Hello, this is Semplist and welcome back to another video, today I will be giving you
my review of the Logitech MX Keys.
I will break this video into sections and I have detailed them in the timestamps down
below if you wish to skip to a particular part of the video.
I have also detailed all the items of my desk setup down below and linked to my original
desk setup video, in case that is something you are interested in watching.
If you enjoy this sort of content please don’t forget to subscribe to the channel, and if
you leave me a comment down below letting me know you subscribed, I will make sure to
reply to your comment.
So first things first, we are going to start with the unboxing.
Starting with the outer box we have some information
around the various features of the keyboard.
Once we remove the keyboard from it’s outer sleeve you get this inner all black box with
the MX branding, in this really nice varnish embossed finish.
Opening the box we have some instructions on the inside of the lid, and then we have
the keyboard wrapped in tissue paper.
Moving that to one side we have the bluetooth receiver so that we can connect it to our
laptop or desktop.
We then have this box which contains the USB Type C charging cable, and then various bits
of warranty information that no one ever reads.
Finally onto the keyboard, unwrapping the tissue paper we get this business card telling
us about the MX Master 3, and then finally we have the Logitech MX Keys.
In terms of measurements we are looking at 43.1 cm by 12.9 cm.
Looking at the design, as far as aesthetics go, Logitech have absolutely nailed the look
of the MX Keys. For me, the graphite colourway is really clean and has a genuine premium
feel to it.
The darker tone to the keys provides a nice contrast from the frame, and it gives the
MX keys a monochrome look, which if you have watched the channel before, you know I am
a big fan of.
In terms of build quality the MX Keys weighs approximately 810g, the keyboard feels like
it’s built really well, nothing budget about this keyboard, and it’s very much what you
would expect at this price point.
On the underside of the keyboard you have these rubber feet which do a really good job
of securing the keyboard in place, providing the additional stability.
And one thing to note here is that you are not able to adjust the angle of the keyboard
to your preference, however for me personally this hasn’t been an issue so far.
The keys feature this rounded corner design which again, I think is a nice extra to the
overall look of the keyboard, and I feel that it complements Apple hardware quite well too
if that is something like myself, one of the systems you will be pairing it with.
There are two different versions of the MX Keys, one which is designed specifically for
Mac and then there is this version which is cross platform capable, and will work with
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and IOS.
The only difference between the two is that the Mac version just has the Mac icons on
the keys, whereas this version includes both. I purchased this version as I switch between
Mac and Windows quite often during the working day.
Finally, the MX Keys is a fully wireless keyboard with the wireless receiver I showed in the
unboxing, however it is also connected via bluetooth which is a nice touch.
Moving onto the layout and keys, I have been using the MX keys for around a week now and
I have found it day to day to be really comfortable.
The low profile keys assist with consistent typing speed, and I really like how each key
features these finger indents, which provide additional comfort and assistance with finger
placement.
As far as key stability goes, as you can see the keys feature very little movement, which
is great for accurate typing, especially when you are working on improving your typing speed
and overall productivity.
With the layout of the MX keys, I think Logitech have done a really good job of applying just
the right amount of spacing between each key, and for me, this allows you to quickly move
between each key whilst typing, and maintain a constant flow.
Personally, I’ve never owned a mechanical keyboard and so have never experienced the
louder clicking feedback you get from owning one, however for me the MX keys are a perfect
combination of feedback and minimal sound. Take a listen:
Again, this all comes down to personal preference and I don’t use the keyboard for gaming
so for me the quieter sound is perfect whilst I am working.
The MX keys feature what Logitech call Easy Switch technology, this was a game changer
for me and one of the main reasons I decided to go ahead and make the purchase.
You can use these three buttons to seamlessly switch between systems, as mentioned earlier
I work across Mac and Windows during the day, so it just plays a huge part in allowing me
to seamlessly switch between systems during the day.
Smart Illumination
Another feature I really like about the MX keys is the Smart Illumination feature.
The MX Keys contain proximity sensors around the frame, so that when your hands approach
the keyboard the keys will backlight automatically.
This makes working in lower light much easier, and it’s a really nice addition to the keyboard.
You can adjust the brightness of the backlit keys to your preference, depending on how
dim or bright you prefer them.
Battery
Moving onto the battery, the keyboard is charged via the included USB Type C cable which is
always good, and in terms of battery life you can expect to get approximately 10 days
with the Smart Illumination feature turned on.
Should you decide to not use the Smart Illumination
feature, you can expect to get approximately
5 months of battery time. Which I think again, is really good.
Personally, I will more than likely turn off the feature during the day and potentially
just use it at night to save battery.
Within the Logitech software you get some really good customisation features, such as
being able to change all of the top row keys to a wide variety of predefined options which
really allows you to fine tune your individual workflow.
These top right hot keys again, are also customisable
but I have left them in their standard state
which is Calculator, Screen Capture, Look Up, and Lock.
So overall I am extremely happy with the MX Keys, I think it suits my particular setup
perfectly and really enhances my productivity whilst working across multiple systems.
Is this a keyboard for everyone? Not in my opinion.
With this particular price tag I think you have to have some substantial need for one
of the main features, or have already invested in the ecosystem with the MX Master 3.
However, as mentioned, I think it’s perfect for my individual circumstances and setup.
The MX keys have a really nice layout and design, it’s feature rich, and fully compliments
my particular workflow, whilst again enhancing my productivity.
So that is it for today’s video, I hope you found it useful. As mentioned, I am overall
really happy with the MX keys and I would definitely recommend it if you are in the
market for a new keyboard at around this price point.
If you have any questions at all about the MX Keys, please let me know in the comments
down below and I’ll try my best to answer them for you.
I’ll be releasing another video next week featuring the MX Master 3 if that is something
you are interested in watching.
Again if you enjoy this sort of content please subscribe to the channel and drop a like on
this video as it does really help the channel out.
Thank you again for watching and I’ll see you in the next one.