Kensington unveiled a new “silent” mechanical keyboard for business and home use Tuesday. It’s the new MK7500F QuietType Pro Silent Wireless Mechanical Keyboard with Meeting Controls.
“Ideal for use in noise-sensitive home or office work environments, the MK7500F delivers a combination of beauty, durability and functionality, to provide professionals with a premium, quiet typing experience,” the company said.
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Kensington MK7500F QuietType Pro Silent Wireless Mechanical Keyboard with Meeting Controls
The new Kensington QuietType mechanical keyboard, also known as model K72201, aims for a premium typing feel with less noise. You can hear audio demos on Kensington’s website and in the video below that indicate you shouldn’t take “silent” in the product’s name literally. It’s simply not as loud as many mechanical keyboards.
And the keyboard also includes meeting controls among its programmable keys. In other words, you can use the meeting-control keys in concert with other Kensington gear, like a webcam, or you can use an app to reprogram those keys to do something else.
Business and home uses
“While virtual meetings have ushered in new levels of efficiency and convenience in the workplace, they have also driven the requirement to spend more time on the computer both in the office and at home,” said Lisa Schuiteboer, a Kensington marketing manager.
“Unlike quality ‘silent’ mechanical keyboards from gaming brands, our new keyboard is designed specifically to address the needs of business professionals,” she added. “The MK7500F features a design that is suitable for a professional work environment, and enhances productivity with a solution that is more comfortable, convenient, durable and accurate, than traditional keyboards.”
Kensington is quick to point out in its press materials that the keyboards suits home use, too, especially for remote workers. Here’s its main description of the keyboard:
Quieter, sturdier, and more tactile than mainstream membrane keyboards, the MK7500F features QuietType keys, which are 15db quieter than traditional mechanical office keyboards, and greatly reduce keystroke noise to minimize distractions during online meetings and in the surrounding workspace. Built-in meeting controls provide convenient camera and audio controls to simplify and optimize the virtual meeting experience when using popular conferencing applications such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
The new keyboard won a 2023 Red Dot Design Award for product design.
And it is IPX4-rated for water resistance and “features a full-size ergonomic extruded aluminum frame, a diamond edge bezel, and high polish for a high-end professional look,” Kensington said.
MK7500F QuietType Pro features
In the YouTube video above, The Gadgeteer reviewer Julie Strietelmeier demos the keyboard’s keystroke sound.
Kensington listed the new keyboard’s features:
Designed for professionals – The keyboard provides a truly quiet typing experience, n-key roll over (NKRO), and compatibility for Windows and macOS.
QuietType keys – Kailh Midnight Pro Silent Tactile Switches and sound dampening pads (<55db) ensure a responsive and quiet typing experience.
Comfortable and durable – Ergonomic design includes dual-position feet and a gel wrist rest. The aluminum frame, high-quality laser-etched ABS keycaps and a sealed IPX4-certified spill-proof design ensure years of reliable operation.
Designed to meet MIL-STD-810H Method 504.3 Contamination by Fluids standard, users can wipe down the keyboard with common household disinfectants without degrading appearance or impacting use.
Multiple connection options – Connect up to five active devices – three via Bluetooth, one using the included 2.4GHz USB receiver for a reliable connection up to 32 feet away, and one using the included USB-A cable so users can use and charge the keyboard at the same time.
Enhances productivity – Compatible with video conferencing applications including Microsoft Teams and Zoom, the keyboard features dedicated meeting keys that enable users to automatically bring virtual meeting software to the foreground and toggle between talk/mute and video on/off.
Four reprogrammable hot keys offer quick access to additional shortcuts for Windows and macOS, and optional Kensington Konnect software enables users to program additional keys, create macros, adjust key mappings, manage profiles and more.
Compatible with Kensington’s Professional Video Conferencing solution, which includes webcams, professional headsets and audio, and lighting and mounting accessories.
You can pick up the MK7500F QuietType Pro Silent Wireless Mechanical Keyboard with Meeting Controls on the company’s site or on Amazon for $199.
Where to buy: Amazon
Wireless Full Size - Professional Keyboard, Customizable Keys, IPX4 Spill-Proof, Wipe Down Protection, Compatible with Windows and macOS.
