Mechanical keyboards’ clickity-clack noise and flashy appears to be like merely didn’t belong within the office. Nevertheless, when the pandemic galvanized work-from-home mandates, many switched to mechanical keyboards. Startups like Keychron capitalized on that surge with reasonably priced and customizable choices.
Now, as folks return to their workplaces, the query is, will they swap their mechanical keyboards for mushy, workplace-friendly membrane ones?
Logitech needs to supply a center floor with its newest MX line of mechanical keyboards. The brand new MX Mechanical and Mechanical Mini are purposeful alternate options to typical mechanical keyboards with smart designs, quieter keys, and however provide the identical, passable tactile expertise. However can they tackle the Keychron K2, a preferred mechanical keyboard that sells for practically half the worth? After pitting them towards one another for weeks, right here’s what we predict.
Editor’s Be aware: On this comparability, we’ll point out the Logitech MX Mechanical and MX Mini interchangeably since they’re practically similar apart from the distinction in dimension and the variety of keys.
Logitech MX Mechanical vs Keychron K2: Keys and typing expertise
You’ll really feel the starkest distinction between the Logitech MX Mechanical and Keychron K2 if you start typing.
For starters, they make the most of a distinct model of switches: Logitech opts for Kailh, a quieter choice, and Keychron makes use of Gatreon, a louder, extra reasonably priced set of switches. Nevertheless, you do get the choice to decide on between three swap sorts on each: tactile browns, clicky blues, and linear reds – all of which have a various expertise primarily based on noise and urgent mechanism. My check models had been on crimson.
As talked about, one other key facet that separates Logitech from Keychronis top. The MX Mechanical has a low-profile type issue, housing shorter keys; the K2 options full-height ones. The previous is extra appropriate for people who find themselves coming from a laptop-style keyboard and like to glide their fingers throughout the board to kind. For those who want a real mechanical expertise that requires you to boost your fingers repeatedly to push keys (and subsequently affords extra space between every key), the latter is your finest guess.
Although my very own Keychron K2 has served me nicely, residing with Logitech’s MX Mechanical made me rethink my keyboard selections. For somebody who spends a minimum of eight hours a day typing, I felt extra comfy with Logitech’s MX Mechanical. Because you don’t have to push low-profile keys (3.2mm journey) as a lot as a full-height board (4mm journey), your fingers work much less, and on the finish of a busy day, mine had been a lot much less drained and strained.
The Logitech’s slimmer chassis provides to its consolation. The Keychron K2’s base is a bit on the thicker facet, which suggests you’ll must carry your wrist to achieve the keys. It didn’t take me lengthy to get used to this, however for extended use, I’d advocate investing in a desk with wrist assist.
Keychron K2 will enchantment extra to those that need to really feel the true pleasure of mechanical keyboards, which is that crisp, clickety-clack sound and deep-key journey that produces glorious suggestions if you hammer fingers on it. The Logitech MX isn’t a slouch right here by any means; it’s nonetheless very a lot a mechanical keyboard with an honest quantity of journey and sound. However don’t count on it to be on the identical stage as conventional layouts.
If I needed to choose, I’d go along with the Logitech MX; its clear and premium typing expertise gained me over.
Logitech MX Mechanical vs Keychron K2: Battery Life
Though the Logitech MX Mechanical has a smaller battery (1500 mAh vs. 4000 mAh), it remarkably lasted for much longer. It’s rated to run for 15 days straight with the backlight on. In my testing (7-8 hours each day), it received surprisingly shut and lasted 12.5 days. With the backlight off, Logitech says you gained’t must cost it for ten months. Logitech MX additionally helps fast charging, and with a fast 15-minute cost, it might go on for a day.
The Keychron K2 can final 68 hours with the backlight off and as much as 240 hours with out it. In real-life use, this implies you’ll get a few week out of it earlier than you’ll must plug it in.
Clearly, the Logitech MX Mechanical has a big higher hand, and it’s possible because of its sensible backlighting. Its ambient sensor can regulate the backlit primarily based on how a lot gentle your room has. Within the morning, for instance, it’s normally off altogether, however because the solar units, it regularly lights up.
Logitech MX Mechanical vs Keychron K2: Software program
Each the Logitech MX Mechanical and Keychron K2 can keep linked to a few gadgets on the similar time and assist all main platforms, together with macOS, Android, Home windows, and iOS.
Nevertheless, because of the devoted Logi Choices+ companion app, it’s far simpler to arrange the Logitech MX than the K2. The app not solely tells you some important info (e.g., the battery life you could have left on all of your Logitech equipment), but it surely additionally enables you to rapidly remap a number of the MX Mechanical’s shortcut keys, regulate the backlighting results, swap between linked gadgets, and replace the firmware.
On the Keychron, you’ll have to recollect and depend on key shortcuts to perform these duties. The K2 affords extra backlighting results; you may even get RGB lights as an alternative of plain white LEDs.
Logitech MX Mechanical vs Keychron K2: Which one do you have to choose?
The MX Mechanical and MX Mechanical Mini keyboards are superior in most classes and obtain what Logitech got down to do: construct a smart choice for folks trying to make use of mechanical keyboards in all places. It lasts longer, has a clear and refined typing expertise, and affords a set of well-thought-out capabilities like automated backlighting.
The Keychron K2 comes out on prime in two areas: one, for fanatics, because of a extra tactile and pure mechanical expertise, and two, it’s practically half the worth ($80) of Logitech’s MX lineup ($150 and $130).
So except you might be budget-constrained or actually need a clacky keyboard in your desk, I’d advocate selecting up the brand new Logitech MX Mechanical.
