Logitech Pop Keys Review: A Typewriter for the Modern Age
Logitech Pop Keys put to the test: a modern mechanical keyboard with retro charm
RRP $ 99.00
"The Pop Keys mechanical keyboard from Logitech is a stylish and modern interpretation of the venerable typewriter of yore."
advantages
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A modernized version of the keys on a typewriter
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Satisfactory mechanical buttons
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Easy pairing with up to three devices
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Logi Bolt support
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Emoji key
disadvantage
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No backlight
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No replacement keycap options at this time
The humble keyboard doesn't often conjure up images of a beautiful work of art. It is often perceived as a more useful device.
Yet the simple keyboard exerts so much creative power – some of the greatest writers of our time, from Mark Twain to Ernest Hemingway and Maya Angelou, wrote their best works on a keyboard (more precisely a typewriter in most cases). . With its latest Pop Keys keyboard, Logitech aims to inspire by combining the retro charm of typewriters with some of the best technology today.
The Logitech Pop Keys is a mechanical keyboard that is highlighted by bright colors, support for modern connectivity, and even emoji keys for modern communication. While not the first keyboard to mimic the old-world charm of typewriters, Logitech's $ 99 Pop Keys is perhaps the most accessible and affordable modern mechanical take on what has become a relic, especially when compared to the QwerkyWriter S for $ 299, the Azio MK retro keyboard for $ 220, or the Rymek Knewkey for $ 164.
draft
The first thing you'll notice about Logitech's Pop Keys is that they come with a "pop" of color. The keyboards are available in bright colors, including Daydream, which combines mint, yellow and lavender keys, a pink heartbreaker, or the classic Blast, which is available in black and yellow. The designers at Logitech claim that the keyboard was developed for Generation Z users who want more individuality and personality in their workspace.
Although I was initially wary of the stark contrast of the blast unit for review – I'm more used to a floating sea of beige or black keys that are more common on corporate desks – the bumblebee-colored keyboard was playful but not garish like some Gaming keyboards. I found the color fun and the accented keys brightened my desk in unexpected ways. Unfortunately, more professional key colors are not available and I would still like the option for subtle, adult colors for everyday use.
My Blast keyboard comes with a yellow keyboard deck that is accented by a sea of circular floating black keys with yellow glyphs. Like the MX Keys Mini, the keyboard is designed to work with both Mac and PC. Some of the modifiers and special keys on the keyboard – Control, Function, Shift, Tab, Caps Lock, Delete, Enter, and more – are gray with yellow glyphs.
While the Qwerkywriter and KnewKey attempt to be a more authentic reproduction of the tools that preceded them, the Pop Key takes a more minimalist, modernized, and deconstructed design into its aesthetic. It comes with more modern buttons – the dictation and microphone mute buttons are one of my favorites along with the new emoji support – and the design is a playful interpretation of the typewriter buttons and not a faithful reproduction of the chrome-framed buttons found on the KnewKey and Qwerkywriter.
At 321.2 x 138.47 x 35.4 mm, the Pop Keys keyboard is slightly wider than the MX Keys Mini – you get a similar keyboard layout, but the former comes with an additional column of emoji shortcuts next to the full-size arrow keys compared to the latter's more compressed inverted T layout. The mechanical key switches also make the Pop Keys thicker overall.
Emoji shortcut is the second biggest feature of the Pop Keys that sets this humble keyboard apart from the competition. In addition to standard writing, Logitech is banking on emoji as the future of communication, and the pop buttons come with four pre-installed emoji buttons and four additional buttons in the box that can be swapped out. A fifth emoji button brings up the full emoji menu so you can choose any emoji or character you want.
While the purpose of these new buttons is to help users communicate with emojis, which Logitech claims is the fastest growing language in the world, the buttons can be customized to launch certain emoji characters (even if these characters are not defined by the supplied keycaps). via the downloadable Pop keyboard customization software.
As with the MX Keys Mini, you won't find an extended keyboard layout with a dedicated number pad in the Pop Keys. The more compact size, Logitech claims, makes this keyboard more ergonomic if you don't use spreadsheets or numbers a lot.
Our Blast keyboard comes with a metallic, lacquered, copper-colored escape key that enhances the typewriter aesthetic of the keyboard. Purists may complain that the escape key is the lone key in a different color, but the brass-like finish gives it a vintage vibe.
