Typewriters, invented by Christopher Latham Sholes in 1867, were the catalyst for the development of the modern keyboard. Even though this ground-breaking invention wasn’t the first machine capable of printing text on paper, it was the first practical typing machine ever created in the history of humanity.
Later, in 1878, Sholes teamed up with James Densmore to patent the QWERTY keyboard, which was the first of its kind. There is no well-documented development process for this keyboard, which was named for the positioning of its keys. Some speculate that it was created to reduce the jamming that frequently plagued the typewriter’s mechanics during its early years.
With the invention of electric typewriters, electricity became a part of the world of keyboards for the first time. Although Thomas Edison invented an early version of the electric typewriter in the 1870s, it wasn’t until the 1900s that the new technology became widely available.
By the 1950s, electric typewriters were becoming increasingly popular in offices across the United States, and it was only a matter of time before computer-based keyboards became the standard. It was in the late 1990s that Apple released the first iMac, a game-changing computer that featured a QWERTY keyboard, signaling the beginning of the shift toward modern keyboards.
Nowadays, keyboards can be found almost anywhere. They’re usually fairly inexpensive, but some can be prohibitively expensive. Here is a list of the top eight most expensive keyboards ever made, in no particular order.
Table of Contents
Most Expensive Keyboard
1. SteelSeries Apex Pro gaming keyboard
A few features distinguish this high-priced keyboard from the competition. The majority of the keys can be customized by the user to provide a more personalized typing experience. The feature is intended for gamers who may require a specific amount of key travel while they are playing a game. It is theorized that doing so reduces the likelihood of pressing a key and the computer not recognizing the input.
It also stands out for its RGB backlights, which provide a pleasant glow to the keys, as well as the OLED panel installed above the number pad on the Apex pro. A screen-saver feature, which allows users to display a custom image or GIF, is included with this OLED panel, which allows users to customize things like key travel and key backlighting.
All of those features sound pretty cool, and SteelSeries makes you pay for them in a big way, as well. Although this keyboard has a typical price tag of nearly $200, it is a bargain when compared to the prices of the other items on this list.
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The Apex Pro isn’t the only keyboard on the market that includes a backlighting system. Surprisingly, backlit keyboards have actually been around for quite some time now. While the exact date of their invention is unknown, General Electric (GE) filed a patent for an early backlit keyboard in 1980.
2. Varmilo Dragon
With the introduction of the Varmilo Dragon keyboard, prices begin to rise. This setup features a one-of-a-kind dragon design and color scheme that is spread across the keys, paying homage to the legendary Loong dragon from Chinese folklore.
This keyboard, which costs more than $230, is surprisingly straightforward. The Varmilo Dragon keyboard isn’t the most technologically advanced keyboard on the market. It has a straightforward USB connection port and fixed white LED backlights that cannot be changed. The keycaps, on the other hand, are notable for the method by which they were created: dye sublimation, in which the design is melted into the plastic, resulting in a long-lasting, high-resolution image.
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The actuation force of this keyboard is 45g, which means that the keys require 45 grams of force to be activated. In the opinion of one publication, this is the optimal gaming configuration.
3. Kirameki Pure Gold Keyboard (Kirameki Pure Gold Keyboard)
When it first came out in 2008, this gold keyboard from Kirameki sold for $359, but it’s likely that you’ll have trouble finding one today because they’re all sold out at the company’s original distributor.
Although the expensive keyboard is referred to as “Pure Gold,” it is actually just a gold leaf-coated keyboard. Aside from that, the keyboard has a fairly straightforward design: buyers will receive two USB ports as well as a connector cable that can be attached to the left, right, or center of the keyboard’s configuration.
A special application process developed by Wazakura Studios in Japan prevents the gold leaf from rubbing away after use, which is an interesting feature considering how thin the layer of gold leaf appears to be on the product.
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In a lot of the marketing materials for this keyboard, Midas’ touch is mentioned. This is a reference to the legend of King Midas, a Greek myth that tells the story of a man who was able to turn anything into gold with a single stroke of his staff. It’s interesting to note that King Midas was a real person, despite the fact that his legendary power was unquestionably a myth.
4. Optimus Popularis is the most popular candidate.
With the Optimus Popularis keyboard, everything becomes extremely expensive. The setup can easily cost more than some high-end computers, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $1,500. And what is it about this keyboard that makes it so unique? The most appealing feature is the ability to customize the keys. But these aren’t just any customizable keys: they’re the following: A mini-LCD screen is located on each keycap of the Popularis, and these screens can display any image or video. In addition, users can assign any key to any function, resulting in a truly customizable experience for them.
Even more astonishingly, the Optimus Popularis continues to operate beyond the borders of Europe. In addition, the keyboard has a customizable display set above the keys, which can display anything from stock market information to email notification notifications.
