Hey, thanks for doing a review! Interesting take on the number row keys. Most users do something similar and put macros and superkeys on the top row instead of the numbers. The low-profile of the Glove 80 does complement its keywell perfectly. A low-profile body for our next keyboards is definitely on our radar. And just to answer your doubt, yes there is a sound-dampening foam in the keyboard :)

dygma balls

Great review. I bought this keyboard a couple of months ago and it’s my daily keyboard now, wouldn’t exchange it for anything else now that I’ve gotten used to it. Many of the things you said really resonate with my experience :Bazecor is really great (there are still some bugs that they are fixing, the support team is really reactive), the sound and feel is great (I have changed the stock switches for even more silent ones), I also don’t use the top row at all, but the thumb cluster really makes up for the lack of lower keys - I have many layouts so my fingers hardly need to leave the 10x3 zone at all - and yes all thumb keys are very easy to reach except the most inner ones that I still use for more occasional stuff. About the angle, you should try the tenting (I personally use the tenting+tilting combo, it’s brilliant), and my wrists are perfectly straight.

Hey mate. Cheers for this video, I like your reviews. Like you, I'm a software developer with an ergo keyboard addiction, err what I like to think of as the search for the holy grail. I've tried many of the same boards you have, and my top 3 consists of the MoErgo Glove80 rev 2, Kinesis Advantage 360 (wired, not Pro) and most recently a BastardKB Charybdis. The latter is really interesting, because not only does it also have key wells, it has a built-in trackball too. I use it with the pretty steep (30 degree I think) tenting kit, with Boba U4 silent tactile switches and MT3 PBT keycaps from Drop, using a Colemak layout. Anyway, it's growing on me quickly, despite having a few less keys than the other two boards (4x6 plus 5 or 3 thumb keys - the trackball side has 2 fewer thumb keys). It can be bought prebuilt, which is great because it requires SMD soldering (I'd be fine soldering regular diodes, but stuff that small I'd rather leave to the pros). Prebuilt price is similar to the fully decked Dygma Defy. Other keyboards I like are the ErgoDox and Moonlander, and original Kinesis Advantage (my very first ErgoDox keyboard, 16 years ago). I don't have a Defy myself (all the others I do or did own), but could try a coworker's. For me it's in the same category as ErgoDox and Moonlander: ticks almost all the boxes, only it's flat rather than with key wells. Voyager is well-made and very mobile, but only 2 keys per thumb are too few for my habits, for mobile use I'd rather go with a Sofle or Lily 58, which have around 3 well-reachable thumb keys (and more not so well reachable ones).

You talked about the typing angle not being as good on the Defy, but did you try any of the tenting or reverse tenting options? They make a huge difference on comfort while typing.

I can confirm that the Defy has sound dampening foam inside. I think they even used two layers to fill every nook and cranny. The wireless Defy has a neuron, but the wired Defy has one too (a different one), as it is the central brain of the whole system. One non-obvious advantage of the wireless Defy is that you can connect it to multiple devices at the same time. You could even make a wired connection to one device and a Bluetooth connection to 4 or 5 other devices at the same time. Not all keys in each thumb cluster are equally accessible, and this was never Dygma’s intention. They wanted to design a cluster where everyone could comfortably reach at least 4 keys. For me the bottom row of the thumb cluster is somewhat less accessible. I use those keys for medium frequency functions, like switching between virtual desktops and directly switching to specific programs. For me switching from a regular keyboard to a column staggered keyboard with thumb clusters was difficult in the beginning. I had trouble with the bottom row; getting used to the thumb cluster was the most difficult. However, I was able to switch to full time use within a mere 2 weeks. I’m very happy with my Defy and would never want go back to a regular keyboard. The software and firmware is not perfect, but still very good and getting better every day.

Why didn't you use the tenting? It looked like you had the kb flat. How long did you use the defy vs the other kb?

