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If you’ve been using computers for long enough, you’re familiar with the sinking feeling of watching a glass of liquid pour over your keyboard. Shorting out one of the most-used tech accessories is an incredible inconvenience, and will severely limit your productivity until it’s replaced.
Rather than take a risk every time you eat and drink around your computer, you can get a waterproof (or water-resistant) keyboard instead. These full-sized, fully functional keyboards use special coatings or materials to shield the bottom of the keys from touching the water.
Beyond that, waterproof keyboards look completely normal; they have raised, mechanical keys, which are easier on your fingers than the slim, chicklet-shaped ones you’ll find on modern laptops. Whether you’re writing long essays, important reports, or want a little insurance against accidents, a waterproof keyboard is a wise upgrade.
What You Need to Know Before Buying a Waterproof Keyboard
There are many factors to think about when choosing the right waterproof keyboard for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
Durability:Water and dust resistance on electronics is typically measured on the IP (Ingress Protection) scale. We found keyboards with a rating of up to IP65, which means they are completely dust-proof, and can withstand being shot with powerful water jets. That’s overkill for a keyboard, but nice to have. Some companies don’t use this scale, and we’ll call out the features that make their keyboard durable instead.
Wired vs. Wireless: Most waterproof keyboards are wired — Bluetooth or 2.4Ghz wireless components are just a bundle of electronics susceptible to water damage. That said, we have wired and wireless options in our guide, so you can make the best choice for you.
