We put feel, battery life, and productivity to the test—could the MX Keys S actually make us ditch Apple’s sleek Magic Keyboard?
Ready to choose? We put the Logitech MX Keys S and Apple Magic Keyboard head-to-head to find which we recommend, previewing design, typing feel, features, battery life and value so you can decide quickly and confidently, without wasting any time.
Logitech MX Keys vs MX Keys S: 5 Key Differences
Design, Build & Portability: Who Looks and Feels Better?Materials & Aesthetics
We love how different these two design philosophies are. The MX Keys S feels purposeful: a dense, matte plastic chassis with sculpted, concave key wells that guide your fingertips. It reads as professional and slightly industrial. The Magic Keyboard goes the opposite direction — ultra-thin, minimalist, and laid-back with a sleek surface and Apple’s signature low-profile aesthetic. Both look premium, but the MX Keys S pronounces “workstation” while the Magic Keyboard whispers “simplicity.”
Footprint, Weight & Stability
The numbers and behaviour matter. The MX Keys S is noticeably heavier (810 g) and wider — that mass gives it rock-solid stability and a reassuring desk presence. The Magic Keyboard is much lighter and slimmer, so it’s easier to slide into a bag but more prone to shifting if you type hard. If you prefer a keyboard that stays put during long sessions, the MX Keys S wins hands-down.
Layout & Edge Finishes
Layout differences matter for UK users. The MX Keys S is full-size with a familiar laptop-like spacing and a standard UK/ISO layout option on relevant SKUs; Apple’s British English Magic Keyboard uses Apple’s compact UK layout with slightly different key shapes and spacing around the Enter and left-shift keys. Edge finishes differ too: MX Keys S uses beveled edges and rubber feet; Magic Keyboard shows off thin aluminum-like edges and a near-flat profile.
Portability — Home Office vs On-the-Go
For a dedicated home office, we pick the MX Keys S for stability and a full-featured feel. For commuters and minimalists, the Magic Keyboard wins for sheer portability and elegance — it’s easier to toss into a laptop sleeve and go.
Typing Experience & Comfort: Keys, Travel, and ErgonomicsMX Keys S — stable, sculpted, satisfyingly deliberate
We found the MX Keys S delivers a grounded typing feel: shallow-but-not-flat key travel with concave key wells that guide fingertips into the sweet spot. Each press feels consistent across the deck, and the dense chassis prevents flex so the force you apply translates directly into text, not wobble. That stability helps accuracy and keeps our cadence steady during long sessions.
Magic Keyboard — ultra-low profile, snappy and light
The Magic Keyboard’s scissor mechanism is very low-profile and gives a crisp, slightly stiffer top-out. Travel is minimal compared with the MX Keys S, so initial strokes feel faster for short bursts. Because the whole keyboard sits flatter, wrist angle is reduced — some of us liked the neutral posture, others missed the subtle hand-rest benefit of a slightly elevated deck.
Speed, noise & fatigue — which wins the day?
We tested typing speed, noise, and comfort over multi-hour edits and saw clear tradeoffs:
- Faster for short bursts: Magic Keyboard (quicker actuation feel)
- Faster over long sessions: MX Keys S (spacing + stability increase accuracy)
- Quietest: MX Keys S (dampened, lower-frequency sound)
- Least tiring over hours: MX Keys S (contoured keys and full-size spacing reduce finger strain)
Overall, if you value long-form comfort and steadiness, MX Keys S outperforms. If you want ultra-portable, rapid keypresses for short tasks and a flatter wrist angle, the Magic Keyboard is lively and precise.
Connectivity, Features & Software: Multi-Device, Shortcuts, and CustomizationPairing & multi-device switching
We found the MX Keys S is built for juggling devices: it can pair with up to three devices over Bluetooth or use the included Logi Bolt USB receiver for a more reliable link. Physical Easy-Switch keys let us flip between computers instantly. The Magic Keyboard pairs effortlessly with a Mac or iPad and wakes up ready — but it lacks one-touch device switching; switching to another device usually means using the Bluetooth menu or re-pairing.
Platform compatibility & reliability
MX Keys S supports Windows, macOS, iPadOS, ChromeOS, Android and Linux at a basic level, and the Logi Bolt receiver improves stability and enterprise security on supported platforms. The Magic Keyboard is optimized for macOS/iPadOS: pairing and special keys are seamless there, but Windows users get limited native behavior.
Customization, key remaps & software
Logi Options+ gives MX Keys S deep customization: we created app-specific profiles, remapped keys, toggled function-key behavior, adjusted backlight sensitivity and built Smart Actions to automate repetitive tasks. The Magic Keyboard is mainly plug-and-play — macOS offers system-level key remapping and Function-row preferences, but there’s no official Apple app for per-app macros or hardware-level remaps.
Workflow extras: Flow, Continuity and multi-host tricks
Logitech Flow works with MX Keys S (when paired to supported machines) to move the cursor and clipboard across computers — we swapped files and typed across systems without a hiccup. Apple’s equivalent is Universal Control/Continuity: it’s exceptionally smooth between modern Macs and iPads, with zero setup for Apple-only ecosystems.
Media & function keys
Both keyboards expose media and macOS-friendly shortcuts, but MX Keys S wins on configurability (reassign F-keys, backlight controls) while the Magic Keyboard provides the cleanest, most consistent macOS shortcut layout out of the box.
Feature Comparison
Battery, Pricing & Value: Longevity vs CostReal-world battery life & charging
We tested real-world behavior and benchmarked reported numbers. The MX Keys S (1500 mAh) typically gives us roughly 10–15 days of active backlit use and can stretch to several months with the backlight off if you lean on power-saving settings. The Apple Magic Keyboard reliably lasts about a month or slightly more between charges under typical daily use. Both keyboards recharge with their included USB cables and remain usable while charging.
Power-saving features & convenience
- MX Keys S: proximity-sensing smart backlight, auto-sleep, and software controls in Logi Options+ to dial illumination and idle time down.
- Apple Magic Keyboard: highly efficient sleep/wake and no backlight to drain power — simpler, lower-maintenance battery life.
Price on Amazon & bundle value
- MX Keys S: ~£85; often ships with the Logi Bolt receiver and sometimes appears in mouse+keyboard bundles, which increases immediate out-of-the-box flexibility.
- Apple Magic Keyboard: ~£75; includes a woven USB-C charge cable and tight macOS integration but fewer extras and no receiver.
Who gets the better long-term value?
We see the MX Keys S as better value for power users and creatives who want backlighting, multi-device reliability (Logi Bolt) and configurable power settings — the extra ~£10 buys more features and flexibility. The Magic Keyboard is smarter value for Apple-first users who prioritize seamless macOS pairing, a lighter footprint and simpler battery life management.
Final Verdict: Our Pick and Who Should Buy Which
We pick the Logitech MX Keys S as our overall winner — ideal for power users craving customization and a premium typing feel.
Choose the Apple Magic Keyboard if you prioritize macOS integration, a featherlight, minimalist setup. Ready to upgrade today?
