A keyboard on a laptop is, well, just a keyboard. Full-sized or not, the idea has barely changed for ages. But what if the keys could adapt to the app you are using and let you fire off commands with a single press? Well, that, my friends, is exactly what Dune does. It is a context-aware keypad for Mac that changes the functions of the three keys based on the app currently in use.
Three keys may not sound very exciting at first. But Dune is essentially trying to become the tiny command center your overloaded brain wished it had five tabs ago. Open GitHub, and the buttons can approve, reject, or merge pull requests. Jump into Zoom, and suddenly you have mic and camera controls right at your fingertips. Fire up Claude, and the keys shift again for AI-related shortcuts. The whole thing adapts as you move between apps, which feels slightly futuristic and slightly like your keyboard has become sentient.
The hardware itself is surprisingly fancy, too. Dune is CNC-machined from aluminum and uses mechanical scissor-switch keys for that crisp clicky feel people love pretending is “for productivity” when it is really about dopamine. It plugs directly into a MacBook’s USB-C port and sits flush with supported MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, looking more like something Apple forgot to announce than an aftermarket gadget.
There is also a Claude-powered setup system that lets users configure workflows conversationally instead of digging through menus like it is 2009. And yes, there is a marketplace for scripts and workflows too, because naturally we now live in a world where even three-button accessories have ecosystems.
If you’re down to give Dune a go, it is available now for US$119.
Images: Project Mirage.