I've been able to compare the Satechi Slim X1 keyboard to Apple's Magic Keyboard and the Huawei Ultrathin.
For the Huawei; the finish and materials are on-par with Apple's keyboard and perhaps even better, both feel premium. The feet aren't as grippy as the others, their keys are raised more than the others so there's more travel downwards to them, however they feel more like the chiclet wired keyboards Apple used to sell between 2007 and 2017 (but still a little taller). Keystroke and activation of presses is essentially immediately, you need to apply some force to the keys, and as soon as you apply enough, the key snaps right to the bottom like any other apple keyboard. What's nice is has full sized cursor keys and the pg up/down row and the CTRL key in the bottom left corner instead of function (great for FPS gaming with the crouch button being there). The right shift key is very short so anyone that's used to using it for capitalizing letters, will have problems (I did). It works wired too, HOWEVER, The Huawei (at least mine) has a huge issue with the keys; many presses don't register and many stick and repeat; this ONLY happens when in wired mode connected to a Mac (tested on a Hackintosh running Monterey and a 2021 MacBook Pro running Ventura), but when it was connected via Bluetooth, the keyboard worked perfectly. There's also a switch on the back for Mac/Windows that will swap the CMD/Opt button!
Overview of Hauwei Ultrathin:
The Satechi keyboard is nearly perfect; the keys are nearly identical to the old wired chiclet keyboards from Apple, but just a hair more mushy. There is no pg up/down row, and the cursor keys are smaller. The FN key is where the CTRL key should be. Satechi's only problem is that regardless of being wired, it will go into sleep mode if its not been used for 30 minutes and some people will need to press buttons a few times to turn it back on (I haven't experienced that yet) The satechi also feels a little less premium than both Huawei and Apple, but not much. The bluetooth icons to switch between devices are kind of ugly as well. However, the biggest single problem with the Satechi is that when it's connected wired, anytime your desktop is turned off and back on, the Satechi keyboard does NOT turn back on; you'll need to disconnect and reconnect it again or flip the switch on/off at the back of the keyboard to make it work. This is highly annoying if you have it connected to a monitor's USB hub and turn it off overnight. I'm considering returning the Satechi because of this and just getting the Apple Magic Keyboard or the wired version of the Slim X1. However, you can use the Satechi connected via USB-C and still be connected via Bluetooth; doing so also gets around the issue with the keyboard being non-responsive after turn off and back on the computer.
Overview of Satechi Slim X1:
Ultimately, I had to return the Huawei; the repeated keystrokes and keystrokes that weren't registering made it a unusable and I don't want to rely on Bluetooth only, however the battery life on it is supposed to be a year so perhaps that would justify bluetooth without worrying about the need to recharge often (the Satechi's battery life is apparently a little poor). The other problem I had with the Huawei is that I wanted some consistency between my desktop keyboard and my MacBook keyboard; they should be the same layout and size; the Huawei is not, the keys are slightly wider and I was making more mistakes than normal and was hitting the extra pg up/down row on the far right. I could get around this by using BetterTouchTools to disable the keys from registering, but the rest of the keyboard felt too unfamiliar to me and I wasn't as accurate.
If I only had one computer, I would absolutely pick the Huawei and anyone one Windows should absolutely get it, it's a near perfect keyboard even if it's not backlit (it shouldn't be a deal broker because nobody really looks at their keyboard when typing anyway).
I'm going to continue using the Satechi Slim X1 wireless for a bit longer and make a dedicated post to these keyboards. For anyone looking into compact low profile keyboards, consider the Keychron K series. Logitech makes low profile keyboards as well, however NONE of them work wired, which is why I ruled them out.
Review on the Apple Magic Keyboard:
It's bluetooth signal strength seems to be much better than Satechi's. I'm only about an hour or so into using it and so far it's signal is much more reliable than the Satechi... which is weird, because in Windows the bluetooth connectivity is total opposite; the Satechi pairs perfectly and the Magic Keyboard doesn't pair at all. It's like there's some kind of preference for Apple's products (wouldnt surprise me if Apple did some shady tactics like this, they're know for it). The keyboard itself though, I honestly prefer the Satechi. The Magic Keyboard while NICE, the keys are really 'flat'. There's so little travel to them. The Satechi has a more clicky/tactile feel to it. I dont get the 'mushy' feeling from it anymore, but rather A LITTLE more like a mechanical keyboard feel. Coming from a MacBook Pro, I seem to be typing a little faster on this than the Satechi, as it's even more familiar. Mac OS does display the remaining battery life, which is nice, the Satechi just display 100% non-stop.
In Windows, the Magic Keyboard doesn't work 100%; the media keys dont work, even by holding FN.
I kind of wish Satechi just made some more refinements to their Slim X1; it's prettier, the LED backlight is great, it connects to three devices, it works perfectly in Windows (including media keys) the tactile keys feel better and finally, my money isn't going to a greedy company that has way too much money and power. The Satechi however, given it's poor bluetooth signal and the really annoying issue with the keyboard NOT turning on when your computer is turned on from a completely off state, it's going to drive me bonkers. It's honestly unfortunate how close Satechi got to make a 'killer' keyboard.
For the Huawei; the finish and materials are on-par with Apple's keyboard and perhaps even better, both feel premium. The feet aren't as grippy as the others, their keys are raised more than the others so there's more travel downwards to them, however they feel more like the chiclet wired keyboards Apple used to sell between 2007 and 2017 (but still a little taller). Keystroke and activation of presses is essentially immediately, you need to apply some force to the keys, and as soon as you apply enough, the key snaps right to the bottom like any other apple keyboard. What's nice is has full sized cursor keys and the pg up/down row and the CTRL key in the bottom left corner instead of function (great for FPS gaming with the crouch button being there). The right shift key is very short so anyone that's used to using it for capitalizing letters, will have problems (I did). It works wired too, HOWEVER, The Huawei (at least mine) has a huge issue with the keys; many presses don't register and many stick and repeat; this ONLY happens when in wired mode connected to a Mac (tested on a Hackintosh running Monterey and a 2021 MacBook Pro running Ventura), but when it was connected via Bluetooth, the keyboard worked perfectly. There's also a switch on the back for Mac/Windows that will swap the CMD/Opt button!
