Over the years, I've tried to learn to type quickly on an "Alice" layout keyboard. Review models have come and gone, but the steep learning curve has always been too much, and I have always reverted to a standard layout.
I'm also keen to find new compact folding keyboards suitable for use on the move with a tablet, so I can still do some light work without carrying around my laptop.
These two worlds have collided with the Keychron B11 Pro, a folding keyboard with Bluetooth that's ideal for travel, but with an Alice layout.
I've been using it with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 , and to my surprise, it may finally be the Alice keyboard for me.
What's the Keychron B11 Pro's hardware like?
Just the right size
The Keychron B11 Pro is a thin, relatively lightweight folding keyboard compatible with Android, iOS, Mac, Linux, and Windows machines.
It connects using Bluetooth or a USB-C cable and has a 250mAh battery inside rated for about 138 hours of use on a single charge.
The Alice layout refers to how the keys are split down the middle and then curved outward, taking on a shape like a pair of wings.
It's supposed to be more ergonomic and help reduce wrist strain. Not only that, but it looks pretty cool too.
Unlike full mechanical Alice keyboards, the Keychron B11 Pro uses low-profile keys with a scissor mechanism, complete with a concave surface for comfortable, precise typing.
When folded, the B1 Pro is a few millimeters thicker than the Tab S11, with a smaller overall footprint. It's not pocketable unless your pockets are huge, but the 258-gram weight means it'll slip mostly unnoticed into a bag.
The soft-touch material on the outside gives it a classy, high-quality feel.
Connecting and typing
Surprisingly easy
I connected the B11 Pro to the Galaxy Tab S11 using Bluetooth, and I've also used it with a USB-C connected to my Apple Mac Mini.
I've typed several thousand words using it, and the words you're reading now were typed when the keyboard was connected to my Mac.
I saw this because, in the past, I'd been able to slowly prod an Alice layout keyboard and generate a few paragraphs before deciding life was too short, and I had work to get done.
My usual keyboard of choice was called back into action, but not so with the B11 Pro.
The initial shock is still there, where muscle memory means your fingers don't press the key you expect, and any touch typing skills disappear.
Still, after a few minutes of looking at where I typed, I found I was getting into a flow with the B11 Pro, and halfway through the first piece I'd typed, I was touch typing again.
To be clear, this has never happened to me before with an Alice layout keyboard. Sure, I still make mistakes, and I get confused about the location of the B and N keys, but not to the extent where I have to stop using the keyboard.
What's typing like?
Fast and comfortable
Being able to type on a keyboard is just the start, and the key feel matters just as much as design, connectivity, and convenience.
The B11 Pro has a solid feel, and the keys have quite a lot of travel, but the design means that even when you graze a key, you're still pressing the one you want. This helps minimize the pain of learning an Alice layout.
It's not the quietest keyboard, and there's no backlight either, but for a keyboard designed for mobile use, these aren't serious downsides.
It's not a horrid sound either, and I quite like a little audio feedback when I'm typing. Just don't expect silence from it.
The scissor motion is light, and you don't need to treat the keyboard roughly for it to recognize inputs.
The keyboard has a switchable Mac or Windows layout and is compatible with the Keychron Launcher, where you can customize keys and shortcuts, create macros, adjust settings, and update the firmware.
What makes it special?
Low-profile design
Why has the B11 Pro clicked when so many before it have failed? It's a question I've been asking since I suddenly found a neat rhythm, but I can't say for sure what makes the B11 Pro work for me, although I have an idea.
It's the first Alice keyboard I've used with a low-profile design. The keys are flatter, meaning there are fewer mistypes.
This is my preferred keyboard style in general, but I have used and enjoyed full mechanical keyboards in the past. However, many years of typing on a laptop have made me feel most at home with low-profile keys.
It's possible my familiarity, along with the B11 Pro's low-profile design, has meant it clicks in a way other models with raised keys and more travel haven't.
I'm pretty sure if I went back to a mechanical Alice keyboard, I'd still struggle.
A fun, different typing experience
My go-to mobile keyboard?
I've really enjoyed typing on the B11 Pro. Leaving aside any possible long-term benefits from the Alice layout, it looks cool, and it's fun to type on something a bit different for a change. I like the noise it makes and how it works with a host of machines.
I'll be using it regularly, and it'll likely replace my ProtoArc folding keyboard , as it's considerably more enjoyable to type on. Amazingly, I actually type faster on the B11 Pro.
If you've also tried and failed to type on an Alice keyboard in the past, don't dismiss the Keychron B11 Pro. I was in the same situation, and approached it expecting to be defeated by yet another example, but it has turned out to be a revelation.
If you're looking for a compact, folding keyboard for use on the move or in your home, the Keychron B11 Pro is a great buy. It's available now for $65.
