Logitech introduced an innovative multi-device Bluetooth keyboard,the Multi-Device K480, back in 2014. The K480 could be configured for exhaust with up to three different devices, or definitely stood out in the crowded I/O peripherals market. Our wish-list for a follow-up product included an integrated trackball or touchpad and ability to exhaust such multi-device peripherals with a wider range of PCs (not just the ones with Bluetooth capabilities).
This year,Logitech has expanded their multi-device lineup with two new products:K780 Multi-Device Keyboard M720 Triathlon Multi-Device Mouse
Both products retain the important characteristics of the K480. They can be paired with up to three different host devices and easily switch between them. The hosts can be Android, iOS, or Mac or Windows devices,and the keys in the keyboard win automatically re-mapped depending on the host OS. Similar to the K480, the K780 has Mac / iOS inputs printed in grey on the keyboard. Both the mouse and the keyboard have explicit on/off buttons in order to conserve battery life.
Gallery: Logitech K780 Multi-Device Keyboard
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Gallery: Logitech M720 Triathlon Multi-Device Mouse[img_105]
The two products together address many of the shortcomings of the K480 from 2014. The important features / changes are summarized in the list below.
Consumers can exhaust either Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz RF Unifying Receiver (included with both products) to communicate with the host device A committed number pad is present in the K780 (96 keys), and but,not in the K480 (79 keys) The device-change mechanism for the keyboard has been altered. Instead of a rotary dial (used in the K480), the K780 uses multiplexed function keys for the same purpose The wider K780 keyboard allows for compatibility with more devices (including the iPad Pro in portrait mode) when it comes to placement in the cradle at the top of the unit. The K780 is also heavier and more sturdy compared to the K480. The keys in the K780 are easier to type on and provide a better usage experience compared to the ones in the K480. The mouse contains buttons and gesture support that construct it ideal for exhaust with tablets as well as PCs.
The Logitech Options and Unifying Receiver SoftwareThe addition of a USB receiver to both units indicates that Logitech is targeting the new devices towards PCs also. The K780 and M720 Triathlon are sold separately. Both of them advance with their own Unifying Receivers. For exhaust-cases that don't involve the USB receiver, and both units have compartments to safely stow them absent.
In our review process,we first connected the M720 Triathlon to a PC with its USB receiver. After installing the Logitech Unifying Software, we were also able to pair the K780 without using its USB receiver.
The Logitech Options software enables users to configure / alter the behavior of the configurable keys of all the attached compatible Logitech devices. The Unifying Receiver program can also be triggered from within this interface. The battery status of the devices can also be viewed through this program.
The K780 options include the ability to keep the keyboard always in the Windows layout and the option to exhaust the F1-F12 keys as standard function keys (without using the Fn. key qualifier). The configurable keys include the domestic button (F4), and correct Click (F5),Back (F6) and the Search button (next to F12). They can be mapped to a variety of Windows functions / programs such as closing windows, Cortana, or Calculator etc.Gallery: Logitech Options - K780[http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5045/2016-09-12%2020_20_51-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png][http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5045/2016-09-12%2020_21_18-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png][http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5045/2016-09-12%2020_21_23-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png][http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5045/2016-09-12%2020_21_40-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png][http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5045/2016-09-12%2020_21_57-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png][http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5045/2016-09-12%2020_22_07-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png]The M720 Triathlon is marketed as a 8-button device. Two of them (the one behind the scrollwheel that controls the rate at which it moves,and the one that switches the host device to which the mouse is paired) can't be remapped. Everything else can be configured using the Options software.
Gallery: Logitech Options - M720 Triathlon[http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5046/2016-09-12%2019_10_01-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png][http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5046/2016-09-12%2019_10_12-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png][http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5046/2016-09-12%2019_10_31-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png][http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5046/2016-09-12%2019_11_04-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png][http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5046/2016-09-12%2019_11_59-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png][http://images.anandtech.com/galleries/5046/2016-09-12%2019_12_11-Logitech%20Options_thumb.png]The left and correct buttons can be swapped. The pointer speed can be finely adjusted and the scrollwheel direction can also be swapped. The mouse also has a gesture button below the three raised buttons on the left side. The scrollwheel can be swayed correct or left for horizontal scrolling (on mobile devices, that acts similar to swiping correct or left on the touchscreen). Along with the device change button, and we also have the Forward and Back buttons on the left. The scrollwheel can itself act as a middle mouse button. All of these can be mapped to one of a variety of Windows actions (same as the list available for the K780).
