Logitech’s Wave Keys for Mac presents an ergonomic and quiet typing expertise, and for an inexpensive worth too.
Working at a desk for lengthy intervals might be dangerous to your well being, with out the right gear. Many individuals actually needs to be wanting into making their computing surroundings extra ergonomic, lowering the possibility of aches and pains from extended use.
In the case of keyboards, there are a number of choices, however one of many extra recognizable ergonomic methods is to make use of a wavy keyboard. One the place the keys aren’t in straight strains, and are at diversified heights too to match your hand’s resting positions.
Logitech has carried out this earlier than, with one of many trendy iterations being its Wave Keys keyboard. For its Wave Keys for Mac launch, Logitech made what it had beforehand created extra appropriate for Mac customers.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation – Design
The Wave Keys for Mac consists of a 100-key keyboard with ergonomics being entrance and heart. It is a keyboard with the aforementioned wavy keys, that bows down in two valleys with raised sections to the left, proper, and center.
That is meant to let customers have their palms in a extra pure resting place when they’re typing. The keys are additionally not in straight strains both, with a pronounced curve permitting customers to not must bend their wrists as a lot to entry their keys.
Together with the principle keyboard, there is a numpad to the right-hand aspect. Whereas a number of keys wanting a full keyboard, it nonetheless presents just about all the keys {that a} typical consumer could wish to really use.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation: The complete keyboard format
On the high is an indicator mild for energy, lining up with the on-off swap on the rear. There are additionally some indicator lights on the F1 to F3 keys, to assist with connectivity, in addition to the Caps Lock mild.
The keyboard itself is product of plastic, with the enclosure and the keys sharing the identical off-white materials. To a degree, it does really feel barely low-cost, and light-weight too at 1.6 kilos together with batteries, nevertheless it nonetheless feels very nicely constructed.
An uncommon component at play is the built-in wristrest, a cushioned part beneath the keyboard. Wrist rests are a standard sight on a desk, however not essentially one which’s a part of the keyboard itself.
On this occasion, Logitech makes use of a light-weight blue-grey wrist cushion. It is not significantly thick, nevertheless it’s snug, makes use of reminiscence foam, and is pretty simply cleaned.
This hooked up wrist relaxation does imply that the keyboard is rather a lot taller than you’d often count on, with it measuring 8.6 inches by 14.8 inches, and 1.2 inches thick.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation: The toes present an honest quantity of top.
On the bottom are two adjustable toes that elevate the keyboard’s angle up by 4 levels. It is a pretty good top with out being too tall and inflicting customers any extra wrist points.
A battery hatch has house for 2 AAA batteries in addition to a dongle. This house is meant for the Logi Bolt USB dongle, although it is not equipped with one.
The shortage of a dongle is not a showstopper, however it’s a tiny disgrace that there is a house hinting that there is one thing lacking.
You might be anticipated to switch the batteries over time. Logitech may’ve included a built-in battery and a charging port, as a substitute of tempting customers into utilizing disposables.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation – Options
The addition of “for Mac” to the product identify could trigger folks to suppose it is undergone plenty of modifications from the unique to be Mac-specific. Actually, there’s not that a lot distinction.
The plain is the colour scheme, because the black has been switched out for an off-white. Bodily, it is virtually the identical as the unique Wave Keys.
Nonetheless, Logitech did go some technique to make modifications to the important thing format. The Management and Operate keys are switched, the Del has been modified to a moon image, and a few of the different glyphs have been altered to match a Mac-specific scheme.
Except for the aforementioned not-included dongle, the Wave Keys for Mac rely on you utilizing it with Apple gadgets, because you’re anticipated to make use of Bluetooth. It makes use of Bluetooth LE, and might be paired together with your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation: These keys are used to pick the related machine.
The F1-F3 keys allow you to swap between your gadgets, with an indicator lighting up relying in your chosen {hardware}. You do not have to stay with Apple’s ecosystem, as different gadgets may very well be paired, as long as they’ve Bluetooth or you might have purchased the dongle.