Had mine for three weeks now. Feels better but still make a lot of typo especially on the thumb cluster, I also totally agree that the top row is hard to reach, I find it very hard to switch fast between layers when typing numbers (say you want to type "23av4;5\6" you need to switch between layers non stop). Would love to see your layer setup.

I have question about the keycap of thumb clusters. I heard from some user on Dygma discord that their keycap of thumb clusters are broke or nearly break when they just type normally. Do you have any issue like that? What are your though on this matter? I wanted to get the defy but worry that if I use it for gaming then I will break...

I have the keyboard, I like it. I bought it on kickstarter over a year ago, I knew they made the raise so I went for it. I wanted it for gaming and I thought the extra thumbkeys would be a leg up on the ergodox. I stopped gaming and just like ergo boards now. I got it for like 100/200 off I think at that time and got everything on it. It looks great. It has some problems still, the software isn't all the way there, and I really think 500 is too much. I think half the thumbkeys aren't the most comfortable either. I'll keep it to game on something with enough buttons, but I'm going for a voyager.

You are correct about the mass effecting sound. Another factor is that the key switches are exposed on the side, which is nice for RGB but bad for sound. Makes it difficult to tune/dampen. This one looks like it doesn't have that hollow core which other ergos have plus its nice metal construction the others lack and market as a "feature for portability." I like that this one is hotswappable. You should look into other switches to put in it (I suggest Gateron Oil Kings, or Gateron Box Ink V2-L) Lubed switches are such a game changer and those two i mentioned are factory lubed (Takes about 8hr to do yourself)

I was looking to replace my moonlander. This looks good. I’m not ready to get one with the curve. Thanks for the super review 🎉

Can you share the link to the video about the home row you mentioned?

@codetothemoon You stated your wrist angle is more natural when typing with the glove80 than the Defy, But is that still the case when you use a tenting angle in the Defy, especially an aggressive one? I asked because I notice you did not use tent your Defy at all in the video, so I wonder if you never tried with the tenting setup and if so why? Was it because the Defy just wasn't comfortable to you while tented or you just never got around trying it like that? I'm trying to decide whether to return my Defy or not and get a Glove80, due to the Defy causing me some pain in my wrist while typing, and I wonder if It'll go away once I start tenting it. The thing that bother me about the Glove80 it the tepid and cheap tenting, it looks pretty useless honestly. Which i why I haven't returned my Defy yet. Because it does like at least a small degree of tenting in my boards. It just feels that much better on my wrist after repeated and prolonged use. Would love your input.

I would love to try the glove80, but I can’t get past the size, the max amount of keys I need is 60, prefer 40. Maybe they will release a glove60?

Curious how well Defy handles home row mods. It’s pretty common knowledge that ZMK handles it the best out of the box whereas QMK requires more fiddling. So if the Defy handles it well that would be a plus in my book.

Kaleidoscope was made originally for the keyboardio keyboards. I feel like the model 100 is a slightly better value than this one (more stuff included at the base $330 price point) That said, if I ever have enough money to upgrade my K8 pro, it'll probably be a moonlander for me.

Can you share you glove80 layout please

Not a programmer, just curious: what do you guys do for arrow/cursor keys on this kinda keyboard?

is there any wireless split membrane keyboard that's more portable?

Do you have an extra of your 'daily driver' keyboard on your shelf? Or do you not really daily drive it and can leave it on a shelf?

Every time I look at my current, non-split keyboard, I can't help but think about the Dygma. It's like looking at a black-and-white TV and knowing color TVs exist. The split design of the Raise isn't just innovative; it's like giving each hand its own personal throne. I bet typing on it feels like conducting an orchestra with just your fingertips. Here's hoping I'll soon upgrade to this symphony of ergonomics! 🎶🎹

For that price you can get a custom 3D printed keyboard from cyboard tailor made to your hand size

What is this switches ? 3:50

Anyone know if it's possible to change the switches from mx to low profile chalk switches?

this looks sick. i'll be sticking to my corne

How fast do you type?

