The Best Split Keyboard in the World? Dygma Defy Review
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- Though the Dygma Defy is one of the most gorgeous, customizable, and expensive split keyboards on the market, it still has a few issues that stop it from becoming the reigning champion of mechanical keyboards. Let's check out the pros, cons, and other features of this ergonomic keyboard in this Dygma Defy review.
Dygma provided the keyboard for review for free. They had no editorial control or input.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 - Start
01:33 - Overview of My Dygma Defy
02:56 - Why a Split Keyboard Anyway?
03:50 - Wrist Pain and Contortions
05:59 - Target Audience for the Dygma Defy
09:40 - Things I dislike
10:21 - Why I Don’t Use the Dygma Defy Daily
10:36 - Home Row Mods
11:47 - How to Do Home Row Mods on Defy
12:03 - Super Keys
14:30 - Firmware and Random Issues
15:33 - Bluetooth
16:16 - PSA: Using the Neuron and Plugging Into the Computer
17:52 - Why i Love the Dygma Defy (even though I hate it)
20:49 - Tenting
21:51 - Best Keyboard Videos on UA-cam?
22:28 - Hot Swappable Switches
24:01 - Support Responsiveness
24:30 - Breaking Key Caps
25:50 - Travel Keyboard and Battery Life
28:23 - Closing Thoughts
In this Dygma Defy review, I'll show you why the Dygma Defy isn't the best split keyboard in the world...just yet. I'll explain some of the problems with the Dygma Defy and why it means I don't use the Dygma Defy on a daily basis. If you're looking for a keyboard with tenting, wireless connectivity, and per-key RGB, the Dygma Defy is a fantastic bet...as long as you understand some of the issues that await.
#uprighthealth #mechanicalkeyboard #keebs #ergonomics #keyboards
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Hi Matt! Thank you for taking the time to review the Dygma Defy and share your honest opinion!
We are redoing a big chunk of our firmware to fix the thing that you mention so we hope you give it a second go soon. Oh, and on a side note: please remember to deploy the side legs when using the tenting, they are key for stability 😊
I am looking forward to the improved firmware stability! Tenting stability was decent enough for me with everything properly deployed. 😀💪
Thanks for an honest review, I was wondering about this half a year ago but I went with the Glove80 after all and haven't been disappointed, the build quality is solid and bluetooth works near perfectly. With lights battery won't last but without em can go for multiple days or even week without charging. I really recommend Glove80 for ergonomics, and the keywell helps too. No superkeys or anything but you can customize stuff hardware level.
Thanks, i keep looking at the glove80 but the configurator seems like too much to get into. I don't wanna have to learn to program to get my home row mods to work. ZSA does an incredible job with Oryx!
Interesting. I think you might enjoy the Kinesis 360 as well. I've been using it since December 2022 and used the Kinesis Advantage for a decade before that.
Keep up the great work covering ergo keyboards!
I've crossed that one off my list due to many reviews mentioning software and bluetooth issues. Just doesn't seem like a good choice given all the other options like Moonlander, Ergodox, Moergo, and all the DIY solutions (for the truly insane).
I wouldn’t be so quick to discount the 360. I own a Moonlander, and an Ergodox. Unusable from an ergonomics perspective. They gather dust. I own a Glove80. Works great as a travel keyboard. But my daily drivers are Advantage 360s. The quality, weighty feel, and the build feels so nice to use.I’ve got 3, as well as older Kenesis boards, as well. I’ve had zero problems with them. I am an advanced user, though, and extensively customize the layers and whatnot. So take that as you will.
I have literally dreamed of owning a keyboard like this... a split keyboard with columnar staggered columns and completely customizable keys with multiple thumb buttons!!!?? Take my money!
There’s a lot better split ergo keyboards with loaded thumb clusters for a lot cheaper. Please don’t waste money on this if that’s ur needs
@@adamsmith-fi2kz recommendations? I personally think this one looks the best. I can bite the bullet on 600 but if there’s a similar option for cheaper i’d like to know
I've been using the Defy for about 7 months. I saved some money by going wired and no underglow. I use the per key RGB for layer identification and felt the underglow would just be distracting. The wireless might have been nice to have but I work 100% at a dual monitor workstation, so not worth the upcharge. Comfort and desk layout has been a major upgrade. I'm not super fast, but I do touch type and I love staggered columnar keys. It took about a week for it to feel right, two weeks to be about full speed. I use superkeys and macros in all my layers and find it much easier than when I used a separate macro board.
I have a Defy. I got one after getting the Dygma Raise (their first Keyboard). I will note that like you I have the fully configured unit. The difference is that I also bought a wired neuron (yes there are differences), but I did so only as a normally I keep my keyboard wired. I only have Wireless in case I travel and I thought it might be a good feature to have "just in case" as I can keep the wireless neuron in the case (note if you do this, the programming is stored on the neuron, so you have to basically make each change in bazecor twice, swapping neurons in between).
