Logitech MX Keys S Review

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Bottom line: The Logitech MX Keys S is the most thoughtfully designed full-size wireless keyboard for writers who want a great typing experience without a learning curve, a configuration session, or strong opinions about switch actuation. It does everything well and nothing wrong, which is harder to achieve than it sounds.

Scribbright rating: 4.5 out of 5

Get the Logitech MX Keys S on Amazon →

The case for not having opinions

I’ve written about them at length on this site. Maybe I’m even a keyboard curmudgeon. I own an Azio MK Mac U01 and have spent more time than is strictly rational thinking about whether a Keychron K8 would make me happier. I’ve borrowed keyboards from friends under the guise of “just trying it out” and had to be reminded to return them.

The Logitech MX Keys S is, in a meaningful way, a rebuke to all of that.

As is my wont, I nagged my stepson to lend his to me for a session. And I frankly didn’t expect much, though I think highly of Logitech gear. After all, it wasn’t a mechanical keyboard with all its butchy clackity-clack. But I missed the point: It’s not a keyboard that asks for opinions. It’s a keyboard that asks for fingers. You place them on the spherically-dished concave keycaps, which are shaped to match the natural curve of your fingertips rather than requiring your fingers to adapt to a flat surface, and you start jamming away. The experience is smooth, quiet, and consistent across a long session in the way that good tools feel inevitable rather than just interesting.

For most writers, this is exactly right. The goal was never to have an interesting keyboard. The goal is always to write.

What the MX Keys S actually is

The MX Keys S is a full-size wireless keyboard with low-profile scissor switches, the same mechanism used in most laptop keyboards, refined and improved here to the point where the comparison flatters laptops rather than the other way around. It sits flat and low on the desk, only 20.5mm at its tallest point, and connects via Bluetooth Low Energy to up to three devices or via the included Logi Bolt 2.4 GHz USB receiver for more stable, lower-latency wireless.

The key travel is short by mechanical keyboard standards: about 1.8mm to actuation. Coming from the Keychron K8 or another keyboard with mechanical switches, it will feel different rather than worse: faster, lighter, with less physical resistance per keystroke. After a few days, it becomes the new normal. Most writers who come from laptop keyboards will adapt immediately.

The spherically-dished keycaps are the mechanical detail that makes the most difference in practice. Each key is shaped like a shallow bowl that cups the tip of your finger. Think that’s a small thing? Sure, but it’s one of those details that aggregates over use into being a Pretty Good Thing. Missed keystrokes drop because you can feel where the center of each key is before you press it. Over a long writing sesh, that reduced friction accumulates into something meaningful: less fatigue, fewer corrections, more of your attention on the words rather than the mechanics of producing them.

The productivity features

Where the MX Keys S separates itself from generic wireless keyboards is the layer of practical features built into the hardware and optional software. Logitech, I bow to thee, as I do so often.

The function row does double duty, with each key labeled for both its standard function (F1-F12) and a dedicated action: brightness, media controls, screenshot, Logi AI Prompt Builder, microphone mute, and others. No Fn key required for the most commonly used shortcuts. The dual OS labeling means the same keyboard switches cleanly between Mac and Windows function key behavior and detects the operating system automatically when you connect to a new device, like it should.

Multi-device switching is a single keypress. Three devices can be paired simultaneously — a laptop, a desktop, a tablet — and switching between them is instant. For writers who dart between machines during a workday, this removes a small but persistent friction that compounds across hundreds of switches per year.

The proximity-activated backlight is one of those features that sounds like marketing until you’ve used it. The keyboard detects when your hands approach and activates the backlight; when you stop typing and move away, it dims. The result is that you never have to manage the backlight consciously. It’s simply on when you need it and off when you don’t.

Logi Options+ software, which is optional and free, adds per-app key customization, macro assignment, and workflow automation for users who want to go deeper. For writers who use it, customizing the function row to trigger specific actions in Scrivener, Google Docs, or a CMS is genuinely useful. For writers who don’t want to configure anything, the keyboard works excellently without touching the software at all.

The noise question

At an average of 35 decibels under test, the MX Keys S is among the quietest wireless keyboards measured by dedicated testing labs. That’s not subjectively quiet: that’s objectively quiet. In practice, it means the keyboard is inaudible at desk distance in a normal room. In a shared office or a café, you can go full stealth. Well, as much as possible while you’re trying to sweep cruller debris off your lap.

Coming from mechanical switches — particularly Gateron Blues, which are part of the Scribbright household — the difference is plain. There are writers who will miss the click. There are writers who will not. The MX Keys S is for the latter, or for writers who need to work somewhere other than a private room where nobody can hear them typing with conviction.

The honest caveats

The backlight is white only. No RGB, no color options. For a $110 keyboard this is a mild disappointment, though in practice? White backlighting on a writing keyboard is more readable than colored backlighting, and the absence of RGB is arguably a feature rather than a limitation.

