Logitech’s new wi-fi keyboard is the most effective, thanks to at least one easy characteristic

Logitech’s Slim Photo voltaic+ keyboard is the most effective wi-fi keyboard I’ve ever used for one very particular purpose: I don’t need to cost it.

Actually, there’s little or no else I really like in regards to the keyboard. As a long-time mechanical keyboard person, the Slim Photo voltaic+ keys really feel mushy and lack tactile suggestions. The general typing expertise isn’t satisfying. I additionally hate full-sized keyboards with numpads like this, as the additional size means my mouse sits additional proper on my desk than what’s comfy for me.

Nonetheless, the above points are, frankly, small gripes I’ve with the keyboard and ones that Logitech may simply deal with. For instance, providing a tenkeyless (TKL) model, or perhaps a variant that places the numpad on the left facet as an alternative, so it doesn’t prolong into my mouse space. And with some small tweaks to the keys, Logitech may supply a extra compelling typing expertise.

However relying on how a lot you care about these issues, the Slim Photo voltaic+ would possibly simply be the right keyboard for you if, like me, you hate charging keyboards. Certain, it’s not the most important downside on the market, however I discover charging my wi-fi keyboards to be moderately inconvenient. I can’t depend the variety of instances I’ve sat right down to work or recreation solely to find my keyboard battery is useless. Then I must awkwardly run a cable to my keyboard so I can cost it whereas I take advantage of it. It’s sufficient of a ache that I find yourself simply plugging in most wi-fi keyboards and utilizing them like a wired board so I don’t need to take care of it

Logitech’s Slim Photo voltaic+ presents a greater approach by incorporating a small photo voltaic panel immediately into the keyboard. This permits the keyboard to maintain its battery charged simply from the sunshine in your workplace, which suggests no must plug it in.

Dubbed ‘LightCharge,’ Logitech says the characteristic features a light-absorbing strip throughout the highest of the keyboard, an energy-efficient design, and a battery constructed to last as long as 10 years. Whereas I’ve been making an attempt out the Photo voltaic Slim+, I haven’t been in a position to put it by means of 10 years of rigorous use, so I can’t actually communicate to the longevity in that regard. Nonetheless, I haven’t had any points with the keyboard operating out of energy in my time with it.

And in the event you’re frightened about not having sufficient gentle to maintain the Photo voltaic Slim+ juiced up, nicely, you in all probability don’t have to fret except you intend to make use of the keyboard in the dead of night more often than not (although even in that scenario, Logitech claims the keyboard will work for as much as 4 months in complete darkness on a full cost).

Logitech’s Logi Choices+ app features a helpful software for checking the sunshine stage and whether or not it’s ample for charging the Slim Photo voltaic+. My residence workplace has an east-facing window that will get a ton of sunshine within the morning however much less all through the day. Surprisingly, the morning solar is simply too intense for the Slim Photo voltaic+, with the app warning that the sunshine was too shiny to cost. Nonetheless, the noon and afternoon gentle was greater than ample to maintain the keyboard powered. Logitech additionally famous the board might be charged by synthetic gentle.

There are a number of different niceties in regards to the Slim Photo voltaic+ that may curiosity some folks, however don’t do a lot for me. First, there are a pair totally different variants of keyboard, together with one for Mac, a ‘Common’ model (what I examined), and a Enterprise model. The Common variant sports activities the keys wanted to work with each Home windows and macOS, and may simply swap between working methods although the built-in system switcher. The keyboard contains buttons to change between three totally different gadgets.

On prime of supporting a number of gadgets, the Slim Photo voltaic+ boasts tons of customizable shortcuts, together with the F-Keys, an motion key, and an AI Launch key. There are additionally a number of assembly shortcut buttons for toggling the microphone and digicam.

Whereas I’m not one to utilize these options, it’s good that they’re included for many who do use them. General, I got here away impressed by the Slim Photo voltaic+. It’s sadly not the keyboard for me — the mediocre typing expertise actually ruins it for me. However the solar-powered charging is such a sensible inclusion that I’d suggest it for that characteristic alone. It’s the most handy, easiest wi-fi keyboard system I’ve used, and truthfully, it seems like the longer term.

The Logitech Slim Photo voltaic+ keyboard is out there in Canada beginning September 24 for $139.99 and is available in Graphite or Off-White. It’s additionally out there from Finest Purchase Canada.