Logitech MX Keys S Review: The Office Keyboard to Beat

The MX Keys, refined — not rebuilt

Logitech released the MX Keys S in June 2023 as the successor to 2019's MX Keys, the low-profile productivity keyboard that had quietly become the office standard. The S keeps the same chassis, the same quiet scissor keys, and the same 810 g metal-and-plastic build — what changes is mostly software. Smart Actions macros arrive in Logi Options+, the backlighting gets proximity and ambient-light sensors, and the function row gains keys for emoji, dictation, and mic mute. This review pulls together Logitech's official specs, published expert reviews, and owner impressions from retail and forum feedback. We don't run a test lab; the scores below are editorial judgments built on that evidence.

What's new: Smart Actions and smarter illumination

Smart Actions are the headline: one-keystroke macros that chain several steps, built and shared in Logi Options+. They launched in beta, PCWorld noted, and Logitech told reviewers the feature would come to all MX devices over time — which undercuts the upgrade case. The illumination is easier to praise: proximity sensors light the keys as your hands approach and switch them off about 15 seconds after they leave, while an ambient light sensor adjusts brightness. iMore's reviewer found Logitech's 10-day backlight-on battery claim conservative, if anything. More lighting controls live in Options+, and the backlight switches itself off when the battery dips to 10%.

Typing feel, build, battery, connectivity

The typing is why people buy this keyboard. The dished, low-profile keycaps sit well under the fingers and cut down typos, like a good laptop keyboard — PCWorld compared it favorably to a ThinkPad, and Tom's Guide's reviewer reached 87 WPM at 89% accuracy on a typing test, calling it lovely to type on. It stays quiet enough for open offices. The 810 g build feels premium and sturdy, per iMore, but the angle is fixed — no feet, a complaint SlashGear and PCWorld both raised. The 1,500 mAh battery is rated up to 10 days with the backlight on or five months with it off, recharged over USB-C. Connection runs over Bluetooth LE or the included Logi Bolt receiver, with Easy-Switch across three devices and Logitech Flow for moving text and files between computers alongside an MX mouse.

What owners consistently praise — and complain about

Owners consistently praise the typing feel, the quiet keys, the solid build, and one-touch switching between devices — the Graphite listing sits at #1 in Amazon's Computer Keyboards chart. Complaints are just as steady: with the backlight on, you charge roughly weekly, which AppleInsider listed as a con in its 4.5/5 review. Some owners find the Logi Bolt connection finicky in crowded wireless offices, a point PCWorld made too. At 810 g with a fixed tilt, it is a desk keyboard, not a travel one — SlashGear listed portability among its cons. Mac buyers should know the Mac version has no Touch ID, per AppleInsider.

MX Keys S vs MX Keys: the upgrade question

The hardware difference between the S and the 2019 MX Keys is essentially zero — new sensors for the backlight, a revised function row, a new dongle standard. tweakreviews gave the S a 9/10 and an Editors Choice award but noted the previous version sold for less with little meaningful difference; PCWorld's headline was "Same great keyboard, lower price," and it pointed out Smart Actions were headed to older MX devices anyway. The upshot is simple — if you're buying an MX keyboard for the first time, get the S; existing MX Keys owners gain nothing worth paying for.

Who should buy it

First-time MX buyers get the best low-profile office keyboard around — quiet, sturdy, and smart about its lighting, with typing reviewers keep praising. Original MX Keys owners should sit this one out unless they specifically want the proximity backlighting or the Logi Bolt connection. Check the live price on Amazon before deciding; the spread between the S and discounted older MX Keys stock is the main decision point.