A durable, compact wireless keyboard that makes it possible to work anywhere.
Ever since I started working from home, I’ve found that a good keyboard is worth its weight in gold. My entire job is computer-based and so I really need a reliable keyboard to keep me going. Over the years, I’ve bounced back and forth between using my laptop’s keyboard and an old-school mechanical keyboard and I’ve found that the mechanical keyboard tends to be more relaxing for me to use. The only issue I have now is that my favorite mechanical keyboard is wired and I don’t like having that giant USB cable draped across my desk. So, I started using the Satechi Slim X3 Keyboard, which is a wireless keyboard. It was quite an adjustment for me to jump from a wired mechanical keyboard to a wireless non-mechanical one, but the X3 was a solid keyboard to use. The X3 is a full-size keyboard complete with a number pad and while I have the desk space for it, some people may not and that’s why Satechi also designed the Slim X1 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard. It’s perfect for people who want to have the convenience of the X3 keyboard in a more compact package.
DETAILS
The Slim X1 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard is a compact wireless keyboard. It is designed with Apple users in mind and features a full QWERTY layout. The keyboard allows for multiple devices to connect via Bluetooth and includes macOS function keys. The keyboard also has illuminated keys (white light only) and charges via USB-C (cable included). The keyboard measures 11.14 x 4.5 x 0.39 inches and weighs 0.65 pounds. There is a battery indicator on the top right corner of the keyboard that notifies the user when the battery needs to be recharged. Satechi offers a 1-year warranty for the device and a user manual is included with all the details on the keyboard’s shortcuts.
USER EXPERIENCE
One of the things I always look for with products is their packaging. While this might seem like a minor detail to some people, I think it’s really the first impression a person has of the product. Satechi does a nice job with their packaging. It’s always durable and products are well-protected by their boxes. Satechi also includes nice product images on the front and back of their boxes so potential customers know exactly what to expect from what is inside. One of the first things I noticed was that the X1 only allows for 3 devices to be connected to the keyboard while its big brother (the X3) allows 4 devices. Aside from the fact that the X3 features a full number pad and the amount of Bluetooth devices that can be connected, the two keyboards are very similar in features and in how they function.
The X1 is remarkably compact and very easy to incorporate into any workspace. The keyboard is very durable and I think that if you have a case for it, the keyboard could travel nicely. It’s small enough to fit into a laptop bag so it could be used in remote locations, too. To be honest, when I go on vacation, this will probably be coming with me so that I can have an external keyboard with my laptop. I’m usually more productive that way.
There are two ways to connect to the keyboard – using Bluetooth or the USB-C cable. Sometimes you can tell a distinct difference between wired or wireless connections, but with the Satechi X1, I had a consistent, fast connection whether it was wired or wireless. To get started with the Bluetooth connection, you press Fn + one of the Bluetooth keys and hold it for 3 seconds until the backlight starts to flash. At that point, you search for the device to appear in your laptop/computer/tablet’s Bluetooth menu (“Slim X1 Keyboard”). Once the X1 is selected, the pairing process is complete. After about 30 minutes of inactivity, the keyboard will go to sleep to preserve its battery life. Pressing any key will wake it up. It takes approximately 2-3 hours to charge the battery completely. I’ve not been able to wear the battery down completely yet, but the X3 keyboard has a reported 80-hour battery life when it’s fully charged.
One of the ways that I typically test keyboards, is to complete a typing test on them. This helps me judge how productive I might be with it based on its responsiveness, keyboard layout/spacing, and general feel. So, after running a typing test with the X1, I got a score of 66 WPM. This is a bit slower than my typical typing speed, which is usually around 69 WPM. On the Satechi X3, I got a score of 72 WPM. I still consider the keyboard to be a winner even though my typing score was a bit low.
CONCLUSION
The Slim X1 Bluetooth Backlit Keyboard is a great compact wireless keyboard. It’s great for any type of computer task and I think it is particularly useful for remote work. The low-profile keyboard is great for Apple users and the keyboard connects quite well to my MacBook Pro. I’m a big fan of this tiny peripheral.
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