Read the latest review for Wombat Keyboards -- from Tech Advisor!
By Lewis Painter
Senior Staff Writer, Tech Advisor, January 19, 2023
Apple’s official Mac keyboards are great but there’s nothing like typing with a mechanical keyboard – and one with Red Cherry MX key switches in particular.
The Wombat Pine Professional looks to bring that experience to Mac users without having to sacrifice the Mac-focused shortcuts of Apple-focused keyboards. It features all the standard Mac keycaps in place of Windows alternatives, and even includes shortcuts to emoji, Siri, the calculator app and Do Not Disturb, though some functions have to be manually set up on your Mac with very little guidance from the manufacturer about how that’s done.
The typing experience with the Red Cherry MX key switches is superb, with that crisp tactile feedback making it a joy to use – though the associated click-clack may make it a rather annoying addition in an open-plan office. There is a quieter Tactile Brown key switch available, but where’s the fun in that?
Speaking of fun, the Pine Professional comes in some of the most stunning color options we’ve seen, including black, grey, baby blue, green and pink, allowing you to match your keyboard to the rest of your setup.
You’ve got plenty of ways to connect too; either using the supplied USB-C cable, via standard Bluetooth connectivity or via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi with the supplied dongle, and while it’s focused primarily on Mac, it’s compatible with Windows, Linux, Android and iOS devices too, with the ability to quickly switch between four established connections at the push of a button.
If you’re on the hunt for a minimalist mechanical keyboard for use with a Mac, the Pine Professional ticks a lot of boxes.
Pros
- Wired and wireless connectivity
- Mac-focused shortcuts and keycaps
- Stunning design and colours
Cons
- Very heavy
- Shortcut keys need manual setup in macOS
Best Keyboard 2023: Windows, Mac, Wireless & More - Tech Advisor