THERE’S A quiet revolution happening in the productivity space. Well, I say quiet—it’s actually the click-clack of mechanical keyboards making their way back into the offices that they left 30-or-so years ago. At least that’s the plan according to Razer and now Logitech, who have both recently released work-based takes on the mechanical keyboard.
Both keyboards are available in either Linear or Silent switch types, although Logitech does also sell the noisier clicky variety (confession: I’m the annoying guy in the office who prefers the louder switches). I received the ‘Tactile Quiet’ variant of the MX Mechanical Mini, meaning Cherry MX Brown equivalent switches on a compact frame that loses the numkeys and rearranges the navigation keys vertically on the right to save even more space.
At $ for this Mini version and $ for the full size, there are many wireless keyboards out there for a lot less money, including Logitech’s own non-mechanical MX Mini for $ What you’re paying for is the mechanical feel and robustness that comes with it. That means not just the satisfying feeling of typing and the practically infinite life you’d expect from a mechanical board, but also an aluminum top case that feels backpack-proof.
The keyboard also has lots of features to justify the price, including fully customizable function keys through Logitech’s software and an ambient light sensor that senses when your hands are close and illuminates the keyboard accordingly. That illumination is also fully customizable in Logi’s software in the same way as a lot of gaming keyboards, only thankfully without all the RGB effects.
It’s also worth mentioning the huge battery life of this thing—15 days with the keys illuminated or 10 months without. You can also get a full day’s charge with a 15-minute top-up over the USB-C connection. If you’re at a desk all day, you can also just leave the thing connected and that way you don’t have to worry about it.
The wireless features of the MX Mechanical are excellent—the keyboard can pair up using the included Logi Bolt receiver or Bluetooth, and you can switch between machines seamlessly using the function keys. If you’re moving between Mac and PC, there are both Start and Option keys available for navigating both operating systems. One minor niggle is that there’s nowhere on the board to store the wireless dongle if you’re traveling like there is on the underside of my Logitech G915 TKL gaming keyboard.
For me, the best part of this keyboard is that it has low-profile keys. I know that’s a matter of taste, but as someone used to typing on laptops for the last 15 or so years, it’s much more comfortable when I’m writing my articles. The dual-tone gray finish also helps distinguish between important keys on what is otherwise just an uninterrupted slab of keys.
It’s also worth mentioning that both the keyboard chassis and packaging are made from recycled materials, and the keyboard is certified carbon neutral. As a gamer, I’ve become used to the smaller form factor of a TKL model, but the low premium for the full-size board means that’s probably the board to go for if you’re an office worker.
Ultimately, the Logitech MX Mechanical Mini is one of those premium upgrades that makes sense for people working across platforms who want a fantastic typing experience wherever they go.
$ www.logitech.com
