Review: Das Keyboard’s MacTigr is a fast but limited mechanical Mac

Mechanical keyboard manufacturers have a habit of overlooking Mac users. More often than not, mechanical keyboards come with Windows layouts and USB-A connectors, ignoring the many MacBook users without USB-A ports and macOS users craving Option and Command keys.

Das Keyboard, a Metadot sub-brand founded in 2005, released the MacTigr mechanical keyboard today to help balance the scale by listing macOS as the board’s only supported operating system. The MacTigr doubles down with a Mac layout, a USB-C cable, a pair of USB-C ports, and quality switches that will please users accustomed to paying more for an improved design.

But that’s all MacTiger does. It lacks power features such as ease of programming or replaceable mechanical switches. It’s not bad, but rather boring, and I expected this cat to have a more memorable roar for its $219 MSRP.

mac-dad compatibility with mac

Many mechanical keyboards say they will work with a Mac, but their Windows keys and USB-A cables portray support for Apple computers as an afterthought. MacTigr is built from the ground up to be a Mac keyboard.

Mac users rejoice as there are built-in Command and Option keys rather than Windows legends, Alt or Num Lock. As simple as it sounds, it’s still a rarity among mechanical keyboards, though some boards include keycaps for Windows and macOS users.

Unlike other Mac keyboards I’ve tested recently, such as the Keychron K14, the MacTigr has other important non-Apple controls, such as display brightness controls, a sleep button, media control with flat buttons and recessed handle. These flat keys make a cheap plastic sound when pressed, but the handle has a smooth, rubbery texture that feels good to the touch.

The knobs are handy for tasks like zooming in and out or switching tools in creative applications. However, the MacTigr doesn’t have software to program its pen (or anything) and pushing the pen doesn’t register input.

Oddly enough, there’s also an eject key, even though Apple hasn’t released a Mac with an optical drive since 2012.

“Many creative professionals, such as videographers and photographers, still have a lot of outdated CD-ROMs and DVDs,” Das Keyboard CEO and co-founder Daniel Germer told Ars. “Since we had room for another key, we decided to add it.”

USB-C

MacTigr is marking its territory with its rare use of the USB-C connector instead of USB-A, which Apple has ditched on its MacBooks. I couldn’t immediately find other full-sized mechanical keyboards with Mac layout and USB-C connection to the system (if you know one, feel free to let me know in the comments). That said, if you want a wired mechanical keyboard with a Mac layout, options include Keychron C2 (which starts at $54), Macally BMKEY ($130), and Das 4 Professional for Mac ($170).

Does MacTiger work with Windows?

Das does not recommend using MacTigr on any OS other than macOS and lists the keyboard as “macOS only”.

A spokesperson for Das told Ars that “The keyboard will work when connected to a PC/Windows device, but Mac-specific keys won’t work. In addition, MacTigr does not have Windows or Ctrl keys, so we do not recommend using MacTigr on a PC with a Windows device.”

I’ve been using MacTigr with a Windows device for many hours with Command acting like a Windows key and so on. Just don’t get discouraged if the keyboard doesn’t work properly with an unsupported OS.