Logitech Ergo K860

LOGITECH ERGO K860

never used to really care about the type of keyboard I use. Whether it’s small like the Magic Keyboard from Apple or my regular Logitech MX Keys, they are just accessories and tools to do what I need to do.

But I’ve gotten older, the aches and pains have become more pronounced. Spend a weekend gaming in Azeroth and I’ll be spending Monday massaging my shoulders.

This is where the ergonomically friendly Logitech Ergo K860 modern keyboard comes in.

The Ergo K860 is a wireless, full-sized ergonomic keyboard with a large integrated wrist rest that adds up to a third more to the size of the product.

Logitech paid a lot of attention to the wrist rest. It consists of three distinct layers. On the top is a knitted stain I’ve

resistant fabric layer, and underneath it is a 2mm-thick foam layer and another 4mmthick memory foam layer. It also has built-in stands that tilt the keyboard at a reverse angle.

The wrist rest has built-in stands to tilt the keyboard at a reverse angle (choose from flat, -4°, and -7°). This can be useful to readers who like to work standing up. It feels soft and cushiony, and the reverse angles really help if you like to work standing up.

That said, the size of the keyboard can be an issue for some. It’s only slightly wider than your typical full-sized keyboard but the wrist rest adds a lot of depth. Most keyboards are about 13cm to 15cm front to back, but because of the wrist rest, the Ergo K860 measures a whopping 23.3cm.

The wrist rest is a bit of a hit and miss for me. I find it most useful if I’m standing or using it from an elevated position (i.e. with the keyboard positioned lower). But with the K860 keyboard flat on my desk, I found that it was less helpful and I wished there was a way I could remove the wrist rest from the keyboard and reclaim the space it was taking up.

Since it’s an ergonomic keyboard, there’s a split in the middle of the alpha keys. This design supposedly reduces strain on your wrist. And unless you are someone who has been using ergonomic keyboards, this split in the keyboard will need some getting used to. As someone who never formally learnt how to touch type, I had to relearn how to best place my fingers, so I’d cut down on mistakes. But once I did, I could type on the Ergo K860 confidently.

The Ergo K860 doesn’t use mechanical switches. Instead, it uses rubber domes. These are typically associated with an inferior typing feel but it’s certainly not the case with this keyboard. The keys have sufficient tactility and the overall action is best described as plosive and smooth. It also helps that the keycaps are gently sculpted to help guide your fingers. Insofar as typing is concerned, my only major complaint is that the keys aren’t illuminated. I work into the night at times and having a backlit keyboard really helps.

You can connect the Ergo K860 via Bluetooth or the included USB receiver to up to three Mac or Windows devices and switch between them easily. The keyboard even has the dedicated OS keys needed for each OS to work properly. Logitech says that the keyboard will stay powered for up to two years using AAA batteries. I guess we’ll update this in two years if this holds true.

The Ergo K860 also works with

Logitech’s Options app. Apart from showing you the remaining battery life, the Options app lets you customise keys such as the function keys and also enables some really cool features. The highlight of which is arguably Flow, which lets you seamlessly use the keyboard with up to three systems if you also have a Flowenabled mouse like the MX Master 3. Yes, you can switch between devices with the Ergo K860’s dedicated keys, but Flow does it automatically whenever you mouse over with a Flowenabled mouse. Flow also lets you copy and paste text and transfer files between computers, which can be invaluable if you often work with multiple systems.

At $199, the Logitech Ergo K860 is a rather pricey keyboard when you consider it’s missing some features like built-in batteries and backlights. It might be cheaper than esoteric options like the US$339 Zergotech Freedom, but it definitely appears expensive in light of cheaper alternatives from Microsoft. The Ergonomic Keyboard is just $90 while its Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop keyboard is $159.

All in all, the Logitech Ergo K860 is worth a shot if you often find yourself with aches and pains from prolonged typing. Just make sure you have the desk space for it.e feel can be a bit inconsistent.

A LITTLE PRICEY, BUT GOOD CONNECTIVITY FOR MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AND LESS SHOULDER PAIN MAKE IT A WORTHWHILE CHOICE.

The Ergo K860 requires batteries. But with a two-year long battery life, you won’t have to replace them often.

As you can see, the keyboard is moulded from a single piece of plastic, so you can’t detach the wrist rest if you don’t like it.