When it comes to typing, ergonomics plays a major role. A good ergonomic setup helps you prevent back, shoulder, joint, and other pains associated with bad ergonomics. Therefore nowadays, computer users are more concerned about the ergonomics of the peripherals they use on a regular basis.
A keyboard is one of the most essential input devices for a computer that we use for most of our processing. Every day, many of us spend a considerable amount of time typing. A bad keyboard can cause wrist pain and fatigue. The physical and mental effects of typing on a non-ergonomic keyboard can last for hours, days, or years.
That is why it is very important to find the right ergonomic keyboard that feels comfortable to type on. However, a question that most computer users ask is – are flat keyboards more ergonomic than raised keyboards? If you are also wondering the same thing, then you are in the right place.
The short answer to the question is, if you type on a flat keyboard then you are less likely to get injured since typing on a raised keyboard puts more strain on your wrist joints. You can type for longer hours without feeling any pain in your wrists.
In order to give you a more detailed answer, in this article, I am going to compare different factors to find out whether flat keyboards are more ergonomic or not. So, without wasting any time, let’s get started.
A flat keyboard is a keyboard that boasts a shorter body and low-profile switches than a traditional keyboard. These keyboards are often referred to as chiclet keyboards. The Logitech MX Keys keyboard is an ideal example of a flat keyboard.
These keyboards are specially designed for ease of usage. Due to their sleek design and structure, flat keyboards are more lightweight and portable than traditional keyboards out there. As a result, frequent travelers can easily carry these keyboards in their backpacks.
Also, there is a growing trend among businesses to use flat keyboards. These keyboards are often used for computer set up in offices and even in personal workspaces because of their professional appearance. Flat keyboards are ideal for those who prefer a simple-looking setup.
The best thing about flat keyboards is that they keep your wrists in a neutral position, so you don’t feel any pain even after long working hours. You feel more comfortable while typing and get an enhanced working experience.
However, if you are planning to perform more intensive tasks like gaming, a flat keyboard is not the best option for you. But alternatively, you can use a low-profile mechanical keyboard with folded kickstands.
PROS
- Lightweight and portable
- Comfortable design
- Professional look
- Travel-friendly
CONS
- Less durability
What are raised keyboards?
Raised keyboards are the type of keyboards that have kickstands so that you can angle the keyboard in a certain way based on your preferences. Many people feel more comfortable using a keyboard with their feet up. All the things used in these keyboards including the frame and the keycaps are angled.
Read: Best Gaming Keyboards for Small Hands
In terms of design, raised keyboards are a bit different from flat keyboards. Most raised keyboards out there feature a thicker frame that has an overall beefier feel. In spite of their stylish look, their larger frames make them less preferable for businesses and official uses.
Due to the thicker frame and heavier weight of raised keyboards, they are not so travel-friendly. These keyboards are not always convenient to carry. However, in terms of aesthetics, these keyboards are more suited to personal use and gaming.
The best thing is, there is a wide variety of raised keyboards available out there for a range of prices, from cheap keyboards to more expensive keyboards. In fact, you can say that most of the keyboards available on the market are raised keyboards. We have also reviewed some raised gaming keyboards on our website.
PROS
- High-profile keycaps
- So many options out there
- Durable build quality
- Suitable for a wide range of usage
CONS
- Heavy and less portable
are flat keyboards more ergonomic?
Yes, it is true that flat keyboards are more ergonomic than raised keyboards. Here I am going to mention a few factors that make flat keyboards more ergonomic than traditional raised keyboards.
1. Natural Wrist Position
The first thing that makes flat keyboards more ergonomic is that these keyboards promote natural wrist position. With flat keyboards, you don’t have to bend your wrists while typing. As a result, it doesn’t put any strain on your wrist joints and you don’t feel any pain in your wrists even after long working sessions.
The keycaps of flat keyboards are low-profile, which makes it easier for your wrists to stay natural while typing. On the other hand, the traditional raised keyboards have the disadvantage of being too stressful on your wrists. Whenever you place the keyboard at an angle, your wrists are no longer neutral. This additional stress you put on your wrists can lead to carpal tunnel or tennis elbow.
