Using a keyboard and mouse combo is a simple way to streamline productivity — here's how I found that out

Keychron B36 keyboard and Keychron BM25 mouse photographed in front of a blue background. — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

When I start feeling uninspired, I know it’s time to switch up my work setup. I spend all day, every day, sitting at my desk typing away, so I know firsthand the importance of having one of the best keyboards to work with.

And when you pair one of the best keyboards with the best mouse? Well, then you’re on for a real winner. I know that I can work faster and with more focus if I have equipment I can really trust. I need a stable connection to my computer and, most importantly of all, comfort.

There’s no point in sitting at your computer all day, but being uncomfortable because of the angle of your keyboard or the shape of your mouse. I've just finished testing the Keychron B series combo, which features the Keychron B36 Keyboard and the BM25 Mouse. They both look super sleek together and work like a dream. It got me thinking about whether I prefer uniformity or a mix-and-match approach for my peripherals.

The power of the combo

The best thing about opting for a combo set like this is you know the strengths of the devices will be consistent across both keyboard and mouse. This gives you a level of reassurance if the manufacturer knows what it's doing.

In this case, they're both virtually silent. That means if you work in a shared office space, you’re not going to be distracting your colleagues with clacky keys. Although I generally love the typing sound on a keyboard, working in such quiet gave my mind a little more time to think — I actually ended up liking the quiet.

Both the keyboard and mouse work wirelessly with your computer, so you don’t have to deal with wires all over your desk. Another win for uniformity. Of course, you could pair any old wireless mouse with a wireless keyboard but you may then be stuck with different battery types (coin cell or lithium-ion), charging cable lengths or even charging ports — believe it or not, some budget mice still ship with micro-USB charging.

In this specific case, charging isn’t much of a problem, since the Keychron board has a battery life of 320 hours. The mouse, on the other hand, has a battery life of 98 hours, and while that is much less than the keyboard, it’s still enough to get you through the work week.

When using the 2-in-1 2.4GHz receiver, the mouse and keyboard have a polling rate of 1,000Hz. This means no missed clicks or key presses, so you can be assured the board picks up everything.

Aesthetics

I don’t know about you, but when my setup looks good, I feel good about the work I’m doing. This is everything from having color-coordinated stationery to getting the perfect lighting.

So having a mouse and keyboard that match, and look good, is my idea of heaven. It’s cliché, but I’m serious. When I feel good about working and can look organized, I feel organized.

The board and mouse are pretty simple with teal accents, and their cohesive look on the desk makes me feel really put together while I’m working.

I wish the keyboard had backlighting, though. Since the key caps have a taller profile than an ultra-slim board, they would have benefited from some lighting to bring it to life. Keychron is known for its RGB lighting on its boards, so it’s a real shame that it’s missing from this one.

You can find out more about the keyboard in my full Keychron B36 review.

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Ashley is a staff writer on the the Reviews team at Tom’s Guide. She has a master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and a BA in Journalism, Media and Sociology. She has written for titles including Women’s Health UK, writing health and wellness stories, and Virgin Radio UK, specializing in entertainment news and celebrity interviews. She has reported on a variety of topics including music, literature, motorsport, entertainment and health. She has previously reviewed live music events, books, and wellness products but discovering the top audio equipment on the market is what she does best. When she is not testing out the latest tech, you can find her either curled up with a cup of tea and a good fantasy novel or out hiking.

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