Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 Review: Unlimited Solar Power for Productivity

Overview: The Return of Solar-Powered Typing

In 2010, Logitech introduced the K750, a solar-powered keyboard that promised unlimited autonomy without ever needing battery replacements. It was a revelation for its time—a genuinely sustainable peripheral that eliminated one of computing's most tedious chores. Fast forward to 2024, and Logitech has finally brought this technology into the modern era with the Signature Slim Solar+ K980, a full-size keyboard that leverages both solar and artificial light to maintain perpetual operation.

The Signature Slim Solar+ represents Logitech's commitment to sustainable design meeting contemporary productivity demands. With multi-device Bluetooth connectivity, comprehensive Logi Options+ software integration, dedicated meeting control buttons, and that distinctive solar panel running across the top edge, this keyboard targets professionals who value autonomy, sustainability, and seamless multi-platform workflows.

But does solar charging remain practical in 2024? Can membrane switches satisfy users who've grown accustomed to mechanical keyboards? And is the £99.99 asking price justified? After three weeks of intensive testing across Windows, macOS, and iPadOS, we have comprehensive answers.

Design and Build Quality: Professional Elegance with Solar Presence

The Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ maintains the brand's signature understated aesthetic. The chiclet-style layout features low-profile keys with generous spacing, rounded edges throughout the chassis, and a professional graphite finish that suits contemporary office environments. At 435 x 131 x 20mm and 700g, it's neither the slimmest nor lightest full-size keyboard, but it remains perfectly portable for those who need to transport it between home and office.

Build quality is solid, as we've come to expect from Logitech's premium range. The plastic chassis exhibits minimal flex, even under aggressive typing pressure. The keycaps are ABS plastic with crisp, durable legends featuring dual Windows and macOS symbols—a thoughtful touch for multi-platform users. The rounded edges are comfortable against the wrists during extended typing sessions, though the lack of any tilt adjustment or adjustable feet means you're committed to Logitech's chosen ~4-degree incline.

The solar panel is both the keyboard's defining feature and its most visually distinctive element. Running across the entire top edge, this glossy photovoltaic strip is noticeably darker than the matte plastic chassis and does attract fingerprints and dust. Whilst it adds a modest ~5mm to the keyboard's rear height, the integration is seamless and unobtrusive. A small green LED indicator near the panel provides visual confirmation that charging is occurring—though the indicator is subtle enough that you need to deliberately look for it.

The base features four substantial rubber feet that keep the keyboard firmly planted on desks. There's no cable management routing, but since this is a wireless-only keyboard (Bluetooth exclusively—no USB dongle option), cable management isn't a concern.

Solar Charging System: Genuinely Unlimited Autonomy

The headline innovation here is Logitech's refined solar charging system. Unlike its 2010 predecessor which relied primarily on natural sunlight, the Signature Slim Solar+ charges effectively from any light source—sunlight, desk lamps, overhead office lighting, even the ambient illumination from monitor backlighting. Logitech's marketing claims are bold: the keyboard can operate for up to four months in complete darkness on a full charge, and the internal battery is designed to last ten years.

During our three-week testing period, we deliberately placed the keyboard in various lighting conditions to stress-test these claims. Under typical office lighting (approximately 300-500 lux), the solar panel maintained a consistent trickle charge, with the green LED indicator confirming active charging whenever we checked. We also tested in dimmer conditions—a home office with just a desk lamp providing ambient illumination—and the keyboard continued functioning flawlessly with no battery warnings.

To truly test the battery reserve, we placed the keyboard in a completely dark cupboard for five days. Upon retrieval, it powered on instantly and functioned without issue, with no low-battery warnings. Whilst we couldn't verify the full four-month darkness claim within our review period, Logitech's engineering appears sound, and the keyboard's power management is clearly efficient.

The solar charging system does impose one significant limitation: there is no backlight. This is a deliberate design trade-off, as backlighting would consume far more power than the solar panel could sustainably provide. For users who type in complete darkness, this makes the Signature Slim Solar+ impractical. However, if there's any ambient light at all—even dim lighting—the laser-etched legends remain legible, and the solar charging continues functioning.

Maintenance is straightforward: keep the solar panel reasonably clean. Dust and fingerprints reduce charging efficiency, so an occasional wipe with a microfibre cloth is recommended. There's no USB charging port as backup—it's solar-only, by design.

Typing Experience: Comfortable Membrane with Slight Mushiness

The Signature Slim Solar+ employs low-profile scissor-switch membrane keys with approximately 2mm of travel and an actuation force around 60g. For those accustomed to mechanical keyboards, the typing experience will feel notably softer and slightly mushy. There's a subtle tactile bump at actuation, but it's gentle and easily overpowered during rapid typing. The switches feel springy and cushioned rather than crisp and decisive.

