As an ergonomic keyboard owner myself, there’s often a weird design trade-off we make for the sake of comfort. Not a single ergonomic keyboard I’ve seen is made to be sleek. They’re all created in the same vein of exaggerated anthropometrics, designed to evoke a sense of tactile comfort but visual bulk. Even the ones that sidestep the bulky design often treat ‘ergonomics’ as a medical issue, rejecting the need to make the keyboard look cool. In short, most ergonomic keyboards don’t look as stunning as their slimmer, sleeker, non-ergonomic counterparts… but the NocFree & hopes to change that with a rather simple idea.
A new contender, the NocFree &, proposes a solution by treating the keyboard not as a single, immovable block, but as a fluid, shapeshifting system. It enters the scene with a design philosophy that feels both revolutionary and strikingly familiar. The core concept is a split keyboard, which is hardly new, but its execution challenges the very idea of what a high-performance ergonomic device should be. This is a keyboard that acknowledges your desk is for more than just typing; it’s a canvas for your entire digital life. It understands that comfort should not demand a compromise on aesthetics or versatility, and it accomplishes this by quite literally splitting the difference.
Designer: Xing An
Click Here to Buy Now: $269 $349 ($80 off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left! Raised over $216,000.
The device carries the torch of Apple’s design language, which is perhaps its most brilliant trick for winning over both nerds and newcomers. It has the proportions of a Magic Keyboard; the same impossibly slim profile, the same elegant wedge shape, and the same commitment to premium materials. NocFree & takes that beloved industrial design and puts a clean slice right down the middle, resulting in a familiar 84-key, 75% layout. The chassis is CNC-milled from a single block of aluminum and finished with a 150-grit zirconium sandblasting process, giving it a fine, matte texture that feels substantial. Weighing in at 450 grams for the left half and 583 for the right, it has a satisfying heft that keeps it planted during intense work sessions.
That premium feel extends right down to the components that define the typing experience. It is the first low-profile split with a gasket-mount structure, a design where the switch plate is cushioned by flexible gaskets to absorb vibration. This creates a softer, more refined tactile feedback loop, a sensation complemented by a clean, white backlight with a breathing effect for understated visibility. This small detail transforms the act of typing from a series of harsh, clattering impacts into a smoother, more refined experience. The durable PBT keycaps feel solid under the fingers, ensuring the legends will not fade over time, and the entire board is hot-swappable, giving users the freedom to install their own switches without soldering.
To complement this structure, the creators co-developed their own low-profile linear switches. The standard version requires just 40 grams of force to actuate, while the silent linear option needs a mere 37 grams. These numbers translate to a light, effortless keystroke with a short travel distance, reducing the muscular effort needed for typing. This meticulous focus on reducing finger fatigue demonstrates a deep understanding of what true ergonomic design entails; it is about the entire kinetic chain, from your posture down to the tiniest movements of your fingertips. The optional tenting kit elevates this further, setting the left half at a 10-degree angle and the right at 7.7 degrees to achieve a more natural forearm rotation.
The true genius of the NocFree &’s split design isn’t ergonomics, it’s the void it creates. The space between the two keyboard halves is an active, functional part of its design, a concept amplified by the standalone 21-key numpad. This is where the keyboard truly adapts to the user, allowing the desk to become a modular command center. That newly claimed territory can now house a graphics tablet, a gaming controller, or a phone on a wireless charging mat. The ergonomic benefit of spacing your hands at shoulder width is almost a happy byproduct of this spatial liberation. The keyboard no longer dictates the layout of your desk; you do.
Cutting the cord is the final act of this liberation. The NocFree & is a true three-piece wireless system, powered by a robust 1100 mAh battery in each keyboard half and a 650 mAh battery in the numpad. It connects via a proprietary low-latency 2.4Ghz protocol, but also supports switching between up to three Bluetooth devices, making it a powerful tool for multi-device workflows. A Type-C port allows for both charging and a classic wired connection. This untethered design, paired with the optional tenting kit that doubles as a charging stand, turns the keyboard into a piece of functional sculpture when not in use. Using a single set of CNC-milled aluminum parts, the tenting kit transforms your keyboard in three distinct ways. Use them to lift the two halves of the keyboard to achieve an ergonomic angle that’s more comfortable for your forearms. When you’re not using them, stand them upright to create a stylish desk sculpture. Plus, they can charge in this position, ensuring they’re always ready for your next use.
Most split keyboards demand that you unlearn years of muscle memory, but NocFree & sidesteps this barrier by retaining its familiar layout and ensuring broad compatibility. It works seamlessly across macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and iPadOS. In fact, the MacOS version of the keyboard comes with OS-specific keycaps as well as all function keys working right out of the box… no remapping needed. Its intuitive configuration software, NocFree Link, allows for full key remapping, custom macros, and up to eight programmable layers, satisfying both beginners and power users. By offering dedicated layouts for both ANSI and multiple ISO variations, it makes its ergonomic benefits accessible to a global audience from day one, proving that a healthier way of working does not require a punishing ordeal to get there.
Click Here to Buy Now: $269 $349 ($80 off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left! Raised over $216,000.
The post NocFree’s Ergonomic Keyboard Does What Apple’s Magic Keyboard Can’t: It Splits in Half first appeared on Yanko Design.