When shopping for a laptop, everyone looks at specs such as the CPU, storage capacity and screen resolution. But people should probably put more thought into the keyboard, because they'll spend more time touching the keys than any other part of the laptop. With a good keyboard, you can work faster, make fewer mistakes and get killed less often in your favorite games, while a bad keyboard leaves you with sore fingers and wrists.
It's impossible to determine keyboard quality from a spec sheet, but that's one reason we test hundreds of models a year. Based on our extensive testing, we've listed the most-comfortable laptop keyboards below.
When evaluating a laptop keyboard, consider the following:
- No bottoming out: The most important thing is to have a keyboard that makes it difficult to "bottom out" or hit the base with a lot of force while typing. Bottoming out makes your fingers sore and slows you down.
- Good feedback: You want the keys to feel springy but not stiff, so they pop back up quickly and offer enough resistance to prevent you from bottoming out.
- Deep travel: The more space between the key and its base, the less likely you are to bottom out. A typical laptop has between 1.5 and 2mm, while thinner ones have less than that. However, great feedback can make up for shallower travel.
- High actuation force: The harder you have to press the keys to make them actuate, or register the press, the less likely you are to hit the base hard; 60 to 70 grams of force is typical.
14.1-inch display; Up to 1920 x 1080 screen resolution; Up to Core i7 CPU; 3.48 pounds / 3.88 pounds (6-cell battery)
Lenovo's ThinkPads are known for their excellent keyboards, but even compared to its siblings, the ThinkPad T470 stands out for its typing experience. The keys have a deep 2 millimeters of vertical travel (1.5 to 2mm is typical) and 70 grams of actuation force, which gives them really snappy feedback. The gently curved key caps also make it easy to feel your way around the letters and symbols without looking. Using the TrackPoint nub also improves the typing experience, because you can navigate while leaving your fingers on the home row. In addition to its world-class keyboard, this 14-inch notebook provides incredible battery life (with the extended battery). The T470 also has a durable chassis that's designed to survive bumps, dings, extreme temperatures and vibrations.
17-inch display up to 4K; Core i7-7700HQ CPU; GTX 1080 graphics; 10.1 pounds
From the tantalizingly vivid RGB backlighting to the firm feedback, the MSI GT75VR Titan Pro has, without question, the best keyboard we've ever tested on a gaming laptop. Throw in the extreme clickiness of the mechanical switches — they feel and sound like Cherry Blue switches — and you've got a feast for three out of five of your senses. But what really cements the Titan Pro into the top spot is the raised palm rest, which makes the typing experience extremely comfortable. In addition to its industry-leading keyboard, the GT75VR Titan Pro sports a vibrant, 17-inch display; strong graphics performance; and a wide-array of ports. This GTX 1080-powered gaming rig also stays comfortably cool while you play.
11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 screen; 4GB of RAM; 2.81 pounds
This 2-in-1 Chromebook is made for kids, so we wouldn't expect it to cater to touch typists. Nevertheless, the Asus Chromebook Flip C213SA offers a superior typing experience, with strong feedback and no flex. The keys have an extremely deep 1.95mm of travel, which is more than most large notebooks have. This 11.6-inch Chromebook is practically indestructible. Even when we dropped it from 3.9 feet onto concrete, it survived with just some mild scratches. The Chromebook Flip C213SA also boasts excellent battery life.
14-inch screen; Up to 2560 x 1440 display; Up to Core i7 CPU; Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports; 2.49 pounds
A great choice for students, the lightweight Envy 13t offers really strong tactile feedback with keys that snap back as quickly as you can press them down. Though the keys have a modest 1.2mm of travel, their responsiveness kept us from bottoming out and allowed us to get one of our highest typing rates. After you're done enjoying its key feel, you'll appreciate the Envy 13t's gorgeous aluminum chassis, sharp display and powerful Intel 8th Gen Core processor. This 2.93-pound system also has great battery life.
14-inch screen; Up to 2560 x 1440 display; Up to Core i7 CPU; Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports; 2.49 pounds
While its keys don't have quite as much travel as the T470's, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and its 1.5mm-deep keyboard offer an excellent typing experience, thanks to some really strong tactile feedback. A soft-touch deck gently cradles your wrists for a better ergonomic experience and less chance of getting an RSI. An awesome keyboard is just one part of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon's appeal. This 14-inch laptop weighs just 2.49 pounds and measures only 0.6 inches thick. Still, it finds room for a colorful, full-HD display; a speedy SSD; and a high-endurance battery. It also sports a wide selection of ports, including dual Thunderbolt 3 connections, standard USB Type-A and Ethernet connectors.
17-inch up to 4K display; Up to GTX 1080 GPU; Up to Core i7-7820HK CPU; 9.6 pounds
Alienware is old hat when it comes to over-the-top customizable light shows, especially when it comes to keyboards. But once you get past the flashy light effects on the Alienware 17, you can still enjoy the springy joy of the keys. Unlike other laptops, which mostly use chiclet-style keyboards, Alienware keeps things traditional, with no space between the keys. The scissor switches produce nice, snappy feedback that, when coupled with the soft-touch palm rest, makes for a great typing experience.
