The Best Keyboards and Mice for Your Home Office in 2020

The Covid 19 pandemic is going to stay for quite a long time, leaving us stuck at home. Experts are predicting that this crisis has severely affected the way we work and it will continue to do so even after it is over. Twitter has already allowed most of its employees to work from home forever. More tech giants are going to follow this soon. They have started investing in remote working tools, which indicates that many of us will never be returning to the old way of working. 

Wondering what it has to do with keyboards and mice?

Well, because it’s time to start investing in good quality home office equipment such as chairs, desks, monitors, and even keyboards and mice. Well-built, ergonomically designed keyboards and mice can help you work faster without straining your fingers and wrists. The sleeker, thinner, and backlit keyboards can help you work in a constraint space. They also add aesthetic value to your home office and keep you feeling motivated. 

There are endless varieties to choose from. But, we have picked up the below-mentioned top keyboards and mice because we believe they serve their purpose pretty well and deserve to be a part of your home office. 

Best half keyboard for your home office

SADES One-Handed RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard 

This half keyboard is great for casual as well as pro gamers. Its RGB lighting and the crispy mechanical sound help add aesthetic appeal to your gaming setup. Being an anti-ghosting keyboard it will be able to bear a good amount of rough use. 

Features: 

  • It has all the necessary keys for gaming. 
  • The black switches give a mechanical sound. They work much faster than the conventional keyboards with no sense of lag. They have been tested for 60 million times keystroke, 60+/-20 grams keystroke force, and 2.0+/-0.6mm keystroke travel. 
  • You don’t need to install any software. It is ready to use and compatible with almost all gaming platforms and applications. 
  • The palm rest area is great for people who need to use keyboards for a long time and often suffer from strain and pain. 

What we like about it:

  • The backlit keys have a dramatic look. Not many keyboards provide RGB lighting at such an inexpensive price. 
  • Being an ergonomically designed keyboard, it helps keep your wrist and palm comfortable, even when used for long hours. 
  • This SADES gaming half keyboard has grips at the bottom which helps keep it secured while you are using it roughly during your game.

Things that can be improved: 

  • The wrist support pad is not removable
  • A few people stated that if you don’t like the RGB lighting, you need to turn it off manually every time you use the keyboard. There is no way you can set it to solid color by default. This isn’t a big issue though, considering the RGB lighting makes it blend well with your gaming setup. 

Here is what a buyer has to say about the RGB lighting:

“This thing has enough keys to get by on all the games I have tried. I like being able to plug it in and play without having to learn a whole bunch of keys for every game.

Only downside for me is I am not a huge RGB fan. Have to cycle through the options to turn it off after I restart my machine. Small gripe for what you get for the money here.

Also I got the black switches that do make some noise but not a crazy amount like a clicky switch.”

Our Rating: 4.8

Our Review:

The only issue we could figure out is to let the people set their color options to default. Other than that it is a great gaming accessory for your home office. Not many half keyboards in this price range are truly anti-ghosting. We reviewed almost all the reviews and none of the buyers have stated anything negative about lagging. RGB and wrist pads are ignorable issues. They do not affect your game. 

Best ergonomic keyboard for your home office 

Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 for Business

Did you know using keyboards for hours can cause carpal tunnel syndrome? People who are into a job that requires excessive typing often strain their wrists, which can cause pain and numbness in this area.

Thankfully, ergonomically designed keyboards such as this product by Microsoft can help you prevent this condition as well as deal with it. Many buyers have stated that it provided instant relief and improved their productivity

Here is what a buyer experienced after using it for years

I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome after 2 years of using a ‘regular’ keyboard. My doctor recommended pain medication and wrist braces, or using this keyboard. I’ve used this brand keyboard now for 8 years and just purchased my second. It was almost instant relief. Keeps me comfortable all day at my office job. I’ll never go back to a ‘regular’ keyboard.”

Features: 

  • As mentioned above, it is an ergonomically designed full keyboard with a padded wrist pad to place your hands comfortably. 
  • It has a slanting design, which naturally takes the pressure off the wrist. 
  • There are five programmable buttons at the top. 
  • There are riser bars on all four ends of the keyboard that you can use to raise or tilt it. 
  • There is a scroll wheel in the middle of the keyboard. If you are using it just for surfing you won’t need a mouse to scroll. 