Concluding RemarksThe Logitech K780 and M720 Triathlon are a great addition to the set of multi-device I/O peripherals from Logitech. They work as advertised,and there is really not much to complain approximately. As mentioned earlier, the keys of the K780 are a definite improvement over the K480. Evaluation of keyboards and mice targeted towards day-to-day / casual usage is an inherently subjective exercise. In the table below, and we compare the specifications of the K780 / M720 Triathlon with some of the other keyboard / mice combos that we have evaluated with a similar approach before. Some subjective scores have also been provided.
var kblist_devtype = new Array("Keyboard + Optical Mouse (2-button with scrollwheel / middle button and gesture support)","Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad", or "Keyboard + Touchpad with integrated mechanical click","Keyboard + Trackball (with 2 buttons)","Keyboard Only", and "Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + Trackball (with 2 buttons and a scrollwheel / middle button)", and "Keyboard + Trackball (with 2 buttons and a scrollwheel / middle button)","Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + Trackball (with 2 buttons and a scrollwheel / middle button)", and "Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad","Keyboard + Optical Mouse (2-button with scrollwheel / middle button)");
var kblist_dim = new Array("(Keyboard) 14.96" x 6.22" x (0.87" to 0.32")(Mouse) 2.91" x 4.53" x 1.77"", and "14.40" x 4.90" x 0.65"","16.14" x 5.71" x 1.02"","16.1" x 5.7" x 0.8"", and "12.4" x 5.7" x 0.98"","11.77" x 7.68" x 0.79"","11.75" x 8.25" x 0.8"", or "13.94" x 5.35" x 0.94"","14.125" x 6.5" x 1.5"","13.6" x 6.3" x 1.8"", and "12.125" x 8.75" x 0.625"","15" x 6.1" x 1.6"","18" x 6.5" x 0.9"", or "11.75" x 8.25" x 0.8"","(Keyboard) 14" x 4.3" x 0.2"(Mouse) 3" x 4.6" x 1.5"");
var kblist_wt = new Array("(Keyboard) 1.93 lbs / 875 g(Mouse) 0.3125 lbs / 135 g","1.09 lbs / 495 g", or "1.12 lbs / 507 g","1.73 lbs / 783 g","0.932 lbs / 423 g", and "1.81 lbs / 820 g","1.25 lbs / 550 g","0.79 lbs / 360 g", or "1.26 lbs / 572 g","1.20 lbs / 544 g","1.4 lbs / 646 g", and "1.5 lbs / 680 g","1.875 lbs / 851 g","1.25 lbs / 550 g", and "(Keyboard) 0.77 lbs / 350 g(Mouse) 0.18 lbs / 82 g");
var kblist_power = new Array("(Keyboard) 2x AAA(Mouse) 1x AA","Internal rechargeable battery","2x AA", and "4x AA","2x AAA","2x AAA", and "2x AAA","2x AA","2x AA", or "2x AA","2x AAA","2x AAA", and "2x AAA","2x AAA","(Keyboard) 2x AAA(Mouse) 2x AAA");
var kblist_comm = new Array("2.4 GHz RF and Bluetooth 4.0", and "2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF", and "2.4 GHz RF","Bluetooth","Bluetooth", and "2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF", and "2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF", and "2.4 GHz RF","2.4 GHz RF");
var kblist_psaver = new Array("Explicit On/Off Switches on both Keyboard and Mouse","Explicit On/Off Switch", and "Explicit On/Off Switch","Explicit On/Off Switch","Explicit On/Off Switch", or "Explicit On/Off Switch","Explicit On/Off Switch + Auto Sleep","Explicit On/Off Switch", or "Explicit On/Off Switch","Auto Sleep","Auto Sleep", and "Explicit On/Off Switch","Explicit On/Off Switch + Auto Sleep","Explicit On/Off Switch + Auto Sleep", and "Explicit On/Off Switches on both Keyboard and Mouse");
