I’m going to share a critical review of the Logitech MX Keys Mini, a compact wireless keyboard that I have been using for some time. Logitech, as you may know, is a well-known brand recognized for its high-quality computer peripherals, and the MX Keys Mini is no exception. While it’s a great keyboard, there are a few reasons you might want to think twice before buying it.
Table of Contents
Where to Buy?
You can purchase the MX Keys Mini Keyboard on
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3q2FwMB
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkXGBjn
In the box, it comes with the keyboard, a USB cable (a charging cable, it’s not a data cable), and some leaflets.
Build Quality
The Logitech MX Keys Mini is a compact wireless keyboard that comes in a sleek and slim profile, making it a perfect fit for small desks or workspaces. Its size is slightly larger than the Keyboard on a 14-inch Macbook Laptop, the buttons are more spread out with more spaces in between providing a comfortable typing experience.
The MX Keys Mini feels sturdy and more premium than I originally expected with its aluminum design. It’s similar in feel and quality to keyboards made by Apple but packed with a ton of cool features. The keyboard comes in different colors too (white, pink and graphite), and I chose the graphite color.
Despite its compact footprint, this keyboard manages to fit all the necessary keys while still maintaining a comfortable typing experience. Backlit keys are a handy feature, facilitating easy typing in dimly lit settings. This backlighting is adjustable, offering three levels of brightness or the option to switch it off entirely.
The backlight turns off when the keyboard is idle and turns back on again only upon sensing movement or touch—a gentle nudge suffices to reactivate it. This feature can potentially prolong battery life considerably.
Typing Experience
While the typing experience on the Logitech MX Keys Mini is satisfactory, it doesn’t quite live up to the expectations one might have from a keyboard priced at £100. However, it undeniably offers a superior typing feel compared to my previous £30 mechanical keyboard from AliExpress. Its performance is similar to that of my MacBook keyboard, with the added benefit of spherically-dished keys which seem to enhance typing accuracy.
It’s important to note that the Logitech MX Keys Mini has a fixed angle and height. You won’t find any foldable legs on the back for adjustments. At first, this might sound limiting, but after extensive usage, I’ve found that the keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience just the way it is. Its design seems well thought-out, eliminating the need for manual adjustments.
However, the MX Keys Mini does lack four important keys: Page Up, Page Down, Home, and End. If you use these keys in your day-to-day workflow, do not worry! There’s a workaround to bring them back by holding down the FN key and pressing the appropriate arrow keys:
- fn + ← = Home
- fn + → = End
- fn + ↑ = Page Up
- fn + ↓ = Page Down
Nevertheless, I find the inconsistency in volume control and function keys (F11, F12 etc) to be slightly annoying. The process to mute (fn + F11) and decrease volume (fn + F12) requires the fn key, but increasing the volume does not. Furthermore, if you press fn while adjusting the volume up, it won’t respond. Despite numerous complaints regarding this inconsistency over the past year or two, Logitech hasn’t shown any intent to resolve it, so I won’t hold my breath. But here are a couple of potential workarounds to this issue:
- You can disable “standard function keys” in the Logitech Options software. This allows you to control the volume using the F11, F12, and Ins keys without holding down the fn key. However, if you want to use the standard function keys (F1, F2, etc), you’d have to press the fn key first.
- Or you should consider installing Microsoft PowerToys (available on Github). It’s a software that allows button rebinding—you can swap the Ins and volume up keys
It also has dedicated media keys, which makes it convenient to switch between songs or play/pause.
Device Pairing and Compatibility
First, let’s talk about a few issues regarding the device pairing process and compatibility of the Logitech MX Keys Mini.
Interestingly, this keyboard doesn’t come packaged with a receiver, requiring a separate purchase. It’s also essential to note that the keyboard is exclusively wireless; a wired mode is not supported.
The MX Keys Mini is incompatible with Logitech’s universal Unifying Receiver, instead supporting only the Bolt Receiver and Bluetooth. That means if you previous own a Logitech keyboard or mouse that uses the Unifying receiver, you’ll need to invest in a new Bolt Receiver. The silver lining here is that the same Bolt Receiver can be shared with a compatible Logitech mouse, allowing for a neat setup.
You can purchase the Bolt Receiver here (£15):
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pSPu37
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFJA8Wp
For MacBook users, the keyboard conveniently connects via Bluetooth, eliminating the need for an additional adapter.
The MX Keys Mini’s most impressive feature, in my opinion, is its ability to connect with up to three devices simultaneously through Bluetooth or the Bolt receiver. This capability makes transitioning between devices as easy as pressing a button (F1, F2, or F3), a process that takes just a couple of seconds. This convenience is invaluable if you manage multiple computers and prefer to use a single keyboard and mouse.
When using the Bolt Receiver, it’s necessary to install Logitech’s software (Logi Bolt) for keyboard pairing. However, MacBook users can bypass this step due to the Bluetooth connectivity option. For my MacBook, the pairing was seamless and required no additional software.
Battery Life
The Logitech MX Keys Mini features a built-in rechargeable battery, with the charging USB-C port at the back, delivering an impressive battery life between charges. With the backlighting turned on, it can last up to 10 days. However, if you leave the backlighting off, the battery life skyrockets to an astounding five months. Essentially, this means you can use the keyboard without ever having to worry about battery life.
Customization with Logi Options App
The Logi Options app allows you to customize the keyboard to your liking. You can remap the function keys to specific actions or keyboard shortcuts, and you can change the key remapping for each computer you use the keyboard with and even for specific apps on your computer. This is a software you have to download on top of the Logi Bolt software for pairing.
Final Thoughts
Despite a few hiccups and surprises at the beginning, the Logitech MX Keys Mini is a great tiny little keyboard that packs in a lot of functionality. For those who prioritize portability and ease of use, this keyboard is a worthy consideration. It truly shines when used across multiple devices, making it a versatile tool for your tech arsenal. Additionally, Apple users will find its color options and cost advantages particularly appealing. While it might not be perfect, its benefits may well outweigh its shortcomings for many users.
You can purchase the MX Keys Mini Keyboard here:
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3q2FwMB
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkXGBjn
Don’t forget to get a Bolt Receiver which is not included:
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pSPu37
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFJA8Wp
5 comments
Excellent review of the Mini. I found your review by learning about the HOME and END keys (thanks for that information)
I have been waiting decades for this keyboard, Despite the naysayers I have read below, (dongles and mechanic loud keyboards) the keyboard makes love to my fingertips as I type. It lights up when my hand approaches it to begin a typed thought, I have recovered open space on my physical desktop from my last giant keyboard, donated now to Goodwill (sorry Goodwill). It has just made typing a pleasant experience.
If you google around (reddit) you will find photos of this keyboard after only one year usage, with badly worn keys. And logitech says that’s “physical damage” and NOT under warranty.
So typing on keyboard is not covered by logitech warranty. Sorry!
Logitech should not sell a keyboard that doesn’t come with a dongle, period. Those things are way too easy to lose. Maybe they’re doing it to reduce ewaste? I doubt it. Their keyboards probably take up more landfill space than any other manufacturer considering how many cheap keyboards they crank out.
if you wanted better typing you could have gone for the mx mechanical :)
It sounds way too loud :) Besides, according to many reviews the MX Keys actually feels nicer for typing
And the MX Mechanical doesn’t look as polished and stylish as the MX keys to be honest.