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【Hardcore Gadget Geek's Review】Logicool Alto Keys K98M Review: Out Feb 26, JPY 18,590, a Quiet Gasket-Mount Keyboard With a 12-Month Battery
The Logicool Alto Keys K98M is Logicool's first wireless mechanical keyboard with a gasket mount. It went on sale Feb 26, 2026, at JPY 18,590 direct (open price). It is my pick for quietness and easy switching if you type for work every day.
Key points
- Release date: Feb 26, 2026. JPY 18,590 direct (open price)
- 98% Japanese layout, 401×147×39.6mm, about 1.1kg. Bluetooth and Logi Bolt, switching among up to 3 devices
- Up to 12 months with the backlight off. Logicool's own linear "Marble Switch"
[Released Feb 26, 2026] Logicool Alto Keys K98M
The K98M is a work keyboard whose gasket mount cuts the impact on your fingers
With a keyboard you use every day, the impact on your fingers and the typing sound change how tired you get. The K98M, Logicool's first gasket-mount design, softens that impact.
A silicone layer called the "UniCushion gasket" sits between the top and bottom case and absorbs the vibration of each keystroke.
As an IT consultant (SE), I read the footnote before the headline number. The 12 months of battery is a figure with the backlight off.
How I judged it
First, connection. Bluetooth and Logi Bolt let you switch among up to 3 devices with one button. It helps if you move between a work PC, a home PC and a tablet.
Next, battery. With the backlight off it lasts up to 12 months, charged over USB-C. Work is unlikely to stop because of a dead battery.
If you can't decide, take the K98M. The reason: for JPY 18,590 you get the soft gasket typing, 3-device switching and a 12-month battery together.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Logicool Alto Keys K98M Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
Rakuten Ichiba is a Japanese marketplace. Overseas shipping depends on the shop.
Buying from outside Japan? Sign up free for Rakuten Global Express (Rakuten's official forwarding service) and check out with its Japan warehouse address → full guide
When did the K98M come out? Price and specs
| Item | K98M |
|---|---|
| Release date | Feb 26, 2026 |
| Price | JPY 18,590 direct (open price) |
| Layout | Japanese layout, 98% (numpad and arrow keys) |
| Switch | Own linear "Marble Switch" (red-switch equivalent) |
| Connection | Bluetooth, Logi Bolt (up to 3 devices, Easy-Switch) |
| Battery | Built in, USB-C charging (up to 12 months with the backlight off) |
| Size and weight | 401×147×39.6mm, about 1.1kg |
| Colors | Graphite, off-white |
Letters and symbols are double-shot printed, so the paint will not wear off. Complex marks such as hiragana and kanji are printed instead. The case uses recycled plastic.
How does it differ from the G316 X 98?
| Item | K98M | G316 X 98 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Work, general use | Gaming | ― |
| Connection | Wireless (3 devices) | Wired (up to 8,000Hz) | ― |
| Weight | About 1.1kg | 880g | −220g (about −20%) |
| Size | 401×147×39.6mm | 384×140×40mm | −17mm in width |
| Switch swapping | Hot-swap (may be outside official support on the K98M) | ― | |
Both are 98% boards. Logicool says the K98M is designed for work, not for latency-sensitive games, because of how its wireless links work.
If you want gaming too, the wired G316 X 98 at up to 8,000Hz is the easy choice.
Strengths and things to note
Strengths
Soft typing. The PC Watch writer says there is still a bottoming-out feel, but it is much lighter on the fingers than other mechanical boards.
No gaps as a work tool. 3-device switching, a 12-month battery and the space-saving 98% layout come together in one board.
Things to note
For a non-gaming keyboard it is thick, and some people will want a wrist rest. At about 1.1kg it is not for carrying around.
Who is it for?
People who type long text and tables every day. People who share one keyboard among two or three PCs and tablets. It also suits anyone looking for a quiet typing feel.
If you want to game, the wired G316 X 98 is another way to choose.
Price and where to buy
JPY 18,590 direct, also sold at Logicool's official Rakuten store. Over three years that is about JPY 17 a day (18,590 ÷ 1,095).
If you can't decide, take the K98M. The reason: the soft gasket typing, 3-device switching and a battery of up to 12 months come together.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Logicool Alto Keys K98M Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
Rakuten Ichiba is a Japanese marketplace. Overseas shipping depends on the shop.
Buying from outside Japan? Sign up free for Rakuten Global Express (Rakuten's official forwarding service) and check out with its Japan warehouse address → full guide
To compare three Logicool keyboards, see the best mechanical keyboards. For the screen, read the best 4K monitors, and for gaming the best gaming mice.
FAQ
When did the Alto Keys K98M come out in Japan?
It went on sale Feb 26, 2026. The direct price is JPY 18,590, an open price.
Can I game on the K98M?
It is not made for that. Because of how its wireless links work, it is designed for work and general use. For gaming, the wired G316 X 98 fits.
How many devices can the K98M switch among?
Up to 3. You switch with one button over Bluetooth and Logi Bolt.
About the writer and sources
Written by a desk-setup nerd who works as an IT consultant (SE). At work, I read the footnotes behind a spec before the headline number, and I built the tables here the same way.
Release dates and prices were re-checked on Oct 26 against the makers' announcements and Rakuten Ichiba listings. Sources are listed below.
