Office peripherals generally have a bad reputation for being clunky, boring, and not that great for typing. Has that changed considering how far great keyboards and mice have come in 2024 in terms of quality and performance? Enter the Dell KM555, a wireless keyboard and mouse combo kit for office use that I've spent many hours typing with. It's simultaneously better and worse than you'd think, but I can clearly see who this keyboard and mouse are made for.
We can't talk about the Dell KM555 combo without mentioning the price. It costs $50 and includes a wireless keyboard, mouse, disposable batteries, and a 2.4GHz USB receiver. At that price, it's easy to overlook some of the keyboard and mouse's shortcomings, such as mediocre ergonomics and a subpar typing feel. This kit particularly stands out for its extremely quiet operation, which benefits office workers who don't want to bother their colleagues with a noisy keyboard.
About this review: Dell provided a KM555 keyboard and mouse combo for testing. The company had no influence on this article and did not see its contents before publication.
Office peripheral set
Quiet keyboard and mouse from Dell (KM555)
Ideal for keeping your workplace quiet
Dell's Silent Keyboard and Mouse Combo is an affordable peripheral set for office use. You get a keyboard and a mouse for a total of $50, including an initial set of batteries and a 2.4GHz wireless receiver. Both the keyboard and mouse are quiet in operation, ideal for not disturbing those around you. Both input devices can also be paired with two devices at once.
- Supports Bluetooth 5.1 and 2.4 GHz connections with up to two devices
- Both keyboard and mouse are characterized by quiet operation
- The compact form factor does not take up much space on your desk
- Affordable price
- Ergonomics and typing feel are not outstanding
- Rechargeable batteries would have been nice
Prices, specifications and availability
Dell's KM555 combo kit includes a wireless keyboard and mouse and comes in a subtle black. It's available on Dell's website for $50 and includes the batteries you need to get started. The keyboard has a Windows layout, so you'll want to use it with a PC. This combo kit may be available from other retailers in the future, but right now your only option is to buy it directly from Dell.
What I like
There are some premium features hidden in this basic set of office peripherals
Lest you get your hopes up too high, the Dell KM555's keyboard and mouse feel like the peripherals you get in the box of a pre-built Dell tower or Lenovo all-in-one PC. Both peripherals are made mostly of plastic, but the build quality is quite impressive. The KM555's keyboard has virtually no flex anywhere when it's lying flat on the desk, and only a little flex when I try to rotate it in my hands.
The construction of both peripherals is mostly made of plastic, but the build quality is quite impressive.
While these peripherals feel like basic office input devices on the outside, it's the internals that make this kit stand out. The keyboard and mouse come with a 2.4GHz USB receiver that can be cleverly tucked away inside the mouse when not in use. It's USB-A, which is unfortunate in 2024, but makes sense, given that most office desktop towers still rely heavily on the standard. Both the mouse and keyboard also support Bluetooth 5.1 – hardly the latest and greatest Bluetooth technology, but impressive nonetheless. This unlocks multipoint connectivity, allowing you to connect these devices to two computers at once.
It is true that these features are not new and many keyboards and mice, such as the Satechi Slim X2, have multipoint connectivity with three Devices. However, you rarely see something like this in office peripherals in this price range. The mouse has an optical sensor, a programmable scroll wheel and 4200 DPI. The mouse feels better than the keyboard. The shape and ergonomics of the housing could be better, but I didn't have any major problems when testing the KM555 mouse.
You also get a copilot button, as well as some other programmable hotkeys if you're interested in those. The keyboard and mice run on disposable batteries, like the Logitech Wave Keys for Mac that I recently reviewed and didn't like as much. However, Dell promises 36 months of battery life with a single AA battery for the mouse and two AAA batteries for the keyboard, and those are included, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about the battery.
What I don't like
The typing feel and ergonomics could certainly be better
Where these office keyboards usually fail is the typing feel, and that's the case here with the KM555 keyboard. While the key travel is quite good, the membrane pads make for a very spongy and unsatisfying typing feel. There is a positive side to this though: the KM555 is probably the quietest keyboard I've ever used. The mouse is similarly quiet, and this silent operation is perfect for office environments where you don't want to disturb the people around you.
The KM555 is probably the quietest keyboard I have ever used.
The stiff membrane keyboard caused a slight discomfort in my hands and wrists, but I suspect that might subside with time or with a wrist rest. Compared to the mechanical keyboards and even the scissor keyboards I'm used to, the KM555's typing feel and overall ergonomics leave a lot to be desired. But if you've used office keyboards before, you'll know that's nothing new in the category.
Should you buy the Dell KM555 combo?
You should buy the Dell KM555 combo if:
- You want a simple and inexpensive keyboard and mouse combo kit for your PC or laptop
- You want some premium features, like multi-device connectivity and a copilot key
- Quiet operation is one of your top features in a keyboard or mouse
You should NOT buy the Dell KM555 combo if:
- Ergonomics is your top priority
- You don’t like the feel of cheap membrane keyboards
- You need a keyboard that works well with macOS
If you have reasonable expectations for this $50 combo package, the Dell KM555 is a solid option for office use. It's the quietest keyboard and mouse I've used in years, or maybe even ever, and that's really valuable in office environments where things can be noisy. It's also nice that a combo package as inexpensive as this one can still include some modern features, like multi-device connectivity, a copilot button, and Bluetooth 5.1.
If you're willing to pay more, you can certainly get something better, but there's a strong argument to be made that for the same price of the Dell KM555, you can buy multiple sets like one of the best mechanical keyboards.
Office peripheral set
Quiet keyboard and mouse from Dell (KM555)
Ideal for keeping your workplace quiet
If all you need is a simple, small, and quiet keyboard and mouse combo kit for your office, this one from Dell is just what you need. However, I probably don't need to tell you that there are better keyboards and mice out there.