The best wireless keyboards are very convenient, especially if you know how wireless keyboards work. Whether you just prefer to do your web browsing from the bed or if you want some inputs to get used to no matter where you are, the Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse is a nice, compact solution that is incredibly easy to set up, comfortable to use, and effective for just about any purpose shy of gaming. With a roughly laptop-sized keyboard and a small mouse that also houses the wireless receiver when not in use, this set comes with pretty much everything you could need from the best keyboard and mouse for office use.
The keyboard itself is fairly standard, complete with function keys and even selectable number pad keys and volume controls. The keyboard runs off of 2 AAA batteries and just stays on, waiting for inputs. The keys are pushed in comfortably, and it’s very easy to adapt for anybody who spends any amount of time using a laptop. Speaking of comfort, you’ll need to make sure it’s a good fit while you compare low-profile keyboards to high-profile keyboards. The letter keys are spaced more like a traditional desktop computer, which is great for typing, though the other keys tend to be more bunched up and in different places, which means looking around a bit if you’re trying to insert or delete.
To save on battery life, the mouse features an on/off switch on the bottom. More responsive than other optical mice I’ve tried, the Verbatim Mini Wireless Mouse is a comfortable yet small size, works great on almost every surface I tried (including my white desk), and the scroll wheel is smooth but responsive. The fact that the mouse can be used anywhere is a serious perk to consider when you imagine that you might be taking these out to use on a conference room table or a couch arm or anywhere you can think of, really. Knowing that the mouse is going to be responsive on a wide array of surfaces increases the potential uses for a wireless combo like this. If you want to learn more about a universal keyboard that you can use on all your computing devices, check out our Logitech K380 review.
As nice as the Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse are, however, there is still room for improvement. The lack of a power button on the keyboard means that battery life is always draining, albeit slowly, though if you’re carrying the keyboard with you, every time a key is pressed it’s pecking away at the battery. The tiny wireless USB receiver, while convenient in its size, is pretty easy to lose track of if you don’t want to keep removing and replacing the mouse’s battery case to store it. While I’m sure they would make the battery life drop a little faster, some lights on the keyboard to let you know if Num Lock or Caps Lock are activated would go a long way. I also would like to see some kind of USB compatibility so that if your batteries run out and you don’t have a spare set on you, you could still use the keyboard at least. Do you need a keyboard with more keys? What about 104 keys including 60 programmable storage macro keys? For more details, open our Tt eSPORTS Meka G-unit wired keyboard review.
With a solid wireless distance and decent battery life, the Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse make for a very good temporary solution for presentations or the odd situation where you don’t want to stretch cables. Can you connect this keyboard and mouse to an Xbox? Most likely, if you follow the directions. However, because of the reliance strictly on AAA batteries that do wear down after about 15-20 hours, I don’t recommend getting these for use in making your home a bit more mobile or wireless. To avoid using batteries, you’ll want to try the Rii i4 Mini, which uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The products themselves work to specifications and the fact that all it typically takes to get going is plugging them in and putting batteries in goes a long way in my opinion of any wireless device. Finding a regular use for them that makes sense in terms of not constantly buying batteries, on the other hand, is a little harder to do.
Editor’s Rating
[rating:3.5/5]
Very Good
Bottom Line: The Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse isn’t perfect, but it’s more comfortable than the Satechi Blutooth wireless smart keypad. has enough going for it that it should be considered for anybody looking to add some wireless functionality to any computer around. The compatibility across multiple operating systems means that no matter where you are or what you’re doing, getting started is often just as easy as plugging in the wireless USB receiver to the system and going. For a product designed for portability and ease of use, something as pivotal as that simply can not be overlooked. Anyone looking for a replacement for their current keyboard and mouse isn’t going to like shelling out battery money frequently, however.
Pros:
- Full number pad via a function key is a rarity for portable keyboards
- Works with a variety of operating systems simply by plug and play
- Mouse works great on virtually every surface and has a full, clickable scroll wheel
Cons:
- 2 AAA batteries for the keyboard, and another 2 for the mouse, if you use these devices with any degree of long-term frequency, you’ll need to keep a lot of batteries stocked
- Lack of LEDs for Num Lock, Caps Lock, or Scroll Lock means relying on the installable toolbar that comes with the keyboard on a CD to know if you have any enabled
- With no shutoff switch for the keyboard, batteries need to be removed to make sure life isn’t being drained while it stows in your bag or briefcase
The Verbatim Mini Wireless Slim Keyboard and Mouse is available from Amazon for $29.24.