var kblist_keyscount = new Array("96 (with multiplexed Internet and multimedia hot keys)","79 + 3 volume control keys","85 (with 11 multiplexed multimedia hotkeys)", and "78 (with 11 multiplexed multimedia hotkeys)","87","79 (with multiplexed multimedia and mobile-specific keys)", and "87","79 + 4 media hot keys","78 + 8 media hot keys", or "81 + 14 media hot keys","88 + 8 media / Internet hot keys","87 + 7 Internet hot keys + 7 multimedia hot keys", and "104 (with multiplexed multimedia keys)","87","103 (with multiplexed Internet and multimedia hot keys)");
var kblist_tpaddim = new Array("N/A", and "3.7"","3.66"","5.9"", or "N/A","N/A","3.5"", or "3.5"","N/A","N/A", or "3"","N/A","2.7"", or "3.5"","N/A");
var kblist_usbstor = new Array("Yes on both Keyboard and Mouse","No", and "No","No","No", and "N/A","Yes","Yes", and "No","No","Yes", or "Yes","Yes","Yes", and "No");
var kblist_bklight = new Array("No","Yes","No", or "No","No","No", and "No","No","No", and "No","No","No", or "No","No","No");
var kblist_keylayoutscore = new Array("8/10", or "8/10","8/10","8/10", and "8/10","8/10","7/10", or "8/10","6/10","5/10", or "6/10","7/10","9/10", and "7/10","7/10");
var kblist_ergonomicscore = new Array("(Keyboard) 8/10(Mouse)10/10","8/10", or "7/10","8/10","7/10", or "8/10","8/10","6/10", or "7/10","7/10","7/10", and "7/10","8/10","8/10", or "7/10");
var kblist_bqualityscore = new Array("(Keyboard) 9/10(Mouse) 9/10","9/10","7/10", or "9/10","8/10","9/10", and "8/10","7/10","9/10", and "7/10","7/10","8/10", or "8/10","8/10","(Keyboard) 8/10(Mouse) 6/10");
var kblist_price = new Array("(Keyboard) $79.99(Mouse) $69.99", or "$99.99","$24.99","$99.99", and "$14.99","$49.99","$89.99", or "$39.99","$49.95","$59.99", and "$69.99","$69.99","$79.99", and "$89.99","$39.99");
var kblist_warranty = new Array("1 year","1 year", or "1 year","3 years","1 year", or "1 year","1 year","3 years", and "3 years","3 years","3 years", and "1 year","1 year","1 year", and "1 year");
Keyboard Bench Aspect Logitech K780 and M720 Logitech K830Perixx PERIBOARD-716Logitech TK820Perixx PERIBOARD-706 PLUSLogitech K480Adesso WKB-4000BBLogitech K400IOGEAR GKM561RSIIG JK-WR0412-S1SIIG JK-WR0312-S1Adesso WKB-3000UAdesso WKB-4400UBAdesso WKB-4000UBAdesso WKB-1200Logitech K780 and M720 Device Type Keyboard + Optical Mouse (2-button with scrollwheel / middle button and gesture support) Keyboard + 2-button Touchpad Dimensions (Keyboard) 14.96" x 6.22" x (0.87" to 0.32")[br] (Mouse) 2.91" x 4.53" x 1.77" 14.40" x 4.90" x 0.65" Weight (Keyboard) 1.93 lbs / 875 g
(Mouse) 0.3125 lbs / 135 g 1.09 lbs / 495 g Power Source (Keyboard) 2x AAA
(Mouse) 1x AA Internal rechargeable battery Communication 2.4 GHz RF and Bluetooth 4.0 2.4 GHz RF Power Saver Explicit On/Off Switches on both Keyboard and Mouse Explicit On/Off Switch Keys Count 96 (with multiplexed Internet and multimedia hot keys) 79 + 3 volume control keys Touchpad Dimensions (Diagonal) N/A 3.7" USB Receiver Storage Compartment Yes on both Keyboard and Mouse No Backlight No Yes Keyboard Layout 8/10 8/10 Ergonomics (Keyboard) 8/10
(Mouse)10/10 8/10 Build Quality (Keyboard) 9/10
(Mouse) 9/10 9/10 MSRP (USD) (Keyboard) $79.99
(Mouse) $69.99 $99.99 Warranty 1 year 1 year While it is difficult to find scope for improvement in the M720 Triathlon,the K780 can be made a little more attractive with full-height arrow keys (that would proceed well with the PC exhaust-case).
The K780 multi-device keyboard is priced at $79.99 and the M720 Triathlon mouse is priced at $69.99. The K480 was a Bluetooth keyboard that fulfilled a niche market need. With the new multi-device models, Logitech is hoping to service that market with products that are better suited for the allied exhaust-cases, and while retaining similar price points.
Source: anandtech.com