Logitech MX Keys Mini: The keyboard for convenience and flexibility while working on your PC and tablet

Touchscreens – which made their debut with the entry of smartphones, before moving to tablets, new generation laptops, as well as other wider screen panels – have changed and revolutionized the way we interact with out mobile devices. For there’s always a simplicity that comes with typing on a touchscreen.

But, truth be said, typing a 900-word document or article (in the case of bloggers or reporters) on a smartphone keyboard, even though possible, is stretching one’s attention span and patience. Such detailed tasks can be better and more efficiently be handled when one is using a physical keyboard, in my opinion.

This goes to show that physical keyboards can’t exactly be termed as ‘outdated’ or ‘yester-years’ technology (for those who’re so taken by touchscreens that they can’t imagine the thought of working from a physical keyboard that is). For they are still useful and are necessary in various situations.

Let’s consider an instance where you’re seated at a boardroom, making a presentation to your colleagues about a project, using your laptop as projector showing the various slides to the team. You’re seated at the back of the table, while your PC, being the projector for the session, is at the front to enable everyone have a better view of the slides.

However, you’ve to revise and edit the slides as you proceed with the present, adding some details you may have left out in your hurry not be late for the session. Making those changes and revising the slides, with the PC metres away, will call for the need for you to have a wireless keyboard. And to move the cursor to the right position to make the edits will of course require you to have a wireless mouse as well (but more on the wireless mouse in our next post).

Various wireless brands are available in the market. And one of the most notable and recognised brands when it comes to wireless PC accessories is Logitech. For its wireless keyboard portfolio, Logitech has the MX Keys S and MX Keys Mini. For this piece however, we’ll focus on the MX Keys Mini.

The portable and multi-functional keyboard, which I have been fortunate to use and try out for over a week now, is an ideal accessory whether one is working in a corporate office set up or from the house as a remote worker.

Let’s now look at what you get as the user when you buy the Logitech’s MX Keys Mini keyboard, starting from its specs to other functionalities.

Specifications: MX Keys Mini keyboard

attribute	Value
Dimensions	Height: 131.95 mm Width: 295.99 mm Depth: 20.97 mm Weight: 506.4 g
Battery	· Rechargeable Li-Po (1500 mAh) battery · Full charge lasts up to 10 days with predefined settings or up to 5 months with backlighting off.
Technical specs	· Easy-switch keys to connect up to three devices and switch between them at the push of a button · Hand proximity sensors that turn the backlighting on · Ambient light sensors that adjust backlighting brightness · USB-C rechargeable. Full charge lasts 10 days – or 5 months with backlighting off. · On/Off power switch · Caps Lock and Battery indicator lights · Compatible with Logitech Flow enabled mouse · 10 meters wireless range.
Warranty	· 2-Year Limited Hardware Warranty
System Requirements	· Bluetooth Low Energy. Requires Bluetooth Low Energy technology · Engineered for Intel Evo laptops · Windows 10, 11 or later · macOS 10.15 or later · Linux · ChromeOS · iPadOS 14 or later · Android 8.0 or later
In the Box	· Keyboard · USB-C charging cable · User documentation

Using the MX Keys Mini keyboard

To use the keyboard, you have to find the switch at the top right corner and push to the right, to turn it to the ON position
If this option is ineffective, then press and hold the Easy-Switch key on the keyboard for about 3 seconds. When the key begins to blink, that indicates that the keyboard is ready to pair with either your computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
Afterwards, locate the Bluetooth settings menu on your device and then proceed to connect your keyboard.
Once you’ve selected the device to connect to the keyboard, you’ll see a six-character code on your which should be typed on the keyboard to complete the connection.
Once the connected, you’ll see a prompt to download and install the Logi Options+ easy-to-use app which enhances your overall user experience with the Logitech keyboard by allowing you customize the keyboard to your preferences. This is however optional as the keyboard works just fine even without installing and using the Logi Options+ app.

User experience and Performance

Once you follow the instructions detailing how to set up the keyboard, you’ll find that the process is quite and you can be using the accessory with your preferred device(s) in less than 10 minutes after unboxing it.
Being wireless, the keyboard allows the user the flexibility and convenience to type and work on their PC or tablet from a distance of up to 10 metres, meaning that it can be used (together with a wireless mouse) to make presentations to a team, with the PR or tablet being used as an improvised projector or screen or to deliver a tutorial.
And in instances where the user is working in a dimly lit or dark room, the keyboard’s backlight enables them to identify and key in the right letters as it is well illuminated.
When heading out of town and probably going to spend a few days in area without electricity, the accessory still comes in handy as it can be used for 10 days without running out of charge with the backlight on. With no backlight, it can go for months, according to the specs sheet.
Overall, the Logitech MX Keys Mini keyboard is an important accessory to have for those who work on PCs stationed permanently in a single location (or place) but need flexibility, as well as tablet users who may feel the need to work from a physical keyboard (instead of the tablet’s touchscreen) because of various reasons and considerations.

Availability

The MX Keys Mini wireless keyboard is available from the following retail outlets: