Some people say that freedom can be bought, others disagree. However, when it comes to computers, it seems that the time to free yourself from the wires is closer than ever and that indeed this freedom can be purchased. It is just a matter of how much money you would like to spend. The first two bits of equipment that come to mind are, of course, the rulers of your desk, mouse, and keyboard.
When it comes to pure performance, our gaming friends might want to check the top-quality gaming keyboards list if they are looking for the fastest response times, which are still found on the wired versions in most cases.
If you are, on the other hand, very picky about whether your keyboard is mechanical, but still want the wireless convenience, your best bet is one from our list of best wireless mechanical keyboards.
For those among you who are interested in a combo version, let us see what we have picked for you.
Best Choice: Logitech MK 850 Performance
Pros & Cons
- Comfortable, slightly-wavy design
- Excellent battery life
- Multiple devices and platforms available and easy to switch to and fro
- If you are looking for flashy design, you wonβt find it here.
Key Features:
- Usable on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Easy switch between three devices
- Up to three years on a single pair of AAA batteries
Logitech MK 850 Performance Review
What distinguishes Logitech MK 850 Performance from others of its ilk is that it is positioned in exactly the right place. It is not overly expensive while providing a very comfortable experience. The easy 1-2-3 button layout for choosing the device you are currently connected to is a very slick option that allows you to multitask on different platforms.
The keyboard is slightly curved in the middle, which gives it a kind of wavy look, with a large and soft wrist rest that comes attached. Membrane keys are slightly on the harder side (which fans of mechanical keyboards might prefer) while still offering a pleasant experience when typing.
The mouse is very similar to its more expensive cousin, the MX Master Mouse, although it does not feel as premium as the said model. Logitech software is there to set up function keys, check paired devices, and set some options for the mouse as well, such as pointer keys, smooth scrolling, or scroll wheel direction.
All in all, it is a package that offers everything it should for just the right price.
Premium Pick: Logitech MX 900 and MX Master Mouse Combo
Pros & Cons
- Lightweight, thin but full-size keyboard
- Reliable wireless connection
- Rechargeable battery
- The keyboard is rechargeable, but the mouse requires AAA batteries
Key Features:
- Backlit keyboard
- Logitech perfect stroke key system
- Excellent MX Master Mouse
Logitech MX 900 Performance and MX Master Mouse Combo Review
Unlike its cheaper relative, the MX 850, Logitech MX 900 is flashy and not afraid to show it. The keyboard is backlit, with laser-etched keys and Logitechβs perfect stroke system.
With this model, Logitech decided to ditch AA/AAA batteries in favor of built-in rechargeable ones, which offer up to 10 days of average everyday use. Of course, your mileage may vary.
MX Master Mouse has been a weapon of choice for many content creators and lauded by some well-known names on YouTube. It offers a wide variety of customizable options and additional buttons, while its sensor works on practically any surface, including glass.
If not for the premium price, this would have been our choice for the best combo, however, it is a tad on the expensive side, even for the quality it offers.
Best Value: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 900
Pros & Cons
- Excellent bang for the buck
- Great battery life (up to two years)
- A three-year warranty
- Ergonomic keyboards are not everyoneβs cup of tea
Key Features:
- Quiet-touch keys with customizable buttons
- Full-size mouse with an ambidextrous design
- Advanced Encryption Standard
Microsoft Wireless Desktop 900 Review
Microsoft puts its logo on a large variety of keyboards, but this combo does its thing very well – and does it on the cheap. Thatβs why it is pretty surprising to see it offer AES encryption as well.
The keyboard itself is practically silent, thanks to the quiet-touch keys. The keys can be customized through the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center and the same goes for the mouse, which is comfortable and usable by both right- and left-handed people.
The fun fact is that the mouse has room for two batteries, but it can be used with only one inserted. The second one is basically there to serve as a weight – although it will double the time until you have to change the batteries, of course.
Best Ultraslim: Jelly Comb Ultra Slim
Pros & Cons
- Lightweight, thin but full-size keyboard
- Reliable wireless connection
- Rechargeable battery
- The keyboard is rechargeable, but the mouse requires AAA batteries
Key Features:
- Ultraslim aluminum design
- Mouse can choose from 3 levels of DPI sensitivity
- 2.4 GHz wireless connection
Jelly Comb Ultra Slim Review
This aluminum back keyboard offers a full layout in an ultra-slim package that will be preferred by lovers of simple, minimalistically designed keyboards. If you generally prefer the feeling of a laptop keyboard and have been looking to replicate it in your desktop setup, this might be the one for you.
