Logitech recently introduced its new “Combo for Business Gen 2”, including the new MX Master 3S mouse and MX Keys keyboard. I have owned quite a large number of keyboards, and I like to try new ones that have some potential. Since this is a popular combo in the enterprise space, I wanted to look closer.
I had not tried the first generation MX Keys Keyboard, but this new one is built for Windows and Mac OS operating systems. The build quality is high, and the keyboard feels very solid. In fact, the metal material comes with a heft which many people will like.
Holding it, it’s easy to realize it’s not plastic. The weight hints it’s a static keyboard that stays on a desk. Its keys are soft and quiet. They have a distinctive design, with a round indentation in the middle. I presume it is supposed to increase typing accuracy as curved keys do.
In my experience, such indentations didn’t make my typing more or less precise, but they do feel a little different, so if you can try them in a store, I highly recommend doing it. Whether you like the tactile feel of a keyboard is a very personal thing, but I can vouch for the overall built quality.
The MX Master 3S is an ergonomic mouse that is highly accurate (8000PPI) and ergonomic. Again, the shape and ergonomic aspects are subjective, so it’s best to hold one yourself. I found it agreeable to use, and it’s more comfortable (but less portable) than my MX Anywhere 3 mouse.
This mouse works on any surface, including glass, which is a must as many hotel rooms have glass tops, and I guarantee you that you will not always have your mouse pad handy. The MX Master 3S may feel a bit heavy initially, but that wasn’t an issue for me.
Both input devices can connect via Bluetooth or a Logibolt dongle which gives you great flexibility. Ironically, there is no room to store the small Logibolt USB dongle. That’s a pity because both devices seem to have plenty of internal space.
Also, neither device work as a USB-C wired input, although both have USB-C connectivity for charging. I appreciate the USB-C charging because I no longer want to carry micro-USB cables. In my view, Logitech should add the USB-C input capability to maximize the connectivity options since the price is relatively high.
Logitech claims that Logibolt is very secure, and it seems like IT departments worldwide agree because I see this as a frequent choice in many large companies. It has been optimized to work in offices where everybody uses wireless devices and is resistant to interferences.
Multi-computers
Both keyboard and mouse can wirelessly connect to multiple (3) computers (including phones and tablets), which I really like. We have learned during the pandemic the need to deal with work and personal computers in a small amount of space, which means sharing a table, keyboard, and mouse whenever possible.
Logitech is taking a very good shot at it, and it’s fair to praise them for that. At least, they make it possible with relative ease. However, the experience isn’t as smooth as it could be. For example, switching the BT keyboard (manually) is not going to switch the BT mouse, and while there are good reasons for it, that’s frustrating.
The current best way to have both switch in sync is to use Logitech Flow, a software that helps you switch the mouse and keyboard between multiple computers.
It is a functionality similar to a mouse without borders (Microsoft) or Synergy. The general idea is to redirect the mouse/keyboard input to another computer if your mouse cursor crosses a screen boundary.
Logitech does it much more efficiently because it switches the Bluetooth connection only ONCE when the cursor crosses a display boundary. Mouse without borders constantly generates network traffic between computers and requires thousands more real-time updates, horribly prone to network latency.
Multiple apps
That brings me to the multitude of apps Logitech has, and they can be a bit overwhelming and confusing if you own products across categories.
For example, if I pair a G (gaming) Series with an MX (business) Series mouse/keyboard, I now have two software sets to manage my Logitech input device settings.
Ideally, I’d rather have one Logitech app with sub-apps or GUI inside it. Most people aren’t going to bump into this initially, but if Logitech successfully transits a customer from basic to business to gaming: this is what it looks like.
Add to that the fact that every brand tries to lock you in their settings system, and you realize it’s impossible to export your settings (like RGB keys, and keys macros) from one keyboard brand to another. Even within the same brand, the export is non-existent or ridiculously non-intuitive. Indeed, this is a marketing decision because a JSON file would suffice to export settings.
Conclusion
The Logitech MX Master 3S for business and MX Keys Combo for Business Gen 2 is a high-quality product worth considering. It comes with great software support, and I liked the many technical aspects of both input devices.
I saw them exposed in various electronics chains like Best Buy, so you have ample opportunities to take a closer look and see how they feel. Again, I highly recommend touching any input device to form a personal opinion.
I am more partial to mechanical keyboards, but clicky keyboards can drive co-workers mad, which is understandable. These two devices are super quiet, making a world of difference when you’re sitting just feet away from your co-workers.
Filed in . Read more about Keyboards, Logitech and Wireless Mouse.