Logitech MX Keys review: A wireless keyboard that does much more - hugheypastachis

At a Glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

Sturdy construction
Tush get in touch with up to terzetto devices
Can dominance mulitple computers at once when exploited with MX Master 3 creep

Cons

Expensive
Probably too disturbing to travel with you

Our Verdict

MX Keys is an first-class standalone keyboard, just IT can really streamline your workflow when used with the MX Master 3 sneak.

Keyboards and mice feature a pretty conservative reputation, but ironically some of their most stringent users are accurate-brain types. That's whom Logitech is targeting with its MX Passe-partout 3 mouse and MX Keys companion keyboard. Some these peripherals have been studied with an vehemence on comfort and customizability to appeal to package developers, designers, and early "creatives."

The MX Keys, reviewed here, is a well-constructed low-profile keyboard that can pair with up to ternary devices and, when used with the MX Lord 3, command multiple computers in a idiosyncratic workflow. It does and then much more than right type, which is why IT's earned an Editor's Choice.

This review is part of our ongoing roundup of the best tune keyboards. Go there for information happening competing products and how we tried and true them.

Design

The Mx Keys is built connected a single metal plate, giving it a durability that would seem to score it an ideal mobile accessory. You'll think twice near tossing it in your gear bag, though, erst you feel the full weight of its nearly 1.8 pounds. The keyboard is actually best suited for your screen background, where its heave keeps it from shifting and sliding under typing force.

mx keys 2 — MX Keys keyboard is roomie and cosy to employ.

The large keyboard (16 x 5.18 x 0.8 inches) replicates the layout of the luxurious Logitech Craft, with alphanumeric keys, a number pad, and a dozen function keys that double as multimedia controls. These last can be "set" to either function or media by pressing Fn+Esc, so you never need to hold the Fn key.

MX Keys is too equipt with propinquity sensors, thus the keys illuminate when your hands border on the keyboard and fade when you go them away. This backlighting turns off automatically when the battery falls below 10-percent charge. At the same time, a battery indicator preceding the number stamp pad will glow red and you'll receive an onscreen telling. Logitech says the battery should last about 10 days with backlighting forever on, and a generous 5 months with it off. A couple of consecrate buttons gives you blue-collar control over several levels of illuminance, so it should be easy to find a sweet spot 'tween those extremes.

Connectivity

Both the MX Keys and the MX Maestro 3 mouse connect your computer via the Logitech Unifying Receiver. Just plug this dongle into a free USB-A port on your PC or Mac, and the computer should recognize the keyboard at once.

logitech options customize — Many of the keys fanny be mapped to another shortcuts in the Logitech Alternative software.

You can connect up to three devices via the Unifying Telephone receiver or Bluetooth. For the latter you press one of the Easy Switch buttons until its LED blinks to indicate it's in pairing modality. Then find and select MX Keys from the list of available Bluetooth devices on the laptop, pad of paper, or phone you'ray trying to link up. You're asked to put down a numerical code on the keyboard and press the Easy Switch button again to complete the conjugation. Once quintuple devices are paired with the keyboard, you can flip-flop among them aside toggling the Easy Switch button to the appropriate channel.

If like me, however, you tend to role multiple computers at the same time, you can use the MX Keys in combination with the MX Master 3 mouse to control them simultaneously using Logitech Flow from. All the computers have to be connected the same meshwork, with the Logitech Options software installed on each and Stream enabled in it. Once that's done you can usage the mouse across computers simply away dragging the pointer off the edge of cardinal screen and onto the other. Better yet, you can transmit images, textual matter, and even entire folders between computers by copying them on one and pasting them connected the other. And because the MX Keys follows the Maxwell Master 3 from one computer to some other, you can typecast on multiple devices in one seamless workflow. It even works across operating systems; I used it regularly to transfer files between a MacBook Aerate and an Acer laptop.

Customizability

Like the Maxwell Master 3 mouse, the keyboard can be custom with Logitech Options software. Once you download it, you send away remap whatever of the function/media keys, Eastern Samoa wells as the calculator, screen capture, look up, and ignition lock keys by selecting information technology from a graphic look-alike and choosing from a list of cutoff options. The software also lets you see what devices are paired with for each one Easy Switch, oversee on-screen notifications, and enable/disable battery rescue mode. Of peculiar banker's bill to Mack users is an selection to always keep the keyboard in Macintosh layout.

logitech options easy switch — You can see what devices MX Keys is paired with in the Logitech Options software.

Typewriting feel

Thanks to its sufficient size of it, MX Keys provides a roomy and comfortable typing experience. The keys are smooth, with a little dim that nestles your fingertip. The low-visibility design doesn't allow much travel and you don't get the exteroception or aural feedback you'd get from a mechanical keyboard. As a matter of fact, you have to middling knife thrust the keys trace-and-peck style to get any sound out of them in the least. That's all the better for your coworkers if you work in a trendy afford office setting, but IT might be redoubtable for typists who depend on key clatter to unite with what they'atomic number 75 typing.

Finding of fact

The MX Keys is easily one time of the topper radio receiver keyboards I've ever used. Similar the Maxwell Master 3, it's an expensive peripheral at $100, but well worth the investment for index users World Health Organization are fussy roughly their peripherals.