Glove80 Keyboard for Touch Typing — Honest Review
The Glove80 (by MoErgo) is a relatively new premium split keyboard that competes directly with Kinesis Advantage 360: concave wells, split design, wireless, but cheaper at $399 with more configurability. For ergonomic-minded touch typists, it's a serious contender.
Glove80 specs
- Type: Split, concave wells, ortholinear-like columns
- Switches: Choctap V1/V2 (low-profile, mechanical) or Kailh hot-swap
- Wireless: Bluetooth, USB-C charging
- Firmware: ZMK (open source)
- Configuration: Glove80 Layout Editor (web)
- Price: $399
Pros
Concave wells
- Match finger length like Kinesis Advantage
- Reduce reach for outer keys
- Comfortable for medium-large hands
Wireless
- No cable clutter
- Travel-friendly when needed
- Bluetooth pairing
Open-source firmware (ZMK)
- Free configuration
- Total customization
- Active community
Hot-swap option
- Try different switches
- No soldering required
- Future-proof
Lower-profile switches
- Less travel than full mechanical
- Some prefer
Cons
Newer brand
- Less long-term track record vs Kinesis (since 1992)
- Smaller community for support
- Fewer reviews to reference
Learning curve
- Concave wells = adjustment period
- Ortho-like columns = additional adjustment
- 2-6 weeks to fluency
Low-profile switches
- Different feel from standard mech
- Some don't like
Build quality (per user reports)
- Generally good but not Kinesis-tank build
- Plastic feels lighter
Glove80 vs Kinesis Advantage 360
| Aspect | Glove80 | Kinesis Advantage 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 | $449 |
| Wireless | Yes (standard) | Pro model only ($549) |
| Switches | Choctap or hot-swap | Standard mechanical |
| Firmware | ZMK (open) | SmartSet + QMK |
| Build quality | Good | Excellent |
| Brand history | New (2022+) | 30+ years |
Glove80 cheaper with wireless. Kinesis more proven.
Glove80 vs ZSA Moonlander
| Aspect | Glove80 | ZSA Moonlander |
|---|---|---|
| Wells | Concave | Flat tented |
| Wireless | Yes | No |
| Customization | Yes (ZMK + Layout Editor) | Yes (QMK + Oryx) |
| Price | $399 | $365 |
| Style | Concave + columns | Pure ortho |
Glove80 has concave advantage. Moonlander has community/maturity.
Switches available
Choctap V1/V2
- Low-profile, tactile or linear
- Designed for Glove80
- 30g, 35g, 50g options
Kailh Choc
- Hot-swap compatible
- Various options (Red, Brown, etc.)
- Cheaper to experiment
Adjustment timeline
Week 1
- Concave wells unfamiliar
- Reaching for "missing" keys
- 50% of usual speed
Week 2-3
- Speed approaching old level
- Comfortable with thumb cluster
- Configuration tweaking begins
Week 4-6
- Faster than before for many
- Layers + macros mastered
- Settled in
Month 2+
- Hard to use other keyboards
- Customization continuing
- Premium daily driver
Layouts and customization
Default layouts
- QWERTY
- Colemak DH
- Dvorak
- Customizable
Thumb cluster
- 6 thumb keys per half
- Programmable to anything
- Common: Space, Enter, Backspace, Shift, Ctrl, Layer
Layers
- Up to 32 layers (ZMK)
- Realistic: 3-5 layers most users
- Symbol layer, number layer, function layer common
Best for
Yes, Glove80 if
- Like concave but want wireless + cheaper than Kinesis
- Open-source firmware preference
- Hot-swap experimentation
- Modern aesthetic
Maybe Glove80 if
- First premium ergo keyboard
- Want low-profile switches
Skip Glove80 if
- Want decades of proven design (go Kinesis)
- Want full mechanical feel (Glove80 is lower profile)
- Need extensive third-party support (smaller community)
Frequently Asked Questions
Glove80 vs MoErgo's earlier models?
Glove80 is current flagship. Previous models discontinued/superseded.
How long to wait for delivery?
Usually 4-8 weeks from order (made-to-order).
Hot-swap really works?
Yes — proven design. Easy switch swap.
Battery life wireless?
~6 months typical (varies by use).
Charging?
USB-C per half. Charge while typing or overnight.
Warranty?
2 years from MoErgo.
Consider Glove80
Strong contender among premium ergo keyboards. Typing Hero App — practice. Then invest in premium hardware for long-term comfort.
For more: Best ergonomic keyboard, Kinesis Advantage vs ZSA Moonlander, Best keyboard for touch typing.