- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Compared to others
- Discussions
The Logitech MX Keys is a good well-rounded keyboard. It has a sleek design that feels more premium than most other options and looks great when paired with Logitech's MX line of mice. Typing on it feels great thanks to its indented keys, which help keep typos to a minimum while maintaining fast typing speeds. While there are quite a few programmable buttons, unfortunately they can only be set to a list of preset features and can't be assigned to macros. The ergonomics also are only decent, due partly to its non-adjustable incline. On the upside, it supports pairing to three devices at once, which allows you to pair it to your work PC, personal laptop, and phone, and quickly switch between the three with the press of a physical button.
Our Verdict
The Logitech MX Keys is a good keyboard for a wide variety of uses. It's excellent for the office thanks to its decent ergonomics, and good typing experience that's nearly silent. While there are better gaming-centric keyboards out there, casual gamers should have no problem with this keyboard provided they don't require programmable macro keys. Programmers will also likely quite enjoy this keyboard thanks to its full size design, backlight and great typing experience; though again, its minimal programmability may be of concern.
The Logitech MX Keys is a good keyboard for gaming. While it doesn't have a lot of features that gaming-centric keyboards have, like RGB lighting or the ability to reprogram keys with macros, it should be fine for most casual gamers. It feels quite well made and provides a great typing experience with a great amount of pre-travel.
See our Gaming recommendationsThe Logitech MX Keys is decent for mobile or tablet use. This keyboard isn't designed for this use, and will likely stay on your desk, whether it be at home or in the office. However, if you're often on the move, it can connect to your devices via Bluetooth and it's not too heavy to bring around. On the downside, its full-size design might be a bit hard to fit in a backpack.
The Logitech MX Keys is a very good keyboard for office use. While it may not be quite as ergonomic as some other options due to its straight design with no incline settings, it's a full-sized keyboard that's slim enough that you likely won't require a palm rest, though Logitech does make one designed for it. It provides a great typing experience, and its keys are practically silent, so you won't bother your co-workers. It also supports multi-device pairing, so you can pair it to your work PC, personal laptop, and phone, and switch between the three of them on-the-fly, which can be extremely helpful.
See our Office recommendationsThe Logitech MX Keys is a good keyboard for programming. It feel quite well-built and should be able to handle long work sessions, and it's compatible with every OS, though you lose control of the media keys on Linux. It offers a great typing experience thanks to its slim and silent keys that still offer a good amount of pre-travel. Unfortunately, you can't reprogram any of the keys with macros, which may be a problem for some programmers.
See our Programming recommendations- 7.7 Mixed usage
- 7.7 Gaming
- 7.4 Mobile/Tablet
- 7.9 Office
- 7.5 Programming
-
Premium and well-built design.
-
Good typing experience helps keep typos to a minimum.
-
Works with any OS and supports multi-device pairing.
-
No macro programmability.
-
Minimal customization options through software.
- Update 1/29/2020: We discovered that Logitech's Options software supports Cloud Sync, as well as the ability to set different profiles for specific programs. The review has been updated to reflect these changes, and some scores have changed.
Check Price
Test Results
The Logitech MX Keys has a fairly small footprint. While it isn't as small as tenkeyless keyboards, it has minimal borders beyond its keys which helps keep it as small as possible without feeling cramped. For a smaller full-size design, check out the Logitech K780.
The Logitech MX Keys' build quality is good. The entire frame is made of metal, and the keys are made from dense and good quality plastic. Unfortunately, the keyboard does have some flex to it, and the metal beneath the spacebar feels loose and wiggly. On the upside, the keyboard feels quite sturdy overall and its feet are grippy enough to prevent any movement on the desk while typing. For something similarly well-made that has a built in trackpad, check out the Corsair K83 Wireless Entertainment Keyboard.
The ergonomics on the Logitech MX Keys are decent. It's a straight keyboard with no palm rest attached, though Logitech does make a companion low profile palm rest which can be purchased separately. Unfortunately, the keyboard has no incline settings, so its slight angle can't be adjusted. For a more ergonomic keyboard, check out the Logitech K860.
The Logitech MX Keys has excellent backlighting capabilities. Each key is individually backlit and there's a built-in brightness sensor that will turn the backlit on automatically in the dark, or you can manually adjust the backlight as well. Unfortunately, there are no RGB settings and the backlighting is only white, though this matches the keyboard's more professional design.
This keyboard charges via a USB-C cable, and a 4-foot cable is included. When used plugged in, the keyboard still communicates to the PC via the wireless transmitter.
The Logitech MX Keys is an extremely versatile wireless keyboard. It can be used via Bluetooth or its proprietary unifying receiver, which allows you to pair several compatible Logitech accessories to the same USB dongle. This keyboard also allows you to pair to three devices and switch easily via three buttons next to the function keys, which is handy.
