This new keyboard is powered by the sun (and almost any artificial light)

Summary

• Logitech’s new solar-only K980 charges from sunlight or via 200 lux of indoor light, and its battery can last up to 10 years.
• The K980 features a standard full-sized layout, multi-device Bluetooth switching, and a customizable AI key.
• Curiously, Logitech’s universal Bolt USB adapter isn’t included in the package, despite offering compatibility with the receiver.

It’s been a long time since Logitech released a sun-powered keyboard, but with the Signature Slim Solar Plus K980, the accessory maker is back in the solar-powered keyboard game.

The keyboard doesn’t feature a USB port or swappable batteries and can only be powered by light, whether that’s the sun or artificial light that hits 200 lux at a minimum. 200 Lux is considered moderately bright lighting, so most lights (especially those in an office) should be able to hit this brightness level. Logitech states that the keyboard’s internal battery is capable of lasting up to 10 years and that even when it’s left in complete darkness, the K980’s battery can last for four months, so as long as you let it sunbath for a while, you should be good.

A pretty basic keyboard that’s powered by light

If only it were more ergonomic

Aside from its unique charging capabilities, the K980 is essentially a standard keyboard, complete with Windows/macOS key labels and a full numeric keypad. Like a lot of modern keyboards, you can swap between three Bluetooth connections with the tap of a button, which I’ve found very useful for jumping between Mac, Windows, and my iPad. There’s also a dedicated AI key that launches Copilot on Windows and Gemini on ChromeOS (it can be customized with the Logi+ app to launch whatever you want, though).

Like most of Logitech’s accessories, the Slim Solar Plus K980 is compatible with Logitech’s Bolt USB adapter, though it isn’t included in the box, which is a strange move on the accessory maker’s part.

A solar-powered keyboard isn’t something I’ve ever really considered, but I like the idea of never having to swap its batteries or plug it in. I prefer more ergonomic keyboards (I’ve been using Logitech’s K850 for several years), but I’ve enjoyed trying out the more MacBook Magic Keyboard-like flat keys featured on the Signature Slim Solar Plus K980. That said, I wish it had a more substantial palm rest because I’ve found that my wrists start to hurt after using the keyboard for a few hours.