Logitech Signature Slim Photo voltaic+ K980 assessment

The Logitech Signature Slim Photo voltaic+ K980 is a brand new mid-range addition to the corporate’s slim and modern workplace keyboard lineup with a singular characteristic: a built-in photo voltaic panel. Due to this and an inside battery, this keyboard can final for years with out ever needing to be plugged in.

Years-long battery life is not precisely the very best precedence for most individuals studying our greatest gaming keyboard patrons’ information, however there are a great deal of conditions the place it is a very nice-to-have characteristic. To see simply how good, we put Logitech’s newest to the take a look at over the course of some weeks, which clearly is not wherever close to sufficient to check the bounds of this keyboard’s longevity, however due to Logitech’s software program, we have been capable of see in real-time how the photo voltaic panel was capable of maintain the inner battery topped up as we typed.

Specs

Design and Options

The Logitech Signature Slim Photo voltaic+ K980 carries on the styling Logitech established with its MX Keys line of workplace keyboards, with it having a easy grey coloration all through, a slim profile, and rounded corners. The addition of the photo voltaic panel alongside the highest edge barely disrupts the look however, by and enormous, it is a sublime keyboard that appears simply as at house in a minimalist, lavish workplace setup because it does subsequent to a gaming PC, even whether it is maybe a little bit too plain to take delight of place subsequent to an RGB-filled behemoth of a gaming machine.

Talking of RGB, this instantly brings us to at least one characteristic missing on this keyboard, which is backlighting for the keys. Certainly, it is this characteristic that almost all essentially distinguishes this keyboard from the MX Keys lineup, apart from the photo voltaic panel. In any kind of affordable lighting, this does not have an effect on the keyboard’s usability in any respect, however in a really dimly lit or outright darkish room, the keys aren’t legible – not best for enjoying gloomy video games in a darkened room.

The important thing legends themselves (the letters and symbols on the keys) are screen-printed on, which is typical for this sort of keyboard, however signifies that, in principle, they are going to be liable to the paint sporting away with use. Compared, many fashionable gaming keyboards – such because the Be Quiet! Darkish Mount, for example – use keys with legends shaped by way of harder-wearing strategies. As an example, double-shot legends are comprised of a second layer of plastic embedded within the keycap itself, whereas dub-sublimated keys have the legend successfully melted into the floor of the important thing.

Most of this keyboard is effectively beneath 10mm thick, with a thicker 16mm part working alongside the again edge, the place it raises the again to create a greater typing angle. This angle cannot be modified by way of additional flip-down toes, as you see on most keyboards, so when you desire a extra upright angle, you are out of luck, however I discovered I obtained on very effectively with this low-angle design.

Six small rubber toes cease the keyboard sliding round, and the one different characteristic of be aware, wherever apart from on the highest of the keyboard, is the sliding energy swap on the again edge. With a chargeable battery inside and no USB port for charging, this keyboard does not want a battery compartment or every other breaks in its chassis. The rechargeable battery is not person serviceable, however Logitech’s declare that it lasts 10 years means you will have a very long time earlier than you must take into consideration whether or not a restore particular person can swap the battery, otherwise you think about risking the board’s guarantee and prying these rubber toes off to dismantle it your self and get to its battery.

Up high, you will discover a typical collection of keys for a full-size keyboard (right here in a UK ISO configuration, reasonably than US ANSI format). Becoming a member of this commonplace array are 4 devoted additional keys within the high proper nook, which, from left to proper, default to opening the calendar, muting your mic (app dependent), turning off your digital camera (app dependent), and locking your PC.

To the left of those are three extra buttons that choose which machine the keyboard is linked to. The keyboard can join to 3 Bluetooth units directly, together with Logitech’s common wi-fi dongles. With Logitech’s software program, you may even copy from one PC and paste it to a different when you have the software program put in on each methods.

In addition to the screen-printed Home windows keyboard legends, there are legends for Macs too, so this is a perfect keyboard for these switching between a MacBook for work and a PC for gaming, for example. The highest row of F keys defaults to a set of additional features, together with display screen brightness adjustment, playback controls, and multi-desktop view. Hitting the Fn key with any of those will flip it again to being an F key, or you may configure these to work the opposite method spherical with Logitech’s software program.

