a columnar journey keyboard that sits in your laptop computer

I’ve been a fan of Dygma’s keyboards since their very first Raise keyboard. I’ve used a Dygma Raise or Raise 2 for the higher a part of 5 years now, so when the chance happened to check out the Sonsei, I jumped at it. This uniquely transportable columnar keyboard shocked me in fairly a couple of methods. But, on the finish of the day, I actually love this little keyboard, although there is a large studying curve.

8/10

Form issue

Compact one-piece columnar keyboard (split-style format, doesn’t separate)

Switch choices

Gateron KS-33 low-profile: Strawberry Chocolate (linear, default), Silent Red (linear), Banana Chocolate (tactile), Bamboo (clicky)

Colorways

Black

Backlight

Per-key RGB (56 individually addressable LEDs)

The Dygma Sonsei is an ultra-compact 56-key keyboard that is designed to sit down over your laptop computer’s keyboard, offering you an ergonomic, programmable columnar keyboard which you can journey with.

Pros & Cons

• Compact design sits securely on high of a laptop computer keyboard
• Gateron Strawberry Chocolate switches are surprisingly nice
• Four programmable thumb keys per facet
• Bazecor customization carries over from the Raise
• Five Bluetooth profiles plus wired mode

• Columnar format takes time to relearn
• Doesn?t cut up or tent
• Bazecor customization requires a wired connection

Price and availability

The Dygma Sonsei is obtainable to buy immediately from Dygma for $279, with different add-ons out there on the time of buy.

8/10

Form issue

Compact one-piece columnar keyboard (split-style format, doesn’t separate)

Switch choices

Gateron KS-33 low-profile: Strawberry Chocolate (linear, default), Silent Red (linear), Banana Chocolate (tactile), Bamboo (clicky)

Colorways

Black

Backlight

Per-key RGB (56 individually addressable LEDs)

Construction

One-piece physique with anodized aluminum key plate, recessed rubber toes

Dampening

Multiple layers of sound-absorbing materials

Keycaps

Double-shot PBT, low profile

Supported working programs

Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Hot-swappable

Yes

Battery capability

2,000mAh

Connectivity

USB-C wired, Bluetooth (as much as 5 units)

Typing angle

Flat, with no tenting or tilt adjustment

Software customizability

Bazecor (remapping, layers, macros, RGB); configuration requires a wired connection

Dimensions

299 x 140 x 18.4mm

Weight

393g

Price

$279

Number of Keys

56

Brand

Dygma

Num Pad

No

Battery life

Up to 40 days with LEDs off; 8+ hours at 100% brightness

The Sonsei is constructed to sit down on high of your laptop computer

It’s a journey ergonomic keyboard first and a desk keyboard second

The Sonsei is a really distinctive little keyboard—and I do imply little. I’ve used plenty of keyboards through the years, and I really like simply how compact the Sonsei is. That’s as a result of Dygma designed this keyboard for a really particular motive—to sit down over your laptop computer’s current keyboard.

This keyboard was constructed to be transportable, and I feel Dygma undoubtedly achieved it. In the advertising and marketing photos, I noticed the Sonsei sitting on high of a laptop computer keyboard and instantly thought “I’ve all the time needed to journey with my Dygma keyboard but it surely’s simply too cumbersome!”

Now, the Sonsei is not precisely like my Raise 2 that I type on every day. It’s a columnar format (which I’ll dive into additional into the evaluate) and it would not cut up or tent. However, it is nonetheless a Dygma keyboard, which implies it makes use of Bazecor identical to my Raise 2, which is one in every of my favourite options of my Raise 2.

I truly tried out utilizing the Sonsei on my 14-inch MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 13 and it labored flawlessly. It did not click on any keys, it cleared the trackpad, and was very steady. Of course, it will fluctuate relying on the laptop computer you utilize, as some laptops have the keys sticking up increased than others.

However, the Sonsei can also be nice for typing on an iPad or on the desk. It has 5 Bluetooth profiles which might be simple to modify between and likewise has a wired mode if you wish to plug it in both to cost whereas utilizing or simply use with out Bluetooth.

Really, the Sonsei is a superb transportable keyboard. I’ve tried utilizing it at my desk, and it works there, however I actually favor my Raise 2 as a result of it is tented and cut up, two issues that the Sonsei merely cannot do.

The Strawberry Chocolate switches are the star of the present

I kinda want I might put these in my Raise 2

When Dygma supplied to ship out a Sonsei for evaluate, I stated positive! I additionally did not ask them for something particular—I needed to expertise the Sonsei how they needed me to. I used to be not dissatisfied.

My Sonsei has the default switches, that are Gateron Strawberry Chocolate. Though linear, which I usually hate, I completely love these switches. They’re very satisfying to make use of and actually have a little “thock” in my view.

