Review: Alogic's Echelon Series Delivers Budget-Friendly Keyboard and Mouse Accessories

[bradman83]

You can buy a Raspberry Pi in the form-factor of a keyboard... it looks like this keyboard. Disappointed that this keyboard, however, has no computer built in.

It does make me wonder... could Apple replace the MacMini with a similar keyboard with the whole computer built-in, now that they've switched to the M-series?

In theory yes Apple could fit an M-series Mac inside of the keyboard, but it would be wildly impractical given you’d potentially have multiple cables coming out of the back depending on how many displays and peripherals you use.

The current Mini tucked away to the side of the desk or underneath with a wireless keyboard and mouse is a much cleaner setup.

 

[steve333]

I'd like to see a wired keyboard.
I used to like MacAlly but I tried 2 models and they both were cheap feeling and I returned them.
Sad to see a company just give up like that

 

[svish]

Looks like a decent keyboard and mouse.

 

[KaliYoni]

A keyboard "designed for Mac" with Print Screen/SysRq, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break keys? (And a weird "home folder" key in the bottom right?) Sounds a lot like they took their PC keyboard, changed Alt and Win, found some weird use for the menu key since it was already there, and forgot about everything else.

Plus the number pad is not the same as on Apple's keyboards (no "=" key is the biggest difference).

 

[TheOldChevy]

You can buy a Raspberry Pi in the form-factor of a keyboard... it looks like this keyboard. Disappointed that this keyboard, however, has no computer built in.

It does make me wonder... could Apple replace the MacMini with a similar keyboard with the whole computer built-in, now that they've switched to the M-series?

Good old days...

 

[star-affinity]

I know this is a sponsored post but you're kinda robbing yourself by spending this much when you can just get Keychron gear for a little more for a much better experience. All MacOS compatible as well.

I know someone mentioned that the Keychron keyboards don't have the left Command and X keys ”right-aligned” (if you see what I mean). Maybe not too much of a concern for most people, but I do think there is a point to it that not many keyboards except Apple's has this layout, but these from Alogic does.

 

[RedWeasel]

It does make me wonder... could Apple replace the MacMini with a similar keyboard with the whole computer built-in, now that they've switched to the M-series?

They probably could. But this way, they can sell you a computer and a keyboard, so they probably won’t.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

The membrane-style keyboard with chiclet keys has some similarities to Apple's Magic Keyboard for Mac, though you obviously don't have an option for an integrated Touch ID key with Alogic's offering

And it’s dead on arrival. Needs to have TouchID built in, which unfortunately Apple will likely never license due to potential security risks associated with it.

Unlike Apple's Magic Keyboard which inexplicably still uses Lightning to charge

This was done to keep the keyboard as thin as possible. Unless EU mandates it (iPhone’s switch to USB-C was to increase I/O speed for transfers which was limited on Lightning) it will stay that way for foreseeable future.

 

[chucker23n1]

In theory yes Apple could fit an M-series Mac inside of the keyboard, but it would be wildly impractical given you’d potentially have multiple cables coming out of the back depending on how many displays and peripherals you use.

I mean… that's basically how many home computers of the 1980s worked. You can also have some ports to the sides, just like on a laptop.

But I am indeed unconvinced that this would win many users compared to the Mac mini (which is already not a huge seller).

 

[Fuzzball84]

Even that mouse has to be more comfortable than Apples attempt at a mouse.

Of all the accessories Apple has, the mouse is just the worst.

And it’s odd, as on the flip side they make some of the best trackpads available 🤔

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

You can buy a Raspberry Pi in the form-factor of a keyboard... it looks like this keyboard. Disappointed that this keyboard, however, has no computer built in.

It does make me wonder... could Apple replace the MacMini with a similar keyboard with the whole computer built-in, now that they've switched to the M-series?

If you consider the 11" iPads or any of the latest iPhones, then, yes, Apple could fit a Mac mini inside a keyboard.

However, considering how many Mac mini buyers get a mini to fit into a rack mounts, and have done so for 10+ years(?), I don't see Apple changing the minis design anytime soon.