Efficiency

General, the construct high quality of the board is respectable. It does flex when you decide it up in two palms and twist it from both finish, however the way in which the complete size of the entrance edge and again foot relaxation in your desk means there is not any flex in the midst of the board as you sort. In truth, the typing expertise right here is great. The keys really feel crisp and responsive, with a good quantity of resistance and a really outlined break, all with out feeling too stiff and requiring an excessively onerous press.

Logitech has used a laptop-like scissor swap on this board, and whereas these do not have the longevity of mechanical keyboards – full-size or low-profile – I’ve tended to seek out that a majority of these switches last more than full-size rubber dome switches as you get on thicker, cheaper keyboards.

That stated, if you’re a heavy typist, you might be more likely to discover this board’s keys/switches quit the ghost effectively earlier than that spectacular 10-year battery life. In my profession, spending all day writing hundreds of phrases and gaming on keyboards, I’ve discovered that typical scissor swap keyboards can typically begin to lose their responsiveness inside a 12 months or two. In distinction, I’ve had mechanical keyboards final over a decade with out difficulty. It is just too early to say how this board may fare, although, and Logitech does not make a declare in regards to the keyswitch life, however except you are a very heavy person, it should not be a significant concern.

Battery life

What Logitech does make a declare about, in fact, is the battery lifetime of this board. The corporate hasn’t supplied a determine for the capability of the battery, however it claims it should final 4 months when utilized in complete darkness.

Unleash the keyboard into the sunshine and it’ll use its photo voltaic panel to constantly top-up the cost on the board and, effectively, actually final 10 years (and fairly probably longer, however that is the official Logitech determine).

For these acquainted with utilizing solar-powered merchandise, it’s possible you’ll surprise how a lot mild is required to maintain it charging. Logitech says it should cost at something above 200lux. In follow, a small desk lap with a 2W/200 lumen bulb or a ceiling mild with a 5W/450 lumen bulb shining pretty instantly on the board is adequate to get it charging, whereas the merest trace of daylight in a room is greater than sufficient.

Worth

The Logitech Signature Slim Photo voltaic+ K980 worth is $99.99 / £99.99, making this a premium however not ultra-expensive keyboard. Contemplating its solar-charging and unending battery talents, it is largely a really affordable worth to pay. Nevertheless, the dearth of backlighting and use of plain printed legends on the keys imply there are a few areas that barely dampen its sense of worth.

Verdict

For essentially the most half, I am one thing of a convert to the Logitech Signature Slim Photo voltaic+ K980. As somebody who spends 80%+ of their time at a pc to work, with most of that point spent typing, the whole lack of any sense of effort being concerned with utilizing this keyboard actually appeals. As soon as the dongle’s plugged in and also you’re linked, you need not ever take into consideration plugging in a cable or the rest. It is simply there, able to go in its slim, moveable, pretty elegant kind.

Add in its straightforward machine switching, helpful secondary key features, and Logitech’s glorious Choices+ software program for streamlining your workflow, and this actually is a unbelievable working instrument.

That stated, for gaming, it’s fully devoid of any significant options, so it is neither ultra-fast-responding nor filled with gaming buttons or game-specific profile-switching cleverness. And you’ll neglect about speedy set off and different analog cleverness. All that is to be anticipated, although.

As an alternative, my solely major gripes are the dearth of backlighting on the keys, the screen-printed legends on the keys, and the general key motion. That is as a result of, whereas the motion is essentially glorious, the sheer quantity that I sort signifies that I typically desire a lighter-feeling keyboard that does not irritate my RSI. Whereas the keys listed below are removed from heavy-feeling, they are not as mild as a top quality, linear mechanical keyswitch, and their shorter journey means you backside out the keys much more than a full-size mechanical swap board.

Are you able to see the enchantment of an eternal, solar-powered keyboard, or does it appear to be a reasonably pointless characteristic? Tell us your ideas over on our group Discord server, the place you may speak to us and like-minded readers about PC tech, gaming, and extra.