Logitech has modified its MX Mechanical Mini wireless keyboard for Mac. That is, he created a version of a truncated keyboard for people who use Mac computers. The Logitech MX Mechanical Mini for Mac joins the small number of mechanical keyboards designed for macOS, from using the Option and Command legend to software support and an Apple-like aesthetic. It’s built for cable-free installation and has a nice typing experience, but it’s not for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts who like different switch options, premium keycaps, or high programmability… or number keys.
True Mac layout
Logitech released the MX Mechanical Mini, a 75 percent keyboard, alongside the full-sized Logitech MX Mechanical in May. The portable Bluetooth LE keyboard can connect wirelessly to up to three devices, allowing users to select which device they control by pressing Fn and 1, 2, or 3. Officially, these devices can run Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux, Android, iOS. or iPadOS. Because of this, key legends are suitable for both Windows and Mac users. The bottom line contains a key that can be Option or Start/Windows, as well as a key that serves as Command or Alt.
MX Mechanical for Mac is not as neutral. Its layout only includes Mac legends, making the bottom row cleaner than the original MX Mechanical Mini.
MX Mechanical for Mac still supports Bluetooth LE pairing with up to three devices and worked great when I used it with Windows 11 and 10 computers, a Logitech rep told me. However, Logitech only lists macOS, iOS, and iPadOS as officially supported platforms for its MX-for-Mac series of peripherals, so support might not be as helpful if the keyboard starts acting weird with any other OS.
And unlike the original MX Mechanical Mini, the Mac version does not include a USB-A dongle. You can still pair your keyboard with a Logitech USB receiver sold separately, but Logitech doesn’t make a USB-C dongle for Mac users who prefer the simplicity of a dongle or lower latency and don’t have USB-A. ports.
All Mac users love white and gray colors, right?
You’ve probably also noticed that the MX Mechanical Mini for Mac looks whiter and brighter than its platform-independent counterpart. At a press briefing, a Logitech spokesperson said the company is aiming to better fit Apple’s aesthetic. The keyboard added brightness to my desk, and the shimmery silver metal top plate sitting on top of the grayer plastic base gave it a sophisticated look. However, it seems limiting that Mac users aren’t offered at least the darker color scheme of the original MX Mechanical Mini (and vice versa). Logitech suggests that since you’re using a Mac, you need a whiter keyboard.
White keycaps, however, are not easy to keep clean, especially if they are made of ABS, which is known to attract fingerprints more than good PBT keycaps. The keycaps are less slick and slippery than typical ABS, but still smooth enough and lack grip. The writing is laser etched with a protective coating added on top, but should still fade after heavy and frequent use.
Unlike the original MX Mechanical Mini, which you can buy with low-profile linear, tactile, or clicky switches from Kailh, the MX Mechanical Mini for Mac only has Kailh’s low-profile tactile switches. A Logitech rep told me that this is because Mac users tend to want something quieter and with more tactile feedback.