The unique Logitech G915 was a slick-looking, slimline gaming keyboard however with a number of facets that, notably looking back, lowered its enchantment. Now Logitech’s again with a brand new model that features higher switches, new keycaps, a thicker aluminum chassis, and extra choices for personalisation too. I bought my fingers on the brand new Logitech G915 X to see the way it all provides up.
Whereas the unique model of the Logitech G915 could have dropped off our greatest gaming keyboard information, it stays a good little gaming keyboard should you’re after a low-profile design. Nonetheless, the brand new model is clearly the higher possibility should you’re trying to improve now, based mostly on our preliminary time with it.
At a look, the Logitech G915 X appears to be like remarkably just like the older G915. It sports activities the identical low-profile design, with its white-on-aluminum and black-on-black anodized aluminum coloration choices, and its aluminum prime plate curving across the edges of the keyboard to type a rounded-edged profile. It appears to be like sensible, although it lacks the actually premium modern look and customisation that may be achieved with even higher-end keyboards, such because the Drop CSTM80 and Superb GMMK 3.
Crucially, although, Logitech has elevated the thickness of the aluminum on this new model, from 1.2.mm to 1.5.mm. This noticeably boosts the rigidity of the board, making the aluminum really feel much less like a “as a result of aluminum is in trend” token addition and extra of a structural enhancement. It’s nonetheless not a board that rivals the heft of the above alternate options however that is, in spite of everything, a slim keyboard designed to be mild and moveable.
The keyswitch and keycap setup has additionally been noticeably improved. Not solely do the linear switches really feel noticeably smoother than my reminiscence of the tactile switches used on the unique Logitech G915 I reviewed all these years in the past, however the system used right here goes to be much more helpful for tinkering. Logitech has switched from its “hook-style” stem to an ordinary cross-style stem, which ought to imply the keycaps are appropriate with the broader vary of Cherry MX cross-style keycaps.
You’ll nonetheless have to select from the narrower collection of low-profile keycaps – until you desire a distinctly odd-looking low-profile keyboard with high-profile keycaps, however that also leaves a a lot wider choice than the older mannequin.
The included keycaps have additionally improved in high quality, with them now produced from PBT plastic, which is harder-wearing than cheaper ABS. They’re additionally made utilizing the double-shot manufacturing methodology, which suggests the shine-through legends on the keys are shaped from two injection-molded layers of plastic, quite than the legends simply being printed on the floor of clear plastic. This makes them way more hard-wearing.
What’s extra, in contrast to a number of double-shot PBT keycaps, the shine-through legends (which means you may see RGB lighting by means of them) on these keys look crisp and clear. It’s an enchancment on the Logitech G Professional X 60 on this regard.
Logitech has additionally lowered the actuation distance of the keyswitches from 1.5mm to 1.3mm, making the board theoretically really feel snappier, although this wasn’t instantly apparent when testing in isolation. It’s doubtlessly a boon, although, as this board appears to be like to compete with the most recent gaming keyboards that include analog switches the place the actuation level will be absolutely personalized, such because the Razer Huntsman V3 Professional.
In the meantime, alongside the highest fringe of the keyboard are the identical additional options because the older model, with buttons for wi-fi, Bluetooth (the keyboard additionally has a USB-C connection and a wired-only model is out there), gaming mode, and backlight brightness on the left, and media playback management on the suitable, together with a smooth-scrolling horizontal wheel. The buttons are the identical, barely disappointing rubber ones used earlier than, however at the very least they’re fairly compact and positively helpful additions. Comparatively, many opponents such because the Superb GMMK 3 haven’t any additional keys.
One closing key enchancment with this wi-fi keyboard is that Logitech has given battery life a slight enhance. The complete-size model of the board has gone from a 30-hour battery life with the backlighting at full brightness to 36 hours, whereas the TKL model proven right here goes from 36 hours to 42 hours. Battery life in ultimate situations with no lighting and utilizing Bluetooth can stretch to 800 hours, in keeping with Logitech.
In a world the place analog Corridor Impact and optical switches abound, and players have gotten ever extra accustomed to having in depth entry to finish customization choices, the Logitech G915 X nonetheless feels a contact on the old-school aspect, particularly given Logitech provides no point out of different newer options equivalent to a excessive polling price. Nonetheless, the corporate has doubtlessly executed nearly sufficient to pull the G915 into being a aggressive possibility.
For extra of our prime keyboard selections, try our greatest wi-fi gaming keyboard information, which incorporates this mannequin’s predecessor, and make sure you try the opposite new bulletins from Logitech’s Logiplay even the place the G915 X was introduced. These embody the brand new G Professional X Superlight 2 Dex and tenth anniversary G502 X aluminum model.
