The Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo is an affordable wireless combo of a full-size keyboard and a three-button optical mouse. It runs off one single 2.4 GHz plug-and-play USB receiver to connect both devices. The keyboard has a typical layout with a number pad, eight customizable keys for playing music or opening programs quickly, and a spill-resistant design to prevent damage from minor spills. The keyboard lasts up to 36 months, and the mouse lasts up to 12 months, both running on AA or AAA batteries included.
A reliable keyboard and mouse combo for fun or professional use
The MK270 uses a single 2.4 GHz USB receiver to handle both the keyboard and the mouse, leaving only one USB port on the host computer. Logitech’s Advanced 2.4 GHz wireless technology operates on a different frequency than the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band, so the keyboard and mouse don’t suffer from the interference and dropped inputs that cheaper wireless peripherals tend to experience in homes with multiple active Wi-Fi networks.
The wireless connection works up to 33 feet from the receiver, which is more range than most people need at a desk, but useful for a living room media PC where the keyboard sits on the coffee table. The connection uses Logitech’s standard anti-jamming wireless technology to prevent the input lag and dropped keystrokes that plague cheaper wireless keyboards.
Eight shortcut keys sit above the function row and handle volume control, play and pause, mute, an email shortcut, a browser shortcut, and a search shortcut. They work on any Windows PC out of the box, without requiring the optional Logitech Options Plus software, which offers further customization if you want it.
The mouse is a standard right-handed three-button design with a clickable scroll wheel. Optical tracking handles most desk surfaces without a mouse pad. The mouse’s battery lasts about a year of regular use on a single AA, and the on/off switch on the bottom of the mouse extends battery life further when traveling with a laptop.
Spill resistance on the keyboard means small drink spills won’t ruin it right away. The drainage holes underneath let liquid pass through rather than pooling on the circuit board, so a knocked-over coffee cup is recoverable as long as you act quickly. The keyboard is also rated for around 5 million keystrokes per key, which translates to several years of heavy daily use before the keys start losing their feel.
At $24, the MK270 is $6 below the $30 list price on Amazon. That price covers the keyboard, mouse, receiver, and batteries to get started. For a spare home office setup, a kid’s first computer, or a guest machine that needs basic input devices, the MK270 at this price is hard to argue with.
