Logitech MX Keys Mini vs Apple Magic keyboard: Which Should You Buy?

Hello everyone; I’m going to compare the Apple Magic Keyboard to the Logitech MX Keys Mini today. I think these keyboards are the best choices if you’re looking for a low-profile, thin chiclet-style keyboard to add to your Mac or iPad. The MX Keys Mini has backlit keys, and the Apple Magic Keyboard has a truly excellent design.

I’ll discuss today each keyboard’s distinct features and strengths in detail.

Logitech MX Keys Mini Apple Magic keyboard
PROSPROS
+ Comfortable
+ Can connect to up to three computers
+ Keys for dictation, emoji, and mic mute
+ Lightweight and compact
+ Redesigned scissor mechanism provides a nice typing experience
+ Built-in re-chargable battery
CONSCONS
No Touch ID Too expensive
No backlghit keys

Logitech MX Keys Mini vs Apple Magic keyboard: Specs

CategoriesLogitech MX Keys MiniApple Magic keyboard
PriceCheck Price at Amazon.comCheck Price at Amazon.com
ColorsPale Gray, Rose, Graphite, BlackSilver
Weight1.11 lbs0.53 lbs
Dimensions (W x H x D)11.65″ x 5.19″ x 0.82″10.98″ x 4.52″ x 0.43″
CompatibilityWindows, Linux, Chrome OS, Android, macOS, iOS, iPadOSWindows, Linux, macOS, iPadOS, iOS
ChargingUSB-A to USB-CUSB-C to Lightning
Battery LifeUp to 5 months or 10 days with backlighting onUp to 1 month
Multi-Device ConnectionYes, up to 3 devicesNo
ConnectivityBluetooth, Logi Bolt USB Receiver (sold separately)Bluetooth, wired
BacklightYesNo
Key SwitchesScissorScissor

Design

Ironically, the MX keys mini is less compact than the magic keyboard, but I would still classify both of these keyboards as being quite portable. Both keyboards have this nice metal-looking frame, but only the Magic keyboard is made of aluminum, while the MX keys mini has a plastic frame.

Both keyboards employ a minimalist aesthetic, but in my opinion, the magic keyboard looks the best. In addition to being a full-size keyboard, the magic keyboard is smaller than the MX keys mini and lighter than half as much, making it easier to travel with and take with you when you’re on the go.

I also like that there are no logos or branding, and the thin, sharply angled frame looks very clean and will pair exceptionally well with any mac.

Battery Life & Keys

The magic keyboard charges through the lightning port and has a battery life of up to two months but no backlight, in contrast to the MX keys mini, which charges via USB-C and has a battery life of five months with the backlight off and up to ten days with the backlight on.

Okay, so if we look at each key individually, we can see that the MX keys mini has light grey keys with a slight circular indent. I do, however, have the mac-specific version of the MX keys mini, which means that you’ll find keys like the command and option keys like any Apple keyboard, including the magic keyboard.

The magic keyboard has these flat white keys very similar to what you’ll find on a MacBook. However, the current version of the magic keyboard has more modern function keys and gives users the option of having a touch id, although it does so at a slightly higher cost.

Typing Experience

Okay, so the design is one thing, but how does typing feel? Both keyboards offer a scissor-switch mechanism that provides a more constrained typing experience, but there are some differences between the two. The MX keys mini, in particular, has an intriguing essential design.

The magic keyboard has more flat keys, which will feel very familiar to you, and as I mentioned earlier, the keys have this circular indent that is meant to match the shape of your finger as it presses on the key. At first, I wasn’t sure how much of an impact this would have on the typing experience, but in reality, it made very little to no difference and only took me minutes to get used to.

The keys on the magic keyboard are a little more clicky, both in terms of their sound and tactile feedback, if you’re used to typing on Apple keyboards, both before and after their butterfly keyboard. This is because the MX keys mini is a successor to those keyboards.

As someone who grew up using and is accustomed to typing on Macbook keyboards, I feel right at home using the MX keys mini and Apple’s magic keyboard. Overall, the typing experience on both keyboards is genuinely excellent.

Featrures

Although the typing experience may be similar between the two, the MX keys mini does offer something unique, namely backlight keys. I’ve always loved having backlight keys on my MacBooks and have always missed having them on Apple’s external keyboards, so I’m happy to see them included here.

There is no RGB because the backlight is white, but for me, this is not a problem because most of the time, I prefer white because it works best with my Mac setup. The proximity sensors on the MX keys mini detect when your hands are near the keyboard and turn on the backlight as soon as your hands touch the keys. The backlight also turns off after brief inactivity to conserve battery.

The brightness can be changed manually using the shortcut keys located right in the function row, but it can also be adjusted automatically. In my experience, the brightness gets bright enough for any situation where you might reasonably need the backlight to be on.

Additionally, while both keyboards connect via Bluetooth, only the MX keys mini offers multi-device support, letting you connect to and quickly switch between up to three connected devices. This is great if say, you want to swiftly change between your mac, your iPad, and even your pc.

Price & Verdict

Each of these keyboards costs $99. The conclusion is that, despite the fact that $99 is a significant amount of money to spend on a keyboard, both of these models are high-quality keyboards that provide comfortable typing and should last for many years.

If aesthetics are important to you, the magic keyboard comes out on top because it has a more portable, lighter design that is easier to take on the road and is the epitome of a contemporary, clean, and minimalist aesthetic that will go perfectly with your mac setup.

On the other hand, having the backlight keys on the MX keys mini is helpful if you want to connect to and switch between multiple devices. Even for someone like me who types without looking at the keyboard, having the backlight is great for those fleeting moments when you need to reposition your hands or use some keys in the function row.

For now, though, I’ll switch to the MX keys mini after using the magic keyboard for years. The MX keys mini does, however, have that multi-device support. Which would I choose? Well, as you can tell, I quite like both of these keyboards, so the ideal keyboard, in my opinion, would be a combination of the two. For instance, a magic keyboard with backlight keys.

As usual, I’ll leave all the purchase links down in the hopes that this post can assist you in making a decision.

Logitech MX Keys Mini
$99
Apple Magic keyboard
$99