Kinesis is a company known for their ergonomic input device products. They are one of the pioneers in the field, with their first ergonomic keyboard dating back to 1992. Over this time, the company gained a significant number of loyal followers, which mostly are professionals that work long hours using their input devices. The company has not released a very long list of products since its founding, yet each and every one of them has been successful and quite memorable.

A few month ago, Kinesis made a very surprising move and started a crowdfunding campaign for an ergonomic mechanical gaming keyboard. The campaign was a success and, short thereafter, the Kinesis Freestyle Edge was born. The Freestyle Edge is based on the split-board design of the Freestyle series keyboard that the company released back in 2007, which the company has redesigned as a mechanical keyboard and added a great number of new features. As best as we can tell, this appears to be the world’s first ergonomic gaming mechanical keyboard. We are having a thorough look at its features and hands-on performance in this review.

Packaging and Bundle

We received the Kinesis Freestyle Edge in a well-designed cardboard box, the artwork of which is centered on the keyboard and its most prominent features. The company has provided us with the optional Lift Kit as well, which we will examine alongside with the keyboard. Inside the box, we found the keyboard very well protected with layers upon layers of cardboard packaging, plus nylon bags.

Inside the box we found only a very basic user’s guide and two soft palm cushions. The palm cushions are very, very comfortable, but their installation is virtually permanent and, most likely, they will get dirty rather quickly. It will not be very long before a heavy user needs a replacement.

The optional lift kit allows for the keyboard to “tent”. Although the mechanisms are large and mostly plastic (ABS), they are very well made. Their movements are very smooth, and their construction is very solid. Still, they are unlikely to survive excessive mechanical shock, like a rage punch on the keyboard while it is fully elevated. Short-tempered users are advised to steer away from the lift kit (or take anger management lessons).

The Kinesis Freestyle Edge Gaming Mechanical Keyboard

The Kinesis Freestyle Edge is the most unusual mechanical keyboard that we have reviewed to this date. One quick (and rather inaccurate) way to describe it is “a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard that is split in two”. In fact, it features an entirely unique layout, with numerous changes over a typical ANSI or ISO keyboard. Two of the most prominent layout changes are those of the displaced Escape key and the omission of the right Windows and Menu buttons. Although the Kinesis Freestyle Edge builds on the Freestyle series of keyboards that the company first marketed back in 2007, the number of improvements and features that the designers performed to make this keyboard more appealing to gamers and enthusiasts is vast.

A closer look at the left part of the keyboard reveals the presence of ten extra keys, eight dedicated to macros and two for advanced commands. The Fn key does not operate as on most keyboards, meaning of the user does not have to hold the key pressed and then press another key to start a special command. Instead, it locks the keyboard to the “Fn layer” until it is pressed again. By default, the FN key only affects the first 6 function keys and the Pause key, which change to multimedia commands and to the Insert key respectively. However, via the software, the user can reprogram any of the keys of each layer individually, including the macro keys, meaning that the keyboard can virtually change to an entirely different layout between the Fn and the top layer.

Aside from its peculiar layout, there are no extra mechanical keys on the right side of the keyboard. However, there are four small surface buttons at the top of the right board. The rightmost button is the “Smartset” button and is used to access most of the keyboard’s advanced features. This includes the special commands printed on the F8-F12 keys, which do not belong to the Fn layer by default but can only actuated by holding down the Smartset button and then pressing that key. One needs to be careful here because, for example, the combination of the Smartset button and the F12 resets everything, so hours of programming different layers and long macros can be extinguished in an instant.

The left of the four small buttons is the Layout button and allows for users to switch between the first three layouts of the keyboard. The Freestyle Edge supports up to nine layers though, and the rest are accessible by holding down the Smartset button and pressing a number from one to nine, in which case the keyboard will jump directly to the selected layout. The second button, the Macro button, allows for the quick recording of a macro and assignment to any key. It does not require any software to function and works in all layouts and layers, and on any key. The final button, the Remap button, is very similar to the Macro button, but just remaps a button to any other instead of programming a more complex command.

Each of the keyboard’s halves has five thick rubber feet attached, plus another two smaller feet can be found on each of the palm rests. The grip on a wooden surface is just right – enough to keep the keyboard from moving unintentionally, yet not high enough to be annoying when the user intentionally wants to move one half of the keyboard.