However, it's important to contextualise this experience: within the membrane keyboard category, the Signature Slim Solar+ performs admirably. The keys are remarkably quiet—producing barely more than a soft whisper even during aggressive typing. The scissor mechanism provides good stability with minimal key wobble, and the generous key spacing reduces accidental mis-presses. For extended typing sessions, the low profile and soft actuation reduce finger fatigue, making this a genuinely comfortable keyboard for writing tasks.

Typing speed and accuracy are excellent. We achieved our typical typing speeds (75-80 WPM) without adaptation, and the chiclet layout's visual clarity makes touch-typing effortless. The full-size layout with integrated numeric keypad is ideal for productivity work involving spreadsheets or data entry.

The membrane switches are rated for five million keystrokes—substantially less than the 50-100 million ratings typical of mechanical switches, but adequate for most users' needs. At our testing pace (approximately 2,000 keystrokes daily), this suggests a five-to-seven-year lifespan before noticeable degradation—perfectly aligned with Logitech's ten-year battery design target.

One notable absence is any form of palm or wrist rest. The keyboard's low profile mitigates this somewhat, but extended typing sessions may still cause wrist strain for some users. The fixed ~4-degree incline is comfortable for most typing angles, but the complete absence of adjustable feet or negative tilt options limits ergonomic customisation.

Multi-Device Connectivity: Seamless Three-Device Switching

The Signature Slim Solar+ connects exclusively via Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0, with support for pairing three devices simultaneously. Easy-Switch buttons above the numeric keypad (labelled F1, F2, F3) allow instant switching between paired devices—a workflow that becomes second nature within hours.

Pairing is straightforward: hold the appropriate Easy-Switch button for three seconds until the LED blinks, and the keyboard enters discoverable mode. We paired the keyboard with a Windows 11 desktop, a MacBook Pro (macOS Sonoma), and an iPad Pro (iPadOS 17) without issue. Switching between devices is instantaneous—a quick tap of the Easy-Switch button, and you're typing on a different machine within milliseconds.

Bluetooth stability is excellent. During three weeks of testing, we experienced zero dropouts, connection failures, or latency issues. The wireless range extends to approximately 10 metres in open environments, with reliable connectivity through standard office walls. The Bluetooth LE implementation is efficient, contributing to the keyboard's exceptional battery life.

The dual Windows/macOS legends on the keycaps are genuinely useful, showing both Windows-specific symbols (Windows key, Alt) and macOS equivalents (Command, Option). When paired with Logi Options+ software, the keyboard auto-detects which operating system it's connected to and adjusts key behaviour accordingly—Command becomes Ctrl on Windows, for instance.

The limitation here is the Bluetooth-only connectivity. Unlike some Logitech keyboards that offer both Bluetooth and a USB receiver (Logi Bolt or Unifying), the Signature Slim Solar+ has no dongle option. This is fine for modern devices with built-in Bluetooth, but users with older desktop PCs lacking Bluetooth capability will need to purchase a Bluetooth adapter.

Logi Options+ Software: Comprehensive Customisation and Smart Actions

The Signature Slim Solar+ is fully compatible with Logitech's Logi Options+ software (available for Windows and macOS), which transforms this seemingly basic membrane keyboard into a productivity powerhouse. Options+ provides comprehensive customisation, per-application profiles, macro automation, and even AI integration.

Key customisation is extensive. Every key can be remapped to different functions, and you can create application-specific profiles that automatically activate when you switch to particular programmes. For example, we configured the F-keys to trigger specific Photoshop actions when using Adobe Creative Cloud, whilst reverting to standard media controls in browsers and word processors.

The standout feature is Smart Actions—Logitech's macro automation system. Smart Actions allows you to create complex multi-step workflows triggered by single keystrokes. We created Smart Actions for launching our morning productivity suite (opening email, calendar, Slack, and Spotify simultaneously), inserting frequently used text snippets, and automating repetitive formatting tasks in Microsoft Word. The Smart Actions builder is intuitive, with drag-and-drop logic and extensive integration options.

Logi Options+ also includes AI integration, with direct shortcuts to ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Claude AI assistants. A single keystroke can summon an AI chat window, streamlining workflows for users who frequently consult LLMs for research, writing assistance, or problem-solving.

One limitation is the lack of onboard memory. All your customisations and Smart Actions are stored in the cloud and synced via Options+ software. This means if you connect the keyboard to a computer where you cannot install Options+, it reverts to a standard keyboard with no customisations. For users who need to use the keyboard on restricted work computers, this can be frustrating.

Battery monitoring is built into Options+, displaying the current charge level and providing estimates of remaining operation time in darkness. During our testing, the keyboard consistently reported 100% charge under normal office lighting, confirming that the solar panel easily outpaces power consumption.

Special Features: Dedicated Meeting Controls

Above the numeric keypad, Logitech has positioned three dedicated meeting control buttons: microphone mute, camera mute, and speaker mute. These are clearly labelled with universally recognised icons and provide hardware-level control over video conferencing audio and video.

The placement is slightly awkward—above the numeric keypad rather than integrated into the main keyboard layout. This means you need to lift your hand from the typing position to access them, and they're not immediately intuitive if you're not actively looking for them. We would have preferred integration as function-layer shortcuts on the F-keys, allowing access without hand repositioning.

Functionality is solid, however. The mute buttons work across all major video conferencing platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Skype) without requiring additional configuration. Press the mic mute button, and your microphone instantly mutes system-wide, with an LED indicator confirming the muted state. The same applies to camera and speaker controls.

For users who spend significant time in video calls, these dedicated hardware buttons provide peace of mind—no more frantically hunting for the on-screen mute button when a delivery arrives mid-meeting. However, their awkward placement limits their usefulness during active conversations where you might need to quickly mute/unmute whilst simultaneously typing notes.

Multi-Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux, iPadOS, and Chrome OS

The Signature Slim Solar+ officially supports Windows 10/11, macOS 11+, Linux (kernel 4.15+), Chrome OS, iPadOS 13+, and Android 8+. During testing, we verified compatibility across Windows 11, macOS Sonoma, iPadOS 17, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, with flawless functionality across all platforms.

The dual-legend keycaps genuinely enhance the multi-platform experience. When paired with a Mac, the Command key is clearly labelled, and Option is marked alongside Alt. Switching to Windows, the Windows key and Alt key become immediately obvious. This eliminates the cognitive friction of remembering which key corresponds to which function on different operating systems.

Logi Options+ is available for both Windows and macOS, providing identical functionality on both platforms. Unfortunately, there's no Options+ app for Linux, iPadOS, or Chrome OS, so customisation is limited to Windows and Mac environments. On Linux, the keyboard functions perfectly as a standard input device, but Smart Actions and key remapping aren't accessible. On iPadOS, the keyboard works beautifully for typing, but you lose the advanced productivity features.

Daily Use: Three Weeks of Productivity

We tested the Signature Slim Solar+ as our primary keyboard for three weeks, rotating between a Windows desktop for gaming and productivity, a MacBook Pro for writing and content creation, and an iPad Pro for casual browsing and note-taking. The keyboard seamlessly integrated into all three workflows, and the Easy-Switch buttons made device transitions effortless.

For writing tasks—our primary use case—the keyboard excels. The quiet, comfortable membrane switches allowed for distraction-free typing during long writing sessions, and the full-size layout with numeric keypad proved valuable for spreadsheet work and data entry. The lack of mechanical tactility became irrelevant after a few hours of adaptation, and the soft, cushioned feel reduced finger fatigue compared to our usual mechanical daily driver.

The solar charging system proved genuinely liberating. Not once during three weeks of testing did we encounter a low-battery warning, and the knowledge that the keyboard was perpetually self-sufficient eliminated battery anxiety entirely. This is the keyboard equivalent of owning an electric vehicle with free, unlimited charging—you simply stop thinking about power management.

The meeting control buttons saw frequent use during our daily video calls. Whilst their placement above the numpad isn't ideal, the tactile confirmation of hardware muting provided peace of mind during sensitive conversations. The LED indicators are subtle but clearly visible, confirming mute status at a glance.

Smart Actions emerged as an unexpected productivity boost. We configured shortcuts to automate our most repetitive tasks—launching project-specific application suites, inserting boilerplate email responses, and formatting documents according to style guides. What initially seemed like a gimmick became a genuine time-saver, shaving seconds (which accumulate to minutes daily) from routine workflows.

Limitations and Compromises

The Signature Slim Solar+'s solar-powered design necessitates several compromises that won't suit all users:

No Backlight: The absence of any backlighting makes this keyboard impractical for typing in complete darkness. If you frequently work in dimly lit environments without any ambient light, this is a dealbreaker.

Membrane Switches Feel Mushy: Compared to mechanical keyboards, the typing experience lacks crispness and tactile definition. Enthusiasts accustomed to Cherry MX switches or premium membrane alternatives will find the typing feel underwhelming.

No Tilt Adjustment: The fixed ~4-degree incline cannot be adjusted. There are no flip-out feet for increased tilt, no negative tilt option for ergonomic typing angles, and no height adjustment whatsoever.

Solar Panel Adds Slight Bulk: Whilst the integration is visually seamless, the solar panel does add approximately 5mm to the keyboard's rear height and creates a glossy surface that attracts fingerprints and requires occasional cleaning.

