Dygma Raise 2: What Real Users Say After Daily Use

I bought the Dygma Defy and received it for Christmas. This was my first ever split ortholinear keyboard. I got used immediately to the ortholinear and split layout, and put it tenting 20 or 25° shortly after. The only thing that took more time is to get used to Bazecor and, more important, choosing the right switches for me.

Got mine a week ago and I'm loving it so far, so glad I decided to get one!

I'm on it all day for both work and gaming. There are no issues gaming, wireless is fast and wired is always an option. I went from the raise 1 to the raise 2 and there's really nothing else like it. I type faster on a regular staggered layout plus I find gaming on ortho keyboards to feel weird which is why I love the raise and haven't switched to other split options.

I own a wired Dygma Defy and a ZSA Moonlander with the tenting kit. Both are great keyboards in their own right. What I like about both keyboards: columnar layout, split, variable tenting, hot swappable switches, great support from both companies!

I use the Defy now and had the original Raise. I tried going back to stagger... it was horrible.

While I can appreciate the potential of the Dygma Raise 2 keyboard, my experience has been frustrating due to several recurring issues. The wireless functionality has been far from reliable. Despite following all setup instructions and having a fully charged power bank, the keyboard often loses connection. The only solution that temporarily worked was turning the keyboard completely off and on again, which disrupted my workflow.

No cons from me. Keyboard is amazing. My first and likely last split keyboard.

I tried the Defy but ultimately switched to Raise 2. If you will use it for gaming, and you are comfortable with the ctrl key on normal keyboards, I'd go with Raise 2. I could maybe get used to the Defy for workday use after a couple weeks but for gaming it was too hard to retrain my brain after years of gaming on traditional keyboard layouts.

Raise 2, won't regret it.

As far as I'm aware, Raise is currently the only row-staggered keyboard with a second row of thumb keys. You could use MX-compatible medium-profile switches and keycaps, but that will not make the keyboard significantly flatter.

It's not a huge upgrade from Raise 1, I really did it for the wireless. The wireless is nice to have but the battery needs to be monitored and charged every few days even with no LEDs on. The new wrist pads and a black base plate are also really nice but it was a pricey update.

Main pro when gaming vs regular keyboards is easier to click buttons with your thumb. Each side has four buttons vs just one spacebar. The tenting is a plus for carpal tunnel. The build quality is really good too.

My only real complaint is the ~ and ` key. I am so accustomed to having a dedicated key for it that I can't get used to the binding. Not a fan of the cables and dongle, but it's not a deal breaker for me. Other than that it's an awesome keyboard.

The keyboard is a brick if you lose the dongle / neuron.

Pros: familiar layout. Yes, it's row-staggered, but at the same time it means that transition from your non-split keyboard will be less painful. Build-quality is top-notch. Cons: need to decide on the features upfront. Do you want tenting? Do you want wireless? Do you want both of them? All of these are different models.

I have both raise 1 and 2. No issues and highly recommend the keyboard.

All pros and very few cons. Maybe the fact that is pricey but it's hard to fight against the price. It is a really nice product; full of quality and features.

Absolutely love mine. Couldn't be happier.

The Dygma is not the only split standard layout keyboard out there. Personally if that is what I was looking for I would be looking at the UHK - Ultimate Hacking Keyboard. I like the options they have.

I can use my OG Raise just fine, but it's definitely a downgrade compared to the Defy. I don't need a third fancy pants split ergo keyboard and frankly nothing about the Raise 2 is appealing as a Raise + Defy owner. Defy is their best product by some margin.

What a sublime product, Dygma. Hats off to you, all your hard work has paid off.

Lack of arrow keys is a real downside.

Thanks everybody! I'm gonna order a Raise 2!

I own the Raise 1 and used it for several years before getting the Defy. Love both. For Raise, I didn't find much concern or issues around gaming. It worked great.

Unfortunately I would have to poop on your parade. While the keyboard has been good for me, in terms of size, and feel, the software is just dogshit. Every new 'update' drops the whole keyboard, and it's never been able to reload from backups. At this point, my Dygma is one toss away from a dumpster. It just feels bad to toss, it was so expensive.

Pros - Design of the keyboard itself. Thumb cluster is perfect! Magnetic palm rest are a treat. For me Bazecor the software is excellent. Customer Support - they have been fast to reply and help.

Wow, I'm kind of shocked at some of the negative reviews...I've had an incredibly positive experience and have been bragging it up to everyone. I did get the wired version, underglow/tenting and it's been amazing. Not sure why the hate on the software, it's worked flawlessly for me on both macOS and Linux Mint. The bindings and macros were easy to setup.

On the cons: Price, it's quite expensive. Wireless can be finicky. I've just decided to stay wired at this point. Bazecor/software can be finicky, multiple times my keyboard will randomly flash red instead of the assigned color scheme. Occasionally it resets or needs to be replugged. You will probably still need a normal keyboard around if you share your computer with family or spouse.

I have constant wireless issues though. BT is abysmal, neuron was working for a while, now I'm experiencing random breathing red on right half, sometimes mid-typing, it's very annoying.

6 months using. Extreme pleased. Some software glitches, but soft reset, e.g. power off, have been enough. Configuration tool not where it should be because firmware is not there yet.

I love nearly everything about this keyboard but cannot for the life of me get the battery to behave normally. One side always charges less or reads as a lower charge. This happens with both sides off, on, deep sleep, no deep sleep, LEDs on or off, different cables, dygma cables, etc. For this reason, I would get every feature but wireless and just deal with cables, you'll have to plug it in often anyway and the wired neuron looks nicer.

I bought one several years ago and I still love it. It is practical, ergonomic and looks awesome on each setup. Also, the build-quality is perfect!

BT has been having issues since release. The keyboard also has problems with KVM and waking up. Even when wired I often need to disconnect and reconnect the dongle because one of the sides will not wake up. Dygma has not released a firmware update since last beta in February. So I am disappointed with Dygma.

I'm with the same battery problem, the only way I was able to charge was turning off wifi on both sides and keep it connected via cable overnight.

I have a Defy and love it. But if I had it all to do again I'd get a Raise 2. It took weeks to get used to the layout.

If you want one keyboard to game and work on, I'd go with the Raise 2. Otherwise, you'll probably find yourself switching out for your Logi MX Mini when you want to game.

If you mean that you couldn't get used to the ortho-linear layout, then definitely go with the Raise 2. The new layout is physically comfortable but I'm not convinced the ergonomic benefits outweigh the learning curve of the Defy.

If the game requires WASD, then I think Raise 2 is a no brainer. The hand position on the staggered layout just works for decades of muscle memory.

You are coming from an ortholinear keyboard. If you are used to your Kinesis, then I would say go Defy. If you still have muscle memory from a normal keyboard then go Raise.

Raise 2.

Something about the Defy: Dygma says the keys only last two years. The keys are painted and laser-etched instead of double-shot PBT like the Raise. If you use the keyboard heavily, you will wear the paint down and once you break the surface it chips away.