I'm selling my Dygma Defy, did the Kickstarter, bought the moonlander with tenting kit because it took to long and now don't need it. Is black, dash keycaps, linear switches, and tenting kit. I open the package to see if everything was there, no use.

I don't know if I could get used to the curly braces not being there. I really want to try a split keyboard, but I can't seem to find one that's just a normal keyboard, split in half.

My whole reason for wanting a board like Defy is split an tenting paired with those thumbkeys because my gosh gaming for last few years has be shit when I have spells,skills an weapons to swap between while moving like how does one play Titan-fall 2 on standard boards

clicked a link for Glove 80, and lo and behold...

I wonder if you have an opinion on ZSA Voyager

Price issues thats what i hate in these kybrds

Need a more portable next gen keyboard, this one looks really impressive. My advantage 360 is a the opposite of easily portable.

Now do the Moonlander

BTW something that impressed me when trying a coworker's Defy was the instant configuration without flashing, had not seen that before. Later I learned that all QMK boards can do that too when using VIA.

Seems kind of weird that you can get US and dash keycaps for free but if you want other languages you need to buy US and then your extra language on top. The amount isn't huge compared to the price of the board but it just feels like nickel and diming Looks like there's free worldwide shipping and minimal import fees though, which would make it much cheaper than competitors (which usually double in price outside the US), but i haven't tried actually buying so not sure. You never really know until you get a surprise bill from customs.

Glad to see that you liked it. For me bazecor was a dream breaker between forcing you to a ui, the lack of features and the bugs. But I am probably niche

Finally the perfect all aroud bord. This with hall effect switches would be ridiculously good for gaming. I remove my spacebar to use the lower key row for inputs. This keyboard has the perfect amount of thumb keys.

i don't get how people justify backlight + wireless combo because backlight turns off after inactivity timeout making it impossible to accurately position hands again. Defeats the purpose of backlight

Have you tried the advantage 360?

Dang it I JUST switched to a glove 80…

Ma! I pimped my coder with a new keyboard! Now he is ten times as fast as before. ;-)

only thing that negates me is the price

Dygma Balls!

Thanks for confirming my suspicious

Massive missed opportunity here to have branded it LYGMA

DYGMA BALLS HUEHUEHUE

The switch from a regular QWERTY Ducky keyboard to the Defy was not hard, the Defy has better tenting options then most out there. Most people that have a tenting Defy do use it if, its over 80% usage. If you can’t handle the Defy at the moment, get a Raise then learn the Defy later

There is no justification for such price on this keyboards. Materials and technologies are well known for decades. They can't cost so much. Even batch sizes can not justify price

Dygma balls lmao

I feel like the dygma is a next gen gaming keyboard more than a next gen ERGO keyboard. A lot of the thumb keys aren't comfortable.

Dygma balls

LOL. So if you are worried about things that have nothing to do with how a keyboard actually functions, pick the Dygma Defy over the Glove 80.

I am already team Moonlander, sorry 🤗

Dygma bum bum

360 is a good price, its fucking funny when youtubers say this shit, getting endorced by products and then trying to soft land the fact that these ergo(or next gen keyboard like you say) are stupidly priced. You can get a cheap laptop for that price, and guess what it comes with a keyboard. I am keyboard enthusiast myself, I can buy a 600$ keyboard but that doesn't mean the product is rightly prices

Please stop creating unnecessary and uninformative names like "next-gen board", it's a split ergo keyboard, they've been around since the 90s if not before that. It doesn't add any value to create this name. Other than that it was a great review.

Now thats a keyboard, mate. Sorry for being too rude in your previous keyboard review. Until "Naya Create" arrives this keyboard will do.

I get you gotta pay bills but I don’t think you know your viewers since you’re advertising a $500+ keyboard. 😂

329$ for a keyboard. "Is actually a pretty good value". What a laugh!!! When people earn too much more than they deserve (since we are nothing without others) they completley lost track of reality.

Idk. No keyboard is worth $500+. I can probably beat you in a game with a $10 keyboard.

keyball39