Meet the ZSA Voyager
The ZSA Voyager is a compact split ergonomic keyboard designed to be as slim and portable as possible. If you have seen or used the ZSA Moonlander before, think of the Voyager as its stripped down sibling. It keeps the ergonomic split layout and customisation but cuts size, weight and key count right down.
With just 52 keys and a thickness of only 16 mm, the Voyager is built to take up almost no desk space. ZSA pitches it as laptop friendly and travel ready, and in that respect it absolutely delivers. It comes in a soft carry case and includes multiple USB cables of different lengths, plus spare keycaps and thumb keys so you can tweak the layout without buying extras.
Under the hood you can pick from low profile Kailh Choc switches such as Brown, Pro Red, Red or White. Every switch is hot swappable, so you can swap to a different feel later if you change your mind. There is per key RGB backlighting and fully separate halves that connect using a TRRS cable, with the main connection to your PC via USB Type A.
One notable omission is wireless support. ZSA chose not to add a battery system in order to keep the Voyager thin and light. That fits the design goal of a minimal footprint, but it does mean you are living the wired life full time.
Design, Ergonomics and Everyday Typing
Even though the Voyager is trimmed down, it still focuses heavily on ergonomics. The halves are fully split so you can place them at shoulder width, which helps reduce strain on your wrists and shoulders compared to a standard straight keyboard.
For tenting, the Voyager uses small magnetic feet that give you a single option of around five degrees. You do not get the continuous tenting adjustment that the Moonlander offers. That might sound limiting on paper, but the overall ultra low profile of the Voyager means higher tenting could actually make it unstable and bulkier. The fixed shallow tent is a compromise to preserve the slim footprint.
The columnar key arrangement is different from a standard staggered keyboard, so there is a learning curve. The reviewer spent a couple of weeks retraining their muscle memory, especially because of the reduced key count. Once adapted, they found the Voyager a delight for straight typing. The Kailh Choc White switches felt responsive, well damped and not overly clicky.
Because there are only 52 keys, the Voyager leans very heavily on layers. Things like function keys and some symbols live on secondary or tertiary layers rather than as dedicated keys. ZSA's Oryx software makes this manageable by letting you customise every layer and create multiple profiles. For programming or writing, this can be powerful, letting you set things up exactly how you like for each application.
Cable quality is one area where the experience is less polished. The main USB Type C connection to the left half does not feel especially snug, and the included TRRS cable joining the halves is quite stiff and awkward. During testing, the reviewer preferred using their own softer braided cables instead of the stock ones.
Gaming, the Navigator Trackball and Who This Keyboard Is For
When it comes to PC gaming, the Voyager starts to show its limitations. The issue is not latency or switch performance but the simple fact that there are not enough keys.
Using Oryx, you can build game specific profiles so that every in game action has a place. For a single title such as a shooter, this can work well. The reviewer was able to put together a layout for Battlefield 6 that made sense. The problem appears when you want one layout that works across a range of genres, from FPS games to complex strategy titles like Hearts of Iron 4. What works for one game quickly becomes a confusing mess for another.
Needing to remember different layers and positions for each genre adds cognitive load at the exact time you want instinctive reactions. Some players might adapt and love the flex, but for this reviewer it was not something they could comfortably live with as an all in one work and gaming keyboard.
ZSA also offers an optional Navigator module for the Voyager. This is a trackball unit that magnetically attaches to the inner edge of one half and connects via TRRS cables. In theory, this should create a tidy in place pointing device for a super compact desk setup.
In practice, it feels less refined. The edges of the module do not line up cleanly with the Voyager, which makes it look slightly out of place next to the otherwise premium build of the main board. Despite its high price, the Navigator feels cheaper than the keyboard it is supposed to complement.
You cannot simply snap it on and go either. You must add it in Oryx first and configure it. That only has to be done once but gives the impression of something a bit experimental rather than a polished accessory. The module also has no buttons of its own, so you need to use keys on the other half of the keyboard for mouse clicks while rolling the ball. For productivity this might be fine, but for fast paced gaming it is far from ideal.
There is a trackpad module planned for the Voyager which may suit some users better, especially those who prefer tap to click input for general computing. For now, though, the Navigator does not feel like a must have addition, especially at its asking price.
In the end, the Voyager is a fantastic choice for space conscious power users who prioritise ergonomic typing and a minimal desk footprint above everything else. If you are a coder or writer who loves to tinker with layouts and you want a premium split board that can slip into a bag easily, the Voyager is absolutely worth considering.
For PC gamers who do not want to manage heavy layer usage or maintain multiple profiles per game, its 52 key layout is a real constraint. At the same price, the Moonlander with its extra keys is simply a better fit as a do everything keyboard that covers both work and play.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-keyboards/zsa-voyager-navigator-review/