The "ergonomics" of the mini being a BOD also doesn't go well with how a lot (most?!) of users hook it up to a huge monitor and sit at a wireless keyboard a few feet away from the mini and display.

-Next to nobody in 2024 wants a HDMI cable, or really any cable, running across their desk from their keyboard to a display.

Not happening.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

And it’s dead on arrival. Needs to have TouchID built in, which unfortunately Apple will likely never license due to potential security risks associated with it.

This was done to keep the keyboard as thin as possible. Unless EU mandates it (iPhone’s switch to USB-C was to increase I/O speed for transfers which was limited on Lightning) it will stay that way for foreseeable future.

There are no requirements for specific data transfer speeds set by the EU mandate. It's first and foremost about charging and charging cable interoperability across all product categories and brands.

It's not about destroying Lightning devices or dictating what's superior. It's about prohibiting nonsensical proprietary solutions for one of the most essential and basic functions of small electronics, charging.

 

[rickpdx]

Accessory company Alogic recently launched a few new input devices with Mac support as part of its Echelon series, and I've been spending some time testing out the USB-C Rechargeable Wireless Keyboard for macOS and the USB-C Rechargeable Wireless Mouse.

The Echelon series is a budget-friendly line of accessories, seeking to offer a mid-range feature set at value pricing, and the mouse and keyboard do just that. The keyboard is priced at $59.99 and the mouse at $24.99, with Alogic frequently running promotional discounts of around 20% to bring prices down even further.

Echelon USB-C Rechargeable Wireless Keyboard for macOS

Alogic's keyboard offers a full-size 109-key layout with function row and number pad. The membrane-style keyboard with chiclet keys has some similarities to Apple's Magic Keyboard for Mac, though you obviously don't have an option for an integrated Touch ID key with Alogic's offering. I've found the keys to be well spaced to allow for smooth typing, and have not experienced any problems with missing keystrokes, double letters, or other issues.

The Echelon keyboard offers a traditional extended keyboard layout, optimized for Mac with key arrangement and labels such as Command. The function keys in the top row include most of the usual Mac-specific functions such as display brightness controls, Spotlight, Mission Control, Launchpad, media playback controls, mute, volume controls, and even one to jump straight to your home folder when you're in Finder. There's also a dedicated system sleep key in that top row. In the bottom row, there's another dedicated key that will open up your Downloads folder when Finder is active.

At the far right of the keyboard is the number pad, which includes the usual layout of number and arithmetic keys, plus a top row that serves double duty for switching among paired devices and as dedicated keys for select all, cut, copy, and paste.

Unlike Apple's Magic Keyboard which inexplicably still uses Lightning to charge, Alogic's Echelon keyboard charges over USB-C, and a white braided USB-C to USB-C cable is included in the box. Alogic says the battery lasts "weeks" between charges, but the battery level on my unit has barely dropped at all after several days of heavy usage, so I'm expecting charge intervals to be on the order of a couple of months, similar to what I see with the Magic Keyboard.

It is worth noting that Alogic's keyboard goes to sleep within a few minutes of going idle, even if the computer it's connected to remains active, and you'll need to hit a key on it and wait a beat for the keyboard to wake up before you can begin typing. That took a little getting used to for me given my long-term experience with the Magic Keyboard that pretty much always seems to be ready to go.

The Alogic keyboard easily connects to Apple devices over Bluetooth using the standard pairing steps, with support for both Bluetooth 3.0 and Bluetooth 5.0 included. One distinct advantage compared to Apple's Magic Keyboard is that the Echelon supports connections to up to three devices, so you can pair it to your Mac, your iPad, and even another device and easily switch between those devices with a key combo.

Overall, I've found Alogic's Echelon USB-C Rechargeable Wireless Keyboard for macOS to be a solid budget keyboard, with a slim profile, a solid typing experience, and a nice set of key functions. The matte white plastic is a clean look that complements the Apple aesthetic, though I'll have to see how well it holds up to picking up dirt and stains over time. I do miss having Touch ID right on my external keyboard, but if that's not a deal-breaker for you, this keyboard might be worth a look. It's normally priced at $59.99, but an Independence Day sale going on now knocks the price down to $48.00 with promo code ID20.

