Logitech Ergo K860 review: the most convenient keyboard you can buy
"With its unique shape and padded palm rest, the Logitech Ergo K860 is an extremely comfortable ergonomic keyboard."
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Adjustable palm lift
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Comfortable keycaps
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Lots of wrist support
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Attractive design
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Can connect to multiple devices
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Not backlit
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Non-rechargeable
Logitech has a tradition of making super comfortable and well designed products. Both the MX Ergo and the MX Vertical have a cozy design to reduce muscle fatigue as you scroll and drag yourself through your workday. With the new Logitech Ergo K860, some of these elements are now on a keyboard.
At $ 130, the Logitech Ergo K860 completes Logitech's Ergo range. But it is not an ordinary economic keyboard. Be it the unique curvy design and ergonomics or the cozy palm rest, the K860 is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable keyboards you can buy.
It's all in the curve
At first glance, you know why the Logitech K860 is not your traditional ergonomic keyboard. Instead of lying flat on your desk like the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard, the Logitech K860 has a slight elevation and curvature on both the front and the back. Logitech calls this a "split curved keyframe".
This name seems strange, but you have to see the keyboard to believe it. The K860 floats off the desk and invites you to play with it. Unlike the Kinesis Freestyle2, this is not a medical or industrial looking keyboard. Apart from a single power switch on the top, there are no additional cables or unnecessary switches here.
You will also find that it is made entirely of plastic and carries a metal plate under the top layer. Although this keyboard is curved and made of plastic, it is solid and comfortable, and there is a good reason for it.
Not only can you slide your cell phone cables or chargers under the keyboard, but the curve and height also allow more comfort when typing. It is designed to help you put your wrists in a more neutral position. It also helps reduce stress on your wrists and forearm, and keeps your hands, neck, and shoulders more relaxed while typing.
This is something Logitech has put a lot of effort into. The company informed me that there was a research and development laboratory in which up to 40 different prototypes of this keyboard were developed and in which actual people were invited to test the products. These people were even connected to sensors that measured muscle strain and pressure.
According to Logitech, 15% of computer users feel pain every day and the K860 offers up to 54% more wrist support than traditional keyboards. This statistic was particularly troubling for me, a person who spends the whole day at my desk typing and scrolling with the mouse. It is definitely convenient. When I used the Logitech MX Keys as a daily driver, I was curious how this ergonomic keyboard could also improve my typing experience.
Enter a storm on any device you own
Admittedly, it took me some time to get used to this curvature and the new layout, in which the keys have a downward V-shape. It felt strange for a day or two, but when my fingers got used to the curve and layout, it felt natural. It forced me to become a touch typist more than normal, and I noticed that I looked less at the keyboard. In combination with the MX Vertical mouse, my daily computer tasks felt organic when my hands slid smoothly between the keyboard and mouse.
The Logitech MX Keys were one of our favorite keyboards for everyday typing, but they may have found their equivalent in the Ergo K860. The Ergo has "scooped" keycaps with a small circle in the middle of the cap that allows you to align your fingers in a more natural position. It also helps with durability. Logitech even claims the Ergo K860 is designed to last 10 million keystrokes, but these are just numbers. Is it true?
After using the Logitech K860 to cover CES 2020 from my home office, I can at least say that this keyboard is very comfortable. Thanks to the "split curved keyframe" and the design, I didn't have to keep my fingers crossed while typing. Thanks to the padded palm rest, I didn't have to pull my wrists to the side as I moved between the words.
However, this is not a mechanical keyboard. If you are looking for long trips or a click of a button, you have to look elsewhere. This is more of a laptop-class keyboard that uses rubber domes instead of mechanical switches under the keycaps. However, there are more trips here than on ultra-short keyboards like the MacBook Pro.
My average writing speed is 90 words per minute, but with the Ergo K860 I have reached almost 95 words per minute. It's a modest improvement, but it was a new record for me. It's also a quiet keyboard, which is important if you work in an open office environment and don't want to bother your employees.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Like the MX keys, this wireless keyboard is cross-platform, so you can use it with multiple devices at the same time. You can connect it to a PC via a USB dongle or use it via Bluetooth and switch between them with a key on the keyboard. I used it with both my Surface Laptop 3 and my Google Pixel 3 XL and was able to switch between PC and laptop with the push of a button and respond to texts on my phone.
The type of function keys also reflects this. As with the MX keys, there is a double "Start" and "Options" button for Mac and Windows. Above this is a series of buttons for media and function control. Brightness, apps, search, lock, battery status – you will find everything here. And the number pad is also a good measure. With Logitech, you can even customize the keyboard using the Logitech Options software, which allows you to customize the function keys.
Unfortunately, the K860 is not illuminated and is not rechargeable. Logitech tells me that this was a deliberate design decision they made. They didn't want to do without the clean keyboard design or the 2-year battery life that came with the two AAA batteries. They also believe that the keyboard is used in office environments where backlighting is less important.
It's pretty cozy
The other important element of the Ergo K860 is its wrist support. Of course, you can find them in other ergonomic keyboards like the Adesso Tru-Form 150, Matias Ergo Pro or Logitech's own K350, but the Ergo K860 goes far beyond that.
Instead of using just a single layer of foam or fabric like the palm rest, Logitech chose three layers of material. These include a high-density foam, a memory foam and an easy-to-clean, coated fabric that increases the comfort of the keyboard and its ergonomics. It surely surpasses the double-padded layer on the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
During my time with the keyboard in my home office, I often touched her just because it felt so cozy that it was almost like a pillow on my bed. I even had an accident and spilled some water on the palm rest and it wiped off immediately.
Logitech also thinks of the modern office. The underside of the palm rest has an adjustable hinge with which you can tile the keyboard for standing or sitting desks at 4 or 7 degrees. It also helps you keep your wrist in a naturally comfortable position when you are sitting or standing.
Our opinion
The Logitech Ergo K860 for $ 130 isn't just a convenient keyboard. It is the best ergonomic keyboard we have ever used. Everything from the typing experience to the simple exchange between devices makes it an extremely modern and comfortable office tool. If you're worried about your wrists after long hours in the office, the K860 may be the keyboard for you.
Is there a better alternative?
The Logitech K860 is the best ergonomic keyboard you can buy, but there are plenty of alternatives. One of the leading options in the same $ 130 price range is the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard, which has a similar design and palm rest, but not the "heightened" feel and compatibility of multiple devices in the K860.
You can also opt for the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop, which has ergonomics similar to the Logitech, but is cheaper at around $ 100. And if backlighting is important, there's the Adesso Tru-Form 150 for $ 40.
How long it will take?
As a keyboard with USB dongle, Bluetooth, durable plastic surface with a metal layer underneath and a long battery life, the K860 holds the test of time.
Should you buy it
Yes. If you are looking for a keyboard that is extremely comfortable, the Logitech Ergo K860 is the right choice for you. It has a super comfortable wrist rest and was developed overall to relieve the pain when typing. Only the lack of backlighting and not charging prevent it from being perfect.
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