Logitech irritates me as a keyboard enthusiast. Outside of the gaming industry, it is by far the most well-known manufacturer of keyboards and mice. Additionally, it produces some useful products for both of those. However, I am unable to endorse Logitech’s mechanical keyboards. They have far too few functions and are too costly for what they provide to be recommended above alternatives.

However, someone at Logitech is paying attention. The company’s mechanical offerings have become “meh” to the broader market as others develop, if not to me personally. Enter the K98M Alto Keys.

Hot-swap key switches, triple-device wireless, and PBT keycaps are just a few of the things that this keyboard has that I would consider necessary after you spend more than $100. It has already surpassed the last Logitech mechanical keyboard I reviewed in terms of points.

And it doesn’t even include the “UniCusion,” the keyboard’s distinguishing feature. This is Logitech’s version of a gasket mount, which is essentially a layer of suspended silicone (or a comparable material) placed beneath the printed circuit board and into the plastic frame. This is a somewhat novel method that combines full internal damping with a standard gasket mount, which just places the PCB between two layers of soft material.

The outcome is an unexpectedly improved typing experience when paired with custom linear switches. It has a little bounce and is both soft and pleasant. Please understand that this cannot compete with a very expensive super-premium keyboard. However, it’s unquestionably the greatest Logitech mechanical keyboard I’ve ever tested for typing, both in terms of gaming and conventional “office” style.

Refreshing style

I’m a fan in terms of style. The translucent plastic body’s indigo and white keycaps, which highlight the enormous interior gasket, are attractive in a kind of faux-retro manner. Although a drab gray or white alternative is also available, this blue is really lovely, especially when the inside LEDs are screaming.

In relation to that, the battery lasts roughly two weeks at full brightness, and in battery-saving mode, I’ve seen it last at least an additional week. If you don’t mind shutting off the lights, it translates to months and months of battery life. The keyboard feet and a small depression in the USB wireless dongle container are two examples of how the bottom looks good in that complementing off-blue.

If there is one obvious drawback to this keyboard, it is software support. There aren’t many options when using Logitech’s Options+ manager. F4 through F12, as well as End, Page Up, and Page Down, have custom key bindings. With the “AI” Prompt Builder, Logitech kindly allows you to incorporate ChatGPT commands. All you can do is adjust the backlight’s brightness and duration.

Compared to any regular keyboard with VIA or comparable customisation, or any gaming keyboard, these possibilities are significantly less. However, that’s alright. This is roughly what you’d expect from any “office” board, albeit it’s a little aggravating that you can’t do more. For instance, I’d like to be able to attach macros to the number pad, which I don’t use otherwise.

Is the Logitech Alto Keys K98M a worthwhile purchase?

I won’t claim that the Alto is a superb keyboard. It’s quite good. In terms of value, it is inferior to many other keyboards that cost around half as much but may have all the same features, including RGB lighting and complete VIA programming.

However, as I mentioned before, Logitech is a rather significant brand. That is accompanied by confidence, and that is valuable. This could be a nice place to start if you want to explore the world of mechanical keyboards but are nervous about all that intimidating technical terminology. The same is true if you’re looking for a mechanical keyboard that a child can’t really harm, or if you’re purchasing a gift for someone.

If this board were $20 less, I would appreciate it much more. Although I would definitely prefer it for prolonged typing sessions, it doesn’t appear as good for $120 as the MX Keys S ($130). Thankfully, it appears to be the case! As of this writing, Logitech is offering it for a lot more reasonable $99.99, and I believe it’s reasonable to anticipate that price will be maintained for the next year or so.

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