What we liked about it:

  • Most modern ergonomically designed keyboards are lightweight, so they do scoot when used for typing for hours. Being slightly bulky, this one doesn’t. 
  • Although it is not a super quiet keyboard, it is still much quieter than the standard keyboards. It only provides audible feedback to help you type accurately. 
  • The keystrokes of this Microsoft keyboard are very responsive. So, if you are too much into typing, it can help make your work easier and error-free. 

Things that can be improved: 

  • The forward and back keys are very close to the wrist pad, so there are high chances that you could hit them unintentionally. 
  • A few buyers have stated that the letters wore off after a few months of use. If you are a pure typist, this won’t be a problem but if you are someone who needs to look at the keyboard more often while typing, you may have to find a solution. 

Our Rating: 4.8

Our Review: 

Overall all the keys are well-placed to help you work faster, especially if you are into typing a lot. Just the forward and back keys should have been positioned somewhere else but overall it won’t really bother you much. Since it is split into two parts, it becomes much easier to work on it but you will require a few weeks to get used to its layout. 

Kinesis Advantage2 Ergonomic Keyboard

MS natural is an amazing product for people who type a lot but if you are willing to spend more, this Kinesis advantage keyboard with patented concave keywells is even better. It is a premium quality ergonomic keyboard meant to reduce the stress caused due to excessive typing. The positioning of the keys is excellent but if you want any changes, you can remap them. 

Features: 

  • As mentioned, it has a patented concave with orthogonal layout, split keywells, and thumb keys.
  • The cushioned palm pads and integrated palm support helps keep you comfortable even when you need to use it for hours. 
  • You can use it with Windows, Mac, linux, and other operating systems 
  • This Kinesis ergonomic keyboard has 4 MB flash memory. Any settings you make to the keyboard will be saved within it.
  • The keyboard is expensive because it features Cherry mechanical switches. These switches require low force and provide a premium typing experience. 

What we like about it:

  • Remapping the keys is pretty easy. You don’t need to be an expert. You just have to be creative and map the keys as per your typing needs. 
  • The keywells are positioned in a way that the hands remain at shoulder-width. This helps keep the wrists straight and mirror the natural movement of fingers and wrists. In standard keyboards the letters are so widely spaced that you have to bend your fingers and wrists at unconventional angles. 
  • This angled keyboard helps reduce forearm pronation thereby reducing strain, stiffness, and numbing sensation. 

Here is how it helped a buyer overcome pain due to typing

“The keywells and keyspreading feels natural, there’s no strain to type anymore. Thumb clusters are a must have for me now, they are probably the thing that changed my life the most, my pinkies aren’t in pain any more and aren’t forced to stretch into unnatural positions while my thumbs just sit around. It’s fully reprogrammable, which is fantastic in that if you absolutely hate the layout it’s changeable at any moment.”

Things that can be improved: 

  • This ergonomic keyboard by Kinesis is rather bigger than conventional keyboards and takes up more desk space. 
  • If you have small hands, you will have trouble reaching some keys and would have to lift your palms up occasionally. 

Our Rating: 4.8/5

Our Verdict: 

Well, it is bulky and has a lot of unused space in the middle. It is not really aesthetically appealing. However, it does exactly what it is expected to do. It keeps your hands and wrist in a natural position, so you can type without lifting your palm or moving your fingers and wrists frequently. This helps prevent wrist strain. So, if budget is not your concern, you must give it a try. 

Best mini keyboard for your home office 

REIIE H9+ Backlit Wireless Mini Keyboard with Touchpad

If you are not too much into writing but need a mini QWERTY keyboard for your home office, this Backlit handheld remote keyboard is our top recommendation. It is compatible with not just PC and pad but also with Android TV box, Google TV box, and other similar applications. 

