[Review] Logitech MX Keys Wireless Keyboard
As more people get used to the working from home norm, one of the accessories that would make this transition a lot easier, is a decent keyboard and mice combo. In this review, we’ll find out how the Logitech MX Keys Keyboard fares.
Upon unboxing the Logitech MX Keys keyboard, I immediately noticed how thin it was, but also had a fair bit of weight to it. This is because the entire keyboard is housed in a metal casing, which really adds to the premium feel in my opinion. According to its specs, this full-sized keyboard weighs 810 grams, and is only 20.5 mm thin! Because of how thin it is, I was able to pack this into my backpack, along with all my other stuff pretty easily.
Also Read: Logitech MX Master 3 Mice Review
Each key on the MX Keys (apart from the very top row and a few keys on the bottom row) are spherically dished so that your fingertips comfortably sit on the center of each key while typing. This makes for more accurate typing, as well as faster typing all at the same time. And while this keyboard is a low-profile type keyboard, each key still has good feedback and decent travel as well, which again adds to the accuracy of typing. The matte coating of each key also allows for easy glide of your fingertips to your next key.
While the majority of keys on this QWERTY keyboard are just like any old QWERTY keyboard, there are some extra dedicated multimedia keys sharing the same keys as the F1, F2, F3… etc. keys. The top row’s keys has icons printed on them already such as Play/Pause, Rewind, Skip, Volume Up/Down/Mute keys, as well as keyboard backlighting, device backlighting, Windows settings / shared desktop keys. And above the numpad, there are also four dedicated keys for the Calculator, Camera, right-click, and Lock. These are pretty handy to have, and while they can be customised and changed in the Logitech Options software, once you change them, you may get confused that the Calculator icon button doesn’t actually open up the calculator anymore.
The following may differ for each person as some like it and some don’t. The sound of each keystroke is not terribly loud, and in my opinion, is just audible enough to hear that feedback. If you are in an office setting, this quiet keyboard will probably be a positive. I cannot imagine being in an office where there are 20+ keyboards all making loud noises at the same time.
The MX Keys keyboard is actually pretty good if you’re typing for hours at end. However, if you don’t have a decent palm rest, your wrists may not be as comfortable near the end of your long typing session than at the beginning. Logitech do sell a MX Palm Rest for about 40 NZD separately, and for a premium keyboard like this one, it would’ve been a nice touch if they could’ve included it in the box too.
This keyboard doesn’t have adjustable tilt legs. In fact the “tilt legs” are the entire battery compartment and cannot be adjusted. While this keyboard’s angle was good for me at my work desk, some people may want to change the angle but find they can’t. They would have to improvise using other office tools that happen to be near them at that time.
There are six rubber pads spaced out appropriately underneath the keyboard, so the device won’t slide around while typing.
Just like the MX Master Mice, the MX Keys keyboard has an Easy Switch feature built-in, allowing you to connect and switch between three different devices. All you have to do to switch is to hold down the device number you assigned to that particular device to connect to. And if you have connected all your devices through the free Logitech Options software, you can make use of Logitech Flow as well.
Another cool feature on the MX Keys is its backlighting. If backlighting is turned on (through the Fn key), there is a sensor which senses when your fingers are near the keyboard and light up. When your fingers are away from the keyboard they will turn off. Backlighting intensity automatically adapts to current lighting conditions through its ambient light sensor, or can be manually set through the F6 and F7 function keys. Which brings us to battery life…
According to Logitech, the MX Keys can last up to 10 full days on a full charge, or up to 5 months with backlighting turned off. This will obviously also depend on how long each day you’re actually using your keyboard, rather than it sitting idle on your desk, unused. All in all, I’ve had the MX Keys for almost a month now, and I fully charged it when I got it. I have always had backlighting turned on (automatically controlled through the sensor), and it still hasn’t come up with any battery warnings so far. And of course I am typing this review up on it too!
Once it does need charging, it can be charged via a USB-C type cable. There is also a power switch at the top right of the keyboard if you won’t be using the device for a while, or if you just want to save battery after you have finished using it for the day.
While the MX Keys does come with a Logitech Unifying USB receiver, you can pair it with a Logitech Unifying receiver you already have, or connect it to your device via Bluetooth. From the beginning I have had this keyboard connected via Bluetooth, and it hasn’t skipped a beat. Whenever my Windows laptop wakes up from sleep, the keyboard is ready to type.
Overall, I can definitely recommend the Logitech MX Keys keyboard, and it would be an excellent peripheral as part of a working from home setup. The spherically dished keys are comfortable to type on and is accurate, its matte coating makes for seamlessly gliding around the keys for faster typing, and its ultra slim design makes it a breeze to transport around anywhere. I travel both my MX Master Mice and MX Keys keyboard between home and office daily, and it fits comfortably in my backpack.
While you can buy the MX Keys keyboard and MX Master Mice separately, I would definitely recommend you purchase them as a combo, as coupled with Logitech Flow, whenever you move your mice over to a second connected PC you’re using, the keyboard will automatically “flow” along with it. And it looks nicer sitting on the desk together too!
Also Read: Logitech MX Master 3 Mice Review
Logitech Flow works on both Windows and MacOS operating systems. MX Keys works on Windows, MacOS and Linux operating systems.
The Logitech MX Keys Keyboard can be bought at most good electronics retailers such as PB Tech and Noel Leeming for about 250 NZD.
