Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 Keyboard Review: I’m Typin’ on Sunshine

This isn’t Logitech’s first stab at solar: Its first light-fueled model, the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750, hit the market nearly 15 years ago. As you’d expect, much has changed in that time, and the Solar+ looks a lot more like the Logitech Signature Slim Keyboard K950 than it does the now-classic K750.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The new keyboard measures 0.8 by 16.6 by 5.6 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.5 pounds. That’s a little taller than the MX Keys S, but a few ounces lighter. The extra desk-space spread comes from a panel at the top of the Solar+, a light-absorbing strip that uses any source of illumination (genuine solar, or artificial light) to charge the battery. Logitech claims that even in complete darkness, the keyboard can deliver up to four months of uninterrupted performance if it’s fully charged.

As far as I can tell, the light panel worked as intended—plus, the panel indentation was the perfect spot to slot a pen or pencil. I never lost signal while typing, even without sitting outside under full sunlight: I mostly stuck to my sunlit office space and the harsh lighting of the work office. At the same time, there’s nothing on the keyboard itself to tell you that the light panel is charging or is completely charged. The most info you’ll get from the device itself is a green light that flashes when you flip the on/off switch. To check the illumination situation, you have to use the Logi Options+ app. (More on that below.)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Unsurprisingly, the keyboard forgoes any keyboard lighting, which would otherwise gobble up precious battery power. The typing feel is decent. The membrane key switches lack the tactile resistance of mechanical key switches, but they don’t feel mushy, like the mechanisms on many budget keyboards do. The key design also keeps your typing very quiet, ideal for shared office spaces.

Using solar energy for power also means that there are no USB ports, so you’ll have to connect via Bluetooth or, alternately, the Logitech Logi Bolt USB dongle (not included). Other than that, you’re getting a modern full-size keyboard, complete with shortcut keys for video calls, a full number pad, and a Microsoft Copilot shortcut key. You can also connect the keyboard to up to three different devices, changing among them with a set of Easy Switch buttons on the board.

In classic Logitech fashion, the keyboard is Mac-compatible and includes Option and Command keys; you can also get a pure Apple experience with the Signature Slim Solar+ K980 for macOS. In addition to working with macOS, the Logitech also supports Android OS 12.0 or later, ChromeOS, Linux, iPadOS 15 or later, and iOS 15 or later.

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A third version of the keyboard that’s rolling out alongside the regular consumer and Mac version is geared toward IT and enterprise users. Dubbed the Signature Slim Solar+ K980 for Business, it will retail for $109. The Business version includes a Logi Bolt USB-C receiver for secure connectivity as an alternative to Bluetooth, as well as compatibility with Logi Tune and Logitech Sync. These two Logitech platforms are designed to help IT teams monitor, manage, and optimize Logitech videoconferencing devices and meeting spaces, as well as evaluate the performance of Logitech webcams, headsets, and more in individual workspaces.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

My biggest beef with these thin, low-profile keyboards is that they offer zero elevation. There’s a slight ledge underneath the keyboard that props it up slightly, but I really wish that Logitech had incorporated adjustable feet underneath the board. If you’re spending long hours grinding away at the keys, having a proper tilt range matters. Including a matching-size wrist rest would go a long way, too.