We recommend the Keychron K11 Pro keyboard if you're looking for a good portable, split ergonomic keyboard to carry to your workplace.
The Keychron K11 Pro, and its near-identical successor the K11 Max, pairs a portable Alice-layout split with a typing feel that rivals full-sized ergonomic boards. Both models are now discontinued, but years of daily use hold up well enough that this remains the benchmark we still measure every portable split keyboard against.
Pros
- Outstanding typing experience for a portable split keyboard
- High-quality build from an established manufacturer
- Customisation software is user-friendly and well documented
- Keycaps and switches are hot-swappable (RGB version)
- Reasonable weight at 510g
- Still the board other portable splits get measured against
Cons
- Typing feels a bit cramped at first; expect two to three weeks to adjust
- Keys are slightly smaller than full-sized keyboards
- Both the Pro and Max are discontinued; buying new means hunting secondhand or third-party stock
| Layout | 65% Alice split |
|---|---|
| Keys | 68 |
| Switches | Low-profile Gateron, hot-swappable (RGB version only) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth (up to 3 devices) + USB-C wired; K11 Max adds a 2.4GHz dongle |
| Battery | ~130 hours claimed, about 10–15 days of typical office use |
| Weight | 510g / 1.1 lbs |
| Price | USD 99 (Pro), both models now discontinued |
Typing experience
The keyboard does feel a bit cramped when compared to the Microsoft/Incase Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard (full review) I use as my daily driver. This has a slight impact on typing speed: while I can type at around 85 to 95 WPM with the Microsoft Sculpt, in the first few weeks I found using the Keychron K11 Pro decreases this to 73 WPM. It also hits typing accuracy, and I found myself making silly typos. After around three weeks of steady usage, I managed to bring it back up to 80 WPM, so acclimatisation makes a real difference.
Update: after a year of usage, my typing speed and accuracy were on par with the Microsoft/Incase Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard.
Design and ergonomics
The K11 Pro is a 65% keyboard, with an Alice layout. In other words, it has 68 keys compared to the 108 keys you will find on a full-sized keyboard, and the Alice moniker refers to its split and angled design.
Given its reduced layout, the keyboard lacks niceties such as a function row, but it does include dedicated home and delete keys. Other keys, such as page up and page down, can be accessed by a combination of keypresses, which you can also configure through software. There is a knob as well, which defaults to volume control, and its inclusion seems like an odd choice, as it does jut out, and I have not found it useful. I wish they had used the space to include a few more keys, such as an end button.
While other keyboards have a negative riser to tilt the keyboard away from the user for a more ergonomic posture, the K11 Pro/Max does not. This may be a deal breaker for some, but mitigating it is easy. By adjusting the height of your chair's armrests, you can position your hands so that they hover above the keyboard, which helps avoid angling your wrists upwards and exacerbating carpal tunnel issues.
Portability
The keyboard is still relatively small, coming in at 34.6 x 11.5 cm (13.62 x 4.53 in) and will fit into a small backpack or laptop bag. It is certainly not the smallest split ergonomic keyboard out there, with that award going to the ProtoArc XK03 (full review here), but it is the closest you will get to a keyboard that feels like the full-sized deal while remaining portable.
To protect your purchase, Keychron also sold a Saffiano leather pouch for USD 25, available in three colours (orange, black and grey). The fit is perfect, and it protects the keyboard from bumps and scratches while en route. The use of string to secure the pouch was an interesting decision, and it held up fine to daily use.
Customisation
Keychron really wants you to customise the keyboard in any combination you want. The RGB backlight version even includes a key and switch puller in the box, and with the availability of low-profile Gateron switches, you can change all the switches, or individual switches, to your liking. Want a particularly loud and clicky spacebar? Just replace it with a blue switch. Note that Keychron also sold a white-backlight version of the K11 Pro/Max, but that version did not let you swap the switches out.
Keychron also includes a few additional keycaps in the box, primarily to let you switch from Mac-centric keys to Windows. They even include a key-swapper tool, so you do not damage your keys as you remove them.
Software configuration is also simple. It is done through either the VIA app, accessible through your web browser or downloadable to your computer, or Keychron Launcher, the manufacturer's own version. It is fully customisable, and you can change all key mappings, backlight colours and patterns, and combination keypresses. The software is well polished, easy to use, and provides a very good user experience.
