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Professional’s Ranking
Execs
- Nice typing really feel
- New auto-brightness
- Cheaper price
Cons
- Sensible Actions is restricted
- Iffy Bolt wi-fi connection
Our Verdict
The brand new model of the MX Keys doesn’t change a lot, nevertheless it’s nonetheless among the best non-mechanical keyboards available on the market. It helps that it will get a small worth lower!
Greatest Costs Right this moment: MX Keys S Keyboard
$109.99
Logitech has rather a lot in frequent with corporations like Honda. Go right into a retailer, purchase a Logitech keyboard with out doing any analysis, and you may anticipate it to be fairly first rate on the very least. So to increase the analogy, the MX sub-brand is its Acura: increased high quality, extra functionality, and naturally increased costs, however nonetheless targeted on that rock-solid core performance. That being the case, what are you able to do to the MX Keys keyboard from 2019, which is about nearly as good because the low-profile, high-style format can get?
Swap to a stylish full mechanical design? Nope, already did that. Slap on a display screen, possibly go loopy with the lighting or add some emoji keys? Doesn’t actually match the MX model’s button-down, nearly Apple-like aesthetic. Ultimately, Logitech determined to maintain the {hardware} of the MX Keys S largely untouched, and concentrate on increasing its functionality with software program. Oh, and it chopped 10 bucks off the worth.
The result’s a keyboard that’s higher than the unique, however not a lot in order that it calls for an improve. (Which is okay, as a result of numerous the expanded software program performance is coming to the older MX Keys.) That makes it a straightforward suggestion for anybody who desires a premium keyboard and isn’t a fan of clicky mechanical fashions, as long as you’re not married to Logitech’s Unifying Receiver module.
Additional studying: See our roundup of the most effective wi-fi keyboards to find out about competing merchandise.
What’s new within the MX Keys S?
Bodily, it’s nearly inconceivable to inform the distinction between the MX Keys S and the unique MX Keys. That’s high-quality: It’s a stable, no-nonsense design with a full-size format, unashamedly taking cues from Apple’s Magic keyboard (particularly on this white-on-aluminum colorway) whereas making the keys really feel even higher. Regardless of costing lower than the bigger Apple model and being equally pleased with each Mac and Home windows, the MX Keys S contains each Bluetooth and help for Logitech’s proprietary Bolt wi-fi dongle (included within the field). It’s straightforward to modify between three units with any mixture of these connections.
Michael Crider/Foundry
By way of {hardware}, the MX Keys S now has “smart illumination,” which robotically adjusts to the encircling lighting situations. The keyboard’s backlights are nonetheless white solely—which is okay, nobody’s binding customized Counter-Strike layouts on this factor—and largely pointless in the event you’re a touch-typist. However the addition of a smartphone-style ambient gentle sensor is useful, although surprisingly you continue to have to make use of Logitech’s Choices+ software program to ensure that it to work (a minimum of based on the packaging). There’s additionally a battery-saving mode that may robotically shut the lights off while you hit 10 %.
Bolt and Unifying dongles aren’t cross-compatible, which is a little bit of a bummer.
The MX Keys S additionally switches from the Logitech Unifying Receiver to Logi Bolt. Bolt makes use of Bluetooth Low-Vitality versus Unifying’s extra typical 2.4GHz proprietary wi-fi. However since Bolt is additionally proprietary, and doesn’t work as an entry level for Bluetooth or non-Bolt-enabled units, it’s successfully only a totally different taste of Logitech’s teeny-weeny multi-device dongle. Bolt and Unifying aren’t cross-compatible, which is a little bit of a bummer in the event you’ve invested rather a lot into the latter. However since just about each wi-fi product Logitech makes additionally contains Bluetooth, you’re nonetheless lined even in the event you’re low on USB-A ports.
Michael Crider/Foundry
And…that’s it. Yup, that’s the extent of the {hardware} modifications between the MX Keys and the MX Keys S. If it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.
What’s Logitech Sensible Actions?
