Ultimate Keyboard Comparison - Which one is right for you?

Ultimate Keyboard Review - Comparing Logitech MX Keys, Apple Magic Keyboard and Satechi Aluminium Keyboard. See the differences between all three and ultimately which one you should choose.

Logitech MX Keys for Mac is a surprisingly great option complete with a low-profile design, space grey finish, and comes with a backlight. The backlight can dim based on ambient lighting, turn on when you approach it, and turn off as you walk away. Complete the setup with a Logitech Mouse, and you can use Logitech Flow. Control multiple computers at once, move your mouse and keyboard seamlessly between the two and transfer files.

The Satechi Keyboard is another low profile design that better fits into the Apple Ecosystem. This keyboard comes with everything you would expect from a basic keyboard, and looks great. It falls short on quality when comparing to Apple and Logitech, but still remains a good option if you don't need advanced features.

Leave your comments down below on your favourite keyboard!

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YouTube Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Logitech MX Keys for Mac
1:28 - Keyboard Backlight Testing
1:49 - Switching between Bluetooth Connections
3:53 - Logitech Flow
5:55 - Battery Life
6:40 - Overall Thoughts Logitech
7:07 - Satechi Aluminum Keyboard for Mac
7:40 - Design Comparison (Apple Logitech Satechi)
9:00 - Satechi Function Keys
11:46 - Overall Thoughts on Satechi
12:16 - Trackpad Disruption with Keyboards
13:00 - Which keyboard will you choose?

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[JCourtsk]

I got the Apple Magic Keyboard for my Mac mini, I love everything about it especially the touch ID, but I just can’t get over the lack of backlit keys, so I’m returning it, and getting a logitech MX for Mac

[angievironchi]

I have the Satechi X1 with my iPad and that one has back lit keys. It is also smaller and pretty much mirrors the apple short keyboard with the exception that it is about 1/4” longer and it is substantially heavier. I love it. It has a premium look and feel, the keys have just the right amount of travel. I like that they are a little quieter and they are more square than the longer one. I have the longer one on my MacBook in my office. I don’t need it back lit there since it’s a well lit space. With all of this said, I did enjoy your comparison video.

[gw]

Thanks, great review. I was expecting the Mac keyboard to be shown though, so was confused when it wasn't.

[ericee]

You hit the nail on the head as far as my main concerns/questions go. Had the magic keyboard been backlit, it would have been a done deal already. No contest. If the MX keyboard could be both powered and connected aside from bluetooth, I'd also have it at my desk right now. How important is that backlight? It isn't very important, but a nice touch - I would rarely, if ever use my MBP under such low light conditions. Of course, sitting quite a distance away while the MBP is connected a to big-screen TV or monitor, I don't want to have to get up to turn on a light, even though most of the time I don't look at the keys. Keep up the good, high-production value videos. 👍

[davidgordon]

I would avoid the mx keys. I bought one 15 months ago, and the paint is coming off the command key. Logitech does not sell replacement keys, and the only third party key replacements have cmd|alt on the key and not command, so if i want to replace the key, it wont match the other command key. The only way i can see to prevent this from happening is buying a silicone skin to cover your keys, and that make the typing experience less enjoyable.

[SurronRiding]

Thanks for the comparison video! I recently tried the mx keys mini and was loving it, I also use an Mx Ergo and was looking forward to using the flow app, this function between my Macs seemed to have a lot of lag compared to the newly introduced universal control from macOS. I moved to a mini magic keyboard since I did like that form factor and also uninstalled the logi options software because while running it disables the remote computers features for things like scrolling on the mouse or the shortcuts on the function keys. The moment you uninstall the logi software universal control which worked better for moving between computers in a more fluid motion made more sense to me. I ultimately returned my Mac keys mini because the tech support was recommending that I use the beta options+ software while they figures out how to bug fix it with universal control and the beta software also did not work. The lack of response and support from their support made me feel I wouldn’t see any fixes anytime soon since they marked both my public community request as answered and my support ticket as completed.

[dangn]

Thank you for doing this great review and comparison. I already watched many other reviewers, but none of them dived deep into the keyboards. Your video has answered all my questions.

[ashleychong]

Ive been using the Satechi for almost 2 years, and primarily for my Windows work pc - and works well. Also, I use this with my Mac so the 3 bluetooth keys are handy. It is true the Satechi scores an own goal with the much cheaper keys (compared to the apple keyboard). I have just purchased the MX Anywhere mouse, so that's getting some use to.

[cthinh]

I'm actually looking forward to but the MX keys. Thanks for the review. It's really useful.

One more thing, I notice that you are using a pair of Homepod mini. If streaming from Spotify, does it cause any lagging or synchrony problem between two speakers? Thanks.

[CD-vbfi]

I had a Logitech MX Keys.... it broke within a year. It would never remember the light brightness setting after turning it off and on. The on/off switch was failing in months. I used it as a living room couch keyboard so turnning it off to reduce button mashes when being handled was important for me. I did like the look and feel of the keyboard, but it just is not durable. I don't think anything Logitech Makes is durable anymore. Now lose mice, keyboards, and headsets from logitech within a year now. But I have peripherals from other places that last me years. I am currently using a dirt cheap powzan keyboard and it has already outlasted the MX Keys and I treat this dirt cheap keybord poorly. I have a single missing key on it though.

[Kevint]

I have the Satechi Slim X1. This model doesn't have the number pad and has backlit keys. It looks closer in design to the Magic Keyboard also. I switched to Apple in January 2021. I didn't have a wired keyboard to get things going on my M1 Mac Mini. So I purchased the Magic Keyboard. After watching a review on the Satechi Slim X1, I bought it and returned the Magic Keyboard. No regrets!

[freecivweb]

Seems if you don’t need backlit keys then Apple is clear winner. I also seem to get highest speed ever typing on it so I can’t justify a change. How is it for switching back and forth to an iPad?

[InfiniteMusicLive]

Thank you for such an incredible review of these. Im in Canada and the SATECHI keyboard is $100 on Amazon while the Magic keyboard is $230. Financially it makes sense to go with Satechi. Im not a heavy user but i hope to pair it with my M2 Macbook Air and get some work done. I will update here on what i think of it after i use it for a few days.

[gorofujita]

I'd much prefer if videos like these dedicated a substantially larger portion of time to typing feel (switch actuation, ergonomics, typing sound demonstration) as the primary function of a keyboard is to, well, type, AND without typing accuracy, typing speed or typing comfort there's no amount of dedicated function keys that can make up for that

Heck, most serious typists (writers, students, white collar workers with lots of text/number input) would trade all "extra keys" for improved typing experience

In this specific sense, this video falls short of my expectations

[camelCased]

I wanted to like MX Keys a lot. Unfortunately, I experienced annoying lags. Every 10 minutes or so it got stuck and then repeated the last pressed key tiiiimeees. It got especially annoying when the repeated key turned out to be backspace because it deleted lots of text. I tried everything imaginable - Bolt and Bluetooth connection, disabling my router's 2.4GHz, disabling all Bluetooth devices nearby. Did not help. Even my old Logitech MK260 wireless did not have such issues. Really sad, considering the price of MX Keys. I wish it had a wired option to exclude all the possible wireless issues.

[Neo--X]

I'm curious: what type of professional work can you do all day on a flat, rubber dome, full-size keyboard positioned off-center to the left of the center of your monitor, with your fingers poking around on a trackpad?

[Shwammi]

Great review! Thank you very much. This directly influences my next keyboard purchase. And I'm subscribing :)

[maxisandoval]

Hey vittor, nice video! Question, what speakers are you using in the video?

[dacemaric]

Did satechi and apple keyboard work with windows? You forgot to show us that part?

[MarbsMusic]

Great comparison! I used my MX Keys with lights on daily for hours configuring old UNIX servers and got almost 2 months with the lights on and the MX3 mouse may be my favorite of all time. I recently got a Mac Studio and after a few days picked up one of the new Magic keyboard for Touch ID. I also, using my MBP so much, picked up the trackpad as well. I have my MX mouse on the right and trackpad on the left. Any gaming I would rather use the mouse but have found myself using the trackpad for almost everything else. The MX keys and G915 are two of my favorite keyboards ever and most of my life I have preferred clicky Cheery MX-Blue type / old IBM & Northgate.

Yet, and I've only had it a few weeks I can type faster on that Apple Magic keyboard than anything else. The G915 with low profile clicky is probably statistically the same but while I thought I would hate it I really like the Magic keyboard... maybe it's because it cost as much as the G915 or a Corsair XT but I'm very impressed thus far.