Review of Logitech MX Keys Mini, Minimalist and Luxury


 After releasing MX Keys some time ago, now Logitech has released the successor to their flagship keyboard, namely the MX Keys Mini, which you can guess from the name that it's smaller in size.

Both the MX Keys and the MX Keys Mini have the same design and materials. The only difference is in the smaller size. This makes the MX Keys Mini, at least for me, very interesting. Because for work purposes, I don't need additional keys in MX Keys that make the size big.


Design

In terms of dimensions, the MX Keys Mini measures 131.21 x 295.99 mm, 30% smaller than the MX Keys, or almost as wide as the MacBook Air M1. This mini size makes it very portable and easy to carry, moreover it now weighs only 506 grams, much lighter than the MX Keys which weighs 810 grams.




But its main advantage, its size which is very similar to most of these laptops, makes the MX Keys Mini very ergonomic and comfortable to type on. Especially for people who are used to typing using a laptop.


Its weight which reaches half a kg comes from the metal material on the top layer of the keyboard, which feels very solid. Even the top made of plastic feels very sturdy.


Just like the MX Keys, the keys on the MX Keys Mini are also chiclet type with a hollow in the middle. This contour according to Logitech is adjusted to the shape of the human finger.


Oh yes, the automatic backlit that was previously in the MX Keys is also still maintained in the MX Keys Mini. The buttons on this keyboard will turn on automatically when it detects an object -- the user's hand -- is approaching by using a magnetic sensor. There are six levels of brightness, suitable for use in dark conditions.


There are three colors available, rose, graphite, and pale gray. The battery used is promised to last for 10 days of use if the backlight is turned on, and up to five months if you don't use the backlight. In testing that spanned five days with the backlight on, we never ran out of battery.


Charging the battery is done via the USB-C port on the top of the keyboard, which unfortunately is only useful for charging the battery and cannot be used to use the MX Keys Mini in wired mode.


Features and performance

Just like MX Keys, MX Keys Mini can also be connected with three different devices. However, the MX Keys Mini does not support the use of Logitech Unifying receivers, which means that connections can only be made using Bluetooth.


In testing, I did not find any connection problems at all. Although personally I prefer to use a dongle. The MX Keys Mini actually supports Logitech's new, more secure dongle, the Logi Bolt.



However, it seems that this dongle is only available for the enterprise variant, and the dongle itself is not currently available in Indonesia.


Logitech does not include key travel specifications for the MX Keys Mini, but I think the key travel is no different than the MX Keys, which is 1.8mm. For information, most thin laptops measuring 13 inches today use a keyboard with a key travel of 1.1mm to 1.5mm.


So with 1.8mm key travel, the MX Keys Mini is definitely more comfortable to use for long typing. Although it may take a little adjustment, because the level of hardness of the keys in my opinion is slightly higher than the keyboard on the MacBook Air M1 that I use daily, the sound is quieter.


There are several keys that double up on the MX Keys Mini. Namely option/start and cmd/alt, so this keyboard is compatible for both Windows and Mac in terms of button layout, and of course also compatible with Android, iOS, iPadOS, and Linux.


Because it supports connection to three devices, MX Keys Mini can be used to quickly switch from one device to another. For example, if you want to switch typing from a laptop to a tablet or cell phone, or even another laptop/PC, this can be done by pressing the button next to the esc key.


Conclusion

In my opinion, this keyboard is suitable for use by laptop users who want to work at a desk, either using an external monitor or using a mat that makes the laptop position higher so that it is at eye level.


The shape, dimensions, and design will be very familiar with laptop keyboards. Of course with a deeper travel key -- than most laptops -- and maybe a higher level of key hardness as well.


Unfortunately Logitech did not make the MX Keys Mini compatible with the Unifying Receiver which was previously their flagship dongle. So users who have previously used the Unifying Receiver for mice -- the MX series for example -- will have to add another dongle (Logi Bolt), or connect the MX Keys Mini via Bluetooth.


Premium materials, sturdy design, full features, and comfortable to type on. So, what's the downside of this keyboard? Of course the prices are quite high.

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