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How I Type INSANELY Fast (160 WPM) - The Best Keyboards for Fast Typing

2021-05-03 · Tech review, setup or bag tour · Ali · recording, 15:25 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Tools, apps and tech · mode: Review and recommendation · tags: His own numbers

Ali tests six keyboards (IQUnix L80, Keychron K2, Logitech MX Keys, IQUnix F96, Razer Pro Type, Apple Magic Keyboard) with three typing tests each, sets a new record of 157 words per minute on the Apple Magic Keyboard, which he says nothing beats for fast typing, and gives four typing tips: the minimal movement principle, shortcuts for deleting words, not using the mouse, and practice.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — A record of 157 words per minute; six keyboards, three typing tests each, rated on cost, aesthetics and typing experience

  • ★★ Before this test Ali's personal typing record is 156 words per minute; he gives each of six keyboards three typing tests to try to beat it and rates them on cost, aesthetics and typing experience. — 00:00:00
  • ★★ IQUnix sent Ali eight IQUnix L80 wireless mechanical keyboards for review, each with different mechanical switches. — 00:00:29
  • ★★ Ali says he will do a more in-depth review testing mechanical keyboard switches at some point. — 00:00:29
  • ★ Ali says mechanical keyboards are generally more expensive than normal keyboards because each key has a switch inside it, and the feel of typing depends on that switch. — 00:00:29

00:00:31 — IQUnix L80: eight sent for review, mechanical switches, 137 words per minute

  • ★★ On the IQUnix L80, whose keys take more force to press than a membrane keyboard's, Ali averages 137 words per minute, his lowest speed in the test. — 00:01:56
  • ★★ Ali finds the IQUnix L80 very satisfying to type on and defaults to it when writing his book. — 00:01:56
  • ★★ Ali calls the IQUnix L80 a little expensive but a solid keyboard, nice to type on, though not the most productive one. — 00:01:56

00:02:25 — Tip one: the minimal movement principle

  • ★★★ Ali's first tip for typing fast is what he calls the minimal movement principle: as professional pianists and guitarists do with their scales, move your fingers as little as possible. — 00:02:25

    “I call it the minimal movement principle.”

  • ★★★ When typing, Ali advises moving your fingers as little as possible to hit the keys; his fingers move more on mechanical keyboards, which is why membrane keyboards tend to be faster for him. — 00:02:25

  • ★ Ali is not a fan of the Keychron K2's black and red design, which he says MKBHD would probably like. — 00:02:54

00:03:10 — Keychron K2: a budget mechanical keyboard, 141 words per minute

  • ★★ The Keychron K2 costs about $69 and the IQUnix L80 about $250, so the K2 is about a quarter of the price. — 00:03:23
  • ★★★ For a very good budget mechanical keyboard, Ali calls the Keychron series absolutely fantastic, though its build is more plasticky. — 00:03:23
  • ★★ On the Keychron K2 Ali averages 141 words per minute over three tests, a little faster than on the IQUnix L80. — 00:04:28

00:04:54 — Tip two: keyboard shortcuts for deleting whole words

  • ★★ Ali's second typing tip is to learn the shortcuts for deleting: on a Mac Command and Backspace deletes a whole line and Alt and Backspace a single word, on Windows he thinks Control and Backspace; pressing Backspace repeatedly always has a quicker way. — 00:04:57 · keyboard navigation, Microsoft Windows
  • ★★ Ali says many people have messaged him that the shortcut for deleting a word, from his earlier typing video, improved their typing speed by about 20%. — 00:04:57 · keyboard navigation
  • ★★ Ali calls the Logitech MX Master 3 genuinely one of the best mice on the market. — 00:04:57

00:05:25 — Logitech MX Keys: 140 words per minute, not recommended

  • ★★★ Ali does not recommend the Logitech MX Keys: it lacks the feel of a mechanical keyboard, yet its keys feel heavier than the Apple Magic Keyboard's, and he dislikes its design. — 00:06:15
  • ★★ On the Logitech MX Keys Ali averages 140 words per minute over three tests. — 00:07:00

00:07:33 — IQUnix F96 with Cherry Blue switches: 140 words per minute, his old daily driver

