Previously, I've looked on in befuddlement at Lenovo's many bizarre [[link]] experiments. From to concept machines, they're not necessarily practical, but they are different, I suppose. Credit where credit is due to the Hong Kong-based company, though, its solar-powered laptop that can is perhaps a step in the right direction for our power-hungry tech.
I'm tentatively hopeful about Logitech's own foray into solar-powered peripherals, with the Switzerland-based company having just announced—of all things—a solar-powered keyboard. The utilises Logi LightCharge technology to harness "light from any light source to stay charged and ready to use."
It's a wireless vision, attempting to power itself by either sunlight or whatever artificial illumination you've got at home—though I'm not sure this peripheral will get much out of my dimly-lit gamer cave. Logitech claims that the Signature Slim Solar+ K980 will stay "charged without interruptions and is built to run for up to four months in complete darkness."
I'm all for tech companies increasingly looking towards renewable energy—especially if it means I can declutter my desk a bit while they're at it. And if I'm reading those above claims correctly, four months of battery life is incredibly impressive…unless, of course, the press release actually means the keyboard can simply hold a charge for that long. Somewhat ambiguous wording aside, I'm looking forward to putting this light-powered keyboard to the test in my dank gamer hovel.
The keyboard comes in two flavours, a and a that, alas, does not come with a wee little bowler hat. Both versions pitch up with low-profile keys, a light-powered battery that Logitech claims should last a decade, and a remappable AI launch key. Personally, I can do nothing but shudder [[link]] at the thought of a whole button dedicated to launching your AI app of choice—oops, there I go again, brrr.
Setting aside my 'some robot somewhere is definitely doing a merry jig over my grave' shivers, I would say that the Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 presents a novel approach to powering peripherals—were it not for another questionable concept from Lenovo.
Last year, we thought Lenovo had revealed —but it turns out we were wrong. It was, in fact, a kinetic energy concept that enjoyed . Here's gently hoping Logitech's solar keyboard avoids such a baffling caveat, and proves a genuine step towards more sustainably powered PC gaming peripherals.
1. Best overall:
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4. Best rapid trigger:
5. Best wireless rapid trigger:
6. Best silent:
7. Best tenkeyless:
8. Best low profile:
9. Best ergonomic:
10. Best membrane:
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