The left half of the keyboard has a hidden compartment that can be used to extend or reduce the length of the cable connecting the two halves of the keyboard.  A simple but cleverly implemented design allows for the cable’s length to be adjusted in steps of 1.5”. Note that, without the optional Lift Kit, the Freestyle Edge does not support any kind of tilt adjustments.

A look beneath the keycaps reveals that the Freestyle Edge is using original Cherry MX Blue switches. There is a major catch here though. During our testing phase, the switches of our sample were peculiarly quieter than any typical Cherry MX Blue switch that we have previously tested. They were clicky and still audible, but the clicking noise was noticeably softer. After our contact with Kinesis about this, the company told us that they powder coat the support plate of the switches to reduce their noise output. Given that our ears realized the difference within seconds, the upgrade is easily perceptible. It does not make the Cherry MX Blue switch go quiet, but it will definitely appeal to people who live in shared spaces and want to keep the noise levels down.

The keycaps themselves also are interesting. A closer inspection reveals that the keycap does not have a single layer of coat, but two. Keycaps are usually made of translucent plastic, then are painted black, and then the legend is lasered off. Kinesis added another layer of white paint under the black paint. A close look at the legend makes the difference apparent, as the characters are bright white and not greyish. The white paint makes the unlit legend brighter, but also diffuses the backlighting better.

The Freestyle Edge features bright blue backlight. Naturally, as with all typical Cherry MX switches, only the top half of each key is lit, which is why Kinesis printed all of the legend characters at the top of the keycaps. Only the special commands on the Fn keys are partially lit. The backlighting is very strong; so strong that Kinesis almost instantly released a firmware to reduce its maximum level. Despite the very strong backlighting, due to the white paint that Kinesis used on the keycaps, the keycaps function quite like lamp shades, capturing the light and diffusing it. The backlight bleed around the keys is very soft and even, creating an excellent visual effect. Also, again due to the white paint, the diffusion smoothens the legend’s light, even at the lowest possible brightness level.

The optional Lift Kit allows each half of the keyboard to “tent”. It is a tilt mechanism but, instead of tilting the keyboard from the rear up, it lifts each half sideways, towards the hands of the user. It has three tilt angles, from five to fifteen degrees in five degrees steps. We should also note that the palm rests are a requirement for the lift kit to be attached, it cannot be used without the palm rests.

Opening up the plastic cover of the keyboard, we revealed the thick steel frames that support the main PCB and the switches. It is worthwhile to note that the caps of the four short buttons are attached directly on the buttons, much like the keycaps of the main keys are, and are not on or supported by the plastic frame. This approach makes them feel much better to the touch, as the buttons do not wobble at all and they have a respectable key travel, mimicking that of the main mechanical keys. The overall quality of the construct is outstanding, there was not even the slightest imperfection that we could find.

The heart of the Kinesis Freestyle Edge is the Atmel AT32UC3B0256 microcontroller with a 32-bit, 60 MHz RISC processor. Kinesis probably selected it for its large 256KB integrated flash memory. It is not very popular, but it is more than adequately powerful for an advanced mechanical keyboard. 

The KinesisGaming SmartSet App

One of the prime features of the Freestyle Edge Gaming keyboard is the SmartSet application. The application itself is not particularly flexible and/or feature-packed, but there is one particular thing that it makes it very unique: it is a portable application that is stored inside the keyboard’s memory. To access it, the user has to press and hold the SmartSet button, then press F8. This keystroke combination will connect the “vDrive” to the system, which essentially is a small flash memory module that is inside the keyboard. The system reacts just as if a USB flash disk has been connected to it and will pop a new drive folder that includes the SmartSet application, the keyboard’s settings/firmware files, and the full user’s manual.

The SmartSet application runs directly from the included flash memory, no installation is needed. This gives the Freestyle Edge keyboard a very distinct advantage, as nothing is being stored in the OS/system - any and all programmed changes are stored directly in the keyboard’s flash memory and follow the keyboard. Any profile/layout changes are bound to the keyboard and it will not matter if the keyboard is connected to another PC, not even the OS that the other PC may be running. The SmartSet application is currently compatible with Windows and Mac only, but any changes already made to the keyboard’s settings appear to be functioning under Linux and Android as well.