Bluetooth-Only Connectivity: The absence of any USB receiver option limits compatibility with older desktops lacking built-in Bluetooth. You'll need to purchase a Bluetooth adapter for such systems.

Meeting Button Placement: The dedicated mic/camera/speaker mute buttons are positioned awkwardly above the numeric keypad rather than integrated into the function row, requiring hand repositioning to access.

Premium Price Point: At £99.99, this keyboard occupies premium pricing territory despite membrane switches. Mechanical alternatives with backlighting and more features are available at similar or lower prices.

Who Should Buy the Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980?

The Signature Slim Solar+ is an outstanding choice for specific user profiles:

Productivity Professionals: Users who spend their days writing, analysing spreadsheets, managing email, and attending video conferences will appreciate the full-size layout, quiet operation, meeting controls, and Smart Actions automation.

Multi-Platform Users: Those who regularly switch between Windows, macOS, and iPadOS devices benefit enormously from three-device Easy-Switch functionality and dual-legend keycaps.

Eco-Conscious Users: The solar charging system genuinely eliminates battery waste and provides unlimited autonomy without environmental guilt.

Office Workers with Good Lighting: Users in well-lit office environments where the solar panel can maintain a trickle charge will never need to worry about battery life.

Logi Options+ Power Users: Those who want comprehensive customisation, Smart Actions macros, and AI integration will find exceptional value in Logitech's software ecosystem.

Quiet Workspace Advocates: The near-silent operation makes this ideal for shared offices, libraries, or home environments where keyboard noise would disturb others.

Who Should Look Elsewhere?

The Signature Slim Solar+ isn't suitable for:

Mechanical Keyboard Enthusiasts: Users who demand tactile precision, customisable switches, or hot-swappability will find the membrane experience unsatisfying.

Gamers: The standard Bluetooth polling rate, membrane switches, and lack of N-key rollover make this keyboard poorly suited for competitive gaming.

Low-Light Typists: Anyone who frequently types in complete darkness requires a backlit keyboard—the Signature Slim Solar+ simply cannot accommodate this use case.

Budget-Conscious Buyers: At £99.99, this keyboard commands a premium price. Excellent mechanical alternatives with more features are available for less.

Users Requiring Adjustable Ergonomics: The fixed incline and absence of any tilt adjustment limit ergonomic customisation.

Verdict: Sustainable Productivity Perfected

Rating: 4.0/5 stars (8/10)

The Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 represents a thoughtful evolution of sustainable keyboard design. By successfully reviving solar charging technology for the modern multi-device era, Logitech has created a genuinely distinctive productivity tool that eliminates battery anxiety whilst integrating seamlessly into contemporary workflows.

The solar charging system genuinely works. Throughout three weeks of intensive testing, the keyboard never required manual charging, never displayed low-battery warnings, and perpetually maintained 100% charge under typical office lighting. This is sustainability that doesn't compromise convenience—quite the opposite, in fact.

For productivity users who value quiet comfort, multi-device flexibility, and comprehensive software customisation, the Signature Slim Solar+ delivers exceptional value. The Logi Options+ software, Smart Actions automation, and three-device Easy-Switch functionality combine to create a keyboard that actively enhances workflow efficiency rather than merely facilitating typing.

The compromises—membrane switches, no backlighting, fixed incline, premium pricing—are deliberate design choices that reflect the keyboard's target audience. This isn't a gaming keyboard, nor a mechanical enthusiast's daily driver. It's a professional productivity tool for users who prioritise reliability, sustainability, and seamless multi-platform integration.

The solar charging system alone justifies the premium price for users who value convenience and sustainability. Never again worrying about battery life, never purchasing replacement batteries, never experiencing the keyboard dying mid-task—these benefits accumulate over years of ownership, making the £99.99 investment increasingly reasonable over time.

The Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 isn't the keyboard for everyone, but for its intended audience—productivity professionals working in well-lit environments who juggle multiple devices—it's an outstanding choice that delivers genuine innovation wrapped in refined, sustainable design.

Final Thoughts

In an era where "sustainable design" often means minimal compromises with maximal marketing, the Signature Slim Solar+ delivers genuinely functional eco-innovation. The solar charging system isn't a gimmick—it's a liberation from battery management that becomes more valuable with every passing day.

For users whose workflow aligns with this keyboard's strengths—multi-device productivity in well-lit environments with quiet operation—this is an investment that will serve faithfully for years. The ten-year battery lifespan design target isn't hyperbole; it's Logitech's genuine engineering commitment to creating a keyboard that outlasts planned obsolescence.

If you're tired of replacing batteries, value comprehensive customisation, work across multiple platforms, and type in environments with reasonable lighting, the Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 deserves serious consideration. It's sustainable computing done right.