Logitech’s Choices+ software program covers just about the whole lot you might wish to customise in your keyboard, with the one limitation that customized keys are solely obtainable on the highest row. It permits you to simply assign customized layouts for common operation, plus bindings keyed to particular applications like your browser or Photoshop, very very similar to a gaming driver. Logitech Movement is a good way to handle a number of PCs with one keyboard and mouse. However none of that’s new. The massive promoting level of the brand new keyboard is Sensible Actions.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Sensible Actions are, primarily, suped-up macros. So for instance, I can arrange a “start my morning” macro and open Outlook, Slack, my RSS reader, and Chrome with a single button press. It additionally has integration with deeper system settings. You can too change some system settings or quickly enter textual content in a classical macro style. And all of those features will be layered on prime of each other for some extra complicated conduct.
It’s a pleasant thought, and Logitech has created an impressively straightforward interface for managing all of it. Once more, that is the corporate’s bread and butter—if utilizing Sensible Actions had been as complicated as, say, making an IFTTT routine, most of its prospects would balk. However exterior of launching applications, I discovered its utility restricted. I couldn’t, for instance, change my audio system to my headset, change my microphone enter, and open Groups to activate “meeting mode.” And the applications Logitech Choices+ chooses to acknowledge as, nicely, applications, are very slim. I take advantage of Outlook as a progressive net app (ditto for my RSS reader and Monday), and Choices+ couldn’t discover the shortcuts essential to launch them. There was additionally no possibility so as to add them manually.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Sensible Actions is launching in beta, so maybe a few of these wrinkles shall be ironed out finally. However on the time of writing, it’s little greater than a novelty, and definitely not well worth the buy of a dear new keyboard. However a brand new buy isn’t essential: Logitech representatives instructed us the performance is coming to all MX units in some unspecified time in the future.
Typing on the MX Keys S
The typing expertise on the MX Keys S stays wonderful. Logitech makes use of a mixture of a plastic scissor-style bracket and a membrane with a view to give the keys a easy and deliberate journey with delicate give, kind of like a very nice laptop computer keyboard (proper up there with my ThinkPad). Typing is quiet and unobtrusive, a particular plus in the event you work round others. The keys really feel far more comfortable than essentially the most direct competitors, the Apple Magic Keyboard.
Michael Crider/Foundry
You gained’t get the satisfying “click” of a mechanical board (or the noise that comes with it), however at this level in the event you’re contemplating this board then that’s not one thing you need. I do want the keyboard got here with a couple of peak possibility—they’re referred to as ft, Logitech, I do know you’ve heard of ’em!—however the fashionable low profile of the board is visually hanging. In the event you want a keyboard with extra ergonomic sensibilities, look elsewhere.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Recharging comes by way of a USB-C port, although I didn’t want it in two weeks of testing, and switching between units was quick and straightforward. I did discover that the Bolt connection appears somewhat extra finicky than the previous Unifying Receiver, which I wish to blame on the truth that I’ve half a dozen energetic Bluetooth units scattered round my workplace at any given time.
With a cheaper price, the MX Keys stays undeniably interesting in its S variant.
Must you purchase the Logitech MX Keys S?
The MX Keys S will launch with a retail worth of $109.99. That’s rather a lot for a keyboard, however for Logitech’s top-of-the-line, it’s not too dangerous. It’s additionally $10 cheaper than the unique MX Keys, a financial savings that’s all too rare as of late. In the mean time there’s no phrase on a “Mini” variant, however I’m certain it’ll be alongside earlier than too lengthy, and likewise certain that you just’ll be capable of purchase the MX Keys S at a big low cost inside just a few months. This stuff go on sale always.
Although it’s an especially light change, and the brand new Sensible Actions is restricted in its utility, the MX Keys design stays undeniably interesting in its new S variant. With a worth drop on prime of the whole lot, it needs to be on the prime of your record in the event you’re trying to find a slim keyboard that mixes performance and magnificence.
