APR 29, 2024
NimishAndAkriti
Imagine using an iPhone 6 today? Or the original OnePlus? And imagine if it still worked perfectly and better than the other devices at its price? Tech is not supposed to work like that, right? A device that is ten years old has no real business still being among the best in the business in the normal course of life. But then, the Logitech K480 multi-device keyboard is not your run of the mill tech oldie! We would say it is still one of the best Bluetooth keyboards out there. Yes, even though it was released in 2014!
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In terms of appearance, the Logitech K480 is VERY different from your routine Bluetooth keyboard - most are rectangular and are generally slim and on the light side, as they are supposed to be used on the move. The k480 is also square shaped - a little like a tablet, and is almost a kilo in weight (yes, about as much as two iPads!). You get six rows of keys and a slot at the top, for placing a tablet or any other device that fits into it. On the back, it has a tray for two AAA cells and a button to switch the keyboard on and off.
In terms of usage, the K480 is pretty simple - you connect it to your device by switching it on and start typing. Standard keyboard stuff, right? Not quite! First off, the keyboard comes with a special dial on the top corner that lets you connect to three devices at the same time and keep switching between them by just moving the dial. So you could be typing a project outline or mail your PC and just move the dial and switch to typing a whatsapp message on your phone, and then get back to your original document with another move of the dial. It seemed like magic in 2014, and heck, it still seems magical today as it just works so smoothly.
Then there are the keys themselves. The Logitech K480 is not a mechanical keyboard but it has decent-sized, well-spaced keys with a lot of travel - so you really get the 'feel' of having hit a key. It even makes clicky sounds, although it is not really very noisy (a little, yes!). You do not get a dedicated number pad, buyt there is a row of special function keys on the top and all your Mac and Windows shortcuts for Alt and Tab and Control and C/V, work just fine. In short, working on this keyboard is fun. You do not feel cramped for space - in fact, the K480 is more comfortable to use than many laptop keyboards. Those two AAA cells in the keyboard comfortably keep it going for almost a year!
Some parts of the K480 have not aged well. That gap or cradle at the top cannot easily hold some of the larger phones and tablets of these days, especially in portrait mode. And yes, it remains a very hefty, heavy proposition to carry around. But we have not seen any keyboard that lets you switch between multiple devices so smoothly (most keyboards make you hit keys for the purpose - rotating a dial is so much simpler and smoother). But you still get a great typing experience, fantastic battery life, superb multi-device connectivity, all for about Rs 1799 - Rs 1999! Which is why ten years after it was launched, the Logitech K480 remains our Bluetooth keyboard of choice. We wish it was lighter, but then ever so often, we wish we were too...