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Since the release of this keyboard in 2012, there has been a significant amount of advancement in the field of customisable keyboard screens. The Touch Bar, an OLED display strip that ran along the top of the MacBook Pro’s keyboard, was the most notable addition to the company’s lineup in 2016.
5. TouchStream LP Zero-Force Keyboard from FingerWorks is the fifth option.
Price: $1,500 and up
FingerWorks is a brand that has a unique feature: a 2-in-1 mouse and keyboard design.
Year of publication: 2007
The FingerWorks TouchStream LP Zero-Force Keyboard has a zero-force design.
This high-priced keyboard is a little strange in design. First and foremost, the website that used to sell it includes a prominent health warning that warns users to be on the lookout for “recurring discomfort, pain, and throbbing” while using the product. Second, although the website claims that the keyboard has been discontinued, the “last two unopened units sold for more than” $1,500 each, according to the site. As a result, it appears that the keyboard has become a collector’s item.
There’s also a YouTube video that simply shows someone typing on the strange keyboard for more than a minute at a time without stopping. The video has received more than 300,000 views and has received more dislikes than likes, which only adds to the confusion.
What does this keyboard have to offer in the face of such a bizarre internet presence? The keyboard layout is actually a pretty cool mix of typing and scrolling functions, which is a nice touch. Users can navigate their screens using the keyboard itself, by employing a variety of different gestures. However, the website that sold them claims that they had a “high return rate” while the product was still available for purchase.
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When it was still available for purchase, this keyboard was offered in either a QWERTY or a DVORAK layout. While QWERTY is the most common keyboard layout among English speakers, DVORAK is a more ergonomic alternative that is intended to reduce strain while typing.
6. Optimus Maximus is a fictional character created by the author of the novel Optimus Maximus
The cost is $1,600.
Optimus is a brand with a distinctive feature: customizable OLED keys.
Year of publication: 2008
Optimus Maximus is a fictional character created by the author of the novel Optimus Maximus.
Another entry from Optimus Prime has been added to the list. This time, the keyboard is being offered for an unbelievable $1,600! Because of its high price, it has earned the moniker “expensive novelty,” and it’s not difficult to see why.
The Maximus, which was released the same year as the Popularis (Optimus’ other expensive keyboard), didn’t offer much in the way of features beyond its upgraded OLED keys — which, according to reports, weren’t particularly good. According to one review, “the tightly packed keys lead to a high number of mis-pressed keys, and the mushy responsiveness slows down your words per minute.”
The OLED keycaps, on the other hand, have some interesting features. Noteworthy is how easily it integrates with Apple or Windows operating systems, allowing for the automatic inclusion of specific command buttons.
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The OLED keycaps on this keyboard replace the LCD keycaps on the Popularis. What’s the difference between the two? LCD displays are essentially “all or nothing,” while OLED displays are controlled pixel-by-pixel in the majority of cases. As a result, OLED screens have higher contrast than LCD screens.
7.The Keyboard of the Seafarer
The cost is $1,650.
DATAMANCER is the brand name.
Design with a nautical theme is a distinguishing feature.
the year in which it will be released is unknown
Secret Compass Online is the source of the image for The Seafarer Keyboard.
The Seafarer is the keyboard for you if you want an expensive, made-to-order keyboard. Unique in its own right, this keyboard has an antique design with a worn and “weathered aesthetic.” With a name like Seafarer and a visually arresting design, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this keyboard was inspired by ocean going vessels.
Aside from its attractive appearance, the Seafarer has mechanics that are rated for 50 million keystrokes and tactile features that are similar to those of vintage typewriters.
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Undoubtedly, the most intriguing feature of this unique keyboard is the antique map print that appears behind the keys on each row. Originally drawn from the archives of Peter Schenk, a historic cartographer who was born in 1660, this design has been updated.
8. Have a Happy Hacking Keyboard Day!
Happy Hacking is a brand that costs $4,240.
Gold-dusted keys are a distinguishing feature.
Year of publication: 2006
Greetings from the Hacking Keyboard
In terms of price, the Happy Hacking Keyboard is the most expensive keyboard ever created.
The Guinness World Records organization officially recognized this keyboard as the most expensive keyboard ever created. The setup, which sells for an incredible $4,240, includes gold-dusted keys that have been hand-painted with Urushi lacquer, a Japanese material that has been around for more than 7,000 years.
The keyboard itself appears to be fairly standard, but the fact that the keys do not have any characters printed on them, as well as their eye-catching color, distinguishes the design.
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Even though Happy Hacking has been manufacturing keyboards for decades, this limited edition model was released in 2006 to commemorate the company’s tenth anniversary as a brand.
read also: CoreNexa Deskop App