Verdict
If you’re comfortable to spend the cash although, you’ll be rewarded with one of many absolute best gaming keyboards at the moment out there.
Pros
Compact and moveable design
Lightspeed and Bluetooth switching is seamless
Three choices of very good GL switches
Macro key customisation is unbelievable
Cons
Very costly
Lack of USB passthrough
Key Specifications
Review Price: £199
Lightspeed and Bluetooth Wireless
Logitech GL Switches
Tactile, Linear and Clicky choices
Dimensions: 368 x 150 x 22 mm
Weight: 810g
How do you enhance on among the finest gaming keyboards at the moment out there? Make it smaller in fact, and that’s precisely what Logitech has executed with the Logitech G915 TKL.
By ditching the quantity pad, Logitech has been in a position to cut back the size of its extremely rated G915 Lightspeed mechanical keyboard by over 100mm, which not solely helps save desk area, but additionally makes it simpler to shove the keyboard in a bag when commuting to the workplace or a pal’s home.
A slight value drop from the unique Logitech G915 solely will increase its enchantment, however at £199 it’s nonetheless very costly in comparison with rival gaming keyboards. Can its wicked-fast Lightspeed expertise and low-profile mechanical keys justify the fee?
Logitech G915 TKL design – Even smaller and lighter than earlier than
The authentic Logitech G915 was already an absurdly skinny gaming keyboard, with its skinny chassis and low-profile keys making it a doddle to port round.
The new TKL model improves even additional on this regard, snubbing the quantity pad in favour of a extra compact design. The Logitech G915 measures in at 368mm at lengthy, which is 107mm shorter than its predecessor. That might not sound vital on paper, but it surely’s been a pleasure to release more room on my desk, particularly since I by no means truly use the quantity pad.
Logitech has executed a marvellous job balancing the design and efficiency, avoiding different producers’ sins of compressing down the ‘Enter’ or arrow keys. Every key stays chunky sufficient for stress-free typing, whereas Logitech additionally retains the playback buttons which makes Spotify navigation considerably simpler.
Not each button made the reduce although, because the devoted macro buttons are absent. There’s no want to worry although, as Logitech’s very good G Hub software program lets you assign {custom} shortcuts to the F keys as a substitute, which is a unbelievable compromise in my eyes.
Rather bizarrely, the quantity wheel now not presents any traction. It nonetheless works completely, with sufficient sensitivity for me to regulate the quantity by two levels at a time, however I do miss the texture of the older model. You additionally get Caps Lock and battery gentle indicators on the prime, which is a small characteristic albeit a really welcome one.
Otherwise, the TKL options the identical glorious steel chassis. It appears very elegant and feels satisfyingly easy, though it’s admittedly a mud magnet. The backside of the keyboard is roofed in plastic, that includes two flip out stands which angle the keyboard up at a extra comfy place. There’s additionally somewhat compartment right here to safe the wi-fi adapter while you’re on the transfer. Handy.
Related: Best Gaming Keyboard
Logitech G915 TKL efficiency – Snappy satisfaction with three swap choices
The Logitech G915 TKL is available in three swap flavours: GL Linear, GL Tactile and GL Clicky. The first supplies easy keystrokes, whereas Tactile includes a noticeable actuation level for improved suggestions.
Logitech despatched me the GL Clicky model which, as you most likely guessed, emit a loud clicking noise while you hit every key. It feels nice when gaming, with a crunchy really feel proving tremendous satisfying in motion video games notably. It is a fairly loud keyboard and so might show annoying to these close by, however in case you’re planning on utilizing it within the workplace you may simply go for the Linear or Tactile switches as a substitute. I really like that Logitech offers you a alternative.
The keycaps are half the scale of your typical gaming keyboard, which not solely ensures 25% quicker actuation but additionally means small-handed folks have a better time stretching their fingers to press a key. I’ve at all times had points holding ‘Shift’ to dash in shooters, and the G915 TKL made it a lot simpler.
The G915 TKL makes use of two completely different wi-fi applied sciences. The speediest is Logitech’s personal Lightspeed expertise, requiring you to plug the bundled USB dongle into your laptop. Lightspeed supposedly supplies a nippy 1ms efficiency, making it the best choice for aggressive gaming.
The second wi-fi choice is Bluetooth, which is constructed into most units and so lets you hook up with smartphones, tablets and extra