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Logitech MX Mechanical Mini for Mac, a Slim and Compact Keyboard [Review]
Logitech MX Mechanical Mini for Mac, a Slim and Compact Keyboard [Review]
Over the years, there have been so many different kinds of mechanical keyboards released that if you do not keep tabs on the latest innovations, new things pop up every week and you quickly are left behind. One aspect of mechanical keyboards that was always something I wanted to look into was low-profile keycaps.
These are thinner than the usual DSA or SA keycaps that fit on a low-profile Cherry MX keyswitch. They have been common in the last few days with manufacturers usually offering at least one model of this kind. Logitech is no exception, and after releasing different MX Keys keyboards, they have released the MX Mechanical Mini for Mac.
Design
At first glance, it does look like an Apple Keyboard with a bunch more keys, and from looking straight up, it does look like it. It’s when you take a closer look that you realize that this is not just an Apple Keyboard. Logitech actually used low-profile keyswitches just like in its big brother, the MX Mechanical keyboard.
The difference here is that first and foremost, it’s a Mac layout, so you have your regular Ctrl+Opt+Cmd keys, and a row of macOS Function key actions that are very custom to Logitech. For example, there is a global mute key that mutes the whole operating system, no matter what your microphone input is. The Emoji key that pops up the emoji keyboard and the sleep keys are two of the ones I also use very often.
From the side view, you can see that this keyboard has very low keycaps and the whole keyboard profile is quite low compared to most mechanical keyboards. There is a single USB-C port for charging and it connects via Bluetooth using one of the three memorized devices.
Features
- Mac keyboard layout
- Tons of customization via Logi Options+
- Multi Mac/iOS connectivity (3 in-memory devices)
- 15 days battery life with backlight, 10 months without
- Auto-adjust ambient light sensor
- Hand proximity sensor activated backlighting
Performance
One of the most important aspects of a mechanical keyboard is the keyswitches and keycaps themselves. The low-profile mechanical keyswitches are not hot-swappable, even if their appearance could be construed as such.
They are identified as tactile and quiet by Logitech and I would agree. They feel a little bit easier to press than MX Brown, their tactile mid-point is barely noticeable as the full range is much shorter than a regular MX keyswitch. They bottom out and that’s where most of the sound is coming from, when the keycap hits the switch itself.
The overall feeling is great and I really love the low profile and low travel of this keyboard. It’s much closer to the Apple Keyboard compared to what regular mechanical keyboards are normally.
The battery lasts about 3 weeks for me with the backlight turned ON, which is around the promise made by Logitech. I often work at night so I do need the backlight. Without it, it could last up to 10 months, which is very impressive.
Pairing and connectivity reliability has been perfect. Not once over the last few months have I had any issues with this keyboard. I’ve also used it with a Bolt Receiver, the little USB-A connector that uses encrypted communication between it and the devices. Not all Logitech devices are compatible with this one, but my current setup of the MX Master 3S and the MX Mechanical Mini both work with it perfectly. You could have used the previous generation dongle too, I just have another Logitech product coming up for review soon that came with it so I had to try it. It’s sad that it does not come in the USB-C format though. I had to plug a small TwelveSouth StayGo dock to get it connected.
Make it Even Better!
I would love Logitech to continue to experiment with different keyboard layouts. For my personal preferences, I really like this layout, but it has a few buttons I rarely if ever use: the home, end, page up, or down buttons. They are always hit by mistake and I ended up deactivating them. I’m even considering keycap blockers for them to stop them from being clicked and allow me to slide my fingers to find the inverted T arrow keys.
If I were a product manager at Logitech, I would remove a few of the keys and move back the Easy-Switch buttons to a rocker behind the keyboard or on the side, or make a single button toggle between all three modes. With these few changes, my layout would be perfect.
I also love that they use a sensor to detect hands and turn on the backlight, but if there could also be a light sensor to detect when it is absolutely not needed, it would make the backlight work only at night and perhaps reach over 1 or 2 months of battery life with this better energy management.
Software
There has always been a Logitech Options software around to manage connectivity or firmware updates, but now not only does it allow you to change buttons and keys function, it also comes with Smart Actions that can be set in different applications, and more recently it hooks into ChatGPT by filling a little prompt form and then it opens a slimmed down version of the free ChatGPT 3.5 web window.
This might be a good way to start playing with AI. I still prefer using a menubar app like MacGPT that I have set to a keyboard shortcut, and the Scroll Mode button on my MX Master 3S mouse! This way I have all of the power of ChatGPT-4 at my fingertips!
Conclusion
Overall, this compact keyboard is, and will be, my desk keyboard for a very long while. I love its ergonomics, compact layout, and customization afforded by the Logi Options+ software. Logitech really outdid themselves with the MX Mechanical Mini for Mac! It’s very close to my ideal and what I had in mind when they released the larger MX Mechanical a while back.
I strongly recommend this keyboard to anybody wanting a great typing experience, who does not want to disturb their colleagues as much, and who wants a solid piece of reliable tech that basically becomes a utility in your daily work life. Just like water out of the tap, it just works amazingly!
Review Summary
MX Mechanical Mini for MacLogitech
Explore the Logitech MX Mechanical Mini for Mac: a compact, low-profile keyboard with customizable keys, multi-device connectivity, and long battery life. Read our review!
Logitech MX Mechanical Mini Keyboard
Logitech MX Mechanical Keyboard
The Good Stuff
- Compact design
- Quality keyswitches
- Low-profile keycaps
- Long battery life
- Layout is not perfect for anyone
The Ratings
Overall: 94%
Disclaimers:
This product or service was provided by the company or partner for the purpose of this review.
For more information on how we score products, please read how we review products.
For more information on how we score products, please read how we review products.
