Logitech Alto Keys K98M review: A good value for mechanical keyboard noobs

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As a keyboard nut, Logitech frustrates me. It’s by far the most visible manufacturer of mice and keyboards, outside the gaming space. And it makes some good stuff for both of those. But I can’t recommend Logitech’s mechanical keyboards. They’re too expensive for what they offer, and have far too few features, to recommend to anyone over alternatives.

But somebody at Logitech is listening. If not to me specifically, then to the general market that’s gone “meh” at the company’s mechanical offerings as others innovate. Enter the Alto Keys K98M.

Gasket mount? What’s that?

This keyboard hits a shocking number of the features I would consider essential once you get above the $100 mark, like hot-swap key switches, triple-device wireless, and PBT keycaps. Already it’s earning more points than the last Logitech mechanical keyboard I reviewed.

And that doesn’t even mention the keyboard’s signature feature, the “UniCusion.” This is Logitech’s answer to a gasket mount, basically a layer of suspended silicone (or something similar) that goes into the plastic frame and underneath the printed circuit board. This is a somewhat unique approach, a sort of blend of a typical gasket mount (which just sandwiches the PCB in between two layers of squishy material) and full internal dampening.

The result, combined with custom linear switches, is a typing experience that’s surprisingly elevated. It’s both satisfying and soft with a bit of bounce. Don’t get me wrong, this won’t compete with a super-premium keyboard at a much higher price. But it’s definitely the best Logitech mechanical keyboard I’ve ever tested for typing, both in standard “office” flair and on the gaming side.

And if you don’t like the switches (which aren’t particularly quiet or clicky), you can swap them out. Any standard MX-style switch will fit. That’s pretty huge for any mechanical keyboard fan (guilty), but it’s a great way to introduce the more general user to the joys of keyboard customization. Ditto for the PBT keycaps, which are also surprisingly good. The only non-standard sizes on this 1800 layout are the right-Shift key and control keys, as well as the 0 on the number pad.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Refreshing style

In terms of style, I’m a fan. The indigo and white keycaps on the translucent plastic body, which shows off that gigantic internal gasket, are nice in a sort of faux-retro way. You can also get a dull gray or white option, but seriously, this blue is nice, especially when the internal LEDs are blaring.

Speaking of which, the battery lasts about two weeks with maximum brightness, and I’ve seen it go for at least another week in battery-saver mode. That means months and months of battery if you don’t mind turning off the lights. Even the bottom looks nice in that matching off-blue — note the keyboard feet and a little hollow in the case for the USB wireless dongle.

Logitech

If this keyboard has a glaring downside, it’s software support. Using Logitech’s Options+ manager, you have only a few options. Custom key binds for F4 to F12, plus End, Page Up, and Page Down. Logitech graciously lets you build in ChatGPT commands with the “AI” Prompt Builder. You can set the backlight brightness and duration, and that’s about it.

This is a lot fewer options than any gaming keyboard, or any standard keyboard with VIA or similar customization. But that’s okay. It’s a bit annoying that you can’t do more — for example, I’d like to be able to bind macros to the number pad, which I don’t use otherwise — but this is about what you’d expect from any “office” board.

Michael Crider/Foundry

And on the subject of gaming: Yeah, you can do it with this keyboard. It’s not ideal, it doesn’t have superhuman polling or anything like that. But even on the relatively slow wireless dongle it’s fine, unless you’re the kind of player who counts I-frames.

Is the Logitech Alto Keys K98M worth it?

I’m not going to say that the Alto is an amazing keyboard. It’s pretty good. In terms of value it compares poorly to a lot of other keyboards at about half the price, which might offer all the same bells and whistles, plus RGB lighting and full VIA programming.

Michael Crider/Foundry

But Logitech is, as I said earlier, a pretty substantial brand. That comes with confidence, and that’s worth something. If you’re looking to dip a toe into the mechanical keyboard world and you’re feeling anxious about all those scary, complicated terms, this might be a good place to start. Ditto if you’re buying a gift for someone, or looking for a mechanical keyboard that a child can’t damage too badly.

Michael Crider/Foundry

I’d like this board a lot more if it was $20 less. At $120 it doesn’t look great next to the MX Keys S ($130), though I’d certainly prefer it for extended typing sessions. Fortunately, that seems to be the case! At the time of writing Logitech is selling it at a much more palatable $99.99, and I think it would be safe to assume that price will be found on a pretty regular basis over the next year or so.