The best… Mechanical k keyboards

Cherry MX Board 6.0

£150 from www. snipca.com/17790

This is Cherry’s new flagship keyboard, with h adjustable red backlightinghting and blue highlights for keys like Caps Lock and Windows. It’s solidly made, and great for typing, with a big rubber wrist rest that attaches magnetically at the front. But for many users, the advanced technology might be overkill.

£119 from www.snipca. com/17795

This model is available in a ‘Tactile’ version (with th a lovely clicky feel that’s very loud) or in this ‘Quiet’ version. Three extra USB 2.0 ports are built in, and the USB cable that connects to your Mac is detachable for longer life. However, the two-tone styling looks a bit ugly next to a Mac.

www.snipca.com/17792

This sturdy keyboard in black plastic can be ordered with red switches, like the MX Board 6.0 (above), which press evenly with no click; blue (which have an audible click and tactile bump), brown (tactile but with no click), or black (like red but heavier). Aimed at touchtypists, the key labels are on the front face, where they are less distracting.

£120 from www. snipca.com/17796

This Bluetooth model is available with a choice of Cherry’s MX switch types. An adapted layout makes it very compact and portable, but it might throw off your touch-typing at first. One alternative is Matias’ Bluetooth Folding UK Keyboard for ipad, iphone and Mac (£24 from www.snipca.com/17797).

VERDICT: This Ubuntu Phone has some promising ideas, but it’s not a good choice yet

★★☆☆☆

ALTERNATIVE: BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition £121 This remains the only other Ubuntu phone, and although cheaper it’s even harder to recommend