The SmartSet application is relatively simple. It is a single-page configuration screen that allows the user to reprogram any key, on both the top and the Fn layer, of the currently active Layout. The keyboard supports up to nine layouts, all with two layers each.

Advanced programming capabilities are relatively limited. For example, the user can use multimedia functions, such as volume and playback controls, access special characters, and launch basic system applications, such as the calculator. Advanced commands, such as launching specific applications, are not available. This feature could cause issues, considering that the command would be stored in the keyboard and the external application to be launched would be installed into a specific system. Mouse clicks also are available, but mouse movements commands are not.

The Macro recorder is quite basic and virtually limited to simple keystroke combinations. Advanced commands, such as mouse movements, cannot be programmed into the macro command. This may be a problem for users who need to use complex macros, as it is not possible to call upon external executable files either, so using third-party applications to compile executable macro files will not help. On the upside, the unique firmware of the Freestyle Edge allows it to store up to three macros per key. Each of the programmed macros can be assigned a “trigger” key, which is one of the Shift, Alt, or Ctrl keys. It is possible to store up to three different macros into any single key, as long as they use a different trigger. 

Per-Key Quality Testing

In order to test the quality and consistency of a keyboard, we are using a texture analyser that is programmed to measure and display the actuation force of the standard keyboard keys. By measuring the actuation force of every key, the quality and consistency of the keyboard can be quantified. It can also reveal design issues, such as the larger keys being far softer to press than the main keys of the keyboard. The actuation force is measured in Centinewton (cN). Some companies use another figure, gram-force (gf). The conversion formula is 1 cN = 1.02 gf (i.e. they are about the same). A high-quality keyboard should be as consistent as possible, with an average actuation force as near to the manufacturer's specs as possible and a disparity of less than ±10%. Greater differences are likely to be perceptible by users. It is worth noting that there is typically variance among keyboards, although most keyboard companies will try and maintain consistency - as with other reviews, we're testing our sample only.

The machine we use for our testing is accurate enough to provide readings with a resolution of 0.1 cN. For wider keys (e.g. Enter, Space Bar, etc.), the measurement is taking place at the center of the key, right above the switch. Note that large keys generally have a lower actuation force even if the actuation point is at the dead center of the key. This is natural, as the size and weight of the keycap reduce the required actuation force. For this reason, we do display the force required to actuate every key but we only use the results of the typically sized keys for our consistency calculations. Still, very low figures on medium sized keys, such as the Shift and Enter keys reveal design issues and can easily be perceptible by the user.

Due to the special physical layout of the FreeStyle Edge, we had to test each and every key individually and manually. We only tested the main keys, omitting the extra macro keys, the ESC key, and the control/cursor keys. Only the result from the left Spacebar key is being shown.

The Cherry MX Blue is not a new switch and several of keyboards using them have already found their way through our lab. The Kinesis Freestyle Edge is not any different than any of them, with Cherry’s switches once again delivering exemplary consistency and performance. The average actuation force is 49.7 cN, which is just about right for this type of switch, and the disparity is down to a mere ±2.91%. There are very small inconsistencies between the keys, even between the large Spacebar key and the main keys.

Hands-on Testing

I always try to use every keyboard that we review as my personal keyboard for at least a week. My typical weekly usage includes a lot of typing (about 100-150 pages), a few hours of gaming and some casual usage, such as internet browsing and messaging. I personally prefer Cherry MX Brown or similar (tactile) switches for such tasks. The Cherry MX Blue works well for me most of the time, but the loud clicking noise tends to become annoying for others near me, or even to myself when I am tired or have a headache. I faced no such problem with the Kinesis Freestyle Edge, as the designers managed to lower its noise output a little, yet just enough to increase the comfort levels considerably.

The real problem that I had to face with the Freestyle Edge was the learning curve. It is obvious that a keyboard with such a different layout will cause problems at first – not only it is split in half, but the position of significant keys (like the ESC key) is different as well. With the Freestyle Edge, these issues will be significant if you are used to pressing keys with the hand that now sits on the other half of the keyboard. It takes at least a few hours for the hands to initially get accustomed to the keyboard, yet it might take days, even weeks, before “muscle memory” moves (such as reaching for the ESC key) get fully reprogrammed by the user’s brain. When the user becomes accustomed to its different layout, using the Freestyle Edge for long-term professional use is a treat. With the Lift Kit and both arms sitting right on the chair’s supports, the comfort feeling is just perfect.

