Best Overall
Logitech MX Keys S
Key details
- Size
- 18 x 6 x 1.5 in
- Battery
- 10 days per charge
- Connection
- Bluetooth or Logi Bolt
- Multi-device
- Up to 3 devices
Put your hands near the MX Keys S in a dim room and the backlight comes up to meet them. It's a small thing that we noticed in the first hour and appreciated more as the weeks went on, partly because the keys underneath earn the attention: low-profile, softly dished, quiet, with a short throw that rewards a light touch. At 18 inches wide and 2.4 pounds, it also sits still — no creeping across a glass-topped desk mid-sentence.
That combination is why this is the keyboard we recommend to most people. Two connection routes make the case: Bluetooth for up to three paired devices, and an included Logi Bolt receiver for the times Bluetooth misbehaves. We paid close attention to switching, since a work laptop and a home desktop are the usual pair, and a key that moves between them without re-pairing is the convenience that keeps a keyboard on the desk instead of in a drawer. Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS are all covered, which is more than any other pick here manages.
Battery is the trade-off. Logitech rates it at 10 days per charge, and that figure assumes the smart backlight is doing its thing; the same money spent on an AA-powered board buys months between changes. The USB-C port makes topping up painless, and the Logi Options+ software is optional unless you want to remap the top row or build Smart Actions — nothing about typing depends on installing it.
It is the most expensive keyboard in this roundup, and some of what you pay for is heft and lighting rather than pure function. If a keyboard never leaving its spot matters less than never thinking about a charging cable, our TV pick and budget pick both handle the basics. For a desk with two machines and a dim corner, this is the one that earns its price.
Pros
- Backlight wakes as your hands approach
- Pairs with three devices and switches with a key
- Logi Bolt receiver included for flaky Bluetooth
- Heavy, stable body that stays put
Cons
- Days between charges, not months
- Bluetooth can drop between paired devices
We recommend the MX Keys S to anyone with two computers on one desk: backlit, low-profile keys, three-device pairing, and a receiver in the box for when Bluetooth acts up.