Happy (featherlite) clacky: Logitech MX Keys keyboard
The Logitech MX Keys keyboard is a nice keyboard.
It’s actually the nicest keyboard we (the virtual Inspect-a-Gadget) team has used, possibly ever.
It should be, it’s not cheap.
This unit comes in at around £100 and it’s built to work with a super-light (almost featherlite) touch.
Users talk about the need for a ‘satisfying clack’ from their keyboard in an age where we have all become so used to the dull quiet tip-tip-tip that emanates from so-called chiclet keyboards… and they do have a point, many modern keyboards don’t provide enough feedback.
Indeed, we have profiled the BakkerElkhuizen UltraBoard 950 Wireless Compact Keyboard on Inspect-a-Gadget here… and certainly, the best thing about that unit is the clack-clack.
But you know what they say, once you’ve had clack-clack, you never go back. Okay, they don’t say that, but the Logitech unit should be enough to convert any heavy-duty user that lighter is better. This is not a clack-clack (unless you really smack it), this is a tip-tip-tip that feels really good on the fingertips.
Quite simply, it allows you to type faster, more fluidly and with fewer mistakes.
The very clever smart illumination function is also a dream — backlighting detects your hands and adjusts keyboard lighting automatically depending on the room lighting conditions.
Power factor
Does that take a lot of power? Well… we’ve had the unit charged up via USB-3 cable (now detached) since Christmas and were still going strong at the end of January. Logitech says that the rechargeable battery that lasts up to 70 days from a full charge, with a three-minute quick charge providing a full day’s use.
“A premium typing experience: Sculpted keys allow for fluid keystrokes and accurate, tactile responses when keys are pressed. A soft and durable detachable palm rest is also available with MX Keys Plus,” notes the company, in specs materials.
We connected the keyboard via Bluetooth to an iMac, Windows tablet and Huawei Android smartphone (the device also works with desktop Linux, but this may require the user to download some additional free software) and an easy-switch keys function allows you to to connect up to three devices and easily switch between them using the separate 1, 2, 3 SCREEN buttons to the right towards the number pad.
In truth, our 9-year old iMac wouldn’t handle the Bluetooth connection, so we had to resort to the USB receiver for that part of the deal, but this worked fine.
The Logitech MX Keys keyboard works at up to 10 metres wireless range, should you need to sit 10 metres away from your screen… right?
Logitech MX Master 3
The Logitech MX Keys is often paired with the firm’s MX Master 3 mouse, which is an equally high end (think £100 price mark) device with a MagSpeed scroll wheel: driven by electromagnets for precise and ultrafast scrolling action, allowing to silently scroll through thousands of lines in a second.
“Carefully sculpted shape for comfort: Providing support for the hand and wrist to mitigate RSI injuries — the MX Master 3 is capable of tracking on all surfaces, including glass with Logitech’s MX signature Darkfield 4,000 DPI high precision sensor,” notes the company, in specification sheets.
… and it’s a nice mouse, but we really preferred the keyboard.