Logitech K600 TV Keyboard REVIEW

As someone who works remotely a lot and has a laptop as a primary computer, I take a lot of pride in the accessories I choose. At home, I have a workstation that includes a keyboard, mouse, and secondary monitor, but when I’m on the go, I usually just take my laptop. It would be nice to have the flexibility of a small, wireless keyboard, but I have a lot of trouble finding a keyboard that is easily transportable and that I like typing on. I finally found that with the Logitech K600 TV Keyboard.

SPECS

• Wireless
• Compatibility: Android, Apple iOS, Chrome, Mac, Windows
• Touchpad included
• Dedicated macro keys
• Multimedia keys
• Internet keys
• Interface: Bluetooth, RF
• System requirements: Windows 7 and above, macOS 10.11 and above, Android TV v6 or later, WebOS (LG) v3.0 or later, Tizen (Samsung) v2.4 or later, Chrome OS
• Battery size: AAA
• Dimensions: 0.8 x 14.4 inches
• Weight: 27.2 ounces

USER EXPERIENCE

This keyboard is primarily designed for people who need a Bluetooth keyboard to work with their smart TVs and streaming devices like Apple TV. That said, it is a Bluetooth keyboard so any input device that is compatible with Bluetooth connections can use it. The K600 has a built-in touchpad and D-pad so that you can maneuver the cursor on your screen without needing an external mouse. If you are like me though and decided to use the keyboard with a set-up that already has a mouse added on, the K600 will still work just fine with that system.

The keyboard has a standard layout without the 10-key number pad. The keys are rounded, which can throw you off if you aren’t used to it, but they are spaced out well enough that it feels natural. I had a mechanical keyboard at one point that had round keys and it was dreadful to type on. It just wasn’t easy to get used to. I didn’t find that to be the same case for this keyboard. I started using it and the soft feedback from the keys made it very easy to work with.

The K600 has an impressive 49-foot range. (I tested this range by typing this sentence from the other end of our house.) I left my laptop in our home office located on the front side of our house and walked to our living room which is at the back of the house. I left the sentence exactly as it was captured from my keystrokes. It was supposed to read, “I tested this range by typing this sentence from the other end of our house.” It looks as though only one keystroke was missed. I even made a mistake toward the end of the sentence and the keyboard was able to transmit the correction properly. The distance from where my computer was sitting and to where I typed the message was probably about 35 feet, but there were several walls in between the two devices so I am very impressed by the keyboard’s performance at that distance.

In addition to my laptop, I connected the keyboard to our LG Smart TV. It’s important to note here that the LG Smart TV is not Bluetooth compatible. So, you will have to plug in the provided USB dongle in order to connect the keyboard to the TV. I was able to switch back and forth between the two connected devices in the room with no issues. I was actually quite surprised at how seamless the process of swapping the connection was. I would tap the #1 function button to connect to my laptop and the #2 function button to access the TV. Navigation with the smart TV was easy and the only thing I really couldn’t adjust was powering the TV off and on. I still needed the remote for that.

The only downside to this keyboard is that it’s not rechargeable. It uses 2 AAA batteries for power. There is a on/off switch on the top right hand corner of the keyboard and I would recommend when it’s not in use that you switch it off to conserve battery power. Since I’ve only been using the keyboard for a short time, I can’t comment on how long the AAA batteries will last but so far, I’ve not noticed any connection issues due to power loss.

CONCLUSION

Bluetooth keyboards can be very hit and miss these days. Sometimes they are difficult to connect to devices, not have a great distance, or only be able to connect to a single device at a time. The Logitech K600 is a fantastic example of what you hope a Bluetooth keyboard should be. It connects to devices quickly and easily and it’s very easy to type on. I really enjoy using it with my laptop and love that I can switch back and forth between the TV and the computer when I need to. This is a great keyboard and a wonderful companion for any Bluetooth compatible device.

For more information, visit logitech.com.
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Originally published at macsources.com on October 24, 2018.