The highest row of operate keys are additionally meant for numerous media features, together with quantity management, microphone muting, screenshots, and Mission Management. Curiously, there are buttons for dictation and the Emoji keyboard.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation – Software program
One of many issues Logitech urges you to do is to put in Logi Choices+, the keyboard administration software program that additionally works with different Logitech peripherals. It is also one of many best-made peripheral apps that you possibly can ever encounter.
You do not really want to make use of it, nevertheless it’s one thing that’s value investigating.
With the keyboard paired to the Mac, Logi Choices+ presents a simple interface to handle the keyboard. You instantly get the battery degree, in addition to the flexibility to customise many of the top-row keys on the keyboard itself.
This is not only for normal use. You can too reassign keys relying on the applying you are utilizing.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation: Logi Choices+ for macOS
For every key, you may set a special motion from the default setting. You can too arrange customized keyboard shortcuts, “Sensible Actions” to deal with repetitive duties as a macro.
Extra curiously, there is a part known as AI Actions, which open up Logi’s AI Immediate Builder software or ChatGPT. It is good to see these choices available, fairly than counting on the consumer to make a macro for themselves.
You can too view what {hardware} has been paired as much as which of the pairing buttons, known as Simple-Change keys. This at the least lets you realize what’s arrange with the keyboard, with out going by the method of urgent keys and seeing what responds.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation – In use
After utilizing the keyboard for some time, it is secure to say that it has its quirks, very similar to another.
Mac customers who aren’t accustomed to the concept of ergonomic keyboards could must take a while to get used to the way in which it undulates.
The wrist relaxation can also be a pleasant shock, since it’s fairly supportive. It might have benefited from a bit extra top when the keyboard is used flat on the desk, nevertheless it’s splendid in supporting your wrists when the legs are in use.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation: The battery hatch has a dongle house, however no dongle
The general dimension of the keyboard with the wristrest additionally makes it one thing that may very well be used away from the desk. It has been used fairly efficiently whereas slouched on the sofa, controlling a media heart Mac from throughout the room, and the remaining actually helps with typing there.
At this worth level, it is unsurprising that the keyboard is a membrane-style one. Whereas it is inferior to a mechanical keyboard’s switches, it is actually serviceable sufficient for lengthy periods.
One of many advantages is its noise, with Logitech making it rather a lot quieter to make use of. It is actually not silent, however there’s rather a lot much less clatter and quantity when working at pace in comparison with others that we have tried.
There isn’t a backlighting right here, so you are not going to have the ability to use it in a darkish room with out an exterior mild supply. This is not too dangerous, because it helps save on battery life, however at the least there are energy and indicators for which machine you are paired with at present.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation – Ergonomic and durable
As an ergonomic keyboard, the Logitech Wave Keys for Mac hits plenty of the proper spots. The undulating keys with a slight curve work nicely right here, particularly when coupled with the fixed-in-place wrist relaxation.
Although the remaining provides plenty of dimension to the general keyboard itself, it’s nonetheless not overwhelmingly too large in use. That it is also useful in making the keyboard extra usable whereas lounging on a sofa can also be a pleasant profit.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac evaluation: The facility swap
What Logitech has carried out is straightforward. It is taken its celebrated Wave Keys, given it a shade refresh, and altered some keys to higher swimsuit Apple machine customers.
It is truthful to say that Logitech did not must make any main modifications to change an already fairly stable wi-fi keyboard. One which’s additionally fairly priced and needs to be a consideration for anybody wanting an honest typing choice whereas additionally caring for his or her palms and wrists.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac execs
- Mac format keys
- Ergonomic wave, with Numpad
- Unexpectedly helpful wrist relaxation
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac cons
- Hole for unsupplied (and unneeded) dongle)
- Makes use of replaceable AAA batteries as a substitute of a built-in battery
- No backlighting
Ranking: 4 out of 5
The place to purchase Logitech Wave Keys for Mac
The Logitech Wave Keys for Mac can be found from Logitech’s retailer for $59.99. It is also out there from Amazon, priced at $59.99.