Features: 

  • It is a 2.4 Ghz mini wireless keyboard with an operating range of 15 meters. 
  • Suitable for home office as well as for meetings, presentations, etc where you need to operate the PC wirelessly. 
  • It has a multi-finger touchpad that can make it easy to click and scroll quickly. 
  • The LED-backlit feature helps work in low light conditions as well as adds an aesthetic look to it. 
  • Although being a mini keyboard, it still has an ergonomic shape so you can hold and use it comfortably. 

What we like about it

  • When left idle for 3 minutes, it goes into sleep mode automatically. This helps save battery. You can press any key to wake it up. 
  • It comes with li-ion rechargeable batteries. 
  • The backlit can be turned off, just in case you want to save battery. 
  • Due to its compact size, you can safely carry it in your bag while traveling. 
  • The touchpad sensitivity is very good. Many buyers have stated that it doesn’t lag. 

Here is what a happy buyer has to say about its usability: 

“It’s actually very nice with a smooth classy surface. Definitely does not look or feel cheap at all. It works as expected, very responsive. The backlit light can be turn on/off easily. The size is just right for medium hands. The trackpad works well and sensitive.”

Things that could be improved:

  • There is only one shift key, which is on the left side of the keyboard. 
  • The space bar is smaller than expected. You will take time to get habituated to its size. 

Our Rating: 4.7/5

Our Verdict: 

This REIIE H9+ Backlit Wireless Mini Keyboard is compatible with anything that can use a keyboard and has a USB port. The size is just right for people who do not need to type a lot. It can save a lot of space on your desk. Plus, a 15 meters remote working range is exceptionally great at this price. 

Best Freestyle keyboard for your home office 

Kinesis Freestyle2 Ergonomic Keyboard 

If you liked the Kinesis Advantage2 ergonomic keyboard but can’t afford it, this Kinesis freestyle2 ergonomic keyboard is a great alternative. It features an award-winning split design that lets you position its parts in a way that is comfortable and suitable for your job profile. 

Features: 

  • Being a freestyle keyboard this product allows you to separate the key modules and place them up to 20 inches apart to achieve your natural hand, wrist, and forearm positions. 
  • This keyboard offers zero degree slope and has cushioned palm support. Standard keyboards have a higher base, which strains the wrists. This one has zero degree slope and isn’t too high from the base. 
  • The number keypad has been eliminated to help bring the mouse closer and in line with your shoulders. You can buy a standalone number pad though.
  • You can join the keypads together and splay them out at any angle comfortable to you. 
  • You can buy tenting accessories to tilt the keyboards at various angles that you find comfortable. 

What we like about it

  • You can spread apart the keypads for up to 20 inches, which makes it suitable for all body types. The Kinesis Advantage2 however, restricts people to a certain width. 
  • Although it isn’t a mechanical keyboard, it is quiet and has a good response time. 
  • Unlike other ergonomic keyboards, this one has a fairly standard layout, so the learning curve is short. You don’t have to spend weeks getting adjusted to it. 

Here is a happy buyer’s feedback on how it helps alleviate wrist pain

The magic to this thing isn’t just the pop up angle you can put on either side which are more natural for your wrist that a flat keyboard, but that you can separate them physically so that each side is directly in FRONT of the arm of your chair, instead of you having to hold up the weight of your own arms for hours on end reach in toward a standard keyboard. It changes everything about your level of fatigue if you are typing more than an hour or so a day. For people who live in front of the computers this thing is essential. Couldn’t be happier.”

Things that can be improved: 

  • Media keys are missing on the keyboard. If you listen to music while at work, this could be a little annoying, as you will have to use your mouse. 
  • Some buyers have stated the price is misguiding. It includes just the keyboard. You have to buy the number pad and the tenting accessories separately. 

Our Rating: 4.6/5

Our Verdict: 

Missing numbers keys is the reason why we rated it slightly lower. They could have been strategically placed somewhere. Otherwise, this Kinesis Freestyle2 keyboard is an excellent home office product for people who are too much into typing. 

Best foldable keyboard 

Jelly Comb Foldable Keyboard with Touchpad Mouse

Do you hate to type long emails on your phone? You are not alone. Even though smartphones have predictive texts, doing long typing tasks is challenging, annoying, and time-consuming. But, foldable keyboards like this one are compatible with android devices. Being foldable, you can conveniently carry it along and pair it with your phone when needed. 