Echelon USB-C Rechargeable Wireless Mouse

Alogic's new mouse is a well-matched complement to the Echelon keyboard, coming in the same matte white plastic. It's an ambidextrous mouse, so it's a simple matter of switching between left and right hands in macOS settings, though it's not as ergonomic as a handed mouse.

The Echelon mouse includes the standard left and right mouse buttons and a scroll wheel in between them. The scroll wheel can also be pressed to act as a middle mouse button, but that's it as far as input options on this mouse. There are no additional side or thumb buttons, so if those are something that's become part of your workflow, this mouse isn't for you, at least as an everyday mouse.

The left and right mouse buttons have relatively quiet clicks, which I tend to like, but the middle scroll wheel button is quite loud. Fortunately, that one isn't needed nearly as often so it's not a significant issue. The scroll wheel has well-defined clicks as you scroll to help you feel the movement, but there's no inertial free-spinning capability for quickly scrolling long pages or documents as I have come to appreciate on the Logitech MX Master 3 mouse that has been my daily driver for many years.

At just $24.99 for a wireless mouse, this is definitely a budget pick, and it does show in the overall experience, especially when you're used to a more powerful option. Alogic's Echelon mouse is extremely lightweight, and I find it glides best with some sort of desk pad or mat under it for a better feel, though it is certainly usable on a bare desk surface.

Alogic's Echelon mouse supports both Bluetooth 3.0 and Bluetooth 5.0, and it easily connects to a Mac or iPad using the system settings, but the mouse also supports 2.4GHz connections that can deliver improved performance such as lower latency. That 2.4GHz support comes via a small USB-A dongle that conveniently fits into the underside of the... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: Alogic's Echelon Series Delivers Budget-Friendly Keyboard and Mouse Accessories

It's not inexplicable why Apple chose to continue using Lightning ports on its keyboard and mouse for recharging. It's utterly explicable and predictable, since Apple has a long history of releasing updated products that are missing just one piece of the latest technology even after it's well-established. This is a classic Apple strategy to drive more sales. Love your Apple mouse and keyboard, except wouldn't it be nice to have USB-C? Too bad. If you want a new Mac, we'll only sell you one with Lightning connectors for the keyboard and mouse, so you'll have to purchase new ones a year later when we finally release them with USB-C connectors. This pattern is long-standing and unfortunately shows no sign of ending.

 

[MDomino]

Pff, as long as I can still use the mouse while it's charging, I'm not interested. 😤

 

[0423MAC]

A little off to feel completely at home with macOS and I wish it had a backlit keyboard.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

I don't see how this keyboard and mouse are any better (features or price) than all the 3rd party stuff already on the market.

Why come out with a new box of paper clips when there are already plenty of paper clips available?

 

[agregson]

Sure, if you want a fat, warm keyboard with several cables coming out of it.

Pi400 never feels warm and decent to use. a single usb-c to PD display or ASD would be nice.

 

[iamasmith]

If you are putting out an Apple compatible product then my bet is you are going to do better sales if you don't put your logo on the top.. and it actually looks good. Reasoning for advertising people, if they are buying on a budget it's for home and it's only going to annoy them and nobody else will see it. If somebody is blogging with it and showing how great it is the product name will get a mention. Put the logos on the bottom is my advice.

 

[Tago]

Don`t know.... Do the savings on pherperials like keyboards, mice, monitors, speakers++?

I`d rather do som spending there, as it is in fact the stuff you always are using interacting with your computer to do whatever you do. With decent speakers you`ll have good sound no matter what the system performance is. With poor speakers, you`ll have trashy poor sound no matter how well your system performs.

Get good pherperials for long term ownership.

Get the best (for your usage/needs) you can afford within your budget, and think long term. Which a.o. includes USB C. If your pherperials are up for long term demands, you only have to upgrade when your performance demands exceeds the spec of your computer. and get to disregard everything else. It lowers the cost of ownership/performance over time. Buying cheap stuff is expensive.

 

[Ad47uk]

I'm just thrilled to see a mouse that I can charge without needing to flip it upside down.

I have a Logitech lift vertical mouse, no charging needed at all, it uses one AA size batteryand so far it is still working 18 months later, and I use it most days. So not bad at all.

 

[jimimac71]

I'm just thrilled to see a mouse that I can charge without needing to flip it upside down.

I am puzzled as to what is what on the bottom of the mouse, even with making the picture larger.

 

[lowendlinux]

That going to sleep and having to hit a button to wake it up then waiting a beat to use it is the reason I don't use my Keychron bluetooth keyboard it always drove me nuts

 

[amartinez1660]

LOL.

Imagine needing a dongle to charge something.

Imagine losing it and then having to whip out the ole' lighting cable anyway.

Imagine being so cool you can downplay the importance of having the same charging standard for every device which a significant part of the tech community has wanted for years now.

Imagine 120hz being a "pro" feature.

Imagine.

Some points might be valid, but me personally I still find the lightning connector shorter, lighter, slimmer and so much easier to juggle around when plugging and unplugging anything.

Also, while sure it’s nice that everything has been homogenized to be USB-C today, that’s a specification that got introduced 10 years ago already.
And likely stay that way even if newer and better could be developed because any attempt at evolving from has the higher than zero chance that it will be met with fines and whatnot thrown that way.

I just don’t find it quite the black or white convenience win.

 

[Tago]

All I know is I always get a full numeric keyboard. As a science guy I need a lot of numbers.

For users mainly using laptop keyboards, I`d argue using something as identical as possible would make a lot of sense. Less typos ++. Eventually did that as a long time ThinkPad user, and whilst being mostly satisfied with the Logitech MX Keys for Mac, it IS different to the MacBook Pro keyboard. Getting one with numeric was a mistake. Had far less typos with identical keyboards.
Then again, whatever suits your usage/preference best is what you need.

LOL.

Turns out these exist and are dirt cheap. I take one second to attach one to my USB-C cable when I need to charge the numerous devices I have that use Lightning, and then I go on with my day.

View attachment 2392857

I`m ok with having a spare old cable for each of the anicent connectors, but replacing stuff I want homogenisation. Not dongles.

Some points might be valid, but me personally I still find the lightning connector shorter, lighter, slimmer and so much easier to juggle around when plugging and unplugging anything.

Also, while sure it’s nice that everything has been homogenized to be USB-C today, that’s a specification that got introduced 10 years ago already.
And likely stay that way even if newer and better could be developed because any attempt at evolving from has the higher than zero chance that it will be met with fines and whatnot thrown that way.

I just don’t find it quite the black or white convenience win.

Sure, Lightening is ok.

But I rather have as few cables as possible, and standardisation to USB C is advantageous to get there. Right now, I have a coctail, and way more cables than desireable. Won`t get an Apple keyboard until they are on USB C (where`s the backlight??)

Well aware of the different (and a tad annoying) various standards for USB C, but the only stuff I need high performance for is the monitor (yup, I excluded every monitor without USB C when I got it almost 3 years ago) and my backup SSD. My headset was the last stuff I bought without USB C, and it still annoys me as Beats (crap sound, barely used) should have gone USB C well before that.

Would be a great favour from Apple if they go all in USB C / Thunderbolt 4 then 5 for all Mac Minis/Studios, getting rid of USB A and HDMI entirely. It helps the monitor/display manufacturers cleaning up their connection regime too. There should be only USB C video connectors on a monitor.

10 years, and the industry keeps dragging their feet. USB A / Lightening +++ should have ceased to exist whereever possible for new gear at least 5 years ago, and we would have been out of this mess by now.

 

[theluggage]

It does make me wonder... could Apple replace the MacMini with a similar keyboard with the whole computer built-in, now that they've switched to the M-series?

I wouldn't completely dismiss the idea of a computer/keyboard - if Apple wanted to make a $300 Mac that people could plug into their TVs... but part of the point of the Mac Mini/Studio is that you can choose your own keyboard, pointing device and display (or use ones you already have). Part of the original pitch for the Mini was "Bring your own keyboard, display and mouse".

