Workstations are usually drab. Black and white computers and boring looking mouse and keyboard. But recently this has started to change somewhat, led mainly by Apple having iMacs and MacBooks in different and amazing colors. And to pair with them, companies like Logitech are now thinking of accessories that have the same razzmatazz. Hence the pop icon keys and mouse. Just look at them in the pictures, aren’t they super cute and fun?

I definitely look for them. Like most Gen-Z, I’m one of those people who likes to personalize their workspace. You see, after working almost 9 hours every day, you have to make your desk feel like home. And this personalization is not only about keeping important things within reach but also about maintaining aesthetics. Whether it’s a Polaroid, a calendar, or even a set of colorful keyboards and mouse, I try to boost my productivity – and work mood – with some style and color.

So when I began reviewing Logitech’s new Pop Icon key and mouse combo, I was curious to see what this combo would offer. After all, it’s just a keyboard and mouse, right? To stand out, there has to be something extra. In the case of the Logitech Pop Icon Combo, there’s the option to customize “extra” shortcut keys and quick access to features like AI chatbots like ChatGPT.

However, the question is, will this be enough to convince someone to spend Rs 9,295 on a keyboard and mouse? Well, in some cases yes. In many cases, no.

Portable with a pop of color

The Logitech Pop Icon Keys and Mouse Combo I am reviewing is the pink and off-white color variant, which has a pastel pink tone. There are other options as well, including a black and green mix. But no matter what color combination you choose, you’ll find something that will add color to your table. As far as rose and off-white go, it sure looks lovely.

The keys on the pop keyboard are darker, while the gradient at the top transitions to light pink and white. Apart from the design, it has a transparent plastic border which gives the keyboard a more sophisticated look. There are rubber grips at the bottom that keep the keyboard steady on the desk. However, there is no kickstand; Instead, the design features a raised battery compartment below its top edge, which curves upward. This inclination is permanent, so it cannot be adjusted. Those who like to use their keyboard with the kick-stand raised won’t mind this. People who like their keyboards to lie flat won’t like this.

As for build quality, the keyboard feels sturdy and is made of durable recycled plastic, with the percentage of recycled material varying by color type. For example, the lilac version is made of 37 percent recycled plastic. The keyboard feels well made and is a little heavy, which reflects its quality.

Now, as far as Pop Mouse goes, there isn’t much of a color gradient on its shell. Pop Mouse only has two color gradients. However, it doesn’t look bad, and the mouse feels good in the hand – at least it does in my small hands – fitting comfortably in the palm. On fit: Those who are used to a larger mouse, more like a regular full-sized wired mouse, may find this a little less snug.

At the top, the mouse has right and left buttons along with a scroll wheel. There’s also an additional button just below the scroll that you can customize – more on that later. Below, there is a socket for AAA batteries, similar to the keyboard, and a button for switching between multiple devices. On the keyboard, this multi-device switch option is located at the top, integrated with the F key. Like the keyboard, the Pop Icon mouse also feels premium, not cheap plastic.

Both the keyboard and mouse are portable and can easily fit in your laptop bag or even a medium-sized tote bag.

work desk display

Logitech offers different keyboard and mouse combos for different users. Be it mechanical keys for those who prefer a tactile and clicky feel, or membrane keyboards for users who want a quieter, smoother style. Then there are the new Pop Icon keys, which are neither mechanical nor as soft as membrane keyboards. Instead, they are more clicky versions of the keys found in expensive laptops like the MacBook Pro. Therefore, they have a tactile feel and a slight sound, not as pronounced as you get with mechanical keyboards, making typing quieter and more intuitive. It’s perfect for a work desk where you don’t want to make a racket while typing. Using it in the office, I really enjoyed working on it.

I’ve connected the keyboard to my laptop, tablet, and even my phone, and multi-device switching is quick and efficient.

Although the typing is great, what really impressed me are the shortcut keys. On the Pop Keyboard, there are four shortcut keys that can be customized using the Logi Options+ app. You can assign a key for quick access to apps like ChatGPT or Pages, and it speeds up the way you work significantly, especially for someone like me who types a lot as a journalist. . Quick access to useful apps comes in handy when writing stories or editing cover images.

Even the Pop Mouse has a customizable button, which I use for quick emoji access. Pop Mouse also provides a seamless transition between multiple devices. It offers different scroll modes, so you can customize it as per your liking.

As far as batteries go, both the keyboard and mouse use AAA batteries, which should last a month or more depending on usage.

One thing I wish Logitech had offered here was either USB connectivity, or a bundled Bluetooth dongle. Although most of my devices support Bluetooth, there are some, like my office PC, where Bluetooth is not inbuilt, and without a USB or Bluetooth connector, I was unable to connect the device to the PC. But then it’s 2024 and I think Logitech believes – quite rightly – that the pop icon key and mouse will be used with Bluetooth enabled devices.

Pop Icon Keys and Mouse: Should You Buy?

The keyboard and mouse, and especially for regular users and not gamers, are devices where very little exciting things happen. So it’s great to see Logitech trying something different. Pop Icon Keys & Mouse will appeal to those – especially Gen-Z – who are familiar with its colorful and all-embracing aesthetics. It’s also a great keyboard for people who are sharing their workstations on social media as content creators or influencers.

Having said that I wish they offered something more in terms of performance. These are expensive keyboards and mice and yet, apart from their design, they are generic in the sense that similar performance can be found in much cheaper and regular keyboards. With pop icon keys and a mouse, Logitech is essentially relying on design to entice users. Whereas it would have been nice if they had equipped the mouse with a laser tracker instead of optical, or used rechargeable batteries in it.

Still, the pop icon key and mouse get an appreciation from me. Largely because of its aesthetics, I like it a lot. And I believe this color and funky design is what it is cause-de-treAnd even its high price is worth it for some users.