Logitech make some nice accessories and this dinky little keyboard is no exception. It doesn't fold, but for the travelling word-cruncher, it's otherwise pretty perfect I reckon. It's beautifully made, has button batteries to last a person up to 3 years, a fold-over cover which doubles up as a stand/prop and will work nicely with Windows, ChromeOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS and MacOS. What's not to like!
The RRP of the keyboard is £79.99 here in the UK but I was able to pick it up on an Amazon Prime day for £65. Here's my affiliate link in case you'd like to get one. I thank you. Even at full price I still say it's worth it as it's so nice to use. You can deep-dive on all the details at Logitech's Website but I shall give a flavour here of what it's like to use in the real world. In order to get the reduced price I had to buy the Pale Grey version, which is very Apple'ish, but there's also Graphite (black) and a lovely looking Lilac one if you fancy something different.
The packaging is 'responsible', from eco-friendly, controlled sources and it's pretty minimalist. Inside the box you get the keyboard, wrapped in some sort of nice papery stuff, some legal mumbo-jumbo and a small leaflet with basic instructions which you might want to keep for reference as it depicts some hot/function key switch combinations with different operating systems. The plastics and aluminium used for the keyboard itself are also partly recycled - amount depending on colour.
In the box you get 2 x CR2032 batteries, already installed (activated by removing a plastic pull-out) via a removable panel on the rear face. It's slim but perfectly formed there and the tray works well. Only trouble is that users need a Torx T5 screwdriver to get it out. The good news is that you have (up to) 3 years to get hold of one! Yes, these two button-batteries allegedly run for that kind of time, based on, Logitech say, continuous typing for 2 hours per day. Fingers crossed, then! The K-series Logitech keyboards have AA/AAA batteries onboard, generally, so easier grab and install, but certainly not lasting as long - and this keyboard is not even the thickness of an AAA battery, so that would compromise the size anyway. On the back there's a simple on/off slider switch which is firm and positive in use.
The built-in flap cover/stand/prop is magnetically connected at the lip end when covering the keys for transport/storage and when open, flapped around the back. It has some sort of plastic-looking flexible 'hinge' which enables the 360-degree turn and a small 'lip' to pull it open. The magnet is decently strong on both sides. When you sweep it around the back it forms a subtle 'wedge' shape which raises the back very slightly for easier typing - but there's not much in it! More important that it's attached - and users won't lose it or leave it behind.
The keyboard itself is light at 222g, made from hard plastic and the brackets inside, apparently, is where the aluminium is. It feels sturdy, solid and with very little 'flex' when pushed. The keys are lovely chiclet-style, scissor-switch with short (1mm) travel when pressed. There's no audible 'click' when pressed but there is a 'click' to be felt in the finger as each key reaches the bottom of the travel. It's a nice typing experience and I'd guess that it's about 60% full size (the firm don't quote this data). There's 18mm between the centre of the keys to the next (pitch). But yes, you'd need a pretty big pocket to get this in! More likely in a bag or briefcase would be the target I think. A folding version would be perfect, but no doubt that would come with its own compromises.
In terms of key layout, you get the usual Logitech 3 Bluetooth buttons to assign to 3 devices at any one time (and switch on-the-fly once set up) and they work in the usual excellent way by long-pressing, invoking your device's BT set-up and pairing, which anyone reading this has likely done 1,000 times by now! Across the top there's a row of Function keys (F1-12 when used for desktop) which can also be used as hotkeys for shortcuts. Volume, Brightness, Emoji, Play/Pause for media and so on. Whether or not these work with your device will be a bit of trial and error. On my tests here, they seem to, but that leaflet I referred to earlier gives hotkey combinations to ensure that the message gets through to the OS of choice. So fn-G for Android, fn-P for Windows, fn-O for Mac and fn-C for ChromeOS.
There's also a Logitech Options+ app which can be downloaded for Windows/Mac which allows for finer control of the top row of keys, even assigning Smart Actions to them, which gives a near limitless list of options, app-specific, workflow stuff, smarter system, keystrokes, combining actions - think Elgato Stream Deck with Macro functions galore. It all seems to be well thought-out, though I guess most people using this will have their desktop computer keyboard already sorted and not likely to bother with all this, there. Nice to have the options though for those who wish to tinker.
So yes, armed with a (perhaps Logitech Pebble - affiliate link) Mouse, whatever device you're using, you can whip them all out of your bag on a plane or train - or even at home on the dining room table, for example - and quickly set up one's work station without having to fiddle about with onscreen keyboards getting in the way - getting productive and entering text as it has always meant to be done since the invention of the typewriter - by keyboard!
It really is a beautiful little accessory, perfect for the right user who is most likely travelling with a bag or briefcase, as I say. No worries about battery life or charging things up - apart from once every 3 years - it'll just work. Highly recommended and gorgeous to use.
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