Logitech’s Light-Powered Keyboard Works in Any Light
▼ Summary
– Logitech’s new $99.99 Signature Slim Solar Plus K980 keyboard is powered solely by light, with a battery that lasts up to 10 years and can operate for four months in darkness after a full charge.
– The keyboard’s battery is user-replaceable, with spare parts supplied by iFixIt, as confirmed by a Logitech spokesperson.
– A key feature is a dedicated AI Launch key that can be customized to open various AI assistants like Copilot, Gemini, or ChatGPT, or to perform other actions.
– The K980 can pair with up to three Bluetooth devices and includes customizable keys for media controls and macros, but it requires the Logi Options Plus app to monitor charging light levels.
– This launch coincides with a trend of renewed interest in solar-powered keyboards, as seen with Lenovo’s similarly priced 2025 model which offers features like a USB-C port and adjustable tilt.
Logitech has revived its light-powered keyboard concept with the new Signature Slim Solar Plus K980, a $99.99 peripheral that operates entirely on ambient light. This full-size keyboard requires no cables or batteries, drawing power from either sunlight or artificial lighting. A minimum of 200 lux is needed to charge its internal battery, which Logitech claims can last up to a decade on a single full charge. Once charged, the keyboard functions for approximately four months in total darkness.
A significant feature is the user-replaceable battery, safely encased in plastic, with replacement parts available through iFixit. This design choice addresses long-term usability concerns.
The K980 offers a standard layout with dual labeling for Windows and macOS. Its function row provides quick access to media controls, screen brightness, and volume, with customization options available via the Logi Options Plus software. The top row includes several dedicated keys: a microphone mute, a camera disable toggle, a programmable Action key, and a new AI Launch key. This AI key defaults to opening Microsoft’s Copilot on Windows or Google’s Gemini on ChromeOS, but users can reassign it to launch ChatGPT, an AI prompt builder, or even set it as a standard right CTRL key. Both the Action key and the AI key can be programmed with complex macros using Logitech’s Smart Actions.
For connectivity, the keyboard pairs with up to three devices via Bluetooth. It is also compatible with Logitech’s Bolt USB receiver, though one is not included in the box. A simple LED indicator shifts from green to red when the battery requires more light, a more basic system than previous models. Detailed charging status information is only available within the Logi Options Plus app, a change from older keyboards that had more intuitive built-in light indicators.
The keyboard comes in two color options. A universal graphite model features labels for both operating systems, while a North American Mac-exclusive version is off-white and omits the Windows labels. Both are priced identically.
This launch coincides with a renewed interest in solar-powered peripherals. Lenovo recently introduced a similarly priced self-charging keyboard, though it includes a USB-C port as a backup charging method, a feature the Logitech K980 lacks. The Lenovo model also offers adjustable tilt legs and a spill-resistant design, presenting a different set of advantages for potential buyers.
(Source: The Verge)
