Brian Patterson
The Das Keyboard MacTigr is an aluminum mechanical keyboard that's worth being used in most Mac setups. That is, if you can stand the fixed USB-C cable.
Look around in 2024 and you will find a veritable ocean of mechanical keyboards on the market. Each with their own look, feel, features, and target audience.
Consumers are spoiled for choice with what's available on the market. But when you break down the demographics of keyboards targeted toward Mac users, the wedge on the pie chart is surprisingly small by comparison.
Of course, many of the non-Apple keyboards on the market leveled towards gaming and/or PC users will work with Macs. Some even go so far as to make that adaptability a feature through keycaps and support apps.
Even so, few mechanical keyboards are geared at being Mac-specific.
Perhaps seeing this opening in the market, manufacturer Das Keyboard brings several Mac-focused keyboards to the market. With the release of the new MacTigr mechanical keyboard, it stands to enlarge that wedge in the pie chart a bit more.
I took the Das Keyboard MacTigr out for a test drive to see what the buzz is about.
Das Keyboard MacTigr review - Assembly and Build Quality
Right out of the box, the look and feel of the MacTigr is good.
This is a full-size keyboard (complete with number pad) and the MacTigr has weight to it, does not feel cheap or flimsy, and the build is entirely metal with a gunmetal gray aluminum unibody and a matte black stainless-steel top.
Low-profile Cherry Red MX switches and sturdy low-profile keycaps round out the quality of the build. The attached USB-C cord is long enough to give you the freedom to place and move the MacTigr around on your desktop.
That's right, I said attached USB-C cord, as in non-removable. This surprised me, as it feels like Bluetooth peripherals are the way forward, and have been for years. The cable is black and sturdy, but it is attached and it is not an option.
Das Keyboard MacTigr review - Specifications
- Low-profile mechanical keyboard
- 100% metal
- Aluminum unibody
- Stainless steel plate
- USB-C connector
- Built-in 2-port USB-C hub
- Double shot PBT keycaps - US only
- Cherry MX Low-Profile red switches (soft, linear)
- Full-NKRO: press FN and Play/Pause button to toggle on/off
- Dimensions: 17.16 in x 5 in x 1.06 in
- Weight: 2.43 lbs
Das Keyboard MacTigr review - Features
The features on the MacTigr are simple and straightforward, complete with all of the Mac-specific keys we are accustomed to on Apple keyboards. There's also an amazing volume control knob in the top right.
Truly, I love this volume control, and I would love to have it on official Apple products. Maybe it's just me, but having that option feels better than the usual series of volume button presses.
It's a small thing, but it makes me happy.
The cable side of the MacTigr also features two USB-C ports for charging cables and other peripherals. It's a nice feature to have if a hub or other docking equipment is unavailable to place on your desk.
Das Keyboard MacTigr review - Working with the MacTigr
As an illustrator, I use a Magic Keyboard for all my day-to-day work, and I move it around a lot depending on my task. To give the MacTigr a fair assessment, I replaced my keyboard for a few days with it.
The keys feel very nice and the actions are smooth. Aside from the added volume control and number keypad, everything mechanically feels normal.
I like the feel of the mechanical keys. They give a soft, satisfying "thok" sound, and they are also quieter than the Magic Keyboard keys.
Where I hit trouble is the USB-C cord. It is always in my way, and the added weight of the keyboard makes it more difficult to slide around.
This could be a dealbreaker for many consumers, and I'll admit that it took me a while to get used to having a cord again. It was like a visit from the Ghost of Workflows Past, and certainly not in the best way.
I recognize that my situation is not the same as most other people's. If the MacTigr is used for daily typing and mostly stationary placement, this would be a non-issue.
Das Keyboard MacTigr review - Sturdy and standing out
The MacTigr is a fine mechanical keyboard for Mac users, and it delivers quality and comfort for long-term use. It is a standout among others on the market, and with a $179.00 US price tag, it is by no means the most expensive mechanical keyboard available.
The attached USB-C cable is a problem for some. If this minor note does not sour you on the positives the MacTigr offers, you will be very pleased to have this keyboard on your desk.
Das Keyboard MacTigr review - Pros
- Sturdy Mac-specific keyboard
- Cherry Red MX switches
- Volume knob
- USB-C hub
Das Keyboard MacTigr review - Cons
- Fixed USB-C cable gets in the way, bigtime
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Where to buy Das Keyboard MacTigr
The MacTigr is available for $179.00 US in the Das Keyboard online store and on Amazon.
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6 Comments
Would have killed them to put an sd card reader and one usb-a port in there. No one the link resolves to “bad merchant”
I much prefer a wired keyboard and trackball.
That means fewer things to charge and better than Bluetooth.
I have a Matias wired, backlit Mac keyboard. Not as chunky as this thing and quite a bit cheaper, too.
I started my computer life back in the days typing on terminals and then the great IBM PC keyboard which I still think was the best keyboard. Apple keyboard have always been uncomfortable with the moving things around and slightly smaller size, but once I was back working in audio all the time and using Mac I started to get used to them but never totally. So a nice mechanical keyboard with standard key layout would be nice. I like the idea of putting a couple USB C ports on the keyboard and having a builting cord is not a deal breaker for me. What I'd really like is for someone to make a Apple keyboard like the old Xerox Star Systems had. You old heads remember the Xerox remember the Xerox Star System the computer Apple copied for the original Mac GUI interface and idea of a mouse. There was a Xerox store where I lived guess you could say they were the first to have chain of computer stores. Some of the Star Systems didn't come with a mouse then where the volume control is on this MacTigr keyboard Xerox put a small trackball. Really handy having a trackball to move the mouse by just moving your hand to the edge of the keyboard. So I might try one of these MacTigr keyboard
It would be nice to have a 2nd, assignable knob for whatever else you wanted to control with a twist!
I stopped buying from Das Keyboard when an otherwise very reliable product needed a replacement for one of the flip-down "feet" underneath the keyboard. I was informed the design of those feet had been changed and replacements for the old feet were not available. For a premium product, I think it's fair to expect some degree of long-term support.