Das Keyboard MacTigr Review: Just My Type

Fans of mechanical keyboards who also use the Windows operating system have a lot of peace of mind. There are enough readymade PC keyboard choices out there to bridge the English Channel, and the Windows user craves the responsiveness, springiness, and sensory satisfaction of a good mechanical need only to close their eyes and point.

Mac users are not as easy to get along with. Plug any mechanical keyboard into any piece of Apple hardware and you can input letters and numbers quickly. The control, command, and option keys are not mapped for macOS. The symbols on the keycaps are different. Which one was command? The media controls, volume knobs, Spaces keys, and sleep-wake buttons are probably not going to work on a mechanical keyboard.

There are already a few solid Mac friendly choices on the market, but the newest and most intriguing one is the Mac Tigr from Das Keyboard.

There is more that is better.

Some of our favorite mechanical keyboards are made by the Texas company. A full-size mechanical keyboard with a minimal design and pure plug-and-play Mac compatibility is what the Mac Tigr brings to the table. The 4 Professional keyboard was released by Das Keyboard a few years ago. The MacTigr is smaller, more capable, and more modern than it was.

The body is made of metal with a steel plate on top. It has a black finish that makes it look like it is stealth. There isn't back lighting. There is a set of buttons that sit above the 10-key pad control on any media player.

Since the dawn of time, Das has included the volume knob on its keyboards. It is covered with a soft material. As you spin the volume up and down, there are hidden detents that click. The sleep button is located next to the media keys. The MacTigr is a keyboard that only works with modern Macs, but it also has a dualUSB-C hub above the F12 key, where you can attach charging cables or other accessories.

Click if you want to point and click if you don't want to.

The keyboard obsessives all have a favorite switch. The springy mechanism beneath the key caps that register each press gives a keyboard's character and signature click. The click can be loud if you are sitting next to someone with switches. The key switch types are different. Cherry MX Reds are on the quieter end of the color spectrum and are included in the Mac Tigr. It's still a mechanical keyboard but it's quieter than most.

The Cherry MX Reds register each keystroke with almost no resistance. It took me a full week of practice to be able to type at my normal speed. Getting to know you phase has made it a trusted favorite.