Also, one reason for choosing a desktop over a laptop is that you might need a lot of wired devices connected (network, external drives etc.) which can be impractical for a laptop or "keyboard computer" needing a dock - which you don't need for a Mac Mini.

This is literally the form factor of most computers in the 70's-80's haha

It made sense at the time. Now, realistically, the form factor of "most" home/personal computers is laptop (or even phone) and people who want desktops want them for a reason.

...and I think part of the appeal of the Pi 400 mentioned above is nostalgia and retro-computing - although it's a very capable little system in itself, the PI has also been seen as the spiritual successor to the BBC Micro and ZX Spectrum. I bet you an internet that a significant proportion of sales go to people wanting to run 8-bit emulators - yes, there's one for Apple ][ as well!

Wouldn’t people in a budget look for a keyboard for less that $50?

"budget" is relative - and defensible for something 1/4 of the price of the Magic Keyboard with numpad or about half the price of a Logitech MX keys, 1/3 the price of a MX Mechanical...

Most of these third party keyboards don’t solve any problems or offer any advantages.

The #1, overriding, end-of-argument feature of a keyboard is do you find it comfortable to type on? There's a huge element of personal preference in that, and it doesn't matter whether Apple keyboards are "good" or "bad" - third party alternatives provide choice. Ideally, if buying a keyboard or mouse, I'd go to a store (remember those?) and choose them pretty much by "feel".

That's why I used to use third-party keyboards on Macs - often replacing Apple keyboards - until the OG Apple aluminium "chiclet" Apple keyboard - and MacBooks with the same mechansm - came along and converted me. Sadly, though, while the Magic keyboards escaped the "butterfly" debacle they did get "improved" with a shorter keystroke, larger key caps and a "flatter" angle. I did get one with my 2017 iMac and tried to give it a chance, but kept going back to the old Al keyboard. Subjectively, I don't like typing on the Magic KB so much and make more mistakes. Less subjectively - although my 2017 Magic keyboard has only had about 6 months of actual use, the legends are already wearing off (they're in about the same state as the ones on my Al keyboard after 7 years of regular use) and the whole thing has sagged in the middle to touch the desk, so it now starts to swivel round in use. Not surprising since it's thinner and lighter than the AL model despite containing a battery and lacks the Al's reenforcing ridge on the back. In short, IMHO, it's an expensive piece of tat, and when the last of my old Al keyboards bites the dust I'll certainly looking for a 3rd party option (which is a pain because there's less choice here in the UK because of the weird Apple layout).

Needs to have TouchID built in, which unfortunately Apple will likely never license due to potential security risks associated with it.

Yes, the biggest downside of non-Apple keyboards is the lack of Touch ID, but for my money that doesn't outweigh the #1 function of the keyboard. Now, if Apple fixed it so that you could use TouchID/FaceID on your iPhone to unlock the Mac (the Watch does it so why can't the iPhone?) they might sell me an iPhone esp. because you increasingly need a phone for two-factor auth anyway.

Oh, the horror of having to use one of the many, many lightning cables I already own from years of buying iPhones. What a nightmare!

C.f. the horror of needing to have a single extra USB-C cable weighing a few grams, which would have come with your new Magic device anyway.

OK, neither is really a deal-breaker - but its annoying on a premium-priced keyboard and after pushing USB-C so heavily on Macs since 2016.

(Then, I don't want a Magic Keyboard or Mouse anyway - and while I do think the Magic Trackpad is, indeed, magic, there are some things that still work best with a mouse and it hasn't been magic enough to keep me away from my MX Master.)

It's not inexplicable why Apple chose to continue using Lightning ports on its keyboard and mouse for recharging.

Except those products were released after Apple started moving to USB-C (the 12" MacBook was out - and the USB-C only MacBook Pros would have been well down the pipeline) for all things Mac. Its usually the Mac that you want to plug your Magic device into, becaus, apart from charging, its also used to pair and - one nice feature of the Magic KB and Trackpad is that they work as wired devices if you're having issues with Bluetooth interference.

OK, plenty of people would already have lightning cables - but not every Mac user has an iPhone, anybody with a remotely recent MacBook has USB-C charge cables - and they give you the appropriate cable with the Magic device anyway.