I also knew about the bad battery life as I've been tracking this product since they announced it preproduction. At one point I had removed wireless from my order, but added it back when they added support for up to 5 BT devices. I thought this could be useful from time to time in my use case, though I'll admit it's rare. At one poind it was rated at 20 hours, which is really bad, IMO, but like I said, for my use case, it's not that big a deal. I will say I've had wireless keyboards (without RGB) that last months.
The rocking issues you're talking about is likely because you are not putting out the little feet to the outside when you do the tenting. I ran into this when I first got mine as well. Also not sure it supports using all 3 tenting feet at once, but I could be mistaken.
As to Super keys, it's what it is. I don't use it. I tried, but had too many problems just like you. It's sad because if it worked as they expected it to, I feel like it would be a game changer. They've listed it as Beta since they only had the Raise and I've tried it on both. That said, I do feel like they are actively trying to always do better. They still work to improve keyboards long after their sold, which is nice.
Also, they are releasing the Raise 2. If you prefer a standard layout, but also want split, it's a great keyboard. I've ordered Raise 2 to add to my Dygma Collection as the Defy has been hard for me to adjust to, but I love the features like the built in tenting, RGBW, etc. I will say that my issues adjusting to the Raise I feel are because of a few things:
1. My pinky's are really used to stretching to the outside, but Dygma decided to put the extra row to the inside. My index fingers are not used to reaching that far in, so those 3 keys feel wasted to me and I really wish they were instead on the outside where I feel they would get used more. Based on my discussions on their Discord and subreddit, I'm not alone in this.
2. I'm totally not used to Ortholinear and though my typing is almost back up to pre-defy days, still getting used to it. Most my mistakes are related to #1 though.
Things I would miss if I left my Defy:
The thumb cluster is amazing. i don't use all the keys on each thumb cluster, but coming from the Raise which had 4 thumb keys on each side to 8 is just purely amazing. I use most of my thumb keys though for layer switching.
Anyways, thanks for the well thought out review. I'm adding my thoughts here because i do think that it's not only a great keyboard (for the right person), but Dygma is an amazing company and I'm proud to support them. They know they don't make "perfect" products but they are always working to perfect them. If you know this going in, it's a great community to be a part of.
Do you have a review video of the Ergodox?
Not yet! I'll likely do a comparison with the Moonlander soon. :)
(Speaking as a Kinesis advantage user) Even just from the thumbnail, I can answer the titular question.
No.
Because,
not curved.
Thanks for the video. Sounds like too many glitches to make the extra features worthwhile, especially for the price.
Hi! We are working on making the firmware much much better, on wired and RF it's very stable, so it's mainly BT
@@DygmaLab Can confirm that RF wireless is stable (as long as you plug directly into your computer and not through a USB hub).
Glove80 all the way! You don't have to wait that long for fixes, because zmk community is very large.
I really don't want to have to learn how to program to get mods working...
@@Uprighthealth I wouldn't call that programming, because you don't have to write any functions to get the most of the features... And you can easily take config from others(in their configurator you can clone configs of other people). Just take a look at the configurator and decide for yourself:) They made it really easy(even though I decided to go further)
I bought Dygma defy 2 months ago, but I still can’t get used to it. I find the keyboard layout inconvenient because it's impossible to locate the familiar keys by touch since the layout is not columnar. Every time I use it, I have to make several attempts to find the right key. It's absolutely unusable for me personally.
Standard price for these types of keyboards. The Moonlander now has a competitor.
I think the big differentiator is the Moonlander is SUPER STABLE. I'm typing on one right now. 😀
So in summary, skip it and buy one which works. I have the UHK.
Are you just migrating to Japan? You are spending a ton of time of there.
"And a whole other array of crazy keyboard options that I'm not going to get into."
Why not? You're asking the question if this is the best split keyboard, and you're ignoring the actual potential best. The Kinesis 360.
From what I've seen, the 360s software is no fun to mess with. In that statement I was referring more to the DIY options that require you to build your own keeb. The 360 just looks like a big wireless monster with bad software. 😅
$369 for the cheapest... What are you smoking! BRO...
$600? gods, thanks for putting the price early in the video. definitely a no from me ┐(´д｀)┌
the price is absurd for molded plastic. the markup has to be 99%.
To be fair, a lot of it is aluminum and feels quite solid.
Not molded plastic. Machines aluminum top. It's a really nice feeling keyboard. Maybe it's not for you, but shouldn't really knock it until you try it.
Looks like your holding them with monkey feet in the thumbnail 🙈