There are function keys in the top row next to the Escape key. These buttons can also be used to switch between device inputs – the Pop buttons can be paired with up to three devices, like Logitech's Premium MX series for work. You'll also find keyboard shortcuts for controlling media playback, a voice dictation button, a screenshot button, and a microphone mute. That final key was a godsend during the pandemic as Zoom calling has become the new normal.
There's a sleek back bar protruding from the back of the keyboard in a design that mimics Logitech's MX Keys and MX Keys Mini. This bar houses the battery compartment; two AAA batteries are required. The company claims that fresh batteries last around three years after typing. A power switch on the right edge of the keyboard helps to conserve the battery when not in use. Personally, I would have loved if the Pop Keys came with internal batteries that could be charged via a USB-C cable, but company executives claimed that Logitech appealed to a different, less tech-savvy audience than those who did use the MX series.
Typing experience
Unlike traditional desktop productivity keyboards, the Pop Keys use mechanical key switches – a design more commonly found on gaming keyboards – for a more responsive and satisfying typing experience. Logitech didn't name the type of switch used on the Pop buttons, but the design and typing feel similar to Cherry MX switches.
This means the keyboard was relatively quiet, especially since it's a mechanical keyboard, and it didn't require as much force as other premium gaming keyboards. And thanks to the concave, circular design of the keycaps, the keys wrap well around the fingertips and are stable, even if you press the keys from the edge of the keycaps rather than from the center.
When we asked about the key travel and actuation force, the company's executives were similarly reluctant and did not provide any information about the pop keys. We found Key Travel to be generous. And the moderate actuation force means you don't have to use too much finger force to move the keys, but simply touching the key while typing doesn't register accidental key presses.
It took me a solid hour to actually type and adjust to the pop keys, and I have found that even if you are experienced with typing or using a mechanical keyboard, some adjustments are required. The main reasons are that the round keys, while eye-pleasing and pleasing to the eye, and the key spacing mean that those typing with more vulnerable wrists and fingers may find fingernails catching the key when the keys are pushed up directly above it or your fingertips can brush adjacent buttons. This problem becomes very evident in those who come from flatter keys on notebook keyboards
While you initially get used to Logitech's button design, this may slow down your typing speed and accuracy, but things will normalize in about an hour.
Compared to the click-clack typing sound of the original Qwerkywriter (not the newest Qwerkywriter S), the Pop Keys make a deeper and more satisfying “thunk” sound when the keys are pressed. I prefer the low tone that the Pop Keys make as I found that less distracting, especially if you are sharing the office space. The auditory comparison is similar to comparing the butterfly key switches on a MacBook Pro from 2016 with the MX Keys from Logitech. Apple's standard laptop keyboard – which has since been upgraded to scissor switches on newer models – had louder, hollow sounds compared to the low-frequency response of the MX Keys and MX Keys Mini.
Looking at the key switches on my HP Omen Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, the Pop Keys definitely feel stiffer and require more actuation force, but it's more satisfying when you're typing a long document or looking to become the next Hemingway. While the keys of the Omen sound hollow and rattle a little when typing quickly, the keys of the pop keys seem more stable.
The only thing missing from the Pop Keys that would have made them even more perfect would be the backlight. Logitech wouldn't have to offer the crazy RGB lighting that's standard on many gaming keyboards, but even a subtle white glow – or lighting that is color-coordinated with the Blast's key colors – would have been nice for night-time typists. The inclusion of backlit keys makes the RK Royal Kludge – a keyboard with similar round, typewriter-inspired keys – an attractive alternative to the Pop Keys.
Although the Pop Keys are not lacking in full backlighting, there are a total of five LED lights on the keyboard. There are three white LEDs, one on each of the pairing buttons to identify which device you have paired with the keyboard, an LED indicator on the caps lock key, and a green LED on the right keyboard deck to indicate that the pop keys are activated are switched on.
Emoji
In addition to being the fastest growing language, a useful perk of emoji is that the characters also impart more empathy and help you connect with your audience. This is especially important during the global pandemic, where most of our communication is digital and a significant part of our interaction is virtual.
According to a study by Logitech, over 88% of users are likely to feel empathy for someone who uses emojis in their communication, and given the prevalence of emojis in casual and some professional communication, like Slack and Microsoft Teams messages, they are quick to hit Access to these special characters is particularly useful.
To use the emoji buttons, you'll need to download software from Logitech, which is available for Windows and macOS. The keyboard also works with Chrome OS, Android, iPadOS, and iOS devices, but you can't map or use the emoji buttons.
