Logitech MX Mechanical keyboard assessment: Type, meet operate

The Logitech MX Mechanical fills a niche that’s plagued mechanical keyboards for years. You desire a true mechanical typing expertise with the slim type of Microsoft’s Floor Keyboard, however all you’ve been capable of finding are RGB-ridden gaming keyboards that will supply an incredible typing expertise, however don’t look nice sitting within the workplace.

Enter the MX Mechanical.

It’s not the primary low-profile mechanical keyboard, but it surely’s the primary we’ve seen from a mainstream peripheral model like Logitech. The value is a bit excessive, and the software program might use extra options, however the chic typing expertise on the MX Mechanical earns it a spot among the many finest keyboards in the marketplace.

Costly however not egregious

Logitech’s premium peripherals are costly — there’s no means round it. The MX Mechanical doesn’t buck that pattern, but it surely nonetheless doesn’t really feel such as you’re throwing away extra cash. Logitech has two variations out there at barely completely different costs: The complete-sized MX Mechanical for $170, and the 75% MX Mechanical Mini for $150.

The primary competitors are the low-profile Keychon K3 and K7, that are each round $50 lower than what Logitech is asking. The K7 helps hot-swappable switches, too, so you possibly can alter the texture of the keyboard down the road or swap some switches out in the event that they go bust.

What’s working in Logitech’s favor is that the MX Mechanical works with different Logitech peripherals, and it unlocks some productiveness options that aren’t current with manufacturers like Keychron. Make no mistake: The MX Mechanical keyboard is dear. However contemplating Logitech’s gaming-focused G915, which is similar to the MX Mechanical, sells for $60 extra, the worth doesn’t appear as intimidating.

Three gadgets without delay

Probably the most thrilling points of the MX Mechanical is that it may well swap between three gadgets nearly immediately, whatever the working system you’re utilizing. You possibly can join with both the pre-paired Logi Bolt dongle (a more recent dongle for keyboards just like the Logitech Pop Keys) or Bluetooth, and you may swap between techniques both with a trio of devoted keys on the board or by means of the free Logi Choices+ software program.

I paired it to my desktop with the Bolt dongle and Bluetooth throughout a laptop computer and pill, and there was by no means greater than a second or two of delay between switching. One draw back right here is that the MX Mechanical flat-out doesn’t have a wired mode. It really works by way of wi-fi whereas it’s plugged in and charging, however you possibly can’t ditch Bluetooth or the dongle for a straight wired connection.

Even cheap mechanical keyboards just like the Akko 3068B work throughout numerous connections on the press of a key, however the huge boon for the twin connections is Logitech Stream. With a appropriate mouse, you possibly can bounce between Home windows and MacOS simply by dragging your mouse, in addition to switch information or textual content. It really works throughout as much as three gadgets, both with Home windows or MacOS.

The keyboard helps Home windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, iPadOS, Chrome OS, and Android by itself, however Stream is restricted to the 2 main desktop forms of OS. Twin assist for Home windows and MacOS is the primary plus for the MX Mechanical, although. In contrast to the Keychron Q1, the MX Mechanical acknowledges what OS you’re utilizing and routinely switches the format.

Greater than a backlight

I assumed the static white backlight on the MX Mechanical could be the largest distinction it has in comparison with Logitech’s G915 gaming keyboard, however I used to be improper. The MX Mechanical doesn’t have RGB lighting, however the white backlight is for extra than simply appears.

It’s adaptive, so the ambient mild sensor contained in the MX Mechanical will alter the backlight routinely primarily based on how a lot mild you’ve within the room. It is a key element that enables the MX Mechanical to realize 15 days of battery life and a full 10 months with the backlight off, in accordance with Logitech. I don’t have 10 months to attend for a keyboard to die, however I’ve been utilizing the MX Mechanical on and off for about three weeks, and my battery is at 50%. Convey a USB-C cable with you once you go away the home simply in case, however you shouldn’t must cost the MX Mechanical typically.

The lighting has some good touches outdoors of being adaptive. It lights up once you lay your palms over the keyboard, for instance, which is a novelty I haven’t grown bored with (even after three years with the Nvidia Defend’s distant and its proximity sensor). Logitech makes use of the backlight to name out vital info, too, like a brighter mild in your presently paired system once you flip the keyboard on.

