I really like the feel of my Matias Tactile Pro 4 but it’s too big to be comfortable. Luckily Matias also makes a smaller version without a number pad. It’s also wireless, quiet(er), and has a funny name: the Laptop Pro.
The Laptop Pro is a 75% keyboard and is a bit smaller than my Keychron K8 due to some careful key omissions. It has an abbreviated navigation key section that only contains the page up, page down, and delete keys. The arrow keys are tucked a bit under the shift key, which is shorter than on the Pro 4, but not by much. The spacebar is also shorter, but matches the size and placement of the spacebar on a MacBook.
These are the correct compromises. I still have a forward delete key. The right shift key is shorter, but not as short as on my Keychron K6 and far less prone to errors. The spacebar is shorter, but works exactly as I’m used to on my MacBook, which means it’s fine. The rest of the keys are the same as they are on their larger sibling so I get full size command, option, tab, caps lock, return, and forward slash keys. Everything is located in a logical place, which adds up to a comfortable typing experience that doesn’t require retraining.
Much of the Laptop Pro’s design is shared with its sibling, but it has a different color scheme – black keys with a silver plastic case. Whereas the Tactile Pro targeted a desktop aesthetic, the Laptop Pro targets a MacBook aesthetic. The silver plastic looks rather cheap and shows some inconsistencies and rough seams, but the black keys look good. While it has the same 2003-inspired shapes as its bigger sibling, it’s smaller and more portable. I like the black keys more and can forgive the attempt at making plastic look like aluminum.
The Laptop Pro is wireless over Bluetooth, with a battery that can last 6 months without going to sleep. It can only connect to one device, so transferring it between my work machine and home machine requires re-pairing each time. It charges over USB, but does it with a rare USB-A to USB-A cable, which is the first and only one I own. It includes two additional USB ports like its sibling, but they only support changing and cannot transfer data – you can’t plug a wired mouse or USB drive in and expect it to work. They’re only active when the keyboard is plugged in to charge. Speaking of charging, the status LED is inside the left side USB port and is very difficult to see – you literally need to look into the port to see it clearly. I’d prefer a dedicated light on the case.
The difference that can’t be seen is that the Laptop Pro uses different key switches, which Matias refers to as Quiet Click. They’re the same general construction as the switches in the Tactile Pro, but include dampening material. They still click, but quietly in more of a muted crunch. The Matias website refers to them as “tactile” switches, but these are not tactile like a Cherry MX brown1. These are much better. They feel similar to the switches in the Tactile Pro but have a quieter sound and require a bit more of a firm press to activate.
Going back to the full sized Tactile Pro 4, I’m conflicted. I still like the Laptop Pro with the quiet click keys, but they aren’t as nice as the regular switches. I’ve been using the Laptop Pro at work and the Tactile Pro at home and I find myself enjoying the Tactile Pro more. It’s a bit easier to type on and the sound is less of an issue at home. That doesn’t make the Laptop Pro bad though – it’s a great compromise between clicky mechanical and not completely rude to my coworkers. I’ll be keeping the Laptop Pro at work and the Tactile Pro at home.
- These require a lot more force than a brown and have more springback. They are true to their name – they are a quieter clicky switch. ↩︎
Relatively Ambitious 