Its Just AWESOME – Dygma Raise Split Gaming Keyboard Review

The Dygma Raise is one of the coolest gaming keyboards that I have come across. It promises to improve your typing posture and even if you’re not into touch typing – which is basically placing all of your typing fingers in the midsection around the space bar – this keyboard now has my favorite macro layout for both typing and gaming.

Price & Purpose

I have been using the Dygma Raise for the past two weeks and I find it both intuitive and flexible. I have been improving my touch typing technique, but I’m not exactly there yet since I’m still using only 2 fingers on my right hand for finding certain keys, but this thing is quite unique in the world of 60% keyboard. It’s currently on the second round of preorders with shipping in June, and its very high $290+ price point is in-line with other split keyboard offerings. The nature of something this niche and relatively small production scale always means a high premium price.

One thing the Dygma Raise tries to achieve is to improve your posture and typing plus gaming performance. There is a really interesting team behind the design with a history in esports and really wanting to offer an ergonomic gaming solution that doesn’t exist yet. I’ve had a really great time using this product, so here is my review of the Dygma Raise, a keyboard that feels very well thought out and that might just be worth the asking price.

Accessories

Let’s start from the beginning, since the keyboard has such a unique shape it comes in a nice carry pouch with a handle, and it’s fairly hard too. We have extra USB Type-C cables to extend the reach of each side, but more on that later. There are Dygma stickers, adhesive and washable wrist pads that match the colour of the keyboard, a keycap/switch puller, and finally a triangular USB Type-C module called Neuron that makes the split functionality of this keyboard possible.

Dygma calls the Neuron the brain of the keyboard where your profiles are stored and to my surprise it is also RGB equipped. It splits the signal to left and the right with braided USB Type-C cables, meaning you have full flexibility on how far and what angle each keyboard side is positioned, thus promising a more comfortable typing experience. This means your hands aren’t crammed into the center of the keyboard and instead flare out as wide as you are comfortable with. They can even be shoulder width apart, creating a lot of center space in the middle and that might be really good for a mouse if that’s comfortable for you. The left side can act as a gamepad if you disconnect the right side, and given the almost symmetrical right side this should be fine for lefties too once you remap the keys.

Design & Ergonomics

This split is basically the ergonomic element of the Raise. If you are into touch typing you should find yourself nicely at home, especially once you reconfigure and retrain your fingers. However, even after two weeks I’m still not 100% there yet. I’m only utilizing two of my fingers on the right hand and my left is perfectly comfortable being in that section.

The built-in wrist rest helps to flatten out my wrists, but the same can be achieved with the wrist rest on a regular keyboard once you angle it. What I find a bit ironic here is that there is no way to actually raise or angle the keyboard so that it is pretty low profile. They are still prototyping with small legs that can angle the Raise for more ergonomic fit, but your purchase today would most likely not have this as the product still undergoes development. I feel like this is kind of a big deal since right now you can not raise the Raise keyboard.

The footprint of the Raise on your desk is as wide as a 65% keyboard given how the wrist rest flares out, but it’s still quite a bit smaller than a TKL format. What I appreciate here are the mechanics behind the split. You can pull apart the keyboard with a little jiggle as tubes on each side connect with a tight fit, and there are magnets too that create a good seal. Now there is a bit of play in the center, but nothing to worry about when the keyboard is flat on the table.

They really don’t mess around with the design either. The underglow spans the entire perimeter of each side, with beautiful uniform and soft diffusion. I think the Raise looks fantastic in split mode and as a unit. The brushed aluminium plate on the silver keyboard looks awesome, it hides all the fingermarks while the bottom is plastic to allow that model name to Shine through. This makes the bottom of the Raise the prettiest keyboard bottom ever. It’s not necessary, but the detail is pretty cool.

Keycaps, Switches, and Typing

The keycaps are double-shot PBT with a beautiful simple font and a smoother texture that I’m used to with PBT. There are multiple options for mechanical switches with Cherry and Kale options available. The keyboard frame is hot-swappable, which is a must for product of this caliber, letting you customize the keys to exactly what you like. I got the Kale copper switches because I love tactiles and the shorter actuation point at 1.1 millimeters just feel amazing. Since the 60% layout is standard – aside from the space by area – you can obviously swap out the keycaps for another set.

Let’s talk about why that midsection is so special. For one thing, instead of just one space bar we get eight separate keys, and the very bottom row is using low-profile Kale switches for extra ergonomics. Your thumbs can be in charge of all types of additional functions. I will mention to be careful with the keycaps on the low-profile switches because I have broken a few on my Logitech keyboard and finding replacement sets for that particular switch type is difficult. Now for that space bar section you can remap Enter or Backspace so it’s easier to reach with your hand on the mouse. One of the keys can be Delete as that’s normally not found as a separate key on 60% designs or whatever else you feel is appropriate to go there as the entire layout is completely customizable with an easy UI configurator.

Software

You can create layers for different uses and perky lighting designs. For example, layer 1 can hold all the F-keys and the gaming layout, and we have a total of 10 layers to switch between. In the current build of the software you can not record macros, which I don’t really do, but that is definitely a value-add in the future that they will add. I do appreciate the simplicity of that configurator.

And lastly, here is a typing test, and keep in mind that I’m still a bit more accurate and faster when the keyboard is put back together, but when the keyboard is in split mode this is definitely more comfortable. I’m just training my fingers on the right hand because otherwise it’s a bit unnatural for me.

Conclusion

To conclude, the Raise keyboard is a fine package that reaches into the ergonomic space, into the gaming space, and to the enthusiastic market too with the hot-swappable switches and the standard layout. It is a very expensive keyboard, but I feel like the price does reflect the quality of the product and I’m excited to see Dygma as a brand grow because their attention to detail is fantastic, and they seem to be quite committed to their community and their customer base.

Check out the Dygma Raise Keyboard here –

Buy Items In This Review From Amazon At The Links Below:

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