Logitech’s Alto Keys K98M mechanical keyboard is now obtainable in North America after its preliminary launch in China and different choose markets. The $149.99 Alto Keys K98M is an nearly full-size 1800-layout keyboard, providing a barely compact design that maintains a quantity pad. However what makes the K98M particular for a mass-market Logitech board is that it’s totally hot-swappable with commonplace Cherry MX-compatible key switches and makes use of an inner gasket mount for a semi-soft typing really feel. Logitech is taking some belated cues from fanatic keyboards.
The Alto Keys has a two-piece plastic case with a translucent high portion and opaque backside that’s color-matched to its included keycaps. It is available in white, graphite, and lavender shade combos, with white backlighting and shine-through PBT keycaps. It’s a easy and clear aesthetic designed for mass attraction. As are its specs and options, like a claimed battery lifetime of as much as 12 months (with white backlighting turned off) and Bluetooth / Logi Bolt wi-fi connectivity — every usable on Home windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, iOS / iPadOS, and Android.
I’ve spent a bit time with a evaluation unit of the Alto Keys, and I’ve been having fun with its seems, sound, and typing really feel. The translucent plastic case and visual inner gasket tray swooping across the perimeter offers the keyboard a pleasant, ethereal design. It’s significantly charming within the lavender shade I’ve been testing, however the extra standard graphite and white fashions look equally clear. I think about these colours provide a bit extra flexibility within the seems division if you wish to put by yourself keycaps. The customization goes additional, since you may hot-swap the switches with hundreds of different choices for a bespoke sound and really feel.
However the software program is a special story. Logitech’s Logi Choices Plus app is straightforward to make use of and has a pleasant UI for primary settings (backlight ranges, timeout, auto battery saver mode, and many others.), and it even shows toast-like onscreen pop ups when adjusting brightness or quantity, paying homage to a Mac. However the precise keyboard changes it provides are very restrictive. For instance, you may solely customise the alternate features of 12 F-row keys. Cheaper keyboards utilizing software program like QMK and VIA can remap any key to absolutely anything.
The Alto Keys doesn’t have as large, daring, or distinct a sound as small-brand fanatic boards with steel circumstances, however it nonetheless sounds nice to kind on. It has a lightweight, clacky sound that’s not overly loud and needs to be satisfactory in all however the quietest places of work. And simply because the design is mild and ethereal, the Alto board is straightforward on the fingers. Logitech’s marble switches that come put in have a linear journey of three.5mm that’s clean and with simply sufficient weight in its 40 grams of actuation pressure to not be too heavy or feathery in every key press. The UniCushion gasket beneath offers the keys a contact of flex in the event you push onerous, however there’s nonetheless an underlying firmness, so it doesn’t really feel mushy.
I’m general impressed by the Alto Keys, and I hope we see extra enthusiast-style influences come to Logitech keyboards — particularly extra translucent designs, as a result of that’s simply enjoyable. However for $150, it’s competing with nicer prebuilt keyboards from smaller manufacturers (a bunch of which I’ve rounded up in our latest shopping for information). Lots of these choices from the likes of Epomaker, Wobkey, Chilkey, and others price much less whereas providing extra expansive software program customization and higher-quality supplies (particularly in the event you’re keen on steel circumstances). And in the event you don’t thoughts a plastic case, choices from Keychron or a model like Aula are round half the value.
Nonetheless, that is the primary attention-grabbing Logitech keyboard I’ve tried shortly, and I’m stoked to see extra. Perhaps subsequent Logitech can deliver over the 75-percent Alto Keys K75M, for these of us who don’t take care of quantity pads.
Pictures by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge