Logitech’s Wave Keys for Mac provides an ergonomic and quiet typing expertise, and for an inexpensive worth too.
Working at a desk for lengthy durations may be dangerous to your well being, with out the right tools. Many individuals actually needs to be wanting into making their computing atmosphere extra ergonomic, lowering the prospect of aches and pains from extended use.
In the case of keyboards, there are just a few 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 traces, and are at assorted heights too to match your hand’s resting positions.
Logitech has achieved this earlier than, with one of many fashionable 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 assessment – Design
The Wave Keys for Mac consists of a 100-key keyboard with ergonomics being entrance and middle. 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 traces both, with a pronounced curve permitting customers to not have to bend their wrists as a lot to entry their keys.
Together with the principle keyboard, there is a numpad to the right-hand facet. Whereas just a few keys in need of a full keyboard, it nonetheless provides just about the entire keys {that a} typical person could wish to truly use.
On the prime is an indicator mild for energy, lining up with the on-off change 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 some extent, it does really feel barely low-cost, and light-weight too at 1.6 kilos together with batteries, but it surely nonetheless feels very nicely constructed.
An uncommon factor at play is the built-in wristrest, a cushioned part under the keyboard. Wrist rests are a typical 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 isn’t significantly thick, but it surely’s comfy, 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 anticipate, with it measuring 8.6 inches by 14.8 inches, and 1.2 inches thick.
On the bottom are two adjustable toes that elevate the keyboard’s angle up by 4 levels. It is a pretty good peak with out being too tall and inflicting customers any extra wrist points.
A battery hatch has area for 2 AAA batteries in addition to a dongle. This area is meant for the Logi Bolt USB dongle, although it is not provided with one.
The shortage of a dongle is not a showstopper, however it’s a tiny disgrace that there is a area hinting that there is one thing lacking.
You might be anticipated to switch the batteries over time. Logitech might’ve included a built-in battery and a charging port, as a substitute of tempting customers into utilizing disposables.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac assessment – Options
The addition of “for Mac” to the product identify could trigger individuals to assume it is undergone a variety of modifications from the unique to be Mac-specific. Actually, there’s not that a lot distinction.
The apparent 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.
Nevertheless, Logitech did go some strategy 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.
Apart from the aforementioned not-included dongle, the Wave Keys for Mac rely on you utilizing it with Apple units, because you’re anticipated to make use of Bluetooth. It makes use of Bluetooth LE, and may be paired together with your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
The F1-F3 keys allow you to change between your units, with an indicator lighting up relying in your chosen {hardware}. You do not have to stay with Apple’s ecosystem, as different units may very well be paired, as long as they’ve Bluetooth or you could have purchased the dongle.
The highest row of operate keys are additionally meant for numerous media capabilities, 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 assessment – 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 can ever encounter.
You do not really need to make use of it, but it surely’s one thing that’s price investigating.
With the keyboard paired to the Mac, Logi Choices+ provides an easy 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 common use. You can even reassign keys relying on the applying you are utilizing.
For every key, you may set a unique motion from the default setting. You can even 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, moderately than counting on the person to make a macro for themselves.
You can even view what {hardware} has been paired as much as which of the pairing buttons, known as Simple-Swap keys. This at the least lets what’s arrange with the keyboard, with out going by way of the method of urgent keys and seeing what responds.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac assessment – In use
After utilizing the keyboard for some time, it is secure to say that it has its quirks, very like another.
Mac customers who aren’t acquainted with the concept of ergonomic keyboards could have to take a while to get used to the best way it undulates.
The wrist relaxation can be a pleasant shock, since it’s fairly supportive. It could have benefited from somewhat extra peak when the keyboard is used flat on the desk, but it surely’s very best in supporting your wrists when the legs are in use.
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 middle Mac from throughout the room, and the remainder actually helps with typing there.
At this worth level, it is unsurprising that the keyboard is a membrane-style one. Whereas it is not so good as 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 velocity 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 unhealthy, because it helps save on battery life, however at the least there are energy and indicators for which system you are paired with presently.
Logitech Wave Keys for Mac assessment – Ergonomic and durable
As an ergonomic keyboard, the Logitech Wave Keys for Mac hits a variety of the appropriate spots. The undulating keys with a slight curve work nicely right here, particularly when coupled with the fixed-in-place wrist relaxation.
Although the remainder provides a variety of dimension to the general keyboard itself, it’s nonetheless not overwhelmingly too massive in use. That it is also useful in making the keyboard extra usable whereas lounging on a sofa can be a pleasant profit.
What Logitech has achieved is straightforward. It is taken its celebrated Wave Keys, given it a coloration refresh, and adjusted some keys to higher go well with Apple system customers.
It is truthful to say that Logitech did not have to make any main modifications to change an already fairly stable wi-fi keyboard. One which’s additionally moderately priced and needs to be a consideration for anybody wanting a good 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.