Chic typing

The MX Mechanical isn’t a G915 with the gaming bits ripped out, and some minutes of typing on it makes that clear. It makes use of Kailh Choc switches just like the G915, however the V2 variations the MX Mechanical comes with use a normal cross stem so you possibly can swap the keycaps out if you would like. Logitech offers you the selection of Tactile Quiet (brown), Linear (pink), and Clicky (blue) switches, and I selected the Tactile Quiet possibility that comes with 45 grams of activation drive, 1.3mm to achieve the actuation level, and three.2mm of complete journey distance.

These low-profile switches have the identical drive as their full-sized counterparts, however the journey distance is way shorter (0.7mm much less actuation journey, and 0.8mm much less complete journey). That fully adjustments the typing expertise in comparison with full-sized switches like those on the Azio Izo keyboard. It’s snappy, like if Apple’s Magic Keyboard was slathered in a coat of mechanical goodness.

The Tactile Quiet switches have a standard really feel, however they’re not precisely quiet. They’re not loud, like the press you’ll discover on the Clicky possibility, however they’ve a hole, chunky clunk as you sort. It’s immensely satisfying for typing, and I discovered myself wanting to write down simply to make use of the keyboard extra. Most mechanical keyboards are centered on gaming first (just like the SteelSeries Apex Professional Mini), however the MX Mechanical is among the many few mainstream choices centered on typing first.

I didn’t depend it out for gaming, although I in all probability ought to have. The flat keycaps imply there’s little distinction between rows, inflicting a number of slipups in Future 2 and my latest habit, Neon White. It really works for gaming, however you might need to construct your individual keyboard for one thing that appears just like the MX Mechanical however capabilities like a G915.

Easy isn’t all the time higher

Logitech needs the MX Mechanical to be highly effective and easy, which is obvious the primary time you load up the Logi Choices+ app. It walks you thru the distinctive components of the keyboard — the three system buttons, the assorted backlighting choices, and even some particular operate keys like a devoted emoji key and a mute button for conferences. Simplicity is nice, however the MX Mechanical takes it too far.

You possibly can’t rebind a lot of the keys. Choices+ means that you can rebind your operate keys, the grid between Insert and Web page Up, and 4 keys on high of the keypad, however that’s it. Key remapping is a normal operate for a number of Logitech keyboards, so it’s unusual that it’s no more out there on the MX Mechanical.

It’s much more unusual contemplating the choices you’ve for the few keys you possibly can remap. You possibly can bind them to keyboard shortcuts, OS apps just like the Calculator, and capabilities like minimizing the lively window. You possibly can even customise the keys for particular apps (although, you’re given the identical slate of actions whatever the apps you’re utilizing).

Choices+ can be lacking macro recording and binding. The record of actions in Choices+ is pretty complete, however the truth that you possibly can solely rebind some keys looks like an pointless roadblock for what’s in any other case an incredible software program expertise.

Our take

The Logitech MX Mechanical keyboard is all about holding you productive. Stream is a giant plus if in case you have an MX mouse, and the up to date low-profile switches present among the best typing experiences you may get south of $200. The value stings a bit with the dearth of choices in Logi Choices+, however the premium is properly value it if in case you have different Logitech peripherals or typically want to modify between Home windows and MacOS.

Are there any options?

Sure, however they’re few and much between:

• Keychon K3: It’s less expensive than the MX Mechanical and nonetheless comes with low-profile mechanical switches. It doesn’t assist Logitech Stream, nonetheless, and it makes use of strictly Bluetooth for the wi-fi connection.
• Logitech G915 TKL: A gaming tackle the MX Mechanical for a a lot larger worth, the G915 presents the same construct and typing expertise. It’s far more centered on gaming, with devoted meta buttons, a quantity wheel, and per-key RGB lighting.

How lengthy will it final?

Low-profile mechanical switches have a life span of fifty million keystrokes, so you may get a number of years out of the MX Mechanical earlier than it’s worthwhile to change it. Sadly, it doesn’t have hot-swappable switches just like the Keychron K7 or K3, so you possibly can’t lengthen the life with a swap swap down the road.

Do you have to purchase it?

Sure, particularly if in case you have a mouse that helps Logitech Stream or toggle between gadgets typically. You may get the same typing expertise for much less with one thing just like the Keychron K3, however no different peripheral maker has the identical mixture of options that Logitech is providing with the MX Mechanical.

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