Das Keyboard 4 Professional Review, Plus the Rest of the Das Keyboard Lineup

The Das Keyboard 4 Professional is a full-size, no-software office keyboard with a volume knob and a USB 3.0 hub. Buy the 6 Professional instead if you want a backlight and USB-C.

• Cherry MX Brown or Blue switches, full NKRO over USB, and no driver or software to install
• Oversized volume knob, dedicated media keys, and a 2-port USB 3.0 hub on the keyboard
• No backlight, and the cable ends in USB-A
• The 6 Professional adds a white backlight and USB-C for $20 more

Check price on Amazon

Das Keyboard 4 Professional overview

The Das Keyboard 4 Professional is a wired, full-size mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches, an anodized aluminum top panel, a large volume knob, and a two-port USB 3.0 hub. It doesn't have a backlight or companion software, and it doesn't need a driver. On November 5, 2026, it sold for $199 on Amazon and on Das Keyboard's site, in Cherry MX Brown (soft tactile) or Cherry MX Blue (clicky).

The 4 Professional has been in Das Keyboard's catalog for more than a decade, and the company's catalog now lists 12 other models next to it. This review covers the 4 Professional first, then the rest of the lineup, so you can see whether a newer model suits you better.

Ours is the Cherry MX Blue version, and it has been going strong for several years. The two blue keys in the Ctrl positions are custom keycaps we added. The keyboard ships with all-black keycaps.

Quick specs

Specs come from Das Keyboard's 4 Professional page.

Switches

Das Keyboard sells the 4 Professional with two switches. Cherry MX Brown has a light tactile bump and no click, which makes it the better choice for a shared office or for calls. Cherry MX Blue adds an audible click at the actuation point. Das Keyboard calls Blue the clickiest switch in its lineup.

Das Keyboard's listing doesn't settle which generation of Cherry switch ships in the 4 Professional. Its spec list now names Cherry MX2A, the pre-lubed revision that Cherry rates for 100 million keystrokes. The lineup card on the same page, and both Amazon listings, still say Cherry MX and 50 million keystrokes. Stock on retailer shelves may have either.

Ours has the clicky, tactile Cherry MX Blues, and we love the feel of them. If you share a room with other people or take a lot of calls, the Browns are the safer pick.

Media keys, volume knob, and USB hub

The volume knob sits above the number pad, next to dedicated mute, play/pause, next, and previous keys. A sleep key puts the PC to sleep. These controls are the main reason to pick the 4 Professional over the cheaper Model S, which handles media through function-key combinations.

The two USB 3.0 ports run at up to 5 Gb/s, so they work for a flash drive or a phone cable as well as a mouse. The 6 Professional replaces them with a USB-C hub.

We appreciate having the media controls built into the keyboard. The knob and keys work as soon as the board is plugged in, with no app running in the background.

Build and design

The top panel is anodized aluminum, and Das Keyboard calls the bottom enclosure "resonance-free". The red magnetic footbar clips onto the back of the underside and raises the board from 0.80 inches to 1.2 inches. At 2.9 pounds, the keyboard doesn't slide around on a desk.

Off the keyboard, the footbar works as a ruler, marked in inches along one edge and millimeters along the other.

The keycaps use standard Cherry MX stems, so ANSI or ISO aftermarket sets fit. Das Keyboard has a keycap compatibility guide on the product page.

Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate and 4 Professional for Mac

Two variants share the 4 Professional's chassis, knob, and hub, and both cost $199:

• The Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate has blank keycaps, for touch typists who don't need legends.
• The Das Keyboard 4 Professional for Mac has macOS key legends and functions, plus UV hard-coated keycaps. It comes in US and German layouts, with Cherry MX Brown or Cherry MX Blue switches.

The rest of the Das Keyboard lineup

Das Keyboard's keyboard catalog had 13 models on November 5, 2026, counting the three 4-series boards above. Prices are Das Keyboard's direct prices unless noted.

Das Keyboard 6 Professional

The Das Keyboard 6 Professional costs $20 more than the 4 Professional and is the closest alternative to it. It adds a white LED backlight with shine-through legends, an aluminum enclosure, a USB-C cable (a USB-A adapter is in the box), and a two-port USB-C hub. The volume knob also works as a mute button when you press it. Das Keyboard lists Cherry MX2A Brown switches rated for 100 million actuations, and Amazon sells a Cherry MX2A Blue version as well. The case is half an inch shorter end to end than the 4 Professional's, and the two weigh about the same, at 2.89 pounds against 2.9.

