KINESIS mWave Ergonomic Keyboard for PC (Black) | Mechanical Switches | Bluetooth & USB | Programmable | Backlit | Windows Modifiers & Hotkeys

This keyboard is essentially a reprogrammable Microsoft Sculpt with several other quality of life features. The keyboard comes with a usb-a to usb-c cable, batteries, and magnetic legs for the keyboard if you want negative tilt like the Sculpt's magnetic stand. The palm rest is very comfortable, maybe even more than the Sculpt. The surface is much easier to clean as it's less porous, someone else described it as "sculpt feels a bit neoprene/foamy where the mwave feels kind of vinyl and plasticky". Typing on the keyboard will be slightly louder and "clacky" than a Sculpt but not enough to disturb people nearby. The layout is very similar and requires no effort to transition to if you can touch type on the Sculpt. The low profile brown switches feel smooth and tactile. I was afraid the switches would bother me since it theoretically has longer travel than the Sculpt's laptop style keys but in real use the difference is negligible and it was easy to adapt to. The Clique software is browser based (like VIA if you've used a QMK keyboard) and it's easy to use. It allows you to have momentary layer switching (hold a key to switch layers and release to return) and mod-tapping which is really convenient. You also have the option to use ZMK Studio instead if you prefer an offline solution but the UI isn't as convenient. The main downside with the softwares is you can't bind macros (sequence of multiple keypresses) to your keys unless you're willing to make your own ZMK keymap and flash it on your keyboard. That being said, I very much appreciate that I'm not limited to the Clique keymap editor and have the option to use the ZMK studio or flash my own firmware. That along with wired or dual bluetooth connectivity, persistent custom bindings, double AA instead of triple AAA for longer battery life, and the comfortable typing makes this keyboard a huge step up from the Sculpt for me.

I am coming from the Microsoft Sculpt keyboard which I've used for years. Microsoft of course has stopped making such consumer hardware and sold the patents to Incase. I think Incase has produced a few units, but I haven't been able to get any. So I found this keyboard on a forum. So far it is great! I used the Bluetooth connectivity to my PC for a few days which worked great. I did start getting repeating keys and etc, but I believe that was my PC's fault, not the keyboard, and it needed a reboot. Since then I switched to wired using the provided (and LONG) USB A/C cable. (The keyboard has the USB-C connector). The Microsoft Sculpt was more of a laptop-type experience with the keys. I liked it ok and could type quickly on it. This keyboard is mechanical and much more "clacky." I don't hate that. The key travel is much more substantial and the spacing is subtly different. After about 3 days, I am nearly back up to full speed typing on it - expect a bit of a learning curve and a few bad keystrokes until your brain remaps your fingers for it, but stick with it. Key presses take a bit more effort but that is fine. I feel like the contour of the key layout and keyboard in general (shape of the curve) is better and more ergonomic. I am NOT a fan of the placement of the Home/End/Insert/Delete keys. I'm sure I will get used to it -- but KINESIS was clearly going for a replacement for the Sculpt and it seems an odd design choice to put these keys in such radically different places. Anyway, I would buy again. I am pleased with the price of this keyboard and believe it is certainly worth the same cost as the Sculpt. I'm glad I found it!

I've been using the Microsoft ergonomic keyboard for over a decade. I love the shape of it. However, I've never been a fun of the number pad on the right side since I have to extend my right hand to use the mouse. I've also been wanting to use a mechanical keyboard, but I've never found a mechanical keyboard that was ergnomic like the MS ergo keyboard... Until now. This keyboard is literally everything I wanted. Mechanical keys, the same ergo shape of the MS ergo keyboard, and no number pad. It's absolutely incredible. The click noise isn't too loud either, so I don't fee like I'll get tired of the sound throughout the day. Highly recommend this keyboard.

The Bluetooth didn’t work. It kept dropping and became unusable. I personally don’t feel it’s more comfortable than regularly, full-size keyboard. I returned it and got a split keyboard instead.

