Logitech Alto Keys K98M Review: A 90s-Inspired Mechanical Keyboard With a Numpad

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If you want a mechanical keyboard with a numpad but in a tighter layout than a standard full-size board, the new Logitech Alto Keys K98M is a really interesting option. It looks like something straight out of the 90s with that clear design on top, but it has a couple of modern features that are missing from boards like the MX Mechanical and the MX Mechanical Mini. I have been typing on the graphite version, and this is my full take.

Intro: Who This Is For

This is for the person who wants a full numpad but does not want the whole width of a standard full-size mechanical keyboard. The Alto Keys is a 98-key, 1800-style compact board, so it gives you a really tight layout that makes it easy to go from typing to the numpad without reaching off to the side. It also brings Logitech’s great customization and excellent Bluetooth performance in a design that does not necessarily look like Logitech. If you already like the MX Mechanical line but wish it had a more defined, higher-profile typing feel, this is worth a look.

The Layout and Function Row

The 1800 layout is the whole point here. You get the numpad packed in close to everything else, so switching from typing to entering numbers is fast, unlike a standard keyboard where the numpad sits off to the side. There is also a decent amount of space between the number keys and the function row up top. I like that, because it makes the function buttons feel a little more defined.

The keycaps are PBT and they shine through, so you can actually see the backlighting on this.

Connectivity and Pairing

There is a USB-C port on the back, but do not get the wrong idea. This is not a hardwired keyboard. The USB-C is for charging only, and the keyboard itself only works over Bluetooth. Your device pairing buttons sit up top, and you can pair with up to three different devices.

Pairing is simple. Press and hold one of the device pairing buttons, the lights on the key start to blink to show it is in pairing mode, then go to Bluetooth settings on your computer or iPad and select it. When you want to jump between devices later, you just press the button for a second and it switches back. It is easy to go from an iPad to a computer to a phone.

Key Height, Switches, and Sound

The keys are taller than some of the other Logitech keyboards, which gives you a more defined keystroke. I like that, because the switches here are smooth and do not give a ton of tactile feedback, so the extra height helps you feel the strokes more. These are high-profile keycaps, which the MX Mechanical and MX Mechanical Mini do not have.

The switches are Logitech’s new linear marble switches. There is no bump to the keystroke, and they feel a lot like standard red switches to me. Smooth, quick activation. The volume is a medium mechanical keyboard level, but they do have a brighter sound to them. They are also Cherry MX compatible if you want to swap them out for something different, though I am not sure this is the board I would buy specifically to customize. This is the kind of keyboard you get if you want to leave it as is.

Color Options and the 90s Look

The Alto Keys comes in three colors. All of them have that translucent design, and you can get graphite, off-white, or lilac. I have the graphite one. I think it looks pretty cool, and the clear top makes me think of some of those 90s Mac keyboards. It is a fun design that does not look like a typical Logitech product.

Build Quality: The Gasket Mount, and the Plastic Bottom

This is the only Logitech Bluetooth keyboard with a gasket mount, and it uses the new Uni Cushion system. I feel like that does a really good job of absorbing vibrations from the keystrokes.

Here is where I was a little disappointed. There is no aluminum bottom on this. It is all plastic, so you can feel some flex, and it does not feel quite as sturdy as newer options from companies like NuPhy that are putting an aluminum bottom plate on their boards. At this price, an aluminum bottom would have gone a long way toward making it feel more premium.

Height Adjustment and the Logi Bolt Receiver

On the bottom you get feet to raise the height, but it is just one level of adjustment. There is no second angle to choose from.

The bottom also stores the Logi Bolt receiver, and I love that they made it store right on the keyboard so you do not lose it in the box or in a drawer somewhere. It is one of the USB-A bolts, unfortunately, not the newer USB-C one. Still, you can use it to keep the keyboard paired to your computer without a Bluetooth connection, and you get the faster 2.4 GHz wireless dongle.

Battery Life

It is nice that you get the USB-C port for recharging. Logitech says to expect up to 12 months of battery life with the backlight off. With the backlight on it is hard to say how long it will last, but the keyboard will always tell you when it needs a recharge.

Mac and Windows Use, and a Few Layout Annoyances

As a Mac user, I found this keyboard worked really well. You get both Windows and Mac labels on the keys. One thing that annoyed me a little is that the smaller size means the command buttons are smaller than I would like. The left command button is a little bigger than the right one, and there were times the right command button was kind of hard for me to hit reliably.

The arrow keys are pretty close to your shift and return, which can be handy, and again it is very fast to go back and forth from the numpad to typing, unlike a standard board where the numpad is off to the side.

Size and Key Travel

Even though this is the compact 1800 layout, it is still kind of a big keyboard. It looks thick and it does not sit low to the ground. So if you prefer a very small keyboard, this is not the option for you. And if you want minimal key travel, this is not a good fit either, because it sits a little taller even with both feet down, and the Uni Cushion gasket raises it up higher.

Customization With Logi Options+

I love the Logi Options+ software, and you can use it to change what almost any of the function buttons do up top, plus some of the special action buttons on the side. They come premapped to things that mostly make sense for macOS or Windows. You get a dictation button, an emoji button, a screenshot button, a mute mic button, and media control buttons, though there is no skip. You can always remap that in Logi Options+. There are also a couple of premapped AI buttons on the top right that you can customize.

I do wish there were a few more function buttons on the top row, or that the functions were a little closer together so they could have squeezed a few more on. The bigger catch with customizing any keyboard is that your custom mapping will not match the printed labels, and you have to be running Logi Options+ on the device to customize it. So you cannot change what a button does on a phone or an iPad, because those cannot run Logi Options+.

The Lost F-Keys and Easy-Switch Access

Another thing that is too bad with the Logitech keyboards is that you lose F1, F2, and F3 to the device pairing buttons. I love that the pairing is so easy to access, but I think it would be nice if there were a dedicated switch for changing between the different Easy-Switch pairings instead. I really like having screen brightness on F1, F2, and F3, and that is something I always wish were different about Logitech keyboards.

The Typing Experience

I found this very comfortable to type on. The marble switches feel really smooth and premium. The right command button is a little tight, but it still got the job done. The keys all felt good, they are shine-through so you can see the legends with the backlighting, and the shape was comfortable for my fingers. The texture is just right too, not too slippery and not too textured, so it is a fast typing feel.

Price and Value

The Logitech Alto Keys comes in at $120, which I actually think is a pretty great value when you compare it to other Logitech products like the MX Mechanical and the MX Mechanical Mini, which run anywhere from $130 all the way up to $180. At this price I do think it would be nice if they included an aluminum bottom plate to make it feel a little more premium. Even so, it is still a great keyboard.

	Alto Keys K98M	MX Mechanical / Mini
Price	$120	$130 to $180
Keycap profile	High-profile PBT	Low-profile
Gasket mount	Yes, Uni Cushion	No
Numpad	Yes, 1800 layout	Full size or none

A Mouse to Pair With It

If you want a mouse to go with this, I would recommend the MX Master 4. It pairs really well with the Alto Keys. If you want something smaller, the Logitech MX Anywhere 3S is a great option too.

The Verdict

Overall, this is a great option if you need a numpad mechanical keyboard without going full size. It has a really cool look with the clear top, the compact feel puts the numpad right next to everything else, and the gasket helps absorb some of the vibrations, which makes it a really good Bluetooth keyboard. It types very smooth. It is just a little different from other mechanical keyboards on the market, and it did not feel too loud while still giving that satisfying clicking sound. The all-plastic bottom is the main thing holding it back, but at $120 the Alto Keys is easy to recommend.