The Loupedeck+ ($249) is an upgraded version of the company's first-generation Loupedeck console, with a tweaked layout and improvements to build quality all around. The keyboard feels better—its keys are more responsive than before, and some changes to the aesthetics give it a more professional look. Its functionality has been expanded a bit too, but it remains a bit larger and less customizable than some others, limiting its appeal. Adobe Lightroom mavens who want a dedicated keyboard for the app should take a look, but we think the slimmer Loupedeck Live ($269) is a more compelling creative tool, and our Editors' Choice winner.

A Full-Size Keyboard

The Loupedeck+ is as big as a desktop keyboard. Its 15.6-by-6.0 inch (HW) footprint takes up a sizable amount of room on your desk, about as much as much as a full-size keyboard, the type with a numeric keypad. It's better suited for a workstation than for travel, but if you do edit from location, it adds about 1.5 pounds to your laptop bag. A travel case is available for $39.90.

A built-in cable connects to USB-A ports, still common on desktop systems but disappearing from Apple laptops (you'll need a USB-A-to-USB-C dongle to use it with a newer MacBook Pro, for example). The cable is a few feet long and can be routed out the back or left side.

It sits flat on a desk—you don't get the rear feet here that many keyboards include, nor is there an ergonomic stand available to purchase as an accessory, though at least one enterprising photographer has come up with a DIY solution. I didn't mind using it flat, but can see why you'd prefer to use it an angle, especially if you're prone to carpal tunnel.

Controls are a mix of keys, dials, and buttons. Most are labeled for a specific function, but you can use the Loupedeck software to remap many of their functions. The software is required—this isn't a plug-and-play accessory. It's easy enough to install, and works with Windows 10 and macOS 10.12 Sierra and up. I tested it with two Mac systems, both running 10.15 Catalina.

The software downloads and installs in minutes, and while you may need to restart your host application after loading it, I didn't need to reboot my laptop. I did have to give the Loupedeck some extra permissions to control my system, but that's par for the course with macOS.

Customization Optional

The first-edition Loupedeck was built just for Adobe Lightroom, but functionality has been expanded to reach other apps. In addition to Lightroom, the Loupedeck+ configuration software includes presets for Capture One, Aurora HDR, and Adobe Photoshop, as well as a few video suites including Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Apple Final Cut Pro.

Even with broader support, the console's dials are very much meant for exposure and color adjustments. Video editors can still take advantage of these when working with color correction, but are likely to find the Loupdeck+ to be less than useful for assembling footage on timelines or mixing audio.

The Loupedeck+ includes more than a baker's dozen control dials to tone photos. Most of the individual sliders in Lightroom's basic adjustment panel are represented here (Blacks, Clarity, Contrast, Exposure, Highlights, Shadows, Saturation, Temperature, Tint, Vibrance, Whites), along with a pair labeled D1 and D2. Each turns comfortably—slower turns adjust sliders with precision, while quicker ones are used for dramatic changes. They also include a press-in action that resets the corresponding adjustment slider to its neutral, central position.

There are a number of buttons, including arrow keys to navigate through your library, a few function keys, and a few sets of customizable buttons labeled L1 through L3, C1 through C6, and P1 through P8. They're joined by eight control dials, each dedicated to color channel adjustment.

Just how flexible the controls are depends on your host application. With supported Adobe and Apple software, you'll be able to set almost any key or dial to a custom function, save for the color channel wheels. If you edit photos in Capture One you'll enjoy less flexibility, but the labeled dials work as expected.

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The configuration app is relatively straightforward. It shows an image of the Loupedeck+ on your screen, along with a drop-down menu listing compatible apps. Controls that can be customized are highlighted in purple, and you just need to click on them to adjust the function.

Most apps offer one page of adjustment, but Lightroom goes further. It includes one set of controls for the Library module and seven pages for Develop. They're broken down by function; dials change function if you're cropping a photo versus removing dust spots or correcting red eye.

It certainly gives you some flexibility for different workflows, but has a downside when it comes to configuration. If you want to change the function of a specific button or dial, you have to make the change in several different places. It makes setup more of a chore than it should be.

The Lightroom profile also includes some custom preset looks. They're assigned to P1 through P8 by default and fall into the film-look category. The only real drawback? If you want to swap the buttons to another function, you have to make the change in several places.

Not Quite a Do-It-All Control Surface

The Loupedeck+ brings some welcome improvements to the company's first-generation eponymous console. It looks and feels a bit better, and includes more customizable buttons and dials.

Its large footprint lends itself to a sensible layout. There's space between dials, so you can comfortably make adjustments to photos with real, tactile controls—quite a different experience than dragging on-screen sliders with a mouse or trackpad.

But it's not a do-all device. You still need to use a mouse or trackpad and a traditional keyboard at the same time, which makes you think about just where the Loupedeck+ fits. It's especially true if you're working with a laptop.

Editors who frequently work with color channel adjustments will appreciate the individual dials for each segment of the visible spectrum, which set the Loupedeck+ apart from some of its slimmer alternatives.

Some competitors approach creative editing from a drastically different perspective. The Monogram system is modular, so it can be as big or as small as you want. The Tourbox, built for single-hand editing, is a lot smaller, but still delivers a hands-on experience. The Loupedeck CT is a premium console with a mix of multiple control dials and a touch interface, and while it's not that much larger than the Tourbox, its $549 asking price is a big pill to swallow.

Our favorite is another Loupedeck product, the Loupedeck Live. It's a much slimmer console that includes profiles for live streaming and creative apps. It includes six control dials and a 12-panel touch interface, and sells for just a bit more, $269. It best balances price and performance among the editing consoles we've tested, earning it our Editors' Choice award.