Features: 

  • It is a small foldable keyboard with touchpad mouse. (Please note that the touchpad feature is not compatible with the iOS devices.)
  • You can connect it with the device using bluetooth and with USB cable. 
  • It is lightweight and compact enough to be carried in your handbag or pouch. When folded, it measures 6.0 inches x 3.8 inches by 0.6 inches, so you can even carry it in your large pant pockets. 
  • It has a working range of up to 33 feet
  • As mentioned above, you can use it with your PC, laptop, and your phone. 

What we like about it

  • Being compact and lightweight, it doesn’t really add any weight to your bag. So, you won’t mind carrying it. 
  • It has a durable construction that is meant to bear some rough use, unlike standard keyboards that are too delicate. 
  • This Jelly Comb Foldable Keyboard has a standby mode, which helps save battery when you are away. 

Things that can be improved: 

  • It uses bluetooth 3.0 which is outdated technology and not quite secure. 
  • The keys near the area where it folds are smaller than the other keys, so you will need some time and practice to get used to it. 

Our Rating: 4.7/5

Our Verdict: 

Before buying, please set your expectations right. It is not meant for fast typing or too much typing. This foldable keyboard is just meant to be used when your PC or laptop is not accessible to do your work. It is not an alternative to a conventional ergonomic keyboard. But, it is a boon for people who travel a lot and have to be available for work no matter where they are. 

Best Laptop mouse for your home office

Seenda Wireless Mouses

This is not just a wireless mouse but also a noiseless product too! Not many of us realize how annoying that mouse clicks can be until we disturb someone who is sleeping or trying to concentrate. 

Features

  • This wireless mouse by Seenda uses 2.4GHz wireless transmission technology. It has a working range of up to 33 ft. 
  • As mentioned above, it is a noiseless mouse and doesn’t make any clicking sound. 
  • It is compatible with all Windows systems, Mac OS X 10.4, etc. But it doesn’t work with Macbook Pro and other devices with C ports. 
  • You don’t need to install any software. Just plug and use. 

What we like about it: 

  • Ditch the conventional black mice. The Seenda wireless mice are available in so many bright colors that you would love to have more than one of them. 
  • The mouse goes into an auto sleep mode after 10 minutes of inactivity. This helps save battery. 
  • It is compact and lightweight to ensure portability. 
  • The scroll wheel is well-built and has notches to prevent scrolling too fast. 

Here is what a buyer has to say about its functionality

“This mouse has super smooth scrolling AND clicking. No more clicking 5 times to get a page to load, or trying 4 times to highlight text for copying. This mouse runs smoothly and well even on my old Windows 7 PC. I love all the color choices too. I got the lavender one and it’s beautiful.”

Things that can be improved: 

  • There is no off button. So, if you leave it unattended, your pet or kids can activate it. 
  • A few buyers found it to be super sensitive and they had accidentally clicked on links they didn’t want to. You can, however, adjust its setting on your laptop to resolve this issue. 

Our Rating: 4.8/5

Our Verdict:  

Before buying, please note that quiet mice are difficult to use too since our brain is used to hear and respond to the clicking sound. Initially, you won’t realize if you did click or not but after a week of use, you will get used to it. This Seenda wireless mouse is inexpensive and pretty basic with no fancy buttons and features. Great for anyone who needs something basic and yet functional for their home office and work trips. 

Best ergonomic mouse for your home office

Anker 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse

People with wrist problems will be thankful to Anker for their innovative vertical mouse ergonomically designed to keep your palm and wrist in a comfortable handshake position which helps alleviate the pressure on wrist joints and reduces the risks of cramping. 

Features:

  • As mentioned above, it is an ergonomically designed vertical mouse. 
  • The next/ previous buttons help browse the web pages conveniently. A great tool for gamers and researchers. 
  • It offers three levels of mouse sensitivity for people with different needs. 
  • The auto sleep mode gets activated after 8 minutes of inactivity, thereby helping you save battery. 
  • Comes with an 18 months warranty. 

