In an instant
Expert rating
Professional
- Pair and switch with the three devices
- USB-A wireless dongle and Bluetooth support
- Good key action and layout
Our verdict
A great low-profile mechanical keyboard designed for office productivity rather than gaming. Connect your Mac, PC, and iPad and switch between them at the touch of a button.
Price when reviewing
169.99
Today’s Best Price: MX Mechanical
169.99
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169.99
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Logitech makes pretty good keyboards. These are the main ones on our list of the best keyboards, be it for Mac or iPad, because it is the safest bet outside of Apple’s own keyboard. You’re almost always going to get something well-built with good key action and useful software features.
Strange as it may seem, mechanical keyboards have become all the rage among enthusiasts and have been working from home in recent years, with Logitech’s mechanical keyboards only available in its gaming-centric G-Series.
With MX Mechanical, the company finally fixed it. Available in a Tenkiles Mini ($ 149) and full-size ($ 169) variants, it combines craftsmanship with the excellent productivity features and software of the company’s mechanical gaming keyboards. All in a more professional design that will welcome any office – at home or away.
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For those who love to type
Becomes the mechanical keyboard One thing Recently. With laptop keyboards (like Apple’s Magic keyboards) swaying, tired of the less travel keys, enthusiastic users have jumped on the good old click mechanical keys. Of course, they make more noise (even quieter ones), but they do To feel Much better, with more spring and what works when that nice click feeling. Gamers also like them, for their durability, quick response time and more intentional feel.
You can also replace keycaps on many mechanical keyboards, personalizing your keyboard to your liking. Logitech MX mechanically uses Kailh’s new low-profile Choc V2 switches and is available in linear, tactile and clicky variants. I’ve tested the sensitive (brown) switches, which I think do the best job of giving you a deliberate mechanical feel with a little less typing sound. The typing action is just as good as you might expect with a top switch, with great response for low-profile keyboards and minimal key shaking.
The Kailh Choc V2 uses the same round crosspoint stem as the Cherry MX switches. This is probably the most popular stem design and gives you the best options for aftermarket keycaps (Logitech does not offer alternative keycap sets). But beware: regular keycaps do not work well on low-profile switches They work technically, but with short key trips, they will always slap the keyboard deck. It’s hard to find low-profile keycaps compatible with the Cherry MX stem, but the MX should work finely mechanically.
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Ready for work, not gaming
Although you can use this keyboard while playing games, it is deliberately designed for office productivity.
This means that there is no macro key or macro programming in the bundled Options + software, although I hope it will come in an update. Fn keys include shortcut keys with microphone mute, emoji, and dictation with brightness, key brightness, and volume-like staples.
Nowadays, like most keyboards, you can access common function keys by pressing the “fn” key. MX Mechanical lets you lock it by pressing fn and Esc, which is welcome for programmers and others who want to press F8 many times more than to mute their own microphones.
As for the keys, they are backlit in a single white color, which goes well with the two-tone graphite key deck (not available in any other color). There are seven levels and six different effects, so you can do one A little Fun, but almost not like an RGB keyboard. Logitech has built a deck with a proximity sensor, so if you leave your hand on the keyboard for 30 seconds, the backlight will turn off and turn on again as you get closer. An ambient light sensor adjusts the brightness of the backlight, dimming when there is not too much light, and brightening when sunlight flows through your office windows.
This is all for longer battery life. Logitech says you can expect about 15 days of normal use if the backlight is on and 10 months if the backlight is off. I turned on the backlight but set it low, and the battery dropped from 100 percent to 85 percent after only five days. When you need to recharge, there is a USB-C port on the back right.
Productivity strategies
Like Logitech’s other MX gears, you can connect MX mechanically via a wireless dongle to Bluetooth or Logitech’s own Bolt USB. A bolt dongle can handle up to six compatible Logitech devices, so you’ll need to use one of your valuable USB-A ports for multiple mice and keyboards.
The keyboard itself can be connected to three different machines (Bolt or Bluetooth) and switch between them with dedicated keys. This is something that multi-device users will appreciate. And yes, that includes serving as a Bluetooth keyboard for your iPad or iPhone, both work great. It’s a pleasure to switch between typing and tapping a key on my Mac and iPad.
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Then there’s Options + software, which effectively replaces the old Logi Options Mac app. Options + lets you redistribute all Fn keys, key insert / home block, and key functions at the top of the number pad. All of these have both global and optional per-app settings, and when signed in to a Logitech account they sync to the cloud.
The software is intuitive, engaging, and useful (and it’s a universal app, ready for your next Apple Silicon Mac), but for the company’s gaming keyboards you’re a bit limited compared to some of the functions found in GHub software. Keyboard macros, in particular, would be a welcome addition.
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Should You Buy an MX Mechanical?
MX Mechanical probably won’t satisfy hobbyists who want to fully customize their keyboard, but that’s not the point. It combines that great mechanical feel with the software features of Logitech’s existing MX key products while looking “office-ready” and it does a great job.
It’s attractive, well-built, and has a great key feel The battery lasts a long time, and the software is thoughtful and easy to customize the core function. It connects to up to three devices (Mac, PC, Linux, or even iPad or iPhone) via the wireless dongle in USB or the company’s Bolt USB, with which it comes.
Mechanical keyboards aren’t for everyone, but if you want a nice low-profile alternative with productivity-friendly features instead of gaming, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better solution.