The Logitech MX Keys has minimal extra features. There are media buttons along the top of the keyboard, but they double as the function keys by pressing the 'fn' key. On the upside, you can reprogram all the media keys to do a wide range of actions, as well as open any program or file on your PC, as well as set a second programmable layer that can be accessed by pressing fn+esc, though unfortunately, they can't be set as macros. This keyboard is also compatible with Logitech's Flow software which allows you to copy and paste files from one PC to another using the same keyboard, even if they use different operating systems.
As is common with scissor switches, this keyboard's keys have a low actuation point that requires minimal force to actuate. The keys do have a bit more travel than similar keyboards, like the Apple Magic Keyboard.
The Logitech MX Keys' typing quality is great. While the keys have a low profile, they are very quiet and stable, with an indentation on each key, making it much easier to hit the key in the center and helping to eliminate typos. Unfortunately, the material on the keys themselves doesn't feel as good as some other keyboards. If you want a keyboard with outstanding typing quality, check out the IBM Model M.
Typing on this keyboard is very quiet and it shouldn't bother those around you.
This keyboard uses the Logitech Options software to set its programmable buttons. Unfortunately, while you can customize quite a few buttons to open various apps and perform different functions, they can't be set to macros. This will likely be fine for most daily or office use, but the lack of macros may be disappointing to gamers or programmers. On the upside, you can set different profiles for specific programs, and the keyboard is recognized in the software even when used via Bluetooth.
The Logitech MX Keys Advanced Wireless Illuminated Keyboard has excellent compatibility. This keyboard will work with any devices and all keys work fully with both Windows and macOS. Unfortunately, if you use Linux, the media buttons won't work, and on mobile devices the 'calculator' key doesn't work.
Compared to other keyboards
The Logitech MX Keys is significantly better than the Apple Magic Keyboard in mixed usage, though they're both decent for general office use. However, the Logitech is a full-sized keyboard with a numeric pad and also has backlighting. The build quality isn't as good as the Magic Keyboard, but it has full compatibility with Windows and has software for customization. The MX Keys can also be paired with up to three devices at the same time, making it much easier to switch between them.
The Logitech MX Keys is a better keyboard than the Logitech K780 overall. It features backlighting, which is nice and is rechargeable instead of using batteries like the K780. Both use very similar switches, but the MX Keys' keycaps feel a bit better.
The Logitech MX Keys is a better wireless keyboard than the Logitech K800. It's better-built, can be used over Bluetooth with three devices simultaneously, offers better backlighting, and has a noticeably better typing quality. If your budget allows it, the MX Keys is better in almost every category.
The Logitech MX Keys is significantly better than the Microsoft Surface Keyboard. The MX Keys has better wireless versatility, as it can be paired using an USB receiver or through Bluetooth, and it can be paired to three devices simultaneously. The MX Keys also has programmable keys and can be custmomized using Logitech's Options software, however, the Surface Keyboard's build quality is much better.
The Logitech ERGO K860 is a better ergonomic keyboard than the Logitech MX Keys, which is more versatile. The ERGO K860 has a curved board a split key layout while the MX Keys has a more traditional straight board. If you're looking for an ergonomic keyboard, get the K860, but if you're looking for a more versatile option, then the MX Keys is better.
The Logitech MX Keys is better than the Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard. It feels more high-end, has white backlighting, offers a better overall typing quality, and can be connected up to 3 devices simultaneously. However, if you don't like scissor switches and prefer a bit longer travel distance, go with the Microsoft and its rubber dome switches.
The Logitech MX Keys is a better keyboard than the Logitech K350. It feels noticeably higher-end, can connect up to three devices simultaneously, and can also be used with mobile devices via Bluetooth. Its chiclet keys have a very short pre-travel distance and each key is individually lit. The typing quality is much better on the MX Keys, but some people might like the ergonomic board design of the K350 better.
The Logitech MX Keys is a better keyboard than the AmazonBasics K4R. The MX Keys is noticeably better built, offers a better typing experience, and has backlighting. It also connects to devices via Bluetooth, so it's a bit more versatile than the K4R as well. The only thing better with the K4R is the fact that it has an integrated touchpad.
The Logitech MX Keys is significantly better than the Brydge 10.2 Keyboard for Apple iPad. The typing quality is much better, it has multi-device pairing, each key is individually lit, and it has a software that allows you to reprogram a few keys. The Brydge has a better build quality, and since it's a compact keyboard designed to be attached to your iPad, it's lighter and easier to carry around.
The Corsair K83 Wireless Entertainment Keyboard is a better wireless keyboard than the Logitech MX Keys but is designed for a different use. The Corsair has a built-in trackpad which makes it great to use on the couch while connected to a Smart TV. Its software is better than the Logitech's as it allows you to program the backlighting as well as set macro keys. On the other hand, the Logitech provides a better typing experience and is a full-sized keyboard with a numpad.
Logitech MX Keys Price
Recommended Articles
Unlimited access to full product reviews, test measurements and scores
Product prices across the site on reviews, tables and tools
Additional votes for our
next reviews
Early Access
to our reviews and test measurements
