Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 for Mac: Specs, Features, Pros & Cons
The pitch here is a keyboard you never charge. A light strip above the function row trickles power from ordinary room lighting rather than sunshine, with months of running in complete darkness once the cell is full.
Several quieter decisions deserve credit too. The cell is user-replaceable, which is rare for Logitech and turns the long-lifespan claim into something you can act on. The one omission is a backlight — which is what you give up for never plugging it in.
Category strengths
Where the Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 for Mac beats the average
- Has configuration software ?
- Has media controls ?
- Has programmable keys ?
Where the Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 for Mac trails the average
- No n-key rollover ?
- Fewer connection options ?
- No hot-swappable switches ?
- No onboard profiles ?
- No sound dampening ?
- A much smaller battery ?70 mAh vs 3,406.43 mAh (avg)
- A heavier actuation force ?60 g vs 44.65 g (avg)
- No rapid trigger ?
- No rotary knob ?
- No adjustable actuation ?
Editor’s note
The pitch here is a keyboard you never charge. A light strip above the function row trickles power into a small 70 mAh cell from any light above roughly 200 lux – ordinary room lighting, not sunshine – and Logitech quotes about four months of running in complete darkness once the cell is full. Unless you type in a cave, it should simply always be on.
I like several quieter decisions too. The cell is user-replaceable, which is rare for Logitech and turns the 10-year lifespan claim into something you can actually act on. The build mixes recycled ABS with low-carbon aluminium, the full-size layout keeps a proper numpad, and at 700 g and 20 mm thick it feels like an office board rather than a toy. This Off-White version is the Mac SKU with Mac legends; the graphite Windows sibling is a separate listing.
The compromises are real, and two of them surprised me. First, there is no backlight at all – the obvious casualty of a solar power budget – which undercuts the board's own late-evening credentials. Second, connection is Bluetooth Low Energy only. Amazon's listing claims a Logi Bolt receiver is included; Logitech's own page says plainly that it is not. The maker is right, and if you want the Bolt dongle it is a separate purchase.
The typing itself is a 60-gram scissor action – firm, quiet, ordinary. Enthusiasts will find nothing here; that is not who it is for.
At $89.99 I would choose this for a bright home office and a Mac, especially if the ritual of charging yet another device genuinely annoys you. If you type in the dark or want any backlight, the MX Keys S does the office job better for similar money.
Specifications
Quality bars are generated automatically against 95 other keyboards.
Switches & typing
The key switch technology; later types are generally more responsive.
The specific switch used (e.g. Cherry MX Red).
The force needed to register a key; lower is lighter to type on.
Swap switches without soldering.
Registers every simultaneous keypress.
Set the actuation point per key (analog / Hall-effect boards).
Keys report their travel depth for variable gamepad-style input and multi-stage actions.
Performance
How often the keyboard reports input; higher can reduce latency.
End-to-end keypress latency over a wired connection; lower is better.
End-to-end keypress latency over the fastest wireless mode; lower is better.
Resets a key dynamically as it moves, enabling faster repeated inputs.
Layout & size
The keyboard size and layout.
The number of keys.
The overall width.
The overall depth.
The front case height without keycaps; lower boards can reduce wrist extension.
The keyboard's weight.
Connectivity
The supported connection types.
How many paired devices it can switch between.
Battery life for wireless models.
The rated capacity of the internal battery.
A built-in USB port for other devices.
Build & sound
Keycap plastic; PBT resists shine and wear better than ABS.
The case material (e.g. aluminium, ABS plastic).
The switch plate material, which influences stiffness and typing sound.
How larger keys are stabilised (e.g. screw-in PCB or plate-mounted).
The plate / PCB mounting style (e.g. gasket mount).
Internal foam or dampening for a quieter, fuller sound.
The per-key lighting.
Features
Remap keys and record macros.
Dedicated volume and playback controls.
A control knob for volume or custom actions.
Stores layouts on the board itself.
Companion configuration software (e.g. VIA / QMK).
Specs last verified August 19, 202625 of 34 specs verified (74%)Unverified specs show as Unknown — never estimated, never scored
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Ratings & reviews
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The bottom line
The Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 for Mac earns a VS Score of 14, trailing most of the 96 keyboards we compare here, at least on the spec sheet.
- Who it’s for
- A bright home office and a Mac, for someone genuinely tired of charging peripherals – room light keeps it topped up and the cell is user-replaceable.
- Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who types in a dim room. There is no backlight at all, and the solar strip needs about 200 lux to actually harvest anything.
- The trade-off that matters
- Never charging it costs you the backlight – the one omission that undermines an otherwise complete office keyboard at this price.
- The main alternative
- Logitech MX Keys S adds the backlight and a rechargeable cell for similar money, and is the better board anywhere the lights go down.
The VS Score is calculated from the weighted specifications above, measured against every other keyboards we track — a shortlisting guide, not a substitute for your own priorities. See how we score.