What we like about it:

  • Anker vertical mouse is much cheaper than other competitive products such as Evoluent, which was the first one to build a vertical mouse. 
  • It glides pretty well on almost all surfaces except glass. 
  • Anker has an amazing customer support team. 
  • Many buyers have stated that this mouse did help alleviate their wrist pain. 

Here is what a buyer has to say about its effectiveness

“Amazing mouse. I have a weak base thumb as a result of three pregnancy swells and typing for work. I had to find something other than going to therapy weekly for the pain relief. I bought this after it made sense to me that the way you hold this mouse is like the relaxed hand position. I paired this with a slanted ergonomic keyboard and the pain is a lot less. I type extensively for work and I love this mouse. In the year that I’ve owned it, I’ve had to change the battery once. The cursor movement is real smooth and the side thumb buttons are super helpful.”

Things that could be improved: 

  • The range is much less than what other wireless mice are offering. The manufacturer hasn’t mentioned the exact range but buyers have stated that the max range you can expect is 5-6 feet after which it starts lagging. 
  • It is meant for office use. Gamers may not like it. This is because when you click on it, you apply pressure on the sides, which may move the cursor too, thereby missing the targeted spot. You will take some time to get used to it but you cannot take that chance while playing. 

Our Rating: 4.7/5

Our Verdict: 

If you are into a profession that requires excessive use of mouse such as editing photographs, this Anker ergonomic vertical mouse can save you from wrist stiffness and pain. There are minor flaws but they can be ignored knowing that it is really inexpensive and yet useful. 

Best compact set for your home office 

Jelly Comb 2.4G Slim Compact Quiet Small Keyboard and Mouse Combo

If you are looking for a very basic but functional keyboard and mouse combo for your home office, we recommend this Jelly Comb set because it is affordable and yet serves its purpose well. There are no fancy features but both the keyboard and mouse are ergonomically designed to help you work comfortably for hours. 

Features: 

  • This Jelly comb combo set includes a low profile, thin keyboard which looks very similar to the laptop keyboard. 
  • You can tilt it forward to work more comfortably.
  • The keys require a very gentle touch, making it comfortable for you to type for hours. 
  • The mouse included with this set is an optical mouse featuring three different DPI levels so you can use it for working as well as gaming. 
  • It is a silent mouse, which means it doesn’t make any clicking sound.
  • Both the wireless keyboard and mouse have a 10 meter working range
  • Both of them have auto sleep mode to save battery.

What we like about it

  • The keyboard has anti-slip rubber pads to prevent it from slipping off during rough use. 
  • You don’t need to install any software. Just plug them and use them. 
  • 10 meter range is amazing. You can’t expect such good connectivity from such an inexpensive product. 
  • The keyboard is quiet too. If you leave the silicone cover on it, it is even quieter. 

Here is a happy buyer’s reaction that will help you judge it better:

“Just to disclose, this product is made from what feels to be cheap plastic. When I first unboxed it, I was rather unimpressed. I’ve been using it for about 24 hours and my opinion has changed completely. Sure, it’s made of plastic and feels really lite in the hand, but once you’re used to this layout, it makes typing a breeze. The keys are responsive and the keyboard/mouse feel really nice to use. A definite recommendation, just use it for a few hours before making a judgement.”

Things that could be improved:

  • There is no number pad on the keyboard. So, if you need to type a lot of numbers, this keyboard may not be suitable for you. 
  • The on-off button on the keyboard is at the bottom side, so you will have to flip it every time you need to switch it off or on. 

Our Rating:4.7/5

Our Verdict: 

Although it is ergonomically designed, people who need to type a lot such as transcriptionists may not like it much because it is not meant for excessive typing. Otherwise, it is an inexpensive, simple, and compact combo for people who are currently working from home due to pandemic and even otherwise. 

We hope these keyboards and mice help you work comfortably at home within a limited space and without disturbing others. If you are setting up a new home office or upgrading a few items, do check out our list of best ergonomic chairs that will support your back during long working hours. Also, if you need something to organize and store your office supplies, here are some of the top storage options for your home office

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