Logitech MX KEYS Review
My keyboard of 5 years a Corsair Straffe mechanical gaming keyboard has been a solid device that I used mainly on my desktop pc and on Linux machine. Connecting and disconnecting the USB connection is a bit cumbersome and so I was thinking why not try a wireless keyboard that I can connect via Bluetooth or USB dongle to any of my devices with ease. Got to check several keyboards online and my choices narrowed to the Logitech MX KEYS and the MX Mechanical. The MK KEYS is not a new Logitech product. It has been around for 2 years while the MX Mechanical is a recent addition to Logitech MX keyboard product line. What initially attracted me to the Logitech MX KEYS was its elegant design and craftmanship. For a long time, I was a fan and user of mechanical keyboards, but the MX KEYS changed my mind and I was convinced to take the plunge.
I went for the MX KEYS and purchase it. My preference this time around when choosing the keyboard is productivity. The MX KEYS Easy Switch feature is a game changer for folks using multiple devices - laptops, desktop or workstations and only wants to use 1 keyboard. Pairing the MX Keyboard with any of Logitech's MX mice would further enhance its productivity features.
MX KEYS - The Perfect wireless keyboard
PROS
✅ Smart keyboard illumination
✅ Easy Switch feature can connect to 3
devices
✅ Spherical key caps design
✅ Programmable keys
✅ Premium design
CONS
⛔ Wrist rest is a separate purchase
⛔ Fixed incline position
⛔ Expensive
Box and Packaging
Inside the box: MX KEYS, USB type C to A cable, untying receiver, documentation
The keyboard box looks and feels special. It's a proper box for a premium product. When I first unboxed the keyboard, it was inside a white wrapping paper for scratch protection. The box has a simple diagram on the Easy Switch function. The MX KEYS is offered in 2 variants - graphite and black. I got the graphite color which seems to be the most common.
Looks and Build Quality
The keyboards design is in similar fashion to Logitech Craft keyboard minus the dial. The keyboard is made of brushed aluminum and plastic. What differentiates this keyboard from the rest is the unique shape of the keycaps. There is a spherical indentation on the keys which somehow aids for a more precise typing experience. How is the feel when typing? Although the MX KEYS is using low profile membrane keys similar to most laptop keyboards, I felt more comfortable typing in the MX KEYS than on my laptop. There is some tactile feeling when typing compared to something like a bottoming out sensation when typing on a laptop keyboard. I would not say that the MX KEYS is superior when compared to a mechanical keyboard but then again this is purely based on user preference. I can type much faster with the MX KEYS with better accuracy compared to my old gaming mechanical keyboard.
Because of the slim design of the keyboard its a low profile with a fixed incline. The depth is only 20.5mm. Comfort and ergonomics would depend on your typing position or your placement of the MX KEYS. If you're using a keyboard tray the low-profile design of the keyboard might not be an issue. If you're using the keyboard on top of a table then a wrist rest may be a good idea to improve comfort. Unfortunately, the official MX KEYS wrist rest is sold separately but there are a lot of alternatives wrist rest from Glorious, HyperX, Filco with a lower price point.
I've had owned office keyboards and gaming keyboards with varying degree of build quality. Gaming keyboards particularly those using Cherry mechanical switches are heavy and bulky. Logitech's MX KEYS design is simple and yet elegant. Even the build quality is something that you would admire and be wowed.
Connectivity and Battery Life
The keyboard can connect to your pc via the included USB dongle or thru bluetooth. The included dongle is Logitech Unifying receiver. With a single dongle, 6 compatible mice or keyboard can connect. Both windows 10 and 11 is supported but Linux is not. I got a Linux machine, and I can only connect the MX KEYS via Bluetooth. Not sure why Logitech is not developing support for Linux as this platform is getting popular among programmers and developers. For apple devices I believe Logitech has a version of the MX KEYS exclusive for mac. This version has the mac keyboard layout as well.
During my usage I did not notice any lag in the wireless connection when the keyboard is on USB dongle on my windows devices and Bluetooth on my Linux machine.
Battery endurance is great lasting 10 days on a single charge. To save on battery life it's recommended to enable Battery saving mode inside the setting of Logi Options + apps. When battery saving is enabled the backlighting would automatically switch-off when the keyboard is not in used. Backlight turns-on automatically when it senses your hand is near the keycaps. The backlighting has 7 adjustable levels of brightness. Disabling the backlight would result in a more longer battery endurance of 5 months as advertised by Logitech.
LOGI OPTIONS + and Easy Switch
The MX KEYS works out of the box but its advisable to install Logitech LOGI Options+. Customizing shortcuts, changing key functions and setting up the Easy-Switch is all done using the app. There are 17 programmable keys - Functions and Media keys. One of the changes I did was to edit the app menu key function to an emoji menu😊. There are so many keyboard actions that can be customized w/ total of 54 list of programmable actions. For example changing the function of the Previous key⏮️ to Open File📂 action can be done inside the app.
Another cool feature is you can add some app specific actions and program that action into any function or media keys. To cite an example - adding the app Microsoft edge into the calculator key. The Action - close the active tab when browsing edge. To save your setting the Logi Options + needs to be exited or closed. Thus when your screen is displaying any active edge window once the calculator key is pressed it would close the active edge tab. When edge is not used or active the calculator button would function as normal.
The perfect companion mice for the MX KEYS is Logitech's own Master series of mice. If you have the MX Master 2S or MX Anywhere the Flow Feature is quite useful. When enabled both mouse and keyboard are in sync and can work on your Flow connected devices - Laptop, PC, tablet etc. You can have your mouse hover from your laptop going to your desktop PC without switching channels. As the mouse is move from one device screen to another means the MX KEYS also works on the pc where the mouse pointer is active.
Is the MX KEYS worth it?