Logitech POP Keys Mechanical Keyboard Review
No better example can be had to show that this brand has pivoted from a utilitarian computer accessory maker, into a creator of cheery and modernist conceptions than this Logitech POP Keys keyboard.
Design
A mechanical keyboard that oozes a retro persona for £89. Three colour variants are available and we have the ‘daydream’ version, described as mint, lilac, white and sunshine yellow combined in a candy aesthetic with a dash of fresh mojito. There’s also ‘blast’, an orange keyboard with black keys, and ‘heartbreaker’ featuring neon coral colours. Of course, this is supposed to be a retro take on the classic mechanical keyboards, but additionally, when we first saw the Logitech POP Keys, it instantly brought back a 2000’s vibe due to those bold colour combinations, heavy emphasis on plastic and its rounded shaping.
It’s small and light enough to be a travel companion in a backpack or bag. Using the Logitech POP Keys on your travels will no doubt draw eyes and raise inquisitiveness. It doesn’t have an internal rechargeable battery but comes supplied with a pair of AAA’s that, according to Logitech, will keep it going for 3 years! From our usage over 30 days, we have not been able to register any battery drain yet via the meter bar across Apple devices.
We’ve been using the POP Keys with the Mac and iPad, but it will work with any Bluetooth device. And can sync with up to three. One of the USPs is the unique modular reprogrammable emoji keys which can be easily pulled off and replaced with an included selection of other popular emoji symbol keys found in the box. You can confirm the change using an accompanying App that Logitech have designed for the purpose. Using emoji symbols in messages, emails and across social media has become second nature and we give this feature a 👍
Typing
This keyboard needed a good few hours of familiarisation before we had a clear sense of just how it feels and flows. To begin with the rounded keys were troublesome to navigate, as every keyboard has square keys today, and also the keyboard is longer than the Apple MacBook Pro and Magic keyboards that we use almost exclusively. However, once you start to work with it, and after a short while of using the Logitech POP Keys in and amongst other keyboards in daily workflows, the rounded keys no longer require a second thought.
It is apparent though, that there are some certain positives and glaring negatives about the POP Keys. A difficultly in gaining momentum when typing due to the key mechanism, and to some degree the rounded shape of the keys, is something that is blatant. It’s slower to recover and can cause mid-flow fatigue when you’re in ‘the zone’, and this is a reason for frustration even though the key placement and spacing is okay. On the other hand, regardless of that occasional frustration, it can definitely be a pleasurable keyboard to use and completely ticks the satisfaction box in feel and sound. If you’re a slower typist, or plan on using this keyboard in workflows that don’t require haste in long typing sessions, and instead want to take notes, fill in forms and use it for more general casual activities, then you’re probably going to be happy with it and will bask in returning to the tactile action of a mechanical keyboard.
Verdict
The ridiculously long battery life, bold styling options and interchangeable emoji keys all fuse into a unique keyboard release. Logitech have created something that, due to its very design language, will reach audiences that would never have considered a mechanical type of keyboard and that’s quite an achievement. As a keyboard it lends itself best to the casual user and we look forward to seeing them pop up across social media as a visual detail.