Thus, flat keyboards make your typing more comfortable and reduce the chance of injury. If you are someone who spends of the time working or playing games on the computer then you should definitely be concerned about this factor.
2. Better comfortability
Ergonomic is in direct relation with comfort. The more ergonomic the peripherals you are using, the more comfortable you will be while working or playing games. As a result, you will be more productive and efficient.
Read: Best Ergonomic Keyboards for Large Hands
There is no doubt that flat keyboards are more comfortable than raised keyboards when it comes to comfort, allowing you to work for longer hours without experiencing any pain or fatigue. Your shoulders, wrist, and forearms stay in a natural position while typing on a flat keyboard.
On the other side, when using a raised keyboard, you have to bend your wrists in an unnatural position. As a result, you feel tired and uncomfortable more quickly with these raised keyboards, which affects your productivity and causes long-term injuries.
3. Lower Actuation Force
Actuation force is another crucial factor that affects the performance of a keyboard. It is the amount of pressure required to press down and hit the actuation point of a key.
When the actuation force is high, you must apply greater pressure to register a keypress. One of the downsides of these switches is that they can wear your fingers and hands after a while. You may feel pain in your fingers after longer working sessions.
Read: Are Mechanical Keyboards Better for Your Hands?
However, we have already mentioned above that flat keyboards feature a thinner design and come equipped with low-profile keycaps that require a lower actuation force to register any keypress. You can react faster to situations and work for long hours without feeling any pain in your fingers.
4. Overall Design
Based on all the facts and statistics, we can say that flat keyboards are clearly superior to raised keyboards in terms of the overall design. These keyboards are designed ergonomically so that you get a comfortable typing experience.
Compared to raised thicker keyboards, flat keyboards are more lightweight and portable. You can carry them anywhere without facing any issues. Also, the keycaps used in these keyboards are slim, so you can move your fingers quickly between the keys.
Best ergonomic Flat keyboards:
Do Ergonomic Keyboards Really make a difference?
Do ergonomic keyboards work? Do ergonomic keyboards really make a difference? Surely, these questions must have crossed your mind when you were considering switching to an ergonomic keyboard. And unfortunately, the question of whether ergonomic keyboards are worth the switch is still being debated.
Read: Worst Keyboards Of 2022
The short answer to this question is, yes, ergonomic keyboards play a big role when it comes to typing, especially if you are one of those who spend most of your time typing. Ergonomic keyboards improve the typing angle, wrist and forearm positioning, so you don’t feel in your body even after long working sessions. Here I am mentioning a few benefits of using ergonomic keyboards.
- Better Body Posture: The first thing that makes ergonomic keyboards different from traditional keyboards is that these keyboards promote better body posture, reducing muscle strain. The moment you place your hands on an ergonomic keyboard, a sense of relaxation will sweep you.
- Natural Wrist Position: With ergonomic keyboards, you don’t have to bend your wrists at an unnatural angle while typing. It helps improve your ergonomic position and increase comfort.
- Increase Typing Speed: Your typing speed is likely to increase significantly as your wrists and arms are suited to a more natural typing position. The more you use an ergonomic keyboard, the more you will get accustomed to the key placements.
when should you use a raised keyboard?
So, now you know that flat keyboards definitely have an edge over raised keyboards when it comes to ergonomics. However, there are some situations when many people find it easier while using a keyboard with their feet up.
For instance, people who don’t know how to type are always instructed to memorize where the keys are in order to develop muscle memory. But, newbies might find it difficult to type on a flat keyboard. Because, with a flat keyboard, it is harder to see the keys and our fingers as we press them.
Learn: Why Gamers Tilt Their Keyboard While Gaming?
If you are in a situation such as this, a raised keyboard can prove useful. This is because a slanted keyboard makes it much easier for you to see the keys while typing. So, if you never learned to type without looking at your hands then you should keep using a raised keyboard.
Conclusion
Even though flat keyboards might not appear to be durable or stylish, they are much more ergonomic than raised keyboards. These keyboards promote better body posture and enhance your typing experience.
However, For those of you who don’t know how to type on a keyboard, it’s best to use a raised keyboard. Because flat keyboards make it hard to see the keys while typing.
Hopefully, you learned a lot from this article. Thanks for being with us 🙂