The wrist rest is sold separately at $19.99. At this price point, it ought to be included. It isn’t. The keyboard is usable without it for moderate sessions, but for all-day writing, the wrist rest goes from nice-to-have to recommended.

The battery life with backlighting on is 10 days, fine for weekly charging discipline but not exceptional. With backlighting off it extends to a manufacturer-stated five months, which is essentially unlimited for practical purposes. Since the proximity-activated backlight only runs when you’re actively using the keyboard, real-world battery life sits somewhere between those extremes and is broadly not something you’ll need to think about often.

The keycaps are made of ABS plastic, which will develop a shine with heavy use. For a keyboard in the $110 category, PBT keycaps would be the expected material. Long-term users note this becomes visible after a year or more of daily use. It doesn’t affect typing performance, but it’s worth knowing.

The keyboard is also substantial, at 810g and 430mm wide, and not designed for travel. The MX Keys Mini at $99 is the portable sibling if desk footprint or portability matters to you.

Pros

• Spherically-dished concave keycaps reduce missed keystrokes and fatigue over long sessions
• Proximity-activated backlight requires zero conscious management
• Automatic OS detection switches between Mac and Windows function key behavior seamlessly
• Multi-device switching is a single keypress with no re-pairing
• 35 decibel average keystroke volume is genuinely among the quietest wireless keyboards tested
• Logi Options+ adds deep customization for users who want it; irrelevant for users who don’t
• Battery life is effectively a non-issue with backlighting off

Cons

• Wrist rest sold separately at $19.99
• White-only backlight; no RGB
• ABS keycaps develop shine over extended heavy use
• Not portable; heavy and wide
• 10-day battery life with backlighting on is ordinary for the category

The verdict

The Logitech MX Keys S is the keyboard for writers who have decided they’d rather write than think about keyboards. That’s not a criticism. It’s an accurate description of what the product delivers: a fast, quiet, comfortable full-size wireless keyboard that works correctly across multiple devices and operating systems, requires no configuration to perform well, and earns its price through refinement rather than spectacle.

If you came here because you already own a mechanical keyboard and wonder whether the MX Keys S is an upgrade, the honest answer is: it depends entirely on whether tactile feedback matters to you. If it does, the Keychron K8 is the better recommendation. If it doesn’t — if what you want is a quiet, smooth, well-built keyboard that disappears into the writing day — the MX Keys S is very hard to beat.

Get the Logitech MX Keys S on Amazon →

Michael Semer is a writer and editor who owns an Azio MK Mac U01 with Kailh Brown switches and would like it noted, for the record, that he still thinks mechanical switches are better — but acknowledges that the MX Keys S has given him more to think about than he expected.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Logitech MX Keys S? The Logitech MX Keys S is a full-size wireless keyboard with low-profile scissor switches, spherically-dished concave keycaps, proximity-activated white backlighting, and multi-device connectivity for up to three devices. It connects via Bluetooth Low Energy or a 2.4 GHz USB receiver and is compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS.

How does the Logitech MX Keys S compare to a mechanical keyboard? The MX Keys S uses scissor switches with around 1.8mm travel — shorter and lighter than most mechanical switches. It’s significantly quieter and requires less physical force per keystroke. Writers who value tactile feedback and audible click will find mechanical keyboards more satisfying. Writers who want quiet, fast, low-effort typing will find the MX Keys S more comfortable for long sessions.

Is the Logitech MX Keys S good for Mac? Yes. The MX Keys S automatically detects macOS and adjusts function key behavior accordingly. Keys are dual-labeled for both Mac and Windows shortcuts. It pairs instantly via Bluetooth and works without any software installation.

How long does the Logitech MX Keys S battery last? Up to 10 days with backlighting on; up to 5 months with backlighting off. The proximity-activated backlight only runs when your hands are near the keyboard, so real-world battery life typically falls between those figures. It charges via USB-C.

What is the difference between the Logitech MX Keys S and the MX Keys Mini? The MX Keys S is full-size with a numpad; the MX Keys Mini is tenkeyless and more compact. Both use the same scissor switches and share most features. The Mini is the better choice for travel or smaller desks; the full-size is better for writers who use the numpad or want more key real estate.

Does the Logitech MX Keys S work with Logi Options+? Yes. Logi Options+ is free optional software that adds per-app key customization, macro assignment, and Smart Actions automation. The keyboard performs well without it; the software is for users who want deeper configuration. I’ve used Options+ and it can add to the experience.

Is the Logitech MX Keys S worth the price? At $109.99, it’s premium-priced for a non-mechanical keyboard. The concave keycaps, proximity backlighting, automatic OS detection, multi-device switching, and build quality justify the price for writers who use a keyboard all day. If budget is a constraint, the Logitech K380 at $40 covers the essentials at less than half the price.