Using the Freestyle Edge for gaming left me with mixed feelings. The ability to remove the right half of the keyboard and place the mouse in straight line with the user’s arm creates a very comfortable gaming setup. At the same time, the right half of the keyboard stays within reach and it can be reprogrammed to assist with gameplay. For example, common replies can be programmed for online/MMO gaming, allowing quick in-game chat responses. Also, if the game utilizes keys that are on the right half of the keyboard, keys on the left side can be reprogrammed to host them. The primary and perhaps only issue that we faced here is the inability to program complex macro commands (such as commands that include mouse movements) into the keyboard, and the keyboard cannot launch external applications, so compiled executable macros created with a third-party app were not usable either. 

Conclusion

Kinesis made a very bold move with the Freestyle Edge. It probably is the first mechanical keyboard trying to combine ergonomics with advanced gaming. Most users, and especially gamers, do not usually react positively towards products that break away from the standard layout. Some users complain about the bottom row being different on some keyboards, and here we have Kinesis bringing a split mechanical keyboard with a completely unique layout.

The unique split layout is a huge change over a typical keyboard and it requires a learning curve but, in terms of comfort, it definitely works. The position of the arms feels much more natural, especially when using the optional lift kit. Using it for just a couple of hours is enough to realize that the strain on the arms, fingers, and tendons is greatly reduced. It is perfect for both professional use and long gaming hours. Gamers will also benefit from the ability to move the right half out of the way and get their mouse straight in front of their arm and towards their body, which is a much more natural position for the arm than extending it to the right.

The greatest advantage of the Freestyle Edge also is its greatest drawback. The layout change requires the user to essentially “reprogram” their brain and muscles. Using the keyboard for a few hours will cover most of that requirement, yet it might take weeks before the user fully adapts to the new layout. And here is the major problem - after using the Freestyle Edge for just two days, it was difficult for me to use any other keyboard. I had a hard time using my own laptop and, after using it for a few hours, I was constantly misclicking again when I got back to the Freestyle Edge. This will just not work for people who need to be using more than one keyboard during the day. Perhaps someone who is using the Freestyle Edge alongside with a typical keyboard for weeks in parallel can get used to using both of them at the same time, but that will undoubtedly take several weeks of training.

The unique implementation of the keyboard’s programming software is another double-edged sword. Making the software portable and inserting it into the flash memory of the keyboard itself was a brilliant idea, as it allows for any programmed settings to persist when changing OSes or systems. The implementation of a two-layer profile programming and allowing three macros to be programmed per key also are unique and useful features for professionals and advanced gamers. This approach however is limiting, as the keyboard’s Smartset software cannot record complex macros, such as macros that include mouse movement commands, but also cannot be programmed to launch external applications, so macros compiled with third-party software will not be of use either. Gamers who want to perform very complex in-game actions might face issues using the Freestyle Edge.

When it comes to quality, Kinesis certainly did not spare any expenses. Powder-coating the keyboard’s plates just to reduce the noise output of the switches a little and double painted keycaps to make their characters capable of better light diffusion and brighter are but two examples. There are no manufacturing flaws or mechanically weak points to be found. Even the short travel switches for the four low-profile buttons on the right half of the keyboard feel great. The only thing that one could complain of is the lack of any tilting mechanism for users that do not want to buy the optional Lift kit for tenting, or the inability to lift just the rear side of the keyboard even with the optional Lift kit attached.

The high quality and unique design of the Kinesis Freestyle Edge force a high retail price tag that, at around $200, places the keyboard amongst the most expensive that we have ever reviewed. For professionals and gamers who are using just one keyboard all the time, or at least most of the time, investing on the Freestyle Edge is most definitely worth it. Sure, it will take several hours to get used to it and even weeks to master it, but a week later your own body will let you know how well spent that money was. However, people who must use more than one keyboard during the day will have problems using the Freestyle Edge, as it is very difficult to keep switching between a typical keyboard and to the unique Freestyle Edge.