Thursday, November 14, 2024
AccessoriesReviews

Macally makes two well-priced wired keyboard for the Mac (if you can live without Touch ID)

Macally USB-C Keyboard

I’m a fan of Apple’s wireless Magic Keyboard (the smaller one, not the huge one with Numeric Keypad) for use with my Mac. However, should you prefer wired keyboards, Macally makes two worth your consideration — if you’re willing to make some compromises.

The USB C Keyboard (pictured above) boasts dual wired connectivity options via its built-in USB hub with two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. This makes it easy to connect to other devices. The USB C keyboard is compact so doesn’t take up a lot of desktop real estate. It has a 78-key layout that offers a nice responsive feel along with 12 handy shortcuts. Of course, since it’s wireless, you never have to worry about it running out of juice. 

It’s reasonably priced at US$49.99. However, it’s not backlit and lacks Touch ID; both are very important features for me. 

Apple World Today rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★

If you want something bigger — basically, a wired version of Apple’s Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keyboard — Macally offers the Dual Connectivity USB-A & USB-C Wired Large Print Backlit Mac Keyboard. It’s like a bigger version of the USB C Keyboard, but with easier-to- see large print keys that are 4x larger than traditional keyboards.

Dual Connectivity USB-A & USB-C Wired Large Print Backlit Mac Keyboard

With dual USB connectivity (USB-A + USB-C) it offers compatibility with all Macs and provides a familiar 107-key MacOS layout, including 16 shortcuts. At  $69.99, it’s almost one-third the price of Apple’s $199 Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad. However, unlike Apple’s keyboard, the Macally model, as with its smaller sibling, lacks Touch ID.

Apple World Today rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.