Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
Launched last year Pop Keys After that, Logitech launched its second “commercial” mechanical keyboard “MX Mechanical” series, which is under the MX series of high-end business keyboards. As the leader of computer peripherals, Logitech is unexpectedly unreasonable when it comes to mechanical keyboards. It not only chooses an unexpectedly playful and lively style on Pop Keys, but also does not follow the mainstream route on the calm-looking MX Mechanical. Instead, opt for a low-profile keyboard with short switches.
Is Logitech the right decision? Who is MX Mechanical suitable for? Let’s take a look.
Appearance, boxed
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
The MX Mechanical series includes MX Mechanical and MX Mechanical Mini. The former is a fairly standard 110-key keyboard, except that the configuration in the upper right corner is slightly different from the general keyboard (mainly because the device switching key occupies the position of PrtSc / ScrLk / Pause , and some of the functions of these three keys have been pushed to the right above the number keys), and the rest have not changed much.
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
On the contrary, MX Mechanical Mini chooses the same 75% configuration as Pop Keys. In the case where the main keyboard area, arrow keys and F1~12 keys are all reserved, a straight line of editing control keys are added to the right, including del , home, end, pgup, and pgdn. Originally, 75% keyboards on the market were relatively rare, and most of them would choose TKL (only the numeric keypad) or 60% (MX Keys Mini) configuration, but now the neighboring Logitech has successively launched two 75% machines. After the keyboard, I wonder if it will make the market more aware of this configuration?
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
Visually, the MX Mechanical series clearly continues MX Keys style, the whole is intertwined with dark gray, light gray and metallic colors. Compared to the super eye-catching Pop Keys, the MX Mechanical series should adapt to more business situations without being obtrusive. Due to the different key shafts used, MX Keys is designed as an island-style key configuration, while the MX Mechanical series is a more traditional square keycap, coupled with a floating design, which makes MX Mechanical look better in appearance. It’s tougher and more “at work”.
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
On the upper right side of the keyboard is the power switch and the USB-C port for charging. Unfortunately, this USB-C port is only for charging and cannot be used to convert the MX Mechanical into a wired keyboard – in other words, even if it is plugged into a computer The USB is charging, and it can also be used through a wireless receiver or Bluetooth. There is also a power indicator on the keyboard in the upper right corner, which will indicate the remaining power with a green or red light when the power is turned on.
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
Finally, there are two feet on the bottom that can be opened to raise the keyboard, in fact, the MX Mechanical itself has a slight tilt of regarding 4 degrees, and with the feet, it can be up to 8 degrees. It’s a pity that MX Mechanical doesn’t have a place to store the Bolt receiver, and if you unplug it from the computer for a while, the receiver will be easier to lose. Logitech generally reserves a place to store the receiver in the battery compartment, but there are also examples reserved behind the charging model (such as the G913 TKL). Mini’s portability is quite high, and there should be a space for receiving the receiver.
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
In addition to the keyboard itself, both the MX Mechanical and the Mechanical Mini come with a Logi Bolt receiver, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and a few sheets of documentation. Like the Pop Keys, the packaging of the MX Mechanical is completely plastic-free, and the keyboard inside the carton is also protected by a paper package.
feel, function
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
MX Mechanical is a low-level design with thin keycaps. Compared with general “traditional” mechanical keyboards, its key travel is shorter, and the typing feeling will be closer to Logitech’s previous scissor-pedal keyboards or laptops. I myself often switch between laptops and desktops. If the tactile difference between the two sides is too large, it will become uncomfortable on both sides, and the low-profile design of MX Mechanical has played a good connection effect.
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
MX Mechanical has launched a total of three types of red shafts, brown shafts and green shafts, but like Pop Keys, Taiwan has only one option to introduce tea shafts. The editor asked the reason at the Pop Keys press conference before. Logitech said that the tea switch is the quietest of the three, which is more suitable for the office environment, and the feel of the tea switch is roughly between the linear red switch and the paragraph feeling. The clear green axis is the choice that is more in line with the needs of most people. The editor himself thinks that the gap between green, red and tea is still quite huge, and users who prefer the feel of red or green switches may not be able to accept tea switches. If possible, I still hope that all three Logitech models can be introduced.
The software for the MX Mechanical series is called Options+, a new software that Logitech started testing last May and just entered the official version this May. In terms of function, it is really not much different from Options (following all, there are so many functions of the keyboard…), but the layout has been replaced. The main difference is probably that the function settings of the buttons appear in the right column instead of pressing on the product; in addition, the main function selection is also moved from the upper page to the left side of the product. The design of Options+ is undoubtedly very refreshing, but I don’t think the previous Options are particularly bad.
Logitech
MX Mechanical’s customizable buttons include F1~F12 plus the entire row of two buttons on the right, plus ins, del, home, end, pgup, pgdn, and four buttons above the numeric keypad; MX Mechanical Mini is F4~F12 plus two buttons on the right (F1~F3 are receiver switching), plus del, home, end, pgup, pgdn on the right, which are in a row. Pre-set functions are already printed on each key, including volume/playback controls, mic on/off, dictation, screenshots, emoji, and more, but there are plenty of customization possibilities in Options+, including specific keyboard combinations keys, opening applications, opening files/folders, shutting down/sleep, window size, and even, like Pop Keys, assigning to specific emojis, etc., are quite diverse. This has always been Logitech’s forte, and it’s no exception here.
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
The MX Mechanical series is equipped with a white backlight. The backlight has seven levels of brightness that can be adjusted, and has the ability to sense ambient light sources. In addition to self-adjusting brightness, it also has a proximity sensor. If it is not used for a period of time, the backlight will be automatically turned off to save power. And as soon as the hand is close to it, it will automatically light up once more.
Logitech
In addition, MX Mechanical has five built-in light display modes, including breathing light, wave light, random light, contrast light (highlight function keys), and response light (pressed keys light up), etc. Five effects. These effects can also be switched directly by using the Fn+bulb key on the keyboard without going through the software.
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
Without the backlight turned on, MX Mechanical claims to have up to 10 months of power on a single charge, while with the backlight turned on, it can be used for regarding 15 days depending on the frequency of use, brightness, etc.
Epilogue
Andy Yang / Engadget Chinese
Although mechanical keyboards are quite common in gaming keyboards, they are not very popular in commercial keyboards. Logitech has waited for so many years to finally think of launching a business series of mechanical keyboards. The low-profile MX Mechanical is currently a relatively niche product in the world of mechanical keyboards, and the 75% MX Mechanical Mini is even a niche within a niche. But from the perspective of scissor-pedal keyboard users transitioning to a mechanical keyboard, this seems to be a very smart decision. While retaining the experience of using MX Keys as much as possible, the introduction of a mechanical axis reduces the threshold for the conversion of scissor-pedal keyboard users. .
Due to the difference in the feel of the low shaft, MX Mechanical will probably be less attractive to people who are already using mechanical keyboards, but for users who are used to scissor-pedal keyboards – whether it is Logitech’s own scissor-pedal keyboard, or Laptop keyboards – In terms of notebook keyboards, MX Mechanical is not only closer to the original usage habits, but also retains the consistent excellent wireless technology, backlighting, and easy-to-use Options+ software of the Logitech MX series. It is a good choice to enter the world of mechanical keyboards.
The MX Mechanical is priced at NT$4,990 / HK$1,499, while the MX Mechanical Mini is NT$4,490 / HK$1,399.If you think you don’t need a short axis, you can consider the recentFreshly released Pop Keysand if you want a low-level green or red switch, you can refer to the G913 / G913TKL of the gaming keyboard, but the latter two are not as compact as the design of MX Mechanical.
