You see it all the time. A premium MacBook Pro or Air, paired with the standard Apple Magic Keyboard. Most Mac users just stick with the default keyboard out of habit, or because they think it's the only option that works well with macOS. But let's be honest. For a brand that describes itself as a premium brand with the use of premium materials, their keyboards are pretty 'shitty'. We think your Mac deserves a much better typing experience.

High price, low quality

If you look for a Magic Keyboard in stores right now, you will pay €119 for the standard version. If you want the version with Touch ID, you are looking at €169, and if you want a num pad, you pay a whopping €199.

For that amount of money, you get a very light piece of plastic. The keys have barely any travel, which does not feel premium at all. On top of that, it sounds very hollow and thin.

Build quality

If you work on a Mac all day, your keyboard is the tool you use the most. It shouldn't feel like an afterthought.

Keyboards like the Keychron Q1 Max or the Q5 Max are on the completely opposite end of this. Instead of cheap plastic, they use a solid CNC-machined aluminum case. It's heavy and sits firmly on your desk, while the deep, muted sounds of the mechanical switches make typing a thousand times nicer.

Don't want to pay over €200 for a keyboard? Try something like a V1 Max. It has a plastic housing, but it's still way more solid than the Magic Keyboard, and actually has the same premium switches as a Q1 or Q5 Max. On top of that, it actually costs less than a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.

What about the Mac layout?

A lot of Mac users think they will lose the familiar media keys and shortcuts when switching to a different keyboard. This used to be a real issue a few years ago, but not anymore.

Modern mechanical keyboards from Keychron are built with Mac users in mind. They have a physical switch on the back, which lets you switch to Mac. The keyboards also come with the Command and Option keycaps for Mac, to make it complete. Everything works just right straight out of the box, with zero software required. And if you do want to create special shortcuts or macros, it's perfectly possible through QMK/VIA software.

Final thoughts

It is a shame to spend a small fortune on a high-end Mac setup and settle for a keyboard that feels cheap. If you're prepared to pay over €150 on a keyboard, you might as well get one that's actually premium.