It’s been about five weeks since I opened the Kinesis Advantage360 Ergo Keyboard to review for the site, and I have to say it’s been one of the more unique experiences I’ve ever had reviewing a piece of tech. I’ve always been fascinated by ergonomic keyboards, purely because they look unmanageable. Yet, I know many who swear by them, specifically the tangible physical benefits of using them.
I was more intrigued when I tried one at PAX West earlier this year, so when Kinesis reached out to see if we wanted to take their split design ergo keyboard for a spin, I jumped at the opportunity. Yet, I knew it would be a daunting ask - I’d effectively be spending the next few weeks re-teaching myself how to type, something I’ve been doing effectively my whole life. Would that trial and error be worth the benefits of using an ergonomic keyboard, and does it make a difference in how my wrists are feeling towards the end of the day? Let’s dive in.
Specifications:
- Mechanical Key Switches (Gateron Brown KS-9)
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- Peak Force: 55 grams
- Activation Force: 45 grams
- Travel Distance: 4.1 mm
- Dye-sublimated PBT keycaps
- Dimensions & warranty
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- Width (with included 10″ linking cable):
- Min Separation: 15.25 inches; Max Separation: 21.25 inches
- Distance between F & J Keys: Min: 7.25 inches; Max: 13.25 inches
- Width of each module: 7.5 inches
- Depth (front-to-back): 8 inches
- Height: Min 2.75 inches / Max 4 inches
- Weight: 3 lbs 4 oz
- USB A-C Main Cable: Braided, 6 feet
- USB C-C Link Cable: Braided, 10 inches
- Warranty: 3 year limited
- Package Contents (US Version): Keyboard, Main Cable, Link Cable, Quick Start Guide, extra keycaps including 4 Mac modifiers, keycap puller, and Bridge Connector
- Price: $449 on Kinesis website
First Thoughts
I remember the first time I saw an ergonomic keyboard being used by someone - it was in the Google Deep Mind documentary about AlphaGo. One of the programmers working on the project was seen programming on an ergo keyboard, and it struck me as odd, really. I knew people who used them, though not well and would often swap between keyboards, but this was the first time I saw one being used by a professional in a professional setting.
As we all spend way too much time sitting at a desk, in front of screens for our jobs, this can take a toll on the body. Standing desks are becoming much more affordable (I actually have two for my work and gaming rigs), yet a more ergonomic setup for the mouse and keyboard is something I never seriously considered until I saw that documentary.
It always seemed daunting, learning how to type a split keypad, effectively retraining decades of bad habits. Yet I was pretty excited when the Kinesis showed up on my doorstep.
One aspect of the Kinesis Advantage360 I like is the fact that the body itself is split into two distinct pieces, a major departure from its predecessor, the Advantage2. Splitting them apart at shoulder width has been a massive help, especially as my chair does not have 4D armrests that can be turned at an angle.
Another distinct feature of the Kinesis Advantage360 is its concave keywell, which helps to limit the amount of stretching one might normally do when typing on a flat plane. As a result, the first time I set my hands on the highlighted home keys in each keywell, everything felt rather natural.
Since each side of the keyboard is independent of the other, they can be rotated and positioned in the exact spot that puts minimal strain on the arms, hands, wrists, and shoulders.
It feels like the overall design of the Kinesis Advantage360 is meant to accommodate the whole arm, and not just help reduce strain on the hand or wrist. However, its layout is very, very intimidating on the whole.
Underneath the thumbs are some of the most used keys on the keyboard, from backspace to the spacebar. By positioning these keys here it helps to limit the strain on the weaker fingers on the hand, such as stretching a pinky out to hit the control key or hit enter frequently. Instead it’s right at the tip of the thumb, which I found a nice move as I got more used to the keyboard.
Another comfort setting are the three adjustable heights you can set the Advantage360 at, from almost flat on the desk to almost perpendicular. This tenting allows you to find the best setting for your particular setup and range of motion. Funnily enough, I also found that the difficulty was ramped up when picking the topmost tenting option, but that could be my own comfort.
The Kinesis Advantage360 is a wired keyboard which connects to the PC or Mac via a USB-C to USB-A cable. The two keywells are connected by a link cable, which isn’t terribly long but does provide some flexibility to move them apart at your convenience. It also comes with a refreshingly large number of extra keycaps to swap things around (or install MacOS-specific keys) and a keyboard bridge connector to emulate a fully solid board rather than one split apart.
Typing on the Kinesis Advantage360
The real question is how is the Kinesis Advantage360 to type on? Well, it isn’t very easy.
To start, the Gateron Brown switches feel great, providing the tactile feedback the browns are known for. They don’t feel like they are bottoming out in the keyboard chassis, but instead feel solid and easy to type on for extended periods.
Before I started to use the Advantage360, I was typically, on average, around 80-100 words per minute. I always typed fast on keyboards all throughout school and then in my professional career, and it was something I prided myself on. However, the Kinesis basically throws all that out the window, forcing the user to relearn how to type, effectively.
I took a typing test when I first hooked up the Kinesis Advantage360. 32 words per minute. It was abysmal compared to my normal speed, but actually a bit higher than my expectations. Typing haltingly on the demo unit at PAX West, I figured I’d be closer to 15 or 20 wpm. This actually filled me with optimism that I could learn quickly and use the Advantage long-term as my main work keyboard.
I will say this bluntly: the Kinesis is a terrible MMORPG gameplay keyboard, simply because of all the hotkeys you need to run if you’re not using a good MMO mouse or keypad. Kinesis does make gaming keyboards, but this ain’t it. However, it’s pretty stellar for work and typing once you’re used to it.
