Logitech MX Keys vs MX Keys S: Only 3 Real Differences
Category: Tech & Gear | Reading time: 7 min | Last updated: September 2026
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The short answer: There are only three real differences. The MX Keys S adds three new F-row keys (dictation, microphone mute, and emoji), its backlighting adjusts to room lighting and can be customized in Logi Options+, and it ships with a Logi Bolt receiver instead of a Unifying one.
That’s it. Everything else is the same keyboard: identical Perfect Stroke keys, identical size and weight, USB-C charging on both, the same battery life, the same three-device switching, and Logi Options+ support on both.
If you find the original cheaper, buy it. If prices are close, take the S for the newer keys and the fact that Logitech is actively selling it.
Logitech peripherals go on sale regularly. See our home office Black Friday guide for which categories are worth waiting on.
For the two Logitech ergonomic options head to head, see ERGO K860 vs Wave Keys.
In this comparison
The 3 differences
1. Three new F-row keys
The MX Keys S replaces three function row keys with ones built for how people actually work now:
- Dictation. Press it and speak, and your words go into whatever text field is active, whether that’s an email, a document, or a notes app.
- Microphone mute and unmute. A dedicated key for muting yourself on calls, which needs Logi Options+ installed.
- Emoji. One press opens the emoji picker.
If you’re on video calls all day, the mic mute key is the one you’ll actually notice. Reaching for a dedicated key beats hunting for the mute button in a meeting window.
If you’re not upgrading but choosing fresh, the harder question is mechanical versus scissor, and the MX Mechanical and MX Keys S split on more than switches.
2. Smart illumination you can customize
Both keyboards light up when your hands approach and both dim in a bright room. What changed is control: on the MX Keys S, the backlight behavior can be personalized in Logi Options+ rather than just running on Logitech’s defaults.
Worth setting expectations: the white backlighting on the S is on the dim side, and reviewers have called it out as not especially bright. It’s fine in a normally lit room and less useful in direct sunlight.
3. Logi Bolt instead of Unifying
The MX Keys S ships with a Logi Bolt receiver. The original consumer MX Keys shipped with a Unifying receiver. The two aren’t cross-compatible, so a Logi Bolt device needs a Logi Bolt dongle and a Unifying device needs a Unifying one.
Logitech documents all three in its guide to the new F row keys.
This matters in one specific case: if you already run other Logitech gear off a single Unifying receiver, adding an MX Keys S means plugging in a second dongle. Both keyboards also connect over Bluetooth, so you can skip the receiver entirely if you’d rather.
What’s identical
This is the part most comparisons skip, and it’s why the decision is closer than the model names suggest.
- Charging. Both use USB-C. Neither one uses micro USB.
- Battery life. Up to 10 days with backlighting on, and up to 5 months with it off, on both.
- Keys. Both use Logitech’s Perfect Stroke keys, spherically dished to match your fingertips, with the same matte coating and the same quiet typing feel.
- Size and weight. Both measure about 16.9 by 5.2 by 0.8 inches and weigh about 810 grams.
- Multi-device. Both pair with up to three devices and switch with a single key.
- Bluetooth. Both use Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0 or newer.
- Software. Both work with Logi Options+, and Smart Actions, Logitech’s macro feature, now runs on the original as well as the S.
- Operating systems. Both work with Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and iPadOS.
So if you were expecting the S to type better, last longer, or charge faster, it doesn’t. It’s the same keyboard with three new keys and more lighting control.
Logitech MX Keys S: Buy this one if prices are close
The MX Keys S is the version Logitech is actively selling and supporting, which is the strongest practical reason to pick it. Firmware updates, software features, and accessory compatibility all follow the current model.
The typing experience is the main event and it’s excellent: scissor switches with concave keycaps, a short precise travel, and quiet operation that works in a shared room or on a call. Reviewers consistently land in the high 80s words per minute on it.
The three new F-row keys are small but genuinely useful if your day runs through video calls. The dictation key in particular is the kind of thing you ignore for a week and then use constantly.
Two honest drawbacks. The backlighting is dimmer than you’d expect at this level. And there’s no storage slot for the receiver, so if you travel with it the dongle is one more loose thing to lose.
“This is easily the best keyboard I’ve purchased. I absolutely love the design, and the backlighting is excellent. Being able to customize the brightness through the Logi app is a great feature and helps me get the lighting exactly how I want it. One of my favorite features is the ability to pair it with up to three devices. I use it with my personal laptop and my work laptop, and I still have one connection available. The keyboard is slim, comfortable to type on, and not overly heavy.”
Who it’s for: Anyone buying their first premium Logitech keyboard, anyone on calls all day who wants a mic mute key, and anyone who wants the model that keeps getting software support.
Pros:
- Dictation, mic mute, and emoji keys
- Backlighting customizable in Logi Options+
- Excellent quiet typing feel
- Up to 5 months of battery with the backlight off
- Current generation, so software support follows it
- Three color options
Cons:
- Backlighting is dim
- No onboard storage for the receiver
- Logi Bolt means a second dongle if you run Unifying gear
- 4.4 stars, slightly below the original
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Layout | Full size, 104 keys |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Battery | 10 days backlit, 5 months unlit |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth LE, Logi Bolt receiver |
| Devices | Up to 3 |
| Size | About 16.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches |
Logitech MX Keys: Buy this one if it’s cheaper
The original MX Keys is the keyboard that made Logitech’s premium line worth paying attention to, and almost nothing about it has aged. Same keys, same build, same USB-C charging, same five months of battery with the lighting off. It carries the higher rating of the two at 4.6 stars.
