Blue switches underneath provides a very satisfying click and travel. On typingtest.com, I scored 108-words-per-minute, which ended up being the highest score I got out of the bunch.
Some might take issue with the keyboard lacking a number pad, but I’d rather make the trade-off for more portability and more space on my desk.
The Lofree sells for $149 on its official website and in select stores in China.
Overall, you can’t really go wrong with any of these three keyboards. If you need Page Up/Down keys, then the Azio is the only one that offers the set, but I wish the keys had better tactile feedback. I’m nitpicking, of course, since any of these keyboards offer a more ergonomic and comfortable typing experience than using, say, my iPad Pro Smart Keyboard. Personally, I like the retro vibe of the Penna and Lofree the best, though I prefer the latter’s more minimalist and portable approach.
