Hey guys, I’m Roland the Techusiast, and I’ve been using the Logitech MX Mechanical
keyboard for a little more than two weeks, and here are my thoughts on it.
Before we talk about the design, let’s take a closer look at the packaging and see what’s
inside the box.
The MX Mechanical comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable, and a Logitech Bolt dongle.
There’s all the usual paperwork, warranty, and that kind of stuff, nothing else.
Logitech always includes all of the necessary accessories, and it’s the same this time
around.
Setting up the keyboard was also easy and straightforward and the provided instructions
made it a breeze.
You can connect the keyboard via Bluetooth or the Logi Bolt dongle.
However, I don’t see the point of downloading the “Logi Bolt” application which only
manages the “Bolt” enabled devices and nothing else.
I hope this can be simplified by using only the new “Logi Options+” app in the future
to decrease the clutter of applications and setup required.
Other than that, the packaging was excellent, and setup was easy and only took a few minutes.
The Logitech MX Mechanical might look like a standard keyboard, but it’s far more than
that.
It feels premium right out of the package, and while this is subjective, I love the way
it looks and feels.
It doesn’t feel like cheap plastic, and you can tell it’s one of the higher-end
keyboards that you can find on the market.
It’s also worth noting that given the premium feel, it doesn’t weigh much, and it feels
fairly light, just enough that it doesn’t feel like a heavy rock when I move it around
on the desk.
The MX Mechanical has a low profile, and there’s not much travel.
One of the main letdowns of this otherwise expensive keyboard is that the keys aren’t
hot-swappable, and you’re stuck with what you get.
If you want to change them, you’ll have to do some labour, and personally, I don’t
think it’s worth the hassle.
If you’re looking for hot-swappable switches, this isn’t it.
Turning the keyboard on its back reveals two feet, allowing you to tilt the keyboard up
at an 8-degree angle – kudos to Logitech for displaying that on the feet itself.
On the downside, there’s no way of adjusting it between the 0-degree and 8-degree angle,
but the inclusion definitely deserves some bonus points.
On the top of the device, you’ll find a turn-on and off switch, as well as a USB-C
port.
The port can only be used for charging purposes, so don’t expect it to be able to act as
a USB hub for charging your accessories.
Overall, it has a pretty minimalistic layout and premium feel, so if you’re after something
that doesn’t shout gamer, this will fit in any professional setup.
The MX Mechanical comes with a ton of features, such as customizable effects for the backlit
keys, the keyboard can wake up and light up once your hands approach it, and the brightness
can also adjust based on the lighting conditions – extending the precious battery life.
There are six backlight effects you can choose from, including Static, Contrast, Breathing,
Wave, Reaction, and a Random one that mixes between all of the effects.
I used the Contrast and Static effects during the review period and I think they’re the
best for when you want to type away in dark environments.
You can also customize a select few keys to work differently based on the applications
that you’re using.
For instance, you can set the F7 key to turn on do not disturb, which could be handy for
Google Meetings and other conference services.
There are a lot of shortcuts and features you can choose from, and it’s a great way
for power users to get the most out of their keyboard.
The F1, F2, and F3 keys can also act as “Easy Switch” keys that let you switch between
other computers.
I use a Mac generally for all types of purposes, including work, and I like to fire up my Windows
desktop when I want to play games with friends.
You can pair up to three devices, giving you plenty of options to use all of your devices,
including smartphones, tablets, Linux machines, Chromebooks and more.
Last, but not least, if you have a Logitech MX Master wireless mouse, the Logitech Flow
feature will also allow you to drag and drop, copy and paste files across different devices.
It’s a neat feature, and it could be handy if you use multiple computers on a daily.
The keyboard has three different types of switches, linear, tactile and clicky.
The one I’m reviewing is the tactile quiet version.
It feels pleasing to my ears, and it’s not too loud even when I’m typing really fast.
Although, I think it’s best suited in your personal work environment, and not in offices
as it could get loud.
If there’s something that I didn’t like, and found a hit-and-miss, it’s the way the
keyboard’s brightness is automatically adjusted throughout the day.
I prefer to nearly max out the brightness at night, but the most of the time it was
stuck in the middle.
I could see the keys at night, but I always had to manually adjust it as there wasn’t
an option to turn it off.
Additionally, the smart illumination feature didn’t work all the time when my hand approached
the keyboard.
This feature worked perfectly on the Logitech Craft, and I think the software of the MX
Mechanical needs an update to tweak it slightly.
Overall, the keyboard's performance was excellent, and I enjoyed working and even gaming on it.
It took me about 4-5 days to get used to it, having used the Logitech Craft for all of
my gaming and working needs in the past two years or so, it’s an excellent all-rounder
and I can easily recommend it to everyone.
As I’ve mentioned at the beginning of this video, the USB-C port can only be used for
charging, and it’s located at the top right side of the keyboard, next to the power switch.
It’s a great location, although some might disagree with the placement being preferred
on the left side or middle.
When it comes to the battery, Logitech advertises the MX Mechanical to last for about 15 days
on a single charge with the backlighting turned on, or 10 months with it being turned off.
The device also reportedly gives you a full day's worth of use off a 15-minute charge,
which is neat and good to have.
It’s also worth mentioning that you can use the keyboard while it’s plugged in,
unlike Apple’s Magic Mouse…
I charged the keyboard up to 100% the day I received it, and unplugged it the morning
I woke up to start work.
As a writer, I write anywhere between 1,500 to 3,000 words each day, and I can confirm
that the 15-day battery rating is accurate, and you can easily go for two weeks using
this keyboard with the backlight turned on.
After a week of use, I was quite surprised to find that the battery was still at 80%,
and Logitech seems to have gotten pretty good at preserving the battery on this thing.
After more than two weeks of use, I’m still sitting at 50% and I’m very impressed.
The keyboard automatically turns off when it’s not being used for a longer period,
preserving the battery and extending the battery life.
The battery life is far better than the Logitech Craft, which I’ve been using in the past
two years or so, and I’ll make a video comparing the MX Mechanical and Logitech Craft in an
upcoming video, so make sure you’re subscribed, so you don’t miss it.
This video may have been a bit longer than I initially anticipated, but I think it’s
worth it for the extra information.
If you’re on the market for a new keyboard that works simultaneously across three devices,
it’s backlit, and has mechanical switches, the Logitech MX Mechanical is one of the best
keyboards.
It’s a premium keyboard, and while the price is high, I think it can be justified with
the excellent design, feel, and typing experience.
There shouldn’t be too many differences between the MX Mechanical and MX Mechanical
Mini, and the two keyboards come with basically the same functionality, feel and design, but
if you prefer a full-sized keyboard – like I do – it’s perhaps best to pick that
up instead.
If you prefer hot-swappable keys, RGB, and more customizability, then you’ll find that
the MX Mechanical might not be the best fit for you.
I’ll also be reviewing the MX Master 3S mouse and the Logitech G413 TKL SE gaming
keyboard in the coming weeks, so make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss the review.
That being said, the MX Mechanical is an easy recommendation.
If you’ve been eyeing the MX Keys or the Logitech Craft, then I would strongly recommend
you to check them out at your local store, and if you find the mechanical keys pleasing
and fun to use, pick it up.
And, there you have it.
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a like if you found this review useful, it would
help me out a lot.
That being said, thank you for watching.
I’ll see you next time.