ProtoArc EK01 Plus Backlit Keyboard: At a Glance
Priced at $79.99, the ProtoArc EK01 Plus Backlit Keyboard is Protoarc's entry in the ergonomic keyboards category. With 1,134 buyers rating it at 4.4 stars, it currently sits at #8 of 41 in our rankings. It's in the top quartile of the category, which is where most buyers should be looking.
Construction & Key Action
The keyboard's exact switch type isn't specified in the product listing, which is unusual at this price point. If switch feel matters to you, it's worth checking the manufacturer's site before ordering. The price range here typically gets you a sturdier frame and PBT keycaps that resist shine over time, which is a meaningful upgrade over budget tier.
By the Spec Sheet
- Brand: Protoarc
- Price: $79.99 (slightly below the $93.12 category average)
- Amazon rating: 4.4 of 5.0
- Reviews: 1,134
- Category rank: #8 of 41 in ergonomic keyboards
- Cheaper in category: 24 products
- Higher-rated in category: 9 products
- More-reviewed in category: 7 products
What 1,134 Buyers Say
A 4.4-star average from 1,134 buyers means most are happy, but a meaningful slice - roughly 15-20% - has at least some complaint. The pattern in the negative reviews matters more than the average itself.
What Else to Consider
At $79.99, the ProtoArc EK01 Plus Backlit Keyboard sits slightly below the $93.12 category average. 24 options are cheaper and 16 are more expensive.
The category leader is the Logitech Ergo K860 Split Keyboard ($129.99, 4.4★, 7,803 reviews). The ProtoArc EK01 Plus Backlit Keyboard is $50.00 cheaper, which is the main reason to pick it over the leader.
Direct competitors at this price (±25%):
- Logitech Wave Keys Ergonomic Keyboard - $69.99, 4.3★ (3,493 reviews) · Cheaper
- Nulea Wireless Backlit Split Keyboard - $64.99, 4.3★ (1,608 reviews) · Cheaper
- KINESIS Freestyle2 Ergonomic Keyboard - $99.00, 4.3★ (1,419 reviews) · Roughly comparable
If rating alone is your filter, the highest-rated option in this category is the YIVU Corne LP Split Keyboard at 5.0★. If pure price is the filter, the cheapest is the OMOTON Ergonomic Split Keyboard at $18.99.
Is It For You?
Probably yes , with a caveat. The rating is strong and the price is reasonable. Just confirm the specific features you care about - connectivity, switches, ports, whatever - match what's listed.
Wrap-Up
8.7/10
Functional, mid-pack option. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing pushing it above the better-ranked alternatives either.