Kinesis Freestyle Pro split mechanical keyboard

Is this keyboard right for me?

An ode to the Kinesis Freestyle Pro

Pro, because that's its name

We actually already considered the Freestyle 2 a true pro. Admittedly, the Freestyle Pro is a bit more Pro compared to the Freestyle2. After putting it through its paces for a while, we are now also pro Freestyle Pro.

Why the Freestyle Pro split keyboard?

With the mechanical Freestyle Pro keyboard, you will undoubtedly feel like a true professional. Here's a small selection of the many features this keyboard offers that can be valuable for your workspace:

• Split flat design
• Mechanical keys
• Choice of 2 different switches (Brown/Red)
• Long cable between the 2 split parts for maximum space
• Quickly accessible second key layer with 'Fn'
• 8 office hotkeys ready
• MAC keycaps included as standard
• Switch between Windows, Mac and Dvorak layout
• 9 fully programmable layers with SmartSet

Split design

A split design can bring a lot of relaxation to your posture. The 2 parts can be placed apart and aligned with your arms. This ensures you don't have to make awkward bends with your wrists to reach all keys with all fingers. You can also place the keyboard comfortably close to your body without feeling like your hands can't reach it. If you have a broader build, for example, you can place the separate parts a little further out.

Thanks to its 0-degree design, the Pro has the same height everywhere. Many keyboards slope slightly, which puts extra strain on your wrists. With the flat design of this keyboard, you won't experience that.

Mechanical Brown or Silent Red switch

The Kinesis Pro features mechanical switches that ensure a keystroke is registered before the key hits the 'bottom' of the board. Hitting that bottom is precisely where tension on the fingers and hand arises, which you can now prevent. It takes a few days of practice, but you'll quickly type much more comfortably.

The Brown switch is known as an 'office switch'. They produce relatively little noise for a mechanical switch. They will always make more noise than scissor or membrane keys, so keep that in mind. The brown switch provides slight counter-pressure around the point where it registers a key. This helps you better understand how far you need to press the key to get a letter on your screen.

With the Silent Red switch, you have equal counter-pressure throughout the entire keystroke. This makes it slightly lighter to press than the brown switch. Due to the even counter-pressure, it requires a bit more practice to type relaxed. Are you a passionate PC gamer? Then there's a good chance you already have experience with the Red switch.

Silent Red switch

Brown switch

Length-adjustable cable

The Pro has a cable of 50.8 cm, which can be partially stored. In a specially designed compartment, you can store about 20 centimetres of cable. This allows you to adjust the distance between the 2 split parts from 30 to about 50 cm.

8 office hotkeys

The pre-programmed hotkeys on the left side of the Pro include frequently used functions. Think of cut, paste, undo, and select. You don't have to repeatedly press the right mouse button or create key combinations.

Mac user, you've been thought of

At the top of the right part of the Pro, you'll find 4 buttons. One of them is the 'layout' button. With this layout button, you can easily and quickly switch between the 3 standard layouts. If the left LED is on, you are on the Windows layout. With 2 LEDs active, you have DVORAK. The right blue LED indicates that the Mac layout is active. With the help of the 4 included Mac keycaps, you can quickly transform your keyboard into a full-fledged Mac board. You click out the Windows keycaps with the keycap puller and simply push the Mac keycaps into place.

What makes a split mechanical keyboard so good?

Firstly, a split design gives the user more freedom. Regardless of your physique, you can always find a position that allows you to type comfortably. The 2 separate parts can be placed against each other, or up to 50 cm apart. The mechanical keys provide optimal comfort while typing and minimise tension on your fingers and hands.

Get the most out of it

Integrated second 'FN' layer

On many Tenkeyless keyboards, such as the Freestyle Pro, you'll find the 'Fn' (function) key. By pressing this key, you activate a second layer. You often see them as blue or, for example, red print on a keyboard. On the Pro, multimedia keys are standard under F1 to F6. This is quite standard and often found. What is unique, however, is the ability to place an extra function under every key on the board using Fn. You can do this with the built-in SmartSet program. Read more about SmartSet below and in the manual.

9 programmable layers with SmartSet

The 'SmartSet Programming Engine' is an addition you can expect from a keyboard in this price range and of this calibre. Simply put: the Pro has a piece of integrated memory on which it can store keys (remapping) and even key combinations (macros).

Thanks to the integrated memory, you always have your favourite layout ready, wherever you work. For example, think of the combination CTRL + X to cut and CTRL + V to paste. These are just simple macros, by the way. In theory