The best bluetooth keyboards for writers who want to boost their word count quickly (and look awesome doing it)

This summer I’m determined to double my daily wordcount and establish a writing habit. I’ll be experimenting with various productivity hacks to get more writing done, but today I took a big step forward by getting a bluetooth keyboard to pair with my iPhone and iPad.

I’d already done online research and had an idea of what I was looking for, but I wanted to try out all the keyboards before making a decision. I need something I can write comfortably on for house, and something where I can get into that flow state and boost word count during writing sprints.

Here are the FINALISTS and my actual choice.

What actually matters in a writing keyboard

Before the specific picks — here’s what I’ve learned matters after testing a dozen keyboards over 5+ years of mobile writing. Most “best keyboard” articles are written by people who type emails. We’re typing 2,000+ words in a sitting. Different requirements:

• Key travel (1.5mm+): How far the key presses down. Short travel (laptop-style) is fine for emails but fatiguing over 2,000 words. You want enough depth to feel the rhythm without bottoming out hard.
• Weight vs. portability: Heavy keyboards don’t slide on your desk. Light keyboards go in your bag. You can’t have both. Decide: are you a “couch writer” or a “coffee shop writer”?
• Multi-device switching: Can you tap a button to switch from phone to laptop? The K380 and MX Keys do this. It matters if you draft on your phone and edit on your laptop.
• Noise level: Mechanical keys sound great at home. They’ll get you murdered at a library. Membrane keys are quiet but mushy. Find your tolerance.
• Battery life: Anything that lasts months on a charge (K380: 2 years on AAAs). Avoid anything that needs daily USB-C charging — that’s one more thing between you and writing.

Quick comparison: my top picks for writers

Best bluetooth keyboards for writers (2026 picks)

#1 Logitech K380 — check price on Amazon

The K380 is the keyboard I’d recommend to 90% of writers. It connects to 3 devices simultaneously (tap a button to switch between phone, tablet, and laptop), runs for 2 years on AAA batteries, and the round keys are surprisingly comfortable once you adjust. It’s not ultra-portable — 423 grams feels heavy in a small bag — but it doesn’t slide around on a desk or your lap, which matters during long sprints. The typing is quiet enough for coffee shops but satisfying enough to not feel mushy. This is my “serious work” keyboard now.

#2 Logitech Keys-To-Go — check price on Amazon

At 180 grams and 6mm thin, this is the keyboard you forget is in your bag. Nearly waterproof (I’ve used it by the pool), lightweight enough to hold in one hand. The tradeoff: the keys are flat fabric-covered buttons with zero tactile feedback. You won’t get that satisfying click. It feels like typing on a phone screen with extra steps. But for portability? Nothing beats it. I use this one when I’m travelling light and just need to get words down on my phone — it’s fine for drafting, terrible for editing (you need to FEEL the keys when you’re doing precision work).

#3 BELKIN Mobile Wireless Keyboard

As far as I’m concerned, the Belkin Qode F5L175 is the greatest keyboard in existence. (They discontinued it. I’m still angry about this.)

It’s super thin, super light-weight, but still feels stable, with a beautiful and comfortable typing experience. The keyboard is a LITTLE cramped, but that actually makes me feel like I’m writing faster. Unfortunately, they don’t make them anymore – but you can still find some on Ebay. (Mine is actually half-broke and I used it anyway, taped together. I bought 3 extras but they all shipped dead on arrival.)

If you’re looking for a keyboard iPad cover, I have to assume that the Belkin models are of similar quality; personally I never got used to this style of writing device and prefer a small keyboard with my phone; the ipad set a little distance away.

#4 Logi MX Keys — check price on Amazon (MX Keys Mini)

This is my desk keyboard — the one I use for 8+ hour days of writing, editing, and design work. The MX Keys has the best typing feel of any non-mechanical keyboard I’ve used. Backlit keys (they light up when your hands approach), solid weight so it stays planted, and multi-device switching like the K380. The “Mini” version drops the numpad for a more compact footprint. Pairs perfectly with the MX Master mouse if you’re doing any design work alongside writing. It’s not portable — at 506g you’re not tossing this in a coffee-shop bag — but for a dedicated writing desk, nothing beats the feel. This is the keyboard for when you’re doing serious editing and revision work, not just drafting.

Best Vintage & Retro Bluetooth Keyboards

#5 Elretron Penna

I bought one of these for $400 (the cherry wood version) and it’s currently in my closet at home, but I still love and treasure it – down below I have a mini-rant on why buying an expensive keyboard isn’t silly if it motivates you to do more writing.

If you want to go to a coffee shop and look and sound like an obnoxious writer, this is for you – the keys are a bit clacky but not too much, and it doesn’t feel plasticky. I use it for book events and shows, and I get a ton of people stopping at my table just to play with it. There are cheaper, more subtle brands but the wood is obviously the best.

