Logitech has rolled out its Signature Slim Solar+ K980, a wireless keyboard that foregoes USB charging and disposable batteries by drawing power from ambient light, whether sunlight or indoor illumination. According to reports, the device needs just 200 lux of light to maintain a charge and can operate for up to four months in total darkness once fully charged. Unlike many sealed peripherals, the K980 is built with repairability in mind: users can access and replace parts like the battery or key modules via an iFixit parts plan. The keyboard also features a full-size layout, multi-device Bluetooth connectivity, dual Windows/macOS key legends, deep customization via Logi Options+, and a dedicated AI launch key (preconfigured for Copilot or Gemini, but user-reassignable). Wired praises the energy efficiency but criticizes the key feel and lack of wired fallback. The Verge highlights the decade-long battery design and spare part plans. Over in Spanish media, Cinco Días notes the sustainability components such as recycled plastics and responsible packaging.
Key Takeaways
– Logitech’s new K980 keyboard is powered purely by ambient light—solar or artificial—and can last up to four months in darkness once charged.
– The design emphasizes repairability: users can replace key components, and Logitech will supply parts via iFixit commitments.
– While it promotes sustainability and convenience, critics note compromises in typing feel, durability, and lack of a wired fallback for failures.
In-Depth
Logitech’s latest peripheral move signals a bold gambit: building a mainstream keyboard that avoids the usual charging cycle entirely, relying instead on ambient light and modular repairability. The Signature Slim Solar+ K980 integrates a long, thin solar strip above the function row, tapping any light source of at least 200 lux to trickle-charge an internal battery. Once the battery is full, Logitech claims it can sustain operation in total darkness for up to four months. Beyond this, the battery is rated to last up to 10 years, after which replacement parts will be available. (The Verge reports that Logitech calls the battery “safely user-replaceable” and will work with iFixit to provide spare parts.)
From a design standpoint, Logitech hasn’t skimped on features. The K980 is full size (including numpad), supports pairing with three devices via Bluetooth or the Logi Bolt USB receiver, and runs on both Windows and macOS (dual legends on the keycaps). Through the Logi Options+ app, users can remap keys, assign macros or “Smart Actions,” and customize the newly introduced AI key. This AI launch key defaults to Microsoft Copilot (on Windows) or Gemini (on ChromeOS), but it’s meant to be flexible enough for users to target ChatGPT or other assistants.
However, the execution invites tradeoffs. In its review, Wired points out that the keyboard uses low-profile scissor switches with a softer, more “squishy” feel rather than a premium typing feedback. Keycaps are screen-printed, which can fade over time, and there’s no wired fallback in case the solar panel or battery fails. If the power system ever fails, the keyboard becomes inert (unless disassembled). Wired warns that opening the device requires removing adhesive feet and stickers, plus multiple plastic clips. Still, the modular intent is there, and Logitech appears serious about a sustainability narrative.
Cinco Días adds context from a Spanish and European point of view: the keyboard’s body is constructed with recycled plastics (70% for the graphite version, 52% for the white model), and the packaging is designed with eco-friendly materials. In essence, this isn’t just a gimmick—it’s part of a larger shift toward more repairable, longer-lasting electronics.
Going deeper, Logitech’s earlier experiment with solar keyboards offers precedent and lessons. The company’s K750 model (from over a decade ago) was directed at reducing battery waste, and repair guides exist via iFixit for that model. But battery degradation and aging remain challenges in any “sealed” battery system. If the K980 can deliver on its promise of 10 years of battery life or at least provide parts to maintain that longevity, it could change how we think about peripherals. Still, execution matters: the solar cells need to remain functional over time, the battery chemistry must resist capacity fade, and mechanical durability (key switches, casing) has to match sustained use.
In short: the K980 isn’t just a keyboard with a solar panel slapped on. It’s a step in pushing peripherals toward sustainability, repairability, and less dependency on disposable batteries. But its success depends less on bold features and more on whether it can live up to its promises in real world use—especially in key feel, surface durability, and long-term reliability.