Part of being a tech reviewer is always trying out the latest gadgets, and that's why nothing ever stays on my desk for too long. The best keyboards fall into that category, too — I usually test out each one for a few weeks and move onto the next. However, that means when something sticks around as part of my workflow, you know it's outstanding. I've tested multiple flagship phones, desktop PCs, and laptops over the last few months, but it's one ergonomic keyboard that impressed me the most.

The Logitech Wave Keys for Mac ended up being a comfortable, functional, and polished keyboard that made me want to sit at my desk and start typing. It's called the "wave" because the keys literally look like a wave, with the keys sloping upward in the middle for enhanced ergonomics. The built-in wrist cushion helps, too. Put it all together, and I think the Wave Keys for Mac might represent my keyboard endgame. I never thought I'd ditch either my low-profile or top-tier mechanical keyboards for an oddly-shaped ergonomic alternative, and yet here we are. It has been a life-changer for productivity and comfort, and you might want to consider one.

First, I was a mechanical keyboard convert

When I finally gave these big and bulky keyboards a try, I thought I'd reached the end

Most of us type on a keyboard for some amount of time each day, and others — like myself — spend almost their entire day typing. How does the average consumer go from typing on a laptop keyboard to using an ergonomic keyboard? The jump feels massive, I know, but it could be worth taking. I spent most of my life scoffing at mechanical and ergonomic keyboards before I finally gave in and tried them. Starting with low-profile mechanical keyboards, I was able to slowly open up my palate for different form factors until I ended up with an ergonomic keyboard I loved on my desk.

I started with the Lofree Flow, a mechanical keyboard that isn't that much bigger than a regular board. Now that the Lofree Edge exists, I'd recommend starting with that model instead if you've never tried a mechanical or ergonomic keyboard before — it's about the size of Apple's Magic Keyboard. Both of these offerings will give you a taste of how different switches can improve the typing experience without drastically changing the form factor and amount of travel you're used to.

The Lofree Edge keyboard compared with the Apple Magic Keyboard.

Eventually, my mechanical keyboard journey took me through models like the Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard and the NuPhy Field75. By this point, I was a believer. The tactile and audial feedback that comes with mechanical keyboards makes them more comfortable and satisfying to use. However, they weren't perfect. Notably, the thicker chassis and additional travel that typically comes with mechanical keyboards can be a cause for wrist and hand pain without a solid wrist rest.

An ergonomic keyboard solved comfort issues I didn't even know about

The Logitech Wave Keys for Mac combined comfort and utility in the perfect way

Then, an opportunity to review the Logitech Wave Keys for Mac came up. This keyboard was unlike any other I've used in my life, featuring a sloping design on every axis. The main part of the keyboard layout is curved in a slight arch, and it isn't entirely flat either. The middle of the keyboard offers elevated keys that form a "wave" shape. At the bottom of the Wave Keys is a built-in cushion for your wrists. I didn't really get the point of this odd design until I started using it.

After trying it out for just a few minutes, I completely understood. The point of this keyboard is quite simple: you can comfortably reach every key in the main part of the keyboard without moving your hands. The curved and sloping layout ensures that every key is in reach of either your left or right hands when they're comfortably seated on the wrist rest. This immediately felt more comfortable and resulted in a reduction of wrist and forearm pain and soreness while typing. Pain that I didn't even know that I was suffering from.

By sticking with the Wave Keys over mechanical alternatives, there are compromises. For starters, the switches aren't as impressive or as satisfying as the mechanical ones I got used to. The keys on the Wave Keys feel kind of soft and somewhat mushy, which isn't out of the norm for a membrane keyboard. The good thing is that there's plenty of key travel, and there's still satisfaction. It doesn't come in the way of the switches or key actuation, but it does come in the form of comfort and ergonomics, which are satisfying in their own way.

Now, I'm here to stay

But what about keyboards that are ergonomic and mechanical?

When I got the Logitech Wave Keys for Mac in for review, I legitimately dreaded using it as my daily driver. My preconceived notions about ergonomic keyboards prevented me from having an open mind and trying one out. When I finally gave an ergonomic keyboard a chance, I discovered that it's truly great and can significantly improve comfort while reducing pain for heavy typists. Few keyboards are ergonomic and mechanical, because they're both nice categories, but I found that I preferred using an ergonomic keyboard to a mechanical keyboard.

If you're on the fence, or if you've been apprehensive toward trying an ergonomic keyboard in the past, I highly recommend you try one out. Even if you go into a Best Buy or other big-box store to try out a demo unit, you might come away impressed. Who knows, you could end up finding you prefer the comfort of a great ergonomic keyboard over a mechanical keyboard.