At their recent LogiPlay event, Logitech unveiled a slew of new gamer-centric gaming accessories, including the latest Lightspeed compatible keyboard, the G915x. 

The Logitech G915x is a low-profile mechanical gaming keyboard, replacing the G915, but building in more features. Logitech has sent one over, letting us take it for a spin and try out the new features. 

Available in Black or White colour options, Logitech has sent over the Black unit – which is definitely my preference. It’s sleek, svelte, and won’t show any marks or stains as easily. 

There are three models to choose from, the standard Lightspeed G915x with wireless connectivity through the Lightspeed dongle for $399.95, as well as a Tenkeyless model without the numeric keypad for $369.95.  There’s also a wired option if you don’t mind some cables on your desk, which is also cheaper at $299.95.

In terms of features, the Lightspeed G915x offers new switches with lower actuation points for reduced key travel. The keycaps  are now doubleshot PBT for reduced wear, and can be replaced with custom keycaps. 

Logitech also bumped the battery on the G915x, estimating up to 800 hours of use if you don’t want any backlighting – and up to 36 hours if you do which is decently impressive. 

I’ve been using the Logitech G915x for a week now, playing games and doing a lot of typing. If you’re in the market for a new keyboard for gaming, this is definitely a good one to check out – and here’s what I think.

Design

The Logitech G915x is a keyboard. That is to say it’s got the usual 6-rows and 104 keys – as well as the return of the volume roller (which is now cast aluminium) from the G915, and more programmable G-keys. 

The media controls above the numeric keypad are great – and the cast aluminium volume roller adds to a premium look and feel. 

The additional Logitech G-buttons above the Function keys are appreciated for programming macros, shortcuts and more, and the fast access to Bluetooth/Lightspeed toggles, as well as the Gaming Mode and Brightness toggle – which lets you cycle through the lighting modes. 

I’m checking out the wireless model, which comes with a USB-C cable for charging, and a dongle with USB-A to USB-C  extender and a quick start guide, but plugging in the Lightspeed adapter to a USB port on the PC found it all automatically.

You can install the G-Hub software on your Mac or PC, which then gives you a load of configuration options. 

To start with the keyboard is fairly hefty, weighing in a little more than it’s predecessor at 1,080g – yep, just over a kilo. The weight adds to the feeling of sturdiness, and when combined with the rubberised feet on the base, you won’t feel it sliding around on the desk. 

The top of the keyboard includes a brushed aluminium top plate which looks quite smart, and adds a layer of premium to the look. 

The keycaps are now double-shot PBT plastic and have a matte feel. The PBT plastic now used is harder wearing, and the double-shot manufacturing – effectively two layers – allows for Logitech to use a clear layer of PBT plastic with the characters now embedded in the plastic – so there’s no paint to wear out anymore, so your keyboard characters will always look crisp and clean.

The double-shot build also allows for the RGB lighting effects to come through easily and they look crisp and fantastic – they’re also easily customisable in the G-Hub software. I particularly like the Pulsar Point scheme with the WASD keys lit up in a secondary colour.

One vanity improvement for the keyboard is the switch from a hook style stem on the G915 to a more industry standard cross-style stem on the G915x. This switch means you can switch keycaps for popular brands including Cherry, HyperX and more, with ease allowing for easy customisation if you don’t like the standard keycaps. 

My final thought on the design is a note. Logitech seems to be rather hit and miss about providing a NumLock indicator light – something that affects both the G915 and the G915x. There’s a capslock LED indicator, but nothing for NumLock, not even on the key itself, and there wasn’t one on the G915 – why? I’d love to see an option to configure the NumLock key a different RGB colour in G-Hub when NumLock is on, but that may be a long wait. 


Using it

The Logitech G915x is fast….there’s no other way to describe it than, it just feels fast. Logitech has made a number of improvements to achieve this including new switches, dropping the actuation force and of course lowering the actuation point from 1.5mm on the G915, to just 1.3mm on the G915x. 

The new GL low profile switches allow for faster reaction time, so you actually feel that spring back in the key ready to hit again quickly. It’s responsive in a way that you don’t get on a standard keyboard. 

Logitech has also lowered the amount of actuation force needed to depress each key so it’s easier to actually press the key down. 

It also retains that clacky mechanical keyboard sound and overall it’s really quite pleasant to be able to just type really fast, and feel that responsiveness in-game. 

Gamers will love the customisation options using Logtiech’s new KeyControl tech. This system lets you configure three layers of shortcuts to each key on the keyboard using the Logitech G-Hub app.

You can configure between Base, Fn and G Shift layers, which you can use during gaming, giving you faster access to functions. Logitech will even let you program the keyboard itself rather than needing to rely on software, so your keyboard becomes a real weapon. 

Battery Life and Charging

The Logitech G915x is wireless, with a USB-C port for charging, as well as being used as a wired keyboard while you’re charging it. 

There’s three modes for RGB when using the G915x: 100% Brightness, which can yield up to 36 hours of use – a slight jump on the 30 hours from the G915, or you can switch brightness down to 50% and get up to 90 hours of use. If you really don’t want (or care) about backlighting or RGB you can get up to 800 hours of continuous use. 

I’ve been using the G915x for a week and a half and managed to get it down to 28% with a little effort – though I was working on it a lot and had to test out the gaming side fairly excessively so it’s a pretty impressive battery life for a keyboard with this many bells and whistles. 

Should you buy it?

If you’re serious about gaming, then yes. 

The Logitech G915x improves on the previous generation, taking the feedback from gamers and refining an already good keyboard into something great. 

There’s improvements across the board, from the battery life through to the improved switches allowing for greater customisation – even though their standard keycaps are now improved with double-shot PBT as well. 

It’s such a good keyboard, the only downside is the price – but for this experience, the Logitech G915x is definitely worth it and any gamers wanting that extra edge should find it here.

You can find the Logitech G915x online through Logitech, as well as through retailers around Australia.