Logitech MX Keys S vs Alto Keys K98M

Which Keyboard Is Better?

Products

Logitech MX Keys S
Logitech Alto Keys K98M 
early access

Tested using Methodology v1.4.3

Updated Jan 22, 2026 05:31 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.4.3

Updated Jan 23, 2026 07:30 PM

This review is in Early access

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  1. Recommended in 8 articles:
  2. Keyboards
  3. Typing
  4. Mac
  5. 5

Our Verdict

Logitech MX Keys S

Logitech Alto Keys K98M

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below
0 

Variants

  • MX Keys S (Black)
  • MX Keys S (Graphite)
  • Alto Keys K98M (Graphite)
  • Alto Keys K98M (Lilac)

Check Price

Graphite
MX Keys S
SEE PRICE
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Graphite
Alto Keys K98M
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Amazon.com
Black
MX Keys S
SEE PRICE
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Lilac
Alto Keys K98M
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Amazon.com
Pale Gray
MX Keys S
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Off-White
Alto Keys K98M
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Pale Grey
MX Keys S for Mac
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Space Gray
MX Keys S for Mac
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 
 

7.2
0.0
No major differences between these keyboards for gaming. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S Top Picture
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Locked

Height 
 

0.8" (2.0 cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Width  

16.9" (43.0 cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth 
 

5.2" (13.2 cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.77 lbs (0.804 kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
N/A

Build Quality Close Up 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S Build Quality Close Up
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Build Quality Close Up Sample

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Keycap Material  

ABS
Locked
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

7.0
N/A

Side Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S Side Picture
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Curved/Angled 
 

No
Locked

Split Keyboard 
 

No
Locked

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Locked

Minimum Incline 
 

5.8°
Lock°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

N/A
Lock°

Home Row Height 
 

14.1 mm (0.6")
Lock mm (Lock")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

0.0
N/A

Customizability Overview 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S Customizability Overview
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Customizability Overview Sample

SAMPLE

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Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

No
Locked

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Locked

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Locked

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Non-Standard
Locked

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
Locked

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Locked

Mechanical Switch Compatibility 
 

No Mechanical Switch Pinout
Locked

Magnetic Switch Compatibility 
 

No Magnetic Switch Support
Locked

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Locked
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

7.5
N/A

Backlighting Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S Backlighting Picture
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Brightness Max 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S Brightness Max
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Brightness Max Sample

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Backlighting  

Yes
Locked

Brightness Min 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S Brightness Min
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Brightness Min Sample

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RGB 
 

No
Locked

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Locked

Effects 
 

No
Locked

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Locked
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0
N/A

White Shot 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S White Shot
Logitech Alto Keys K98M White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wireless
Locked

Detachable 
 

Yes (Charge Only)
Locked

Length  

3.4 ft (1.1 m)
Lock ft (Lock m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

10
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Locked

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

3
Locked

Proprietary Receiver 
 

Yes
Locked

Battery Type 
 

Rechargeable
Locked
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

4.0
N/A

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
Lock

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No
Locked

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Locked
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S Extra Features
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Locked

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
Locked

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
Locked

Control Knob 
 

No
Locked

USB Passthrough 
 

No
Locked

Numpad  

Yes
Locked

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Locked

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Locked
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S Bundle Picture
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
N/A

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Lock mm (Lock")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

9.9
N/A

Typing Sample  

Logitech Alto Keys K98M Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Average Loudness 
 

36.2 dBA
Lock dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
Locked
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

 Preview Graph
Logitech MX Keys S Key Switch Actuation Graph
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Initial Force 
 

N/A
Lock gf

Peak Tactile Force 
 

63 gf
N/A

Actuation Force 
 

36 gf
Lock gf

Bottom-Out Force 
 

74 gf
Lock gf

Pre-Travel Distance 
 

1.4 mm
Lock mm

Total Travel Distance 
 

1.7 mm
Lock mm
Show Text 

Adjustable Input Granularity 
 

0.0
N/A

Input Linearity Graph  

 Preview Graph
Logitech MX Keys S Input Linearity Graph
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Input Linearity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Analog Output Graph  

Logitech MX Keys S Analog Output Graph
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Analog Output Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Top Deadzone 
 

N/A
N/A

Bottom Deadzone 
 

N/A
N/A

Detection Ratio 
 

N/A
N/A

Minimum Step Depth 
 

N/A
N/A

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Logitech Alto Keys K98M Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Switch Name 
 

No Marketed Name
Locked

Switch Type 
 

Scissor
Locked

Feel 
 

Tactile
Locked

Output Type 
 

Non-Adjustable
Locked
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.6
N/A

Single-Key Latency Graph  

 Preview Graph
Logitech MX Keys S Single-Key Latency Graph
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Best Connection 
 

12.8 ms
Lock ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±3.0 ms
±Lock ms

Wired 
 

N/A
N/A

Receiver 
 

12.8 ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth 
 

16.1 ms
Lock ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

11.8 ms
Lock ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.5
N/A

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

 Preview Graph
Logitech MX Keys S Multi-Key Latency Graph
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Connection Evaluated  

Receiver
Locked

Key Press 
 

14.8 ms
Lock ms

Data Transmission 
 

5.4
N/A

Multi-Key Raw USB 
 

Compare High-Res
Logitech MX Keys S Multi-Key Raw USB
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

SAMPLE

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Connection Evaluated  

Receiver
Locked

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
Lock Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

143 Hz
Lock Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

No
Locked

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

No
Locked

Chord Split 
 

4.1
N/A

Chord Split Graph  

 Preview Graph
Logitech MX Keys S Chord Split Graph
Logitech Alto Keys K98M Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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4 Chord Split Delay 
 

22.2 ms
Lock ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

N/A
N/A
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Logitech Alto Keys K98M Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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Software Name  

Logi Options+
Locked

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Locked

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Locked

Onboard Memory 
 

No
Locked

Profiles 
 

6+
Locked
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
N/A

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Locked

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Locked

Linux 
 

Fully Compatible
Locked

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux
Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

10
N/A

Android 
 

Fully Compatible
Locked

iOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Locked

iPadOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Locked

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Android, iPhone & iPad
Locked
Show Text 

Check Price

Graphite
MX Keys S
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Graphite
Alto Keys K98M
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
MX Keys S
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Lilac
Alto Keys K98M
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Pale Gray
MX Keys S
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Off-White
Alto Keys K98M
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Pale Grey
MX Keys S for Mac
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Space Gray
MX Keys S for Mac
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 

Logitech MX Keys S

Logitech Alto Keys K98M

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