If you work in a dim room or your desk setup is USB-C, the 6 Professional is the better buy. The 4 Professional's advantage is that its hub ports are USB-A, which still suits most mice, receivers, and flash drives.

Das Keyboard 5QS Mark II and 5QS

The 5QS Mark II is Das Keyboard's RGB board. It has Cherry MX2A Red, Silent Red, or Brown switches, an aluminum top plate, sound-dampening foam, the large volume knob, and a detachable palm rest. Its Q software can light individual keys as notifications, for example when a build finishes, a stock moves, or an email arrives. It starts at $229 direct and wasn't on Amazon when we checked.

The original 5QS costs $149 and uses Gamma Zulu switches instead of Cherry. Amazon showed limited stock on November 5.

Das Keyboard DeltaForce 65

The DeltaForce 65 is the only compact board in Das Keyboard's catalog. It is a 65% layout in a CNC aluminum case with hot-swappable Gateron Red switches and open-source QMK/VIA firmware, so you can remap it and change switches without soldering. The PBT keycaps are dye-sublimated on all five sides in four camo patterns. It costs $169, and Amazon lists the colorways separately.

Das Keyboard 4C TKL

The 4C TKL is the smaller sibling, with 87 keys and no number pad. It has Cherry MX Brown switches, PBT keycaps, an aluminum top panel, a two-port USB 2.0 hub, and a key that disables the Windows key for gaming. At 15.49 inches wide and 2.39 pounds, it costs $149 direct. It doesn't have the volume knob.

Das Keyboard Prime 13

The Prime 13 is a simpler backlit board: Cherry MX2A switches, white LEDs, an aluminum top panel, and one USB pass-through port. Media and sleep controls are on function-key combinations instead of dedicated keys. It starts at $159 direct. Amazon sells the Prime 13 Mark II for $179 with Cherry MX2A switches, including a Silent Red option.

Das Keyboard Model S Professional

The Model S Professional is the keyboard Das Keyboard built its name on. It has Cherry MX2A switches, laser-etched keycaps, and a glossy black case. Media controls sit on function keys. It reports six-key rollover over USB and full NKRO through the included PS/2 adapter. It costs $149 direct. Amazon listed it at $199 when we checked, so buy it from Das Keyboard.

Das Keyboard MacTigr and X50Q

The MacTigr is a low-profile, all-metal board for Macs, with Cherry MX Low Profile Red linear switches, a stainless-steel plate, a two-port USB-C hub, and double-shot PBT keycaps. The X50Q is an older RGB gaming board with Gamma Zulu switches and Q software. Das Keyboard's catalog showed no price for either on November 5.

Pros

• Cherry MX Brown or Blue switches with full NKRO over USB
• The large volume knob and dedicated media keys work without software
• The two-port USB 3.0 hub handles flash drives at full speed
• The anodized aluminum top panel and 2.9-pound weight keep it planted on the desk
• Standard Cherry MX stems take aftermarket keycap sets
• Ours is still going strong after several years
• No driver or companion app to install

Cons

• No backlight
• The cable ends in USB-A, with no USB-C option
• The 6 Professional adds a backlight and USB-C for $20 more
• Full-size only; the 4C TKL is the compact option, but it doesn't have the knob

Reasons to skip it

Buy the 6 Professional if you want a backlight or a USB-C connection. If you want a smaller keyboard you can customize, buy the DeltaForce 65, which has hot-swap sockets and QMK/VIA. Mac users should get the 4 Professional for Mac, since its key legends and function row match macOS. If you'd rather have a slim wireless board than a mechanical one, see our Logitech MX Keys S review.

Good fit for

• writers, programmers, and other people who type all day and want a full-size Cherry MX board
• desks where the keyboard is the easiest place to plug in a flash drive or phone
• people who want a physical volume knob without installing software
• Linux users, since nothing on the board needs a driver

Used units turn up on eBay. Check whether the listing is the PC or Mac version, and which switch it has.

Final verdict

The Das Keyboard 4 Professional is still a good full-size office keyboard. It has Cherry MX switches, a real volume knob, and a USB 3.0 hub, and it doesn't need software. Our MX Blue unit has been going strong for several years. Its age shows in the USB-A cable and the missing backlight, and the 6 Professional fixes both for $20 more. Buy the 4 Professional if you don't need either of those, or if you want hub ports that take USB-A devices.

Where to buy