Connectivity
You can connect the keyboard to three devices using Bluetooth, or directly via a USB-C wired connection. Compared to traditional wired-only keyboards, Bluetooth means there is no setup time, and you can take the keyboard out of your bag and start working. If you have not used the keyboard for a while, it may take one key press to wake it up again. The Bluetooth connection is stable, and there is a switch at the back of the keyboard so you can turn it off, preventing the battery from draining.
Switching between wired and Bluetooth is done using switches on the back. The Keychron K11 Max also offered 2.4 GHz connectivity with an included dongle, though there was nowhere to store the dongle on the keyboard itself.
Battery life
Keychron claimed around 130 hours of battery life. In practice, that translated to around 10 to 15 days of typical office usage with the backlight on. It charges via USB-C, making it easy to keep the keyboard topped up. It is not a fast-charging device though, and I needed to keep it plugged in for several hours to fill it up from zero. By pressing Fn + B, the K11 Pro uses the backlight to show you how much battery is left, which is a nifty way of doing so. The photo below shows the lights indicating the battery at 70% charge.
Typing noise
The brown switches provide a decent sound without being obnoxious. Have a listen for yourself in the video below.
Availability today
Both the K11 Pro and K11 Max are now discontinued. The Pro was retired first, replaced by the Max, and both were excellent keyboards that were virtually identical: the Max added acoustic foam, supported 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity via dongle, and had a smaller battery. Its Enter key was no longer red, and the keycaps were more of a shade of grey.
Keychron's Alice-layout boards were always popular and often sold out within days of a new batch. If you are hunting for one today, secondhand marketplaces or third-party sites such as AliExpress are your best bet, though stock is not guaranteed.
For anyone shopping new today, the Keychron K15 Max is the direct successor, built on the same low-profile Gateron switch and QMK firmware platform, in a larger 75% Alice layout that adds a function-and-number row. See our full reasoning on the K15 Max.
Conclusion
This was, and remains, an excellent portable split ergonomic keyboard: comfortable, well built, genuinely customisable, and small enough to live in a backpack without you noticing the weight. At USD 99, it was also excellent value for what it offered.
The catch today is availability. Both the K11 Pro and K11 Max are discontinued, so this is no longer a keyboard we can straightforwardly recommend buying new. If you already own one, hold on to it. If you are shopping today, the Keychron K15 Max carries the same platform forward and is our current pick.
New units are no longer sold by Keychron. Check secondhand marketplaces or third-party stock such as AliExpress, or see our full guide to portable split keyboards for what to buy instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Keychron K11 Pro and K11 Max?
The Keychron K11 Max was an updated version of the K11 Pro with minor changes. The K11 Max added acoustic foam for better sound dampening, supported 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity via a USB dongle, and had a slightly smaller battery. The red Enter key from the K11 Pro was also removed. Both models shared the same Alice split layout, hot-swappable switches, and Bluetooth connectivity.
Is the Keychron K11 Pro good for travel?
Yes. The Keychron K11 Pro/Max measures 34.6 x 11.5 cm and weighs 510g, making it portable enough to fit in a backpack or laptop bag. Keychron also sold a fitted Saffiano leather travel pouch for protection. Bluetooth connectivity means there is no setup time, just take it out and start typing.
Does the Keychron K11 Pro work with Windows?
Yes. The Keychron K11 Pro and K11 Max work with Windows, macOS, and Linux. The keyboard shipped with Mac keycaps installed, but included Windows replacement keycaps and a keycap puller in the box. A physical switch on the back toggles between Mac and Windows modes.
How long does the Keychron K11 Pro battery last?
Keychron claimed around 130 hours of battery life. In practical daily office use with the backlight on, this translated to approximately 10 to 15 days between charges. The keyboard charges via USB-C. You can check the battery level by pressing Fn + B, which uses the backlight LEDs as a battery gauge.
Is the Keychron K11 Pro a good ergonomic keyboard?
The Keychron K11 Pro/Max uses an Alice split layout that angles the two halves of the keyboard to promote a more natural wrist position. While it lacks a dedicated negative-tilt riser, this can be compensated for by adjusting chair armrest height. After an initial adjustment period of two to three weeks, typing speed and accuracy return to normal levels comparable to full-sized ergonomic keyboards like the Microsoft Sculpt.
Can I still buy the Keychron K11 Pro or Max in 2026?
No. Keychron has discontinued both the K11 Pro and K11 Max. New units are no longer sold directly by Keychron. You may find stock on secondhand marketplaces or third-party sites such as AliExpress, but availability is not guaranteed. For a new purchase, the Keychron K15 Max is the direct successor, built on the same switch and firmware platform.
Comments