What Types of Wireless Keyboard Connections Are There?

There Are Various Types of Wireless

Even when simply called “wireless keyboards,” there are actually various connection methods.

Broadly speaking, they can be divided into the following three types:

1. USB dongle (2.4GHz wireless)
2. Bluetooth
3. Proprietary methods

Currently, the mainstream is Bluetooth, followed by USB dongle (2.4GHz wireless) and then proprietary methods.

There Are Also Types of Bluetooth

Even when simply called Bluetooth, there are actually different types. For keyboard connections, these are divided into Bluetooth and Bluetooth LE (Low Energy).
If your keyboard uses Bluetooth, it can connect to most laptops and smartphones, but if it uses Bluetooth LE, the receiver also needs to support Bluetooth LE.

If Bluetooth LE is not supported, the keyboard may not appear in the Bluetooth device list, or even if it connects, it can be unstable.

Most smartphones, tablets, and laptops released in recent years support Bluetooth LE, so there is usually no problem, but if you are using an older device or a USB Bluetooth adapter, be sure to check whether it supports Bluetooth LE before purchasing a keyboard.

USB Dongle (2.4GHz Wireless) Is 1:1

Bluetooth can be paired with almost any device, but USB dongle (2.4GHz wireless) keyboards are fundamentally paired 1:1 with their dongle, so you cannot use them with a different dongle or keyboard.

You may see keyboards being sold at auctions or flea markets as “junk because there is no USB dongle,” but note that since every dongle is paired 1:1 with its product, you cannot reuse dongles even for the same model.

Proprietary Methods Are Rare Now

In the past, proprietary wireless types (where the device itself was set up for wireless without a dongle), such as those for home game consoles, existed, but in recent years, almost all home gaming consoles have switched to Bluetooth, and proprietary types are seldom seen anymore.

Which Method Is Best?

Bluetooth Has High Versatility

Bluetooth can connect not only keyboards but also various devices such as mice, earphones, and game controllers. Its high versatility and ability to be used for a long time even if your smartphone or PC environment changes is the biggest advantage.

Bluetooth has firmly established itself as a short-range wireless standard in the past decade or so, so unless a significantly new technology emerges, Bluetooth will remain the basic standard for the foreseeable future.

However, due to its versatility, some devices may not pair well or operate stably, so there is a slight risk here.

USB Dongle (2.4GHz Wireless) Has High Connection Stability

While Bluetooth is very versatile, the main advantage of USB dongle (2.4GHz wireless) is its fast response. Especially in situations where high-speed key input is frequently used, such as games, the low latency of USB dongle (2.4GHz wireless) stands out.

Also, because it is 1:1 with the dongle, almost no connection errors occur, and generic drivers can reliably be used, making it a widely used, low-stress wireless method.

However, since it requires a USB port, it can’t be used with smartphones or tablets, and a hub is needed for laptops with only USB Type-C ports. So, it is a bit limited by the environment in which it can be used.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Type

Finally, let’s compare the advantages and disadvantages of each.

As a keyboard, Bluetooth is best, but if you need stability for business use, the 2.4GHz dongle wireless method is still one of the best choices.

On the other hand, proprietary methods have low versatility and are rarely seen today, so it’s better to avoid purchasing them.