One aspect I had to get used to was the standard backspace placement. I’m so used to having backspace on my right hand that the biggest learning curve was training my muscle memory to use my left thumb. I also used both thumbs for the spacebar, which became an issue when backspace was now one of my thumb keys. In those early days, typing Discord messages to our editorial team or writing up articles was slow going, oftentimes because I would delete when I meant to add space and vice versa.
Image via Kinesis
Another major change is the control or command key. Typically, I would use this key with my pinky to copy, paste, select all, and more. These two are now thumb keys, and thankfully, Kinesis has the control key on each thumb. This setup is helpful when performing CTRL+I, I don’t need to use just one hand like I found myself doing at times on my normal keyboard, though this too, took a long time to get used to.
I will say the contour of the keywell definitely helps here. I don’t ever feel like I’m stretching far to reach a key, there is less strain on my wrists throughout the day, and I generally do not feel the dull numbness in my pinky I was feeling going into this review. One of the key reasons I was interested in the Kinesis Advantage360 was limiting the physical discomfort I was starting to feel when typing for long periods - a hazard of the job, you might say.
The major downside to all this is that I did effectively have to teach myself how to type all over again. The Kinesis Advantage360, more than any other keyboard I’ve used, highlights all the bad habits that I’ve built up over the years, like overusing the index finger while typing, or stretching the ring finger for keys that are easily accessible with my pinky. Indeed, as I typed that sentence, I had to be incredibly conscious about which fingers I was using to help both accuracy and speed.
Learning to type on this keyboard, I’ve had to forgo speed for accuracy, something I’m not used to. I type fast. I work in a fast-paced industry - I need to be able to keep up. Yet, in the weeks I’ve been using the Kinesis keyboard, I’ve had to be incredibly deliberate with my typing, teaching myself the new layout in a way that when I can really start to speed up, I’m not going back to fix a million typos.
That said, I have improved. Using a site our Hardware Editor Chris Coke sent me, TypingBolt.com, I was able to practice both accuracy and speed, with an indicator as to which finger I should be using for each letter. My words per minute pace has almost doubled in that time, going from 32wpm up to 59wpm. However, I do find I have to consciously think about it while I’m typing in order to maintain that speed and accuracy - something I don’t have to worry about on a standard keyboard. This is something that is probably worth revisiting in a few months time, to see if that fluency has improved with just more practice.
Endlessly Customizable
That said. If the default layout isn’t for you, you’re not locked into it in the long run. The Kinesis Advantage360 is endlessly customizable, with each key on the board able to be reprogrammable.
Using the SmartSet software, you can set up custom profiles - 9 of them to be exact - each with five layers of key customizations and macros to program to your heart's content. Don’t like the placement of some keys? Swap them in the software. Want a macro to make the normal “Control-bound” hotkeys easier to use on the Advantage360? You can do that.
The program isn’t the easiest to learn initially, though. It requires the user to set up the V-Drive to start the process, though it isn’t entirely clear from there what it means. I took me a smidge of Googling to find out, but I do wish it was more clearly explained right in the program. This acts as the memory for the keyboard, though, with all the settings and key customizations saved in the profiles onboard. This is handy if you use the keyboard in different set ups; everything comes with you.
By default, the 0 profile and base layer and unprogrammable, as if anticipating me and the screw-ups I could cause. These base layers are nice once you learn how to use them. The FN key turns the number keys into the standard F1-F12 keys, while the basic Keypad layer (triggered ny the KP button on the left keywell by default) turns the middle part of the right keywell into a number pad. Tenkeyless, this technically is, but isn’t, if you get my meaning.
You can even remap the keyboard using the onboard controls, as explained in the manual. However, I find myself sticking with the basic set up with a few macros thrown in for good measure, somewhat intimidated to go full force in setting this all up and accidentally screwing it up.
However, I’m really happy this functionality is there, if for no other reason than for those who find the standard layout too much and want to really make the Kinesis work for them. This makes it more accessible overall, instead of locking people into a keyboard layout and forcing them to learn it as the manufacturer defines it. The software is also opensource on GitHub as well, allowing for even more customization and modularity if that’s your thing.
Conclusion
In the end, after just shy of two months of using the Kinesis Advantage360 ergonomic keyboard, I’ve come away a convert. I has made me a better typist, even on a standard keyboard, as it forces proper hand and finger position to use properly, and I find myself with less wrist pain throughout the days I use it.
It is a huge learning curve, and I totally get why people might not want to tackle it, as there are other ways to improve your ergonomics while typing without going to this extreme.
The daily use has helped me for sure, and the sheer volume I type has probably helped with fluency faster than it might’ve otherwise. The build quality is also top notch - I don’t feel like the keyboard is bending or bottoming out under the pressure of each keystroke - something I felt constantly using my standard Apple Chiclet keyboard.
However, the price might put some off, and I completely understand. At $449, this is not a cheap piece of kit, making it much more expensive than even some of the best gaming keyboards out there. Given that I don’t feel like this particular keyboard is well suited for gaming either, it’s a hard sell for those who want a “one size fits all” keyboard, though Kinesis does make a gaming keyboard that might be worth a look.
As someone who types all day, most days, the Kinesis has been a spectacular addition to the equation, even if it’s been slow going at first. As I’ve built up fluency, the speed and accuracy have noticeably improved, and it’s only getting better the more I use the Advantage360. And, the added benefit of less wrist pain and discomfort has been nice.
That said, this isn’t for everyone, especially given the learning curve and price. But it’s definitely worth a look if you’ve ergonomically curious for a while. Who knows, it might turn out to be one of the best investments you make in a long while. And the 60 risk free trial Kinesis offers doesn’t hurt, either.