The low-profile switches do not feel like I anticipated in any respect, and that is an excellent factor. However, the Sonsei is hot-swappable if you wish to change them out. This goes together with the identical theme that Dygma’s different keyboards supply—the total capacity to customise.

If you recognize up entrance that you don’t need the Strawberry Chocolate switches, Dygma can ship your Sonsei with Gateron Silent Red, Gateron Banana Chocolate, or Gateron Bamboo switches pre-installed for an additional price.

Four thumb keys per facet depart loads of room to customise

Bazecor works precisely prefer it does on the Raise

One of my absolute favourite options of my Dygma Raise 2 is the thumb keys, and Dygma stored them on the Sonsei.

This compact keyboard solely has 56 complete keys, which is about 13 shy of what my Raise 2 has. However, just like the Raise 2, the Sonsei has 4 devoted thumb keys on both sides for a complete of eight customizable keys.

Why do I really like these keys a lot? Well, it lets me construct the keyboard for the way I kind as an alternative of how others kind. For occasion, I solely have one of many eight thumb keys on my Raise 2 programmed to spacebar as a result of that is all I want. It sits below my proper thumb and that is how I hit house.

This lets me have the opposite seven keys for varied different duties, like a one-click copy and paste, a play/pause button, a layer shift, the command key, and a mute button. The Sonsei permits me to have this very same performance, although the general format is a bit totally different on the Sonsei than my Raise 2.

Bazecor continues to be the way you customise the Sonsei, which I’m very blissful to see. I’ve grown keen on Bazecor to customise my keyboard and am blissful that Dygma caught with it. The solely annoying factor is that the Sonsei must be plugged in over USB to customise in Bazecor. Thankfully it is USB-C, but it surely’s nonetheless somewhat irritating.

Columnar takes time, even after years on a cut up keyboard

Staggered muscle reminiscence is the exhausting half, not the keyboard

I went into utilizing the Sonsei pondering, “I’ve used Dygma keyboards for years, this would possibly not be all that tough to be taught!” I used to be flawed.

You see, I’ve been using a split Dygma keyboard for in all probability 5 years now. The key separation and tilting on the Sonsei aren’t what threw me off. It was the change from staggered keys to columnar.

If you’ve got by no means heard of columnar or staggered, let me clarify. Typical keyboards have the keys staggered from one another. The high row is offset from the one under it and so forth. This truly comes from the days of typewriters, the place the keys could not be one on high of one other due to the levers that dealt with actuating the typebars again then.

Like most issues, we carried the methods of analog into the digital future, and thus, the staggered format was stored.

However, as time went on, individuals realized that staggered wasn’t the extra ergonomic format. There are plenty of different layouts on the market, however columnar is likely one of the extra in style. It places the keys staggered vertically as an alternative of horizontally, leaving the keys in good vertical columns.

When I first moved from a normal keyboard to my Raise, it took me near per week to regulate. I began adjusting in a couple of hours, after which inside a day or so I used to be largely adjusted, and inside per week I used to be typing like regular.

I count on the Sonsei to be very very like that, besides with a little bit of an extended studying curve. Not as a result of it is harder, however as a result of, a minimum of for me, the Sonsei is not a daily-driven keyboard and is for touring. So, it’s going to simply take a bit longer for me to completely acclimate to it and be as proficient as I’m on my Raise.

Overall although, I do just like the columnar format and I feel it’s going to develop on me over time. It’s simply very totally different than I’m used to.

Should you purchase the Dygma Sonsei?

I feel the Dygma Sonsei keyboard has a reasonably restricted market in that it is a premium keyboard with a non-traditional format. Overall, I feel the $279 keyboard is constructed fantastically, has superior software program, and nice ergonomics. However, it does require relearning for day by day use if you happen to do not already kind columnar.

I do need to say that if you happen to’re already used to columnar, then the Sonsei I feel could be a implausible ergonomic journey keyboard for you. I actually haven’t any most important complaints outdoors of it not tenting or splitting, however I perceive why Dygma left these options out in favor of a slimmer, extra transportable construct.

However, if you’re simply on the lookout for a conveyable keyboard which you can decide up and begin utilizing, and you have by no means used a columnar keyboard earlier than, then the Sonsei may not be the most suitable choice for you then. It undoubtedly will take some adjustment time.

8/10

Form issue

Compact one-piece columnar keyboard (split-style format, doesn’t separate)

Switch choices

Gateron KS-33 low-profile: Strawberry Chocolate (linear, default), Silent Red (linear), Banana Chocolate (tactile), Bamboo (clicky)

Colorways

Black

Backlight

Per-key RGB (56 individually addressable LEDs)

The Dygma Sonsei is an ultra-compact 56-key keyboard that is designed to sit down over your laptop computer’s keyboard, offering you an ergonomic, programmable columnar keyboard which you can journey with.