With the software downloaded and installed, Logitech gives you many customization options with the emoji. You can map the emoji to match what is displayed on the button – for example, the smiling face with the heart-eye button shows the same emoji on your screen when pressed – or you can map the button to a different emoji than on the indicated key caps. In the latter case, if you often use the celebration emoji or the fireworks emoji, you can either assign the keycap that shows the smiling face with heart eyes.
The software allows you to universally map the emoji for all apps, or you can use different emoji for different apps. For example, if you use a specific emoji when communicating via WeChat or iMessage, you can assign it to one of the keys when you are in that app, but you can assign the key to another emoji when you are in another app.
In addition to emoji, you can map any of the five emoji buttons along with the top row of function keys to perform various tasks. If you're not using an emoji, you can, for example, map one of the emoji buttons to show Mission Control or open Launch Pad on your Mac. A second emoji button can be used for copy and paste, access to the lookup menu, or other functions.
This software defined key mapping really makes the Pop Keys even more customizable and personal, whether you're a Gen Z, typist using emoji, or more of a traditional keyboard user who just wants more keyboard shortcuts.
And since the keyboard comes with a total of eight emoji keycaps – four on the keyboard and four in the box – switching between keycaps is very easy. All you have to do is grab the keycap with your finger and pull up to remove the cap, then push the keycap down on the “+” shaped switch to replace it .
This process can be applied to any key on the keyboard, and Logitech says that in theory you can replace any key on the Pop-Keys because it uses an unnamed, standard switch mechanism. I hadn't tried the mix-and-match philosophy here with the alphanumeric keys, but you can in theory replace the keys here with square keys instead of round keys, although that's the purpose of buying a retro-inspired tool like the Pop Keys. However, company officials warned that this could affect key spacing, key travel, and the fit of each keycap.
And as with the MX Keys series, there are toggle switches for switching between three coupled devices with the function keys F1, F2 and F3. For example, you can easily switch between a MacBook Pro, Windows PC, and iPad Pro if you switch between them frequently for your workflow. The Pop Keys connect to your preferred computing device via Bluetooth, and a Logi Bolt connection dongle is also included if you need a more secure, reliable connection between the keyboard and your PC. To make it easier to carry the dongle, the Pop Keys have a dedicated slot in which the Logi Bolt connection is located when you are not using it.
Logitech also has an accompanying pop mouse that is color-coordinated with the same color options from Blast, Daydream, and Heartbreaker. The Pop Mouse is part of Logitech's Studio series and is similar in design to the company's existing Pebble mouse. It comes with a scroll wheel and a dedicated button that can be customized, like the emoji keyboard keys on the pop keys. With the mouse, you can use a different emoji key, or assign that key to perform another task through Logitech software.
Our opinion
The Pop Keys from Logitech bring a lot of playful mood to stoic desks with their splash of color. While the Pop Keys may have their stylish inspiration from typing tools of yesteryear, the Pop Keys isn't your grandfather's typewriter – this keyboard artfully blends its old world charm with modern technology like strong connectivity options, long battery life, and support for emoji to inspire the next generation of creatives.
are there alternatives
At $ 99 for the Pop Keys and $ 39 for the Pop Mouse, there are plenty of alternatives to these Studio-series peripherals. Some of the most notable competitors for the Pop Keys include other retro-inspired keyboards like the Qwerkywriter S, Rymek KnewKey, and the Azio MK Keyboard. All of these keyboards have similar mechanical switch mechanisms and circular keys that remind them of typewriters, but none offer the same modern day versatility of the pop keys, including dedicated emoji keys, media and function keys that can be customized, and support for Logi Bolt. Another attractive feature of the Pop Keys is that they are between $ 100 and $ 200 less than some of their closest competitors.
How long it will take
Logitech's Pop Keys, like previous typewriters, will last you a very long time. The batteries last for three years, and when you replace them with fresh batteries, they will last much longer. While replaceable batteries aren't as good for the environment as rechargeable internal batteries, you don't have to worry about the batteries holding a charge as the Pop Keys ages. This means that you don't have to throw away an otherwise perfectly usable keyboard after years because the internal battery has exceeded its lifespan, you can simply swap in new batteries and continue with this keyboard. Logitech offers a one-year limited hardware warranty for the Pop Keys in the United States and most parts of Asia, although you get a two-year warranty if you buy the keyboard in Japan and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Should I buy it
Yes, if you rely on or use emojis, the Pop Keys are an invaluable tool for your home or home office. Although designed with teenagers and tweens in mind, the Pop Keys is a fun keyboard that will brighten up any room. Logitech has modernized the typewriter for the modern age.
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