  • ★★ Ali calls the IQUnix F96 a very expensive keyboard, at 250 or 300 dollars. (hedged) — 00:07:46
  • ★★ Asked himself whether the IQUnix F96 is worth its price, Ali says he does not know: he really likes it, but he would spend 300 pounds on a keyboard without worrying much. (unsure) — 00:07:46
  • ★★ On the IQUnix F96 Ali averages 140 words per minute; he likes it mostly for its look and typing feel rather than for speed. — 00:09:00
  • ★★ Ali is not sure about the clicky Cherry Blue switches of his IQUnix F96 and does not think they are his favourites. (hedged) — 00:09:00
  • ★★ After two years on the IQUnix F96, Ali has changed his daily driver to the IQUnix L80 because he likes a bit of variety; he finds little to choose between them, prefers the F96 design in a way but dislikes its num pad. — 00:09:00
  • ★★★ Ali's third tip for typing fast is not to use the mouse: navigate with the keyboard, learn keyboard shortcuts, and open windows, files and apps with Alfred or the Windows logo key. — 00:09:29 · keyboard navigation, Alfred, Microsoft Windows

00:09:46 — Tip three: don't use your mouse

  • ★★ Ali says he does not spend much more time at a keyboard than many people; his typing is fast because he minimises the mouse and maximises the keyboard, always asking whether the keyboard is quicker. — 00:09:59 · keyboard navigation

00:10:26 — Razer Pro Type: nice design, heavy keys

  • ★★ The Razer Pro Type, Razer's productivity mechanical keyboard, cost around 150 to 200 dollars. (hedged) — 00:10:28
  • ★★ Ali likes the white design and white lights of the Razer Pro Type, but not its typing: its heavy keys with Razer's own switches feel like an old-school IBM keyboard and less nice than IQUnix or Keychron. — 00:11:07
  • ★★★ Ali's fourth tip for typing fast is just to practise: the more practice you do, the faster your typing gets in the long run. — 00:11:43
  • ★★ Ali recommends 10FastFingers, which he has used since about the age of 13, as a good typing test that uses the most common words in English. — 00:11:43
  • ★★ When Ali discovered 10FastFingers at about 13 he typed around 80 words per minute, and he has since come close to doubling that. (hedged) — 00:11:43

00:11:49 — Tip four: just practise, on 10FastFingers

00:12:16 — Apple Magic Keyboard: 155 words per minute and a new record; two keyboards on his desk

  • ★★★ On the Apple Magic Keyboard Ali averages 155 words per minute and beats his personal record with 157. — 00:13:17
  • ★★ Repeating the Apple Magic Keyboard test after three hours of testing, Ali's fatigued fingers still averaged about 144 words per minute. — 00:13:17
  • ★★ Ali always goes back to the Apple Magic Keyboard: it is quiet enough for Zoom calls and notes, light to carry, and gives him a very fast speed without many mistakes. — 00:13:17 · Zoom
  • ★★★ For typing fast, Ali has never found anything that beats the Apple Magic Keyboard, which he calls simple, reasonably priced and great. — 00:14:03
  • ★★ For the last few months Ali has kept both the IQUnix L80 and the Apple Magic Keyboard on his desk: the L80 for writing his book, the quiet Magic Keyboard for most else, at night, early mornings and Zoom calls. — 00:14:03 · Zoom

00:14:42 — Final tip: his earlier typing video; sign-off

In the description and comments

  • ★ Replying to a viewer, Ali says he does not use his left pinky at all when typing. — creator comment

Threads in this video

Where the stories that moved here went next

Mentioned

Central: Apple Magic Keyboard · IQUnix F96 · IQUnix L80 · Keychron K2 · Logitech MX Keys · minimal movement principle · Razer Pro Type

Also: People: Marques Brownlee

Organizations: IQUnix · Keychron · Logitech · Razer

Concepts: keyboard navigation

Products: 10FastFingers · Alfred · Cherry MX Blue · Logitech MX Master · Microsoft Windows · Razer Pro Click · Zoom

Also centred on Apple Magic Keyboard: GAME-CHANGER - NEW iMac Review (M1)

Also centred on IQUnix F96: My Favorite Mechanical Keyboard - IQUnix F96 Coral

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