Logitech Signature Slim Combo MK950 - Review

Way back in 2004, I picked up my first Logitech product, the diNovo Edge Keyboard and fell in love with it and that kicked off an association of favour for the company, which continues to this day. A number of years ago, I was working in a job that required me to have two different computers on my desk and swapping back and forth meant moving keyboards around and it was honestly very annoying and that is where the K780 came in, with its multi-device support. While I loved the keyboard for what it was, the compact profile was not ideal for my personal preference and now the K950 aims to correct that. Does this latest multi-device keyboard deliver all that I wanted or is it unable to connect?

Logitech were kind enough to send me both the Signature Slim Keyboard K950 for review and while it can be bought solo, it can also be bundled with the Signature Plus Mouse M750, which was also provided. Together they may not form Voltron, but they are known as the Signature Slim Combo MK950. I did use the mouse for a few weeks and its good, it is comfy and responsive, however as someone who has been using the MX series of mice from Logitech for a decade, not having many of the additional input options at hand, made it feel less in comparison. As there really isn’t a lot you can say about a basic mouse like the M750, I will just say if you need a new mouse, then it will do the job for you, but now the keyboard. One of the reasons that I loved the K780 is that I could swap between my two computers and even my iPhone, which meant I was able to just keep going and that same principle is available here.

I say principle as one of the big differences between the K780 and the new K950 is the lack of a wedge, as the K780 had a white wedge along the top of the keyboard, which was perfect for holding your phone or tablet in place. The other major difference is that the K780 sported a mini design, meaning there was no number pad, whereas the K950 does have one and the extra space is very much used to full effect. The biggest benefit is that the three keys you use to swap between your three devices, are actually standalone keys, not function keys on the number bar. This was something that did cause me a lot of grief in using the K780, as there were times when I had either not pressed the function key or I was and not realising it. Of course, the addition of the number pad also means more keys for more functions, which allows for a wider range of tasks to be completed right from the board.

When Logitech call this a multi-device keyboard, what they mean is that it supports all operating systems, from Windows and Mac to iOS and Android. Pairing it is simple, on Windows you just insert the included USB dongle and its done, but if you wanted to use Bluetooth you can. As it supports Bluetooth, that is your connection option for many other devices, and while it took me a few moments to get my iPad Pro to register, once it was done, it connected every time without fail and or real delay. As the keyboard is meant to cover all operating systems, some of the keys are labelled for multiple, the Alt key for Windows is where the Command key is on a Mac and here the key is labelled for both. Across the number bar is an array of functions, like screen brightness, music controls and even a direct emoji key, for those who love a little fun in their messaging. The layout is really good, except for one thing that I personally don’t like and that is the right click key, or as its better known the context menu key. On a normal keyboard, that is usually located just to the right of the space bar, but here its above the number pad and requires the function key to be pressed down to work, which feels clunky. Thankfully the Logitech Options+ software lets you tweak select keys to other functions, so I simply replaced the language selection key with the right click function and was sorted.

Now comes the all-important aspect, the actual typing and use, does it deliver. Yes, it does and its one of the best typing experiences I have had on a keyboard, since ever. I am someone who is not a fan of big keys, it doesn't matter if the travel distance is measured in millimetres, if the key itself is chunky, then I am usually not on board for it. Thankfully the profile of the keys here, all of them, are very narrow and their travel distance is quite short, so they are easy to press and respond almost right away. Now I am not going to go into tech details, like counting the milliseconds of the travel distance, all I can say is that the responsiveness was fantastic and even writing this review, it was a sublime writing experience. There are some folks who dislike this, for lack of a better term chicklet style keyboard for gaming and I had no issues with it. I put a few games through its paces, from across a number of genres and never encountered any issues.

The Signature Slim Combo MK950 contains one incredible keyboard and a mouse that is decent, but lacking a few gaming related features commonly found in many other mice, including some of Logitech’s own. The keyboard itself is the star, it has a comfortable layout and with the options for customisation, means you can put functions where you want them to be. The typing experience is just sublime and one of the best I have experienced. If you are in the market for a new keyboard, whether you need multi-device support or not, then this should be on your list, if you want to use it on multiple devices then it should be the only option on the list, it is just that good.

The Score

9.5

Review unit provided by Logitech

The Pros

A full size keyboard, with all the functions keys that you could possibly need

Support for all operating systems makes it perfect no matter your setup

The Cons

The default placement of some keys is a little weird

The initial Bluetooth connection can take a moment