Although strangely named, the SpiderIsland split keyboard is a well built keyboard, and available in every country.
Casting the net far and wide, I came across a portable, split ergonomic keyboard on AliExpress (reviewed version | newer USB C version). The great thing about AliExpress is that it connects you to Chinese manufacturers of things which you wouldn’t normally find on Western-based e-commerce sites, and they ship to pretty much anywhere in the world, without slugging ridiculous shipping fees. At USD 118 (shipping included), I took the plunge and bought one with Outemu red switches. Spoiler alert: it was an excellent buy.The keyboard took only a couple of weeks to arrive and came well packed in bubble wrap, cables, and some stoppers to attach to the bottom of the keyboard, preventing it from sliding around on your table. The keyboard is split into two separate halves, connected by a micro-USB cable. A USB C to A connects the keyboard to the computer. A newer version uses USB C for all connections, but other than that, the keyboard is the same. I’ve used this on and off since August 2022, and as of article publication, it continues to function well.
The keyboard is fully wired, and does not have any Bluetooth or other wireless capabilities. Despite its strange name, the SpidersIsland keyboard has excellent build quality, and it looks and feels solid.
Price: USD 118
Rating: ●●●●○ 4.0/5.0 Excellent
Typing experience
For those who do not like low key travel that comes with low profile chicklet keyboards, you’re going to love this one. The key travel is deep, akin to the IBM Model M keyboards, and provides a very satisfying typing experience. Given I could place both halves of the keyboard any way I wanted, I immediately felt at home, with fast, comfortable and responsive typing.
In fact, I was able to average 83 WPM, which is the same typing speed as my daily driver, the Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard. This shows just how well the keyboard is designed, especially for the price point.
Despite having red switches installed, which are the quietest of the bunch, the keyboard is relatively loud, especially when compared to the other options we’ve reviewed in the past. I suspect it’s the way it is built, with space between the keyboard and table acting as a noise amplifier. It is not outside of the realm of normal office noise, and unless you’re sitting in a silent zone, this should be no problem.
Design and Ergonomics
This is a 78 key keyboard, which means it contains all the standard keys, but omits the number pad.
Unlike the other split keyboards reviewed here, the two haves are fully separate and not fixed into a set angle or position. This is great as it means it is infinitely customisable, and can adapt to your preferences, and any workspace you have. You can push the keyboard halves as close (or far) away from you as you want, at any angle. You choose what is comfortable and ergonomic for you.
One downside is that you cannot tent the keyboard, nor negatively raise it. I find that you can solve this problem if you have a good ergonomic chair with adjustable armrests, allowing you to position your hands so that it hovers above the keyboard, avoiding the need to bend your wrists upwards and inflaming carpel tunnel problems.
The package does come with a few rubber domes which you’ll need to attach to ensure the keyboard doesn’t slide around when typing. I found them to be a bit too thick, and replaced them with rubber dots from 3M.
It also comes with a built-in white backlight, which does a good job of illuminating the keyboard in a darker room. You can adjust the brightness in software as well, or turn it off completely.
SpiderIsland does produce design variations, with different backlights and keycap colours, but with the same basic layout and features.
With the SpiderIsland looking like something from the Matrix, it is a bit of a show piece and I have found people commenting on its looks regularly.
Portability
The keyboard is not the slimmest of the bunch. When both halves are stacked together, it is rather thick coming in at 6 cm. Despite that, I found that it still fits into a backpack easily, although it is certainly not the most compact keyboard compared to the other options reviewed on this site.
The keyboard does not come with a case, but that’s easily remedied. I simply kept the bubble wrap both halves came in, and store it in an old drawstring bag when moving around.
Customisation
The keyboard is fully configurable using the Bootmapper software. While the software is not visually appealing, it is fully functional and easy-to-use. This made it easy to remap the menu context key into the “?” key, for example to suit my typing preferences.
A problem that I’ve come across is sometimes if I accidently press a key combination when I’m not paying attention, then the keyboard does weird things. I haven’t come across documentation on what all the shortcuts are, so you may come across some surprises if you buy this keyboard.
Connectivity
This is a fully wired keyboard, meaning you will need to account for the time to wire up the keyboard at the start and end of your day. It isn’t difficult though, and you will need to plug in two cables: one to connect the two halves, and one to connect the left half to your computer. Interestingly enough, using a USB C to C cable to connect the keyboard to the computer does not work, and for some reason you must use a USB C to A cable only.
There is also a newer version of this keyboard which solely relies on USB C connectors.
Typing sound
Conclusion
This is an excellent travel keyboard, and it remains portable while giving you the full-sized keyboard experience, with deep keystrokes, and the ability to position both halves the way you want it. While I was initially wary, it has proven to be a quality keyboard and has held up to regular use, while traveling in a backpack. Given it's a fully wired keyboard, you never need to worry about running out of battery. Most importantly, it is relatively affordable and given it’s sold on AliExpress, can be shipped to most countries.
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