Mechanical keyboards are highly personal, so please take my opinion with a grain of salt when I say I didn't like the Das Keyboard MacTigr. However, this $219 full-size keyboard is macOS-only, so Mac users who have been craving a full-size keyboard should be overjoyed.

But be careful to consider that the MacTigr may not be everything you wanted, especially when you look at its value proposition. There are certainly some good points, such as the sturdy aluminum and steel construction and the two-port USB-C hub. However, this keyboard left me unsatisfied with its cheap keycaps (which pop off the switches incredibly easily even while typing), squishy switches, and a sound profile I can't stand.

In this Das Keyboard MacTigr review, I explain what's going on with this keyboard and why I recommend other products for the Mac instead.

The MacTigr comes in one configuration and color: black with Cherry MX Low Profile Red switches. 105 keys, this keyboard requires a hefty $219. The MacTigr will be available in early September at Das Keyboard (open in new tab) or Amazon.

The MacTigr is one of the more expensive Mac-specific keyboards. Already a niche market, there are several more affordable options from manufacturers such as Vissles and Keychron; in the case of Vissles and Keychron, you can get the full-size K10 wireless keyboard with hot-swappable options. Most Mac-specific mechanical keyboards are 75% layout, so full-size options are limited.

Understated is the best way to describe the MacTigr. This keyboard is a stealth design and will not draw the eye with flashy keycaps, RGB, or backlighting. The solid black aluminum case blends in with most desk furniture, as do the black caps. (Legend is white.)

Steel plate is usually not my favorite material for custom keyplates, but I don't mind it. However, this MacTigr stuff just doesn't do it for me. The profile is dull and I don't like the sound the cap makes when it bottoms out. I don't even think there is a noise buffer under the plate. In fact, no one in my family who had to hear me type on the MacTigr liked it.

Even more so if you like (or need) a full-size keyboard; the MacTigr adds an F13 key, an eject key, and a sleep button. But the Mac's function keys are few and far between. At least there are controls for display brightness and media playback. The volume knob is a nice touch. It is very smooth to the touch and feel. The clicks are quiet and satisfying when activated. [Because the keyboard occupies the Mac's USB-C port, a two-port USB-C hub is included on the back of the MacTigr. It is puzzling that this $219 keyboard is not wireless.

I typed this entire review on the MacTigr, and honestly, I can't wait to get back to my main keyboard. I generally prefer tactile switches for typing, but in some cases, like the Vissles V84 and its VS II switches, I've also started using linear switches. However, MacTigr's Cherry Low Profile Reds do not excite me.

They feel squishy and unsatisfying. The switch has 45g of actuation force, yet my typing feels shifty; maybe it's the 3.2mm travel. Either way, I do not enjoy this switch, and the MacTigr does not allow me to remove the switch and replace it with another one.

The low-profile keycaps, on the other hand, irritate me. They feel cheap and thin and easily pop off the switches. In fact, when the keyboard arrived, three or four of the caps had come off. Even after pressing all the caps to make sure the keycaps were securely fastened to the switch, one cap even came loose while typing.

Because there is no backlight, the MacTigr keycaps are a very plain black with a white legend. I don't find it that exciting, but that's a personal thing; I'm not a gamer.

The MacTigr is not for gamers, but for Mac professionals who need a full-size keyboard; there is no RGB, no backlighting, no fancy profiles, and the keycaps are very plain black.

However, one of the signature features of the Das Keyboard is NKRO (n-key rollover), which is included on the MacTigr. This allows the keyboard to register more than one input at a time. n represents an integer, so technically, the keyboard can be set up to register, say, five keystrokes at the same time. This means that even if you type incredibly fast, you don't have to worry about the keyboard missing an input from one keystroke to another.

In reality, however, this is a niche feature; in the case of the MacTigr, it would be useful for those who type fast, such as for data entry tasks using the numeric keypad. Otherwise, most people will never need NKRO, and while useful, it does not make up for MacTigr's shortcomings and high price.

My bias against full-size keyboards aside, I can't say I was very impressed with the MacTigr. The keycaps do not feel good at all. Of course, this is the easiest thing to change on a mechanical keyboard, and I would recommend doing so if you choose this keyboard. However, the feel of the low-profile red switches is not great either. I have come to enjoy linear switches for certain applications, but this is not for me. Also, the board is not hot-swappable.

At $219, the MacTigr seems very pricey. While I like the aluminum case, neither I nor anyone else in my family likes the sound profile, which is a combination of steel plates and cheap-feeling caps. You can get a Mac layout keyboard for about $100 less than the MacTigr, although it does not have a metal case. In fact, I'm still using the $109 wireless Vissles V84 I reviewed a while back.

The MacTigr seems over-designed, but its performance is not adequate. Whether you like full-size keyboards or not, this keyboard cannot justify the price tag. Unless you are dying for a full-size mechanical keyboard for your Mac, you should probably pass on this keyboard unless the price comes down.