Kinesis Freestyle Pro Review

November 16, 2023

True Score

62

Meh

57

1

Experts

88

510

Consumers

Expert Rankings

(

1

)

The Kinesis Freestyle Pro delighted testers with how ergonomic it was and were impressed by its programmable features. They also liked that they could switch layouts, but they were disappointed in how slow it made typing. They also didn’t like its large size or the fact that they had to purchase a wrist rest separately.

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Table of Contents

Overview
What Is Not on the Box
Product Comparison
All Stores
Score Card
Expert Score Breakdown
Customer Score Breakdown
Learn More About Keyboard

Overview

The Kinesis Freestyle Pro is a premium mechanical keyboard that was first available in 2018. It is wired, has 99 keys, and takes up a split design that is great for users who want to keep their wrists straight when typing. Although this is not very common with the best-rated keyboards on the market, it is ideal for adapting to different typing surfaces. When both sides are put together, the keyboard measures about 15.5 inches, and the cable connecting its two parts is 20 inches long. Its latency is about 13ms, but users who would prefer a much lower latency might want to check out our Logitech G-Pro Keyboard review.

What Is Not on the Box

What the brand doesn’t always tell you…

our Verdict

Reviewers praised the Kinesis Freestyle Pro for its ergonomic design. Experts from Rtings liked that they could split its two parts as far as 20 inches and regarded its typing noise as fairly quiet. They also liked its customization features. During their tests, they were able to set up up to nine different user profiles. Expert testers from Switch and Click were also impressed that the Kinesis Freestyle Pro was versatile enough to switch between three different layouts. They could switch between Windows, Mac, and Dvorak layouts, which is not as common. They also liked that it had ten additional keys that could be programmed and that they didn’t need to get any additional software to do so.

However, product testers pointed out that its typing speed is not the fastest, as reviewers reported only being able to type up to 18 words per minute during their tests because of its layout. They also lamented its large size, its lack of RGB backlighting, and that they would need to purchase the wrist rest separately.

True Score

62

Reasons to Buy

Good ergonomics
Supports different layouts
Ten programmable keys
Split keyboard design
Long connecting cable

Reasons to Avoid

No backlight
Not ideal for typing
Wrist rest purchased separately

Specifications

	Foldable	Yes
	Form Factor	Tenkeyless
	Key Switch Behavior	Tactile
	Keyboard Technology	Mechanical
	Multimedia Keys	Yes
	Numeric Keypad	n/a
	Palm Rest	Yes
	Spill Resistant	Yes
	Touchpad	n/a

All Specs

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Product Comparison

	Kinesis Freestyle Pro Review	Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB Review		Logitech Ergo K860 Wireless Split Keyboard Review
True Score	62	82	NR	79
Ranking	# 16 / 21	# 21 / 77	# /	# 1 / 21
Market Context	The Kinesis Freestyle Pro is a premium mechanical keyboard that was first available in 2018. It is wired, has 99 keys, and takes up a… The Kinesis Freestyle Pro is a premium mechanical keyboard that was first available in 2018. It is wired, has 99 keys, and takes up a split design that is great for users who want to keep their wrists straight when typing. Although this is not very common with the best-rated keyboards on the market, it is ideal for adapting to different typing surfaces. When both sides are put together, the keyboard measures about 15.5 inches, and the cable connecting its two parts is 20 inches long. Its latency is about 13ms, but users who would prefer a much lower latency might want to check out our Logitech G-Pro Keyboard review.	The Kinesis Freestyle Pro does not have a wrist rest like the Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB. The Edge RGB has a higher 9.5ms latency compared… The Kinesis Freestyle Pro does not have a wrist rest like the Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB. The Edge RGB has a higher 9.5ms latency compared to the Freestyle Pro’s 13ms latency. Check out our Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB review to see what else it has to offer.	The key caps on the Kinesis Freestyle Pro are made of ABS plastic, while those on the ErgoDox EZ are made of PBT plastic. Also,… The key caps on the Kinesis Freestyle Pro are made of ABS plastic, while those on the ErgoDox EZ are made of PBT plastic. Also, the ErgoDox EZ allows for incline adjustability, while the Kinesis Freestyle Pro does not. Lastly, the ErgoDox EZ has a much lower 6.9ms latency compared to the Kinesis Freestyle Pro, which has a higher 13ms latency.	The Kinesis Freestyle Pro is a TanKeyLess keyboard, while the Logitech ERGO K860 Wireless Split is a full-size keyboard. The ERGO K860 is wireless while… The Kinesis Freestyle Pro is a TanKeyLess keyboard, while the Logitech ERGO K860 Wireless Split is a full-size keyboard. The ERGO K860 is wireless while the Freestyle Pro is not, and its keycaps are made of PBT plastic, while those on the Kinesis Freestyle Pro are made of ABS. Lastly, the ERGO K860 is more ergonomic since it allows for incline adjustments. Find out what else it has in store by going through our Logitech ERGO K860 review.
Foldable	Yes	Yes	–	No
Form Factor	Tenkeyless	Tenkeyless	–	Full size
Key Switch Behavior	Tactile	Tactile	–	n/a
Keyboard Technology	Mechanical	Mechanical	–	Scissor
Multimedia Keys	Yes	–	–	Yes
Numeric Keypad	n/a	–	–	Yes
Dig Deeper		Read review →: Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB Review	Read review →: untitled post 139929	Read review →: Logitech Ergo K860 Wireless Split Keyboard Review