Apple Magic Keyboard (2015, Lightning) vs Logitech MX Keys Mini
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMagic Keyboard (2015, Lightning) | LogitechMX Keys Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2015 | September 2021 |
| Typing | ||
| Layout | Compact | Compact |
| Switches | Scissor | Scissor |
| Key travel | – | 1.8 mm |
| Backlight | None | White |
| Automatic backlight | – | Yes |
| Keys labelled for | Mac | Mac, Windows and more |
| Touch ID | No | No |
| Switches | Revised scissor mechanism; Apple's launch announcement describes a lower profile and increased key stability | Scissor switches rated for 10 million keystrokes (function keys 5 million) |
| Keycaps | – | Spherically dished keys shaped for fingertips |
| Layouts | – | English UK, English International, Danish/Norwegian/Swedish/Finnish, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swiss (UK store); MX Keys Mini for Mac comes in the same layouts |
| Backlight | – | A hand proximity sensor turns it on and an ambient light sensor sets the level; eight levels; stays off in rooms brighter than 100 lux and below 10% battery |
| Special keys | Multimedia function keys; half-height up and down arrows beside full-height left and right arrows, described by AppleInsider | Dictation, emoji and microphone mute/unmute keys in the F row (the mute key needs Logi Options+); Easy-Switch keys; Fn + Esc swaps media keys and F-keys; legends for both Windows and Mac (a Mac layout on MX Keys Mini for Mac) |
| Connections and battery | ||
| Connects by | Bluetooth | Bluetooth and USB receiver |
| Devices it switches between | 1 | 3 (better) |
| Power | Rechargeable | Rechargeable |
| Battery life (maker's claim) | – | Up to 5 months |
| With the backlight on | – | Up to 10 days |
| Receiver | – | None in the box; works with a Logi Bolt USB receiver bought separately, but not with other Logitech receivers |
| Battery life detail | About a month or more between charges, according to Apple; tested in September 2015 with preproduction keyboards and shipping iMacs. Not an upper-bound battery-life claim. | Rechargeable 1500 mAh Li-Po; Logitech quotes up to 10 days with backlighting or up to 5 months with it off |
| Charging | Built-in rechargeable battery; Lightning-to-USB cable charges and automatically pairs with a Mac. Macworld confirms the keyboard can remain in use while plugged in. | USB-C port at the top right; usable while charging; USB-A to USB-C cable (USB-C to USB-C with MX Keys Mini for Mac) |
| Works with | Bluetooth-enabled Mac with OS X 10.11 or later; iOS devices running iOS 9.1 or later, according to the retained original specification | Windows 10, 11 or later, macOS 10.15 or later, iOS 14 or later, iPadOS 14 or later, Android 8.0 or later, Linux and ChromeOS over Bluetooth; MX Keys Mini for Mac lists macOS 10.15 or later, iOS 13.4 or later and iPadOS 14 or later |
| Software | – | Logi Options+ (Windows and macOS) for key customisation and backlight settings; Logitech Flow with a Flow-enabled Logitech mouse |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 231 g (better) | 506.4 g |
| Width × depth × height | 279 × 114.9 × 10.9 mm | 295.99 × 131.95 × 20.97 mm |
| Size | Height 0.41–1.09 cm, width 27.9 cm and depth 11.49 cm; Apple's 0.231 kg weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process | – |
| Materials | Aluminium body, plastic keys and underside, described by AppleInsider | Low-carbon aluminium scissor plate; plastic parts include 30% (Graphite) or 12% (Pale Gray, Rose) certified post-consumer recycled plastic |
| Colours | Silver body with white keys | Graphite, Pale Gray, Rose (UK store; Black also sold in the US); MX Keys Mini for Mac in Pale Gray and Space Gray |
| In the box | Magic Keyboard and Lightning-to-USB cable. This entry covers the original 2015 model, distinct from later Lock-key, Touch ID and USB-C models. | Keyboard, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, documentation (a USB-C to USB-C cable with MX Keys Mini for Mac) |
| Warranty | – | 2-year limited hardware warranty (UK) |
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