#6 Qwerky Writer

This one has that antique typewriter feeling without being too clunky. It’s well designed, but feels a little too much like a toy, and it might be more of a statement piece that a serious writing device. It’s not my favorite aesthetically, but it’s if you like the style it’s a strong choice for this kind of thing.

#7 KnewKey Rymek

The Rymek is charming and nostalgic. It’s a bit unusual as far as keyboards go, with the half-moon keys, but it’s very stylish. I don’t know what’s up with the reviews in the product link below – it’s got a 4.5 average so ignore the display stars.

#8 Actto Retro Keyboard — check price on Amazon

This might be my new favorite, and it’s shockingly cheap for what you get. Korean-designed with a vaguely vintage style and soft pastel colors — but it doesn’t feel like a toy. It’s solid, the keys have satisfying travel, and there’s a built-in slot to prop up your phone or iPad at the right angle. Too bulky to be truly portable (you’re not stuffing this in a jacket pocket), but ideal for a home writing spot where you want something that looks good on a shelf when you’re not using it. The black version is surprisingly stylish. At $50-80, this is the vintage-aesthetic keyboard for people who think $400 for a Penna is insane (which is a reasonable position). Makes a great gift for anybody trying to write a book.

Retro Clones – here are a few others that are basically ripoffs of the Penna or Qwerky, so if you like the vintage style but can’t justify spending hundreds of dollars on a keyboard, these might work. I haven’t tested the quality but they look pretty sharp, I might just buy another with the wood/dark keys.

Best Writing Devices & Laptops

My current laptop (when I made this post) was a 15″ Asus Zenbook, but I’m actually in love with the smaller 13.3 inch Zenbook, which has better style, better typing experience and is lighter and more portable. That’s my favorite writing machine, however there are unexpected benefits to using smaller devices with bluetooth keyboards.

In this video I show you my current set up and process, and I briefly talk about Word vs. Scrivener and what I’m LOOKING for in a writing app or software.

A few years ago I bought a black RazerBlade Stealth gaming laptop, mostly because I wanted a writing device that made me feel like a cool dark fantasy author; it’s held up for three years but has been frustratingly buggy and prone to crashes. I’ll go back to a new Asus next time, or a macbook – I don’t love macs at all but it’s hard to argue with their sleek form and their Apple Silicon chips.

If I just needed a very slim portable laptop for writing only, I’d get a macbook; a lot of writers buy one JUST for book formatting because Vellum is absolutely the best software for that. But for all my normal stuff, I prefer a PC, and I want it to be as dark as possible, a non-shiny coal would be perfect.

Since I’m a digital nomad/designer, I haven’t used a full desktop for years and need a SUPER powerful laptop – I’ll probably upgrade soon to a Ryzen9 Asus Rog… but I still prefer the classic zenbook as just a writing device (the ZenbookS just came out and it’s great, I’ll probably get one).

Distraction-Free Writing Devices

Some of my author friends swear by the Freewrite by Astrohaus; which is a one-piece writing device with a small screen, but it looks a little too much like a toy to me.

There’s also a pretty sexy travel version. Other writers adore the Alphasmart Neo (which now apparently comes in purple). I’m not sure why the price is showing zero – maybe because you can only get one used?

I don’t love these for aesthetic reasons, but you should definitely think about them for practical reasons. You can actually write more, faster, and better by limiting the screen size.

This is because we can think in pictures (visualizing scenes) and words get in the way. Having the wide space of you open manuscript can be daunting. Limiting your thoughts to each sentence at a time can work wonders… but that’s why I write on my iphone with the iAwriter app. Functionality is part of it, but I also want to feel and look cool on the off chance having pretty writing devices will make me feel like doing the work (this is also why you should have a SEPARATE writing device for drafting or word sprints, as opposed to your main desktop or editing computer.)

I actually have a prototype given to me by the founder of Ilys.com, with NO screen – your bluetooth keyboard just goes straight into a little black box and you can reclaim it later. In that version, you can’t even backspace or delete, which forces you to keep writing forward instead of editing. I haven’t found a way to mass produce it yet but I really think “screenless” writing has a lot of potential – I’m going to test my new setup with just turning my phone around or keeping it in my pocket during sprints. Make sure you check out my list of best book writing apps and writing software.

Getting in a writing habit

The other thing I’m interested in is creating a MOOD, with ritual and high quality tools… as an artist, I’m attracted to the aesthetics of the retro-inspired bluetooth keyboards. I’m skeptical of these, even though they’re attractive, because they’re so ostentatious.