Overview of Hauwei Ultrathin:
- Compact 75%'ish layout with Home Row
- 1 Year Battery Life via Bluetooth
- Retains forward delete button
- Mac/Windows Switch
- Keys are taller than an A1242 / A1243 Apple keyboard (2.5mm travel)
- Right Shift Key is shorter than standard
- Full sized cursor keys
- Layout is slightly wider than Apple keyboards, will take time getting used to though may be problematic for people switching between this an an Apple keyboard
- Fantastic build quality, perhaps better than Apple's
- No backlit keys
- Does not come with a USB-C cable (I think we all have plenty of those lying around anyway)
The Satechi keyboard is nearly perfect; the keys are nearly identical to the old wired chiclet keyboards from Apple, but just a hair more mushy. There is no pg up/down row, and the cursor keys are smaller. The FN key is where the CTRL key should be. Satechi's only problem is that regardless of being wired, it will go into sleep mode if its not been used for 30 minutes and some people will need to press buttons a few times to turn it back on (I haven't experienced that yet) The satechi also feels a little less premium than both Huawei and Apple, but not much. The bluetooth icons to switch between devices are kind of ugly as well. However, the biggest single problem with the Satechi is that when it's connected wired, anytime your desktop is turned off and back on, the Satechi keyboard does NOT turn back on; you'll need to disconnect and reconnect it again or flip the switch on/off at the back of the keyboard to make it work. This is highly annoying if you have it connected to a monitor's USB hub and turn it off overnight. I'm considering returning the Satechi because of this and just getting the Apple Magic Keyboard or the wired version of the Slim X1. However, you can use the Satechi connected via USB-C and still be connected via Bluetooth; doing so also gets around the issue with the keyboard being non-responsive after turn off and back on the computer.
Overview of Satechi Slim X1:
- Near identical layout and feel as any Apple keyboard, very slight adjustment required
- Keys are a tad wider, but also taller; the half size Function keys allows for the rest of the keys to be taller
- Great tactile feedback, similar to A1242 / A1243 keyboards, slightly more mushy than Apple's Magic Keyboards
- Relatively poor battery life (44 total working hours and 13 days of standby) though many people are reporting over a months use at 8 hours a day
- Charge time is only 2-3 hours.
- LED light will indicate when battery is low.
- Keyboard does not function when used wired and computer is turned on; the switch at the back requires it to be turned off/on or the keyboard plugged in once again. VERY annoying. To switch between wired/wireless, you press FN+Eject.
- Backlighting is good, but a MacBook keyboards are a bit better
- There is a wired only version of this
Ultimately, I had to return the Huawei; the repeated keystrokes and keystrokes that weren't registering made it a unusable and I don't want to rely on Bluetooth only, however the battery life on it is supposed to be a year so perhaps that would justify bluetooth without worrying about the need to recharge often (the Satechi's battery life is apparently a little poor). The other problem I had with the Huawei is that I wanted some consistency between my desktop keyboard and my MacBook keyboard; they should be the same layout and size; the Huawei is not, the keys are slightly wider and I was making more mistakes than normal and was hitting the extra pg up/down row on the far right. I could get around this by using BetterTouchTools to disable the keys from registering, but the rest of the keyboard felt too unfamiliar to me and I wasn't as accurate.
If I only had one computer, I would absolutely pick the Huawei and anyone one Windows should absolutely get it, it's a near perfect keyboard even if it's not backlit (it shouldn't be a deal broker because nobody really looks at their keyboard when typing anyway).
I'm going to continue using the Satechi Slim X1 wireless for a bit longer and make a dedicated post to these keyboards. For anyone looking into compact low profile keyboards, consider the Keychron K series. Logitech makes low profile keyboards as well, however NONE of them work wired, which is why I ruled them out.
Review on the Apple Magic Keyboard:
It's bluetooth signal strength seems to be much better than Satechi's. I'm only about an hour or so into using it and so far it's signal is much more reliable than the Satechi... which is weird, because in Windows the bluetooth connectivity is total opposite; the Satechi pairs perfectly and the Magic Keyboard doesn't pair at all. It's like there's some kind of preference for Apple's products (wouldnt surprise me if Apple did some shady tactics like this, they're know for it). The keyboard itself though, I honestly prefer the Satechi. The Magic Keyboard while NICE, the keys are really 'flat'. There's so little travel to them. The Satechi has a more clicky/tactile feel to it. I dont get the 'mushy' feeling from it anymore, but rather A LITTLE more like a mechanical keyboard feel. Coming from a MacBook Pro, I seem to be typing a little faster on this than the Satechi, as it's even more familiar. Mac OS does display the remaining battery life, which is nice, the Satechi just display 100% non-stop.
In Windows, the Magic Keyboard doesn't work 100%; the media keys dont work, even by holding FN.
I kind of wish Satechi just made some more refinements to their Slim X1; it's prettier, the LED backlight is great, it connects to three devices, it works perfectly in Windows (including media keys) the tactile keys feel better and finally, my money isn't going to a greedy company that has way too much money and power. The Satechi however, given it's poor bluetooth signal and the really annoying issue with the keyboard NOT turning on when your computer is turned on from a completely off state, it's going to drive me bonkers. It's honestly unfortunate how close Satechi got to make a 'killer' keyboard.
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