It also still gets Logi Options+ support, including Smart Actions. That’s the detail most comparisons get wrong: macros are not a reason to pay more for the S, because the original does them too.
The reasons to pick it come down to two things. If it’s priced below the S, you’re paying less for the same typing experience. And if you already use a Unifying receiver for other Logitech gear, this one joins that dongle instead of needing a second.
The trade-off is that it’s the outgoing model. You’re giving up the dictation, mic mute, and emoji keys, and over time software attention will follow the S.
“I seriously can’t get over just how much better the Logitech MX Keys is. Every time I have to switch over to my work keyboard I just wish I had another MX Keys. The MX Keys has a very nice low profile design, and the keys can be struck quickly. I can type so much more quickly on this keyboard. Your fingers just flow from press to press and you don’t have to wonder if the keystroke is going to register or not. I did purchase a second one of these for my living room PC.”
Who it’s for: Anyone who finds it discounted below the S, and anyone already running a Unifying receiver who doesn’t want a second dongle.
Pros:
- 4.6 stars, the higher rated of the two
- Same Perfect Stroke keys and typing feel
- Same USB-C charging and battery life
- Works with Logi Options+ and Smart Actions
- Joins an existing Unifying receiver
Cons:
- No dictation, mic mute, or emoji keys
- Less backlighting customization
- Outgoing model, so software attention shifts to the S
- Fewer color options
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Layout | Full size |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Battery | 10 days backlit, 5 months unlit |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth LE, Unifying receiver |
| Devices | Up to 3 |
| Size | About 16.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches |
Specs comparison
| Feature | MX Keys | MX Keys S |
|---|---|---|
| Dictation key | No | Yes |
| Mic mute key | No | Yes |
| Emoji key | No | Yes |
| Backlight customization | Standard | Personalize in Logi Options+ |
| Receiver | Unifying | Logi Bolt |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Battery, backlit | Up to 10 days | Up to 10 days |
| Battery, unlit | Up to 5 months | Up to 5 months |
| Keys | Perfect Stroke | Perfect Stroke |
| Smart Actions | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | Up to 3 | Up to 3 |
| Size and weight | Same | Same |
| Colors | Fewer | Graphite, Pale Grey, Rose |
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Reviews | 991 | 3,650 |
Who should buy which
Buy the MX Keys S if:
- The two are priced close together
- You’re on video calls all day and want a dedicated mic mute key
- You’d use dictation to draft emails and notes by voice
- You want the model Logitech keeps updating
- You want a color other than black
Buy the original MX Keys if:
- It’s meaningfully cheaper, since you’re getting the same typing experience
- You already run other Logitech devices off a Unifying receiver
- You don’t need the three new keys
Don’t upgrade from MX Keys to MX Keys S. If you already own the original and it works, three F-row keys and some lighting control aren’t worth replacing a keyboard that types identically. Put the money toward a mouse instead.
Pairing a mouse with either one? Our MX Master 4 vs MX Master 3S comparison covers Logitech’s flagship options, and our Lift vs MX Vertical comparison covers the ergonomic route if your wrist bothers you. For the full lineup, see our best wireless keyboards and mice guide.
If typing comfort is the real reason you’re shopping, a split or wave layout does more than either of these. Our best ergonomic keyboard guide covers those.
If you’re considering a full mechanical board instead, our Keychron Q6 Max vs Q6 Ultra 8K comparison covers the two premium full-size options and the reliability record you should know about first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between MX Keys and MX Keys S?
Three things. The MX Keys S adds dictation, microphone mute, and emoji keys to the function row, its backlighting can be personalized in Logi Options+, and it ships with a Logi Bolt receiver instead of a Unifying one. Typing feel, size, battery life, USB-C charging, and device switching are identical.
Is the MX Keys S worth the upgrade from MX Keys?
If you already own the original, no. The keyboards type the same way and last the same amount of time on a charge. You would be replacing a working keyboard for three keys. If you are buying new and prices are close, take the S.
Does the original MX Keys use micro USB?
No. Both the MX Keys and the MX Keys S charge over USB-C. This is a common mix-up, and it is worth knowing because charging port is often listed as a reason to pay more for the S. It isn’t one.
Does the MX Keys support Smart Actions?
Yes. Smart Actions, Logitech’s multi-step macro feature, works on the original MX Keys through Logi Options+, not just the S.
Is the typing different between the two?
No. Both use Logitech’s Perfect Stroke keys, spherically dished to match your fingertips, with the same travel and the same quiet operation. If typing feel is what you care about, the two are interchangeable.
What is the difference between a Unifying receiver and Logi Bolt?
Both are USB dongles for Logitech wireless devices. Logi Bolt is the newer standard with stronger security and a more stable connection in busy wireless environments. They aren’t cross-compatible, so a Logi Bolt device needs a Logi Bolt dongle. If you already run gear on a Unifying receiver, an MX Keys S means a second dongle, unless you connect over Bluetooth instead.
Do both work with Mac?
Yes. Both work with macOS, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, and iPadOS, and both have dual-labeled keycaps so the layout makes sense on either platform. Logi Options+ is available for Mac and Windows.
How long does the battery last?
Up to 10 days with the backlight on, and up to 5 months with it off, on both keyboards. If you want the long end of that, turn the lighting off, since it’s the backlight that drains it.
Can I connect either one to multiple computers?
Yes. Both pair with up to three devices and switch with a single key press, over Bluetooth or their respective receiver.
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Prices change often. Check current pricing at checkout. Last updated September 2026.