But let’s say you want to go to a coffeeshop and immediately let everyone know you’re an author working on real book. In that case, you might want something elegant, fancy, and loud – with that lovely click-clacking sound that is sure to catch the attention of everyone in the room (and probably drive them crazy). As you can tell, I’m not sold on the idea of these “narcissist keyboards”… and I’m dubious about whether they could actually improve writing speed, except for one thing:

Getting into a writing habit relies on eagerness to do the work and confidence that you have what it takes to get it done. I also believe sometimes expensive, beautiful tools that make you feel good while doing the work can actually influence you’re productivity and motivation. And make no doubt, these are beautiful tools. 

Why I bought a $400 keyboard (a justification tangent)

I had insomnia and ended up buying the Penna Typewriter. THIS one. Because it’s beautiful. I love the pictures. I wanted to feel like a writer, and create a luxury writing experience for myself. I wrote this justification argument after I ordered it… but down below I have some more details now that I’ve actually played with it.

So what’s the difference between a $40 keyboard and one that costs 10X as much?

Functionally, not much. They both work the same. Hopefully when I’m in the heat of a project, they’ll get out of my way and let my fingers convey the words that fill my story. HOWEVER: I also know, after writing over 25 books and publishing millions of words, that writing is not all about functionality. You rarely just sit down and do the work. How you feel about yourself and the work you’re doing matters.

That’s why having a ritual, or special tools of your craft, a little bit of comfort and magic, can actually help you get the work done. This keyboard expresses what I want to become as a writer: I want to be known for aesthetic descriptions, beautiful passages, high-quality but engaging writing.

Is it a “waste” of money? On the surface, yes obviously, because I didn’t *need* to spend that much.
On the other hand, the point was to spoil myself, my inner muse.

If I’m inviting my inner child out to play, I need to bring the toys. If I want divine inspiration to show up, maybe I need to put an offering on the altar first.

Ceremonial magic is thousands of years old, and it works like this:

• Choose what you want
• Ask for help
• Offer something in return

Whether or not it works isn’t the question. If you believe it works enough to boost your own confidence, it’s no longer placebo (the boosted confidence and eagerness may actually boost your wordcount). Basically, I’m training myself that my writing is fun and easy; but also valuable.

I’m worth a $400 keyboard, because I’m writing books that will earn a living.

Other random thoughts:

There should be an app so that when you hit the keys of ANY keyboard, it broadcasts obnoxiously loud sounds of a traditional typewriter… just in case people don’t see what an awesome writer you are, they could still hear it. Also, would the sound of typewriter keys clicking away induce the magic to start happening (the way the sound of running water makes you want to pee?) I think maybe it could. I’m going to make some long white-noise recordings of keyboards to share… I actually want to put together a podcast that is ONLY the sounds of famous authors typing.

Yeah but does it work though?

Today I got to play with the new keyboard and compare it to the Belkin I bought earlier. At first, I was a little disappointed: the wood finish is so smooth and light it feels fake, plasticky. The keys wobble a little, and seem insecure – for the price, I expected fine engineering. The Penna is also REALLY loud; I partially chose it because in the promo videos the sound was dampened or muted. I wouldn’t feel comfortable going to coffee shop or conference with it. It’s also a little bulky, and about as heavy as the 13.3″ laptop.

I did 5 minute sprints of each, using iAwriter. The Belkin felt crisp, like apple peels. I felt fast, tight. I had to constrain my reach and limit my keystrokes, but that brought focus. The Penna felt loose and sloppy. Soft like butter. I could write with wild abandon on the regular-sized keyboard, but I was making lots of mistakes, getting stuck, hitting the back key often, sometimes it took 3 or 4 tries to spell a word.

HOWEVER I was surprised to find I’d written 211 words on the Belkin and 277 on the Penna. That was in 5 minutes. In two 20-minute sprints, I could write 1662 words (which is about my current daily word count). Since the Penna is about an inch off the table, I’m worried about strain on the back of my hand, which gets sore muscles quickly from typing all day.

But currently I’m excited to dial this down: I think the Penna is an excellent at-home writing machine to get off my laptop and do serious sprints, and create an artistic ritual around my creative process; I think the Belkin is super for quick sprints in coffeeshops or wherever (although I LIKE the idea of sitting in public with something like the Penna, and keeping the recording device in my pocket, so it looks like I’m just madly typing nothing into thin air, but it would be really obnoxious due to the noise.)

Now that I have the hardware, I need to figure out where exactly I’m going to do the writing, so it’s easier to write on any device and bring it into my laptop. Read this post next on best writing apps, software and programs.

A Scifi-Themed Free Typing Test

Looking to break in your shiny new bluetooth keyboard? Try SpaceTyper – the scifi typing test. Just watch out for black holes…

Derek Murphy

Derek Murphy has a PhD in Literature, is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and has spent over a decade helping authors write, publish, and sell books through Creativindie. When he’s not critiquing manuscripts or building writing tools, he’s probably in a castle somewhere with cats.