Not all mechanical gaming keyboards are heavy, cumbersome beasts. The Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL ($199.99) sits low to your desk and boasts as a lot within the kind space because it does within the perform division. With 2.4GHz and Bluetooth help, it offers you a selection between a super-fast wi-fi connection and a battery-saving one. Regardless of its excessive worth, the keyboard is surprisingly gentle on customization choices, however should you’re not the sort to swap out key switches, that may not matter a lot to you. We expect Editors’ Alternative award winners just like the hot-swappable Alienware Professional Wi-fi and the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX nonetheless sit on the high of the high-end compact gaming keyboard heap, however Logitech’s low-profile board is value a glance, particularly should you’re constructing a rig with brushed aluminum components.Design: A Modern, Low ProfileThanks to its brushed aluminum alloy panel and slim profile, the G915 X Lightspeed TKL offers off an eminently polished vibe. At 0.9 inches excessive, it sits decrease than some other mechanical gaming keyboard we have not too long ago reviewed. For comparability, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Professional 75% stands 1.6 inches excessive. And at 1.04 inches, even the Asus ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is somewhat taller than the Logitech keyboard.
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The 1.5mm-thick aluminum alloy plate offers each sturdiness and a clear look, despite the fact that the plate does not prolong to the again of the keyboard. Flex is commonly a priority with keyboards, particularly low-profile fashions, however not right here. We did not discover any flex in any respect, even once we tried to bend the keyboard. It barely budged once we pressed it in opposition to the nook of the desk as if attempting to snap it in half. The G915 X Lightspeed TKL is more durable than its diminutive stature suggests.
(Credit score: Josh Gulick)
The TKL (tenkeyless) label clues you in that, not like a full-size keyboard, the G915 X Lightspeed has no numeric keypad. Players typically desire this model of keyboard as a result of it makes for a shorter distance between the mouse and the WASD keys. The quantity pad generally is a waste of area when gaming.
The highest facet of the keyboard has an influence change and a single USB-C port. The field features a USB-A-to-USB-C cable for charging the board. It is the identical cable you’ll use with the USB receiver for Logitech’s Lightspeed wi-fi connection.
(Credit score: Josh Gulick)
We discovered connecting the keyboard to be straightforward for each Bluetooth and Lightspeed choices. After we used the Lightspeed receiver, the keyboard linked instantly, as if we had plugged it in.
(Credit score: Josh Gulick)
The G915 X Lightspeed TKL’s keys have an actuation distance of simply 1.3mm, which is able to enchantment to players and typists preferring to make shallow keypresses. Earlier variations of this board had a barely deeper (1.5mm) actuation level, and we would not thoughts seeing help for multiple actuation level to offer customers further customizability.Logitech offers you a number of key change choices, however you may want to select when shopping for the board reasonably than customise it later, for the reason that switches aren’t hot-swappable. When ordering from the Logitech web site, consumers of the black keyboard can select from Clicky, Linear, and Tactile key switches; the white board is accessible solely with Tactile. This association will probably be wonderful for a lot of clients, however isn’t for these of us who wish to go all-in on customizability.Testing the G915 X Lightspeed TKL: Straightforward, Crisp TypingThe typing expertise on the G915 X Lightspeed TKL is a nice shock. Regardless of the board’s low profile and shallow 1.3mm actuation level, the keys have sufficient drop to make for a well-recognized really feel whereas typing. Even so, we seen that taller keyboards (just like the ROG Falchion Ace HFX we not too long ago examined) have a doubtlessly extra snug really feel. Specifically, the Falchion Ace’s keys appeared to have a softer touchdown once we pressed all of them the best way down in testing. Your expertise could fluctuate, in fact. And the G915 X Lightspeed TKL’s keystrokes nonetheless strike us as far more snug and crisp than we have skilled on many laptops.
(Credit score: Josh Gulick)
To check the G915 X Lightspeed TKL’s efficiency in video games, we fired up a few favorites, together with Counter-Strike 2 and Diablo IV. Of the 2, Counter-Strike 2 is an actual check of the keyboard’s means to deal with a number of quick, typically overlapping keystrokes. We had no hassle strafing (shifting left or proper whereas firing) and the keyboard put up with all of the abuse we dished up. And the area bar was a rock, utterly dropping no matter which edge we pressed.
(Credit score: Josh Gulick)
The quantity curler additionally deserves a shout-out. It sits simply behind the Print, Lock, and P/B keys and is greater than an inch vast. The curler’s measurement and placement make it straightforward to succeed in with out trying on the board. We additionally just like the management buttons, half of which deal with media duties. The opposite half allows you to rapidly change between 2.4GHz wi-fi and Bluetooth, management LED brightness, and allow Recreation Mode (which disables the Home windows key to forestall unintended activation).Software program: G Hub’s a Pleasure to UseWe like Logitech’s G Hub software program, which has a clear interface and commonsense navigation. The G915 X Lightspeed TKL picture within the software program displays the energetic settings in your keyboard, together with Recreation Mode, Bluetooth, and different options. It additionally shows your keyboard’s battery life, which is a pleasant contact. Logitech estimates as much as 36 hours of battery life with RGB brightness at most, as much as 90 hours at half brightness, and as much as 800 hours with the lighting turned off.
(Credit score: Logitech)
The Lightsync part has an array of customized results. You’ll be able to see the results on the keyboard as quickly as you select them within the software program. Apparently, you will not have entry to sure results whereas utilizing a Bluetooth connection. Swap over to the two.4GHz Lightspeed connection, and the entire animations and patterns are at your fingertips. (You could have to disable Dynamic Lighting in your Home windows settings, however G Hub helpfully offers a hyperlink so that you don’t must hunt for the proper settings part.)Verdict: A Nice Match for a Stylish Gaming PCIt’s straightforward to see why somebody would decide up the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL wi-fi gaming keyboard for a flashy new PC construct. The identical goes for somebody changing an older keyboard or wanting to chop the wire. General, this keyboard’s strengths far outnumber its weaknesses. The two.4GHz Lightspeed connection is a superb selection for gaming, and the lengthy wire for the receiver ensures that you’ll find a great place for high quality reception. However should you prefer to swap out key switches, you have to to look elsewhere, such because the Editors’ Alternative-winning Alienware Professional Wi-fi. In the end, the largest difficulty for some consumers may very well be worth: At $200, the G915 X Lightspeed TKL is out of attain of informal players’ budgets. The excellent news for consumers who could make the monetary stretch is that they are getting a high quality keyboard for his or her cash.
Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL
The Backside Line
Polished and low-profile, the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL is an aesthetic, succesful wi-fi gaming keyboard with well-placed media and quantity buttons.
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About Josh Gulick
After being assigned to the computer-science wing of his faculty dormitory, Josh rapidly grew to become one of the vital tech-savvy English majors round. Upon graduating, he started reviewing computer systems for the magazines Good Computing and Pc Energy Person. After years of overlaying laptop {hardware} and the PC-modding scene, Josh grew to become Good Computing’s publication editor. Lately, Josh is again at his favourite job: testing new {hardware}. In his downtime, Josh could be discovered enjoying RTS video games (poorly) or prepping for his subsequent half-marathon (by obsessing about trainers).
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