On a side note, Jelly Comb provides a silicone membrane in the box – which is great if you like to eat and drink while you work or just generally to keep the dust away.
The keyboard itself has a rechargeable battery, however, the mouse uses AAA batteries, which is a bit of a weird choice. This also means that you will get up to 35h of use for the keyboard on one charge, and 85 h for the mouse using 2 AAA batteries.
Best Ergonomic: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 5050
Pros & Cons
- Comfortable use for those who prefer a little more ergonomics
- Built-in palm rest
- Long battery life
- Ergonomic keyboards are not everyoneβs cup of tea
Key Features:
- Comfort Curve Design
- Ambidextrous mouse use
- AES 128 Bit Encryption
Microsoft Wireless Desktop 5050 Review
If you are old enough to remember the technological marvel that was the first Microsoft ergonomic keyboard (also known as Natural Keyboard), and more importantly, if you loved its design, then Desktop 5050 might be just for you.
Times have changed and so did the design, but the ergonomics are here to stay. Alongside the wavy design, the keyboard comes with a built-in palm rest as well. As has become Microsoftβs habit of late, the 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard is also present here, for those of us who tend to get a little paranoid about things we are typing on a wireless connection.
The mouse has BlueTrack Technology, which enables it to work on almost any surface and it is ambidextrous to boot.
Both the mouse and keyboard use AA batteries, which are included in the package, and offer a solid battery life.
Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo: Buying Guide
Battery Life
It is a question of convenience – whether you want cables on your desk or not. However, when it comes to battery life, there might still be a bit of anxiety about whether you might lose power in an important moment – while gaming or trying to quickly answer an important e-mail.
If you do suffer from this sort of fear, you might be better off with using AA/AAA batteries. Manufacturers usually give an estimation of upwards of 6 months when using them.
The other side of the coin – rechargeables – is great because you donβt have to worry. Just plug the cable in when you need to.
Of course, if you feel like this is all too iffy for you and youβve realized you donβt really care about the clutter of wires, feel free to check our best gaming keyboard and mouse combo list.
Regular, Slim, Ergonomic?
As always, this boils down to your personal preference. Some say that they type faster on slim keyboards, others prefer ergonomic ones because of the natural position of the fingers and the wrist. And there is always that one guy who is not satisfied with anything but the most basic design available.
Still, give yourself a chance to try new things, either at a friendβs place or in a store. See what the fuss is about. And if your heart desires something that looks and feels different, why not go through our best ergonomic keyboard choices?
Frequently Asked Questions: Wireless Keyboard/Mouse Combos
Is Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Good?
Gone are the days when people would worry about their wireless keyboards and mice not being good enough. The abundance of choice is out there and you basically canβt be tricked into buying garbage, unless you are looking for the cheapest possible deal – and even then it is hard to make a mistake.
Which is the Best Wireless Keyboard?
The answer to this relies on what your working and gaming habits are – there is no one answer to encompass everything. In the list above you can see our choice for the best combo. Feel free to peruse our best wireless gaming keyboards article for other choices.
What is the Range of Wireless Keyboard and Mouse?
The range very much depends on the model, however, most of them provide more than enough range for you to use them both in front of your PC and your TV, and anywhere in the room, for that matter.
Are Wireless Keyboards Better Than Wired?
There are some areas where they are superior – the ability to move them around the room without having to deal with cables is one of them. However, since they require batteries, which can be either of the AA/AAA variety or built-in rechargeable ones, they are inferior to the wired keyboards in this respect.
Do Wireless Mice Work Through Walls?
When it comes to obstacles, the same rule goes for the wireless and Bluetooth mice – the more objects between the source of the signal and the mouse, the smaller the range of the device.
So, the answer is yes – under the right conditions.
Conclusion
If you are looking for wireless capabilities without having to choose the mouse and the keyboard separately, the combo option is a great one. Still, it means that you are limited to what the manufacturer decides is a good combination. However, if your main goal is to be free of wires and you donβt care a lot about the ins and outs of keyboards and mice, the combo is your best bet.