First - for context, I've used a Microsoft ergo keyboard, yes the old 4000 mothership... for decades now. Since like 1951 it feels like. OK, not that long, history buffs, but I've used it for enough years… I've bought so many that I had them stashed ready to use, and my final one finally started giving out in early 2025. What on earth was I to do. So if you haven't fallen deeply, DEEPLY in love with a keyboard, this review may not help you, be aware. No problem, I think to myself, modern keyboards must be better, right? Turns out I'm an addict… Hard to find an adequate replacement. How hard could it be to make the perfect keyboard for us, the club of MS 4000 devotees? Alas... apparently very difficult. tl:dr The Kinesis keyboard has very good feel, but I can't get used to it. I can't afford the time to adjust, but if you're just starting your addiction journey, perhaps this is a great keyboard for you to learn to love. More detail for you MS 4000 lovers: Well built, high quality, overall it's a great keyboard. But if you're looking for 120 WPM+ performance, and letting your fingers keep up with your brain, and if you're like me, here's what you may encounter: For my big hands, sadly, I can't get into the smaller form factor. Even after a few weeks of practice, I find myself missing ctrl or alt key combos (and when moving very fast that's extremely costly to productivity). The key spacing is tight, and I like it. Going back to my still functional Microsoft 4000, I find that I really like the key spacing for most of the keys on the Kinesis. I just wish it had a massive right ctrl, shift, enter, backspace. I think that's what did me in, those keys being smaller and tightly packed, it just would take me too many weeks/months to get my speed back. If you're early career, I think this Kinesis board is amazing. If you're better at video games than me, and you can handle very precise thumb + finger combos to get ctrl + end or similar key strokes down, then you will love this Kinesis board, I bet. I want to love it. It's a really nice device. It's now a very expensive backup keyboard, or maybe my kids will start to love it. I hope you'll love it! Or, go checkout my current reco for MS 4000 lovers (a much lower-quality keyboard than this Kinesis, but it fits my needs better): SurnQiee Ergonomic Keyboard

Absolutely glorious. I've gone through three Microsoft Sculpts over the years; destroyed the WASD keys on those. And I've been hammering the mWave with Diablo 4, and it's far superior to the Sculpt. Mechanical FTW. I like how the home row keys are contoured. The wrist pad is a real upgrade. No problems with bluetooth. It took some getting used to the F1 row being full size keys, but other than that, it's basically the same experience as the Sculpt while being better than the Sculpt. Excellent product. Thank you for making this.

Excellent keyboard - loved the shape, the comfort of the wrist pad. Ultimately though, it has mechanical keys and therefore types with a "thonk" sound that my husband didn't care for (we both work from home). Sadly had to return.

So far so good, I waited 6 months for this keyboard....hmm or maybe it's more like I waited 6yrs for a replacement for my Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard. I still like the feel and keys of the Comfort Curve keyboard better, it was quieter, had a dedicated number pad, and a better mechanical feel than this keyboard but the padded area wore off pretty badly, it started leaving pieces of plastic all over my hands and desk. This keyboard checked all of the boxes for me, mechanical keys (although a bit loud for my taste), lit (this was very important to me for my next keyboard because I usually work late into the night and typing things like passwords is difficult in the dark), split layout (faster typing and more comfortable), and wired (I hate wireless anything, just one more thing to keep charged). I do wish it was more full sized like the comfort curve keyboard, and it would be nice if the keyboard light automatically turned off after xx number of minutes because I feel like it will burn out one day if it is lit 24/7, it also flaked out a few times to where I had to unplug it and plug it back in but that could be my USB switchbox (however my previous keyboard never had a problem).

Spacebar did not work properly from the first day. $220 for a keyboard and it does not work. Seller is trying to send me to the manufacturer for the return, very poor product and process

I couldn't get on with this keyboard, the keys are simply too loud and they have very long travel, to the point I would catch other keys when moving across the keyboard. That and the US only layout, which I thought wouldn't be an issue, has just made me go back to my old Microsoft 4000 ergo keyboard. It's built solidly by the keys have an uncomfortable feel about them. Not for me.

Its something else it deserves every penny

Very close to a modern MS Ergo, but too many basic sacrifices really puts a damper on an otherwise pretty good keyboard. The keys feel decent, the sound isn't very satisfying and I'd say sounds more like membrane than mechanical. I expected way more for this price point - it feels okay at best. Connectivity and battery life have been great. The palm rest is comfortable and has held up very well over several months. The entire unit seems quite durable despite the plastic being moderately lightweight. I moved a few keys around and programming the keyboard had some quirks to get past, but worked well enough. However there are some significant layout issues: - The right shift key has been shortened so I'm always pressing the up arrow accidentally - The scrunched arrows are hard to locate - The F-keys splitting at F6 is awkward since the frequently used F4 and F5 are no longer edge keys - The Fn/modifier layers are very awkward to use These layout issues are very hard to get used to and I find myself frustrated with the keyboard if I'm not 100% zoned in. I would have preferred a more standard layout with separate home cluster and arrows, even if the KB was slightly bigger. Cluttering that bottom-right corner is the biggest frustration. I can even work with some laptops that have proper separation of smaller arrow keys. IMO it's too expensive and I probably wouldn't buy it again, I could possibly recommend it at 40% off MSRP.