At a look
Professional’s Score
Professionals
- Modern solar-power tech
- Snug, responsive keys
- Full-size keyboard, with numeric keypad
- Helpful app for reprogramming Fn keys
Cons
- A wired keyboard could be less complicated
- No backlight
- Can’t modify angle or top of keyboard
- LightCharge tech provides to the worth
Our Verdict
Logitech’s LightCharge tech is revolutionary, however it provides to the price of what’s in any other case a reasonably standard Bluetooth keyboard. It’s nicely constructed, although, and comfy to make use of, and Logitech’s Choices+ app will attraction to enterprise customers who wish to reprogram the assorted Operate keys.
Value When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Greatest Pricing At this time
Value When Reviewed
$99.99
Greatest Costs At this time: Logitech Signature Slim Photo voltaic+ (K980)
$99.99
There have been loads of rumours on the internet lately predicting some large updates to Logitech’s MX vary of keyboards and mice. Nevertheless, the corporate took a swerve in an surprising path when it introduced the brand new Signature Slim Photo voltaic+ keyboard (which additionally goes by the mannequin quantity K980).
Because the title suggests, the Slim Photo voltaic+ is a solar-powered keyboard that, in accordance with Logitech, means “you by no means have to fret about charging once more”.
There are three variations of the Slim Photo voltaic+ accessible, beginning at $99.99/£99.99 for the ‘Common’ model that we evaluate right here, which is designed to be used with most sorts of computer systems and cellular units. You can even pair it with three completely different units and rapidly change between units as required.
Logitech additionally plans to launch a ‘For Mac’ model on the similar worth, though it will solely be accessible in North America, together with a ‘Enterprise’ model that features Logitech’s Bolt USB wi-fi adaptor to supply an alternative choice to Bluetooth, for $109.99/£109.99. For different choices check out our Greatest Mac Keyboards spherical up.
The highest part of the Slim Photo voltaic+ homes a sensor that may soak up gentle.
Photo voltaic Energy
The Slim Photo voltaic+ seems to be pretty standard at first look, with a low-profile design much like the corporate’s MX vary of keyboards and Apple’s personal Magic keyboards. It’s a full-size keyboard with a prime row of Operate keys, separate Navigation keys and numeric keypad.
Its plastic casing doesn’t really feel as sturdy because the metal-clad MX keyboard, however it’s strong sufficient to deal with common day-to-day use sitting in your desk in an workplace.
The keys on the Slim Photo voltaic+ additionally use a scissor-switch mechanism reasonably than the lifeless plastic membranes utilized in some low-profile keyboards. In consequence, the keys really feel agency and responsive when typing, they usually journey nicely, so the Slim Photo voltaic+ will permit you to kind up a storm once you’re dealing with a deadline.
Our solely grievance in regards to the design is that the keyboard lies very flat in your desk – the again edge is raised barely, however there’s no technique to modify the angle of the keyboard for folks (like me) preferring the keyboard to be raised just a little greater off the desk.
However, after all, the star of the present is Logitech’s photo voltaic power tech, which it calls LightCharge. There’s an additional part to the keyboard, simply above the Operate keys, that homes a light-absorbing sensor. This gentle strip is recessed just a little, and appears like a holder for a pen or stylus, however Logitech prints a warning on the field to not place something on this strip as it’s going to have an effect on the sensor’s capability to soak up gentle.
As you’d anticipate, the sensor can soak up power from direct daylight, however it’s additionally delicate sufficient to cost the keyboard from synthetic lighting too, equivalent to lamps or over-head lighting in an workplace.
The sunshine power is saved by a chargeable battery contained in the keyboard, and Logitech says that when the battery is absolutely charged it could energy the keyboard for 4 months even when it’s utilized in full darkness.
The Slim Photo voltaic+ is a full-size keyboard with navigation keys and numeric keypad.
Seeing The Mild
You’ll be able to verify the sunshine degree in your workplace utilizing Logitech’s Choices+ app, and the app did initially inform me that the small lamp that sits on my desk wasn’t robust sufficient to cost the keyboard on a dismal September morning.
Nevertheless, turning the overhead gentle on in my workplace was sufficient to start out charging the keyboard once more, so that you don’t must blind your self with a highlight to be able to prime up the keyboard’s inner battery.
As with Logitech’s MX keyboards, the Choices+ app additionally lets you reprogram the assorted Operate keys to be able to carry out instructions equivalent to opening particular apps once you begin work within the morning.
The Slim Photo voltaic+ does have some limitations, although. There’s no backlight on the keyboard – since, after all, it must be utilized in a reasonably vibrant atmosphere for the photo voltaic charging to work.
There’s no choice to cost it up utilizing a USB connection both, or to make use of it in wired mode if the battery does run flat, so some folks would possibly nonetheless want to spend just a little further on one of many extra versatile battery-powered MX keyboards.
The Choices+ app allows you to monitor the lighting in your workplace to ensure that the keyboard can cost correctly.
Ought to You Purchase The Logitech Signature Slim Photo voltaic+?
If having to recharge your keyboard bugs you that a lot then I’m tempted to recommend that you would simply purchase a superb old school USB keyboard as a substitute – which might most likely be cheaper too. Alternatively, some folks would possibly want to pay just a little further for the extra solidly constructed Logitech MX keyboard. However, in the event you like the thought of utilizing sustainable photo voltaic power, together with the flexibility to pair the keyboard with quite a lot of completely different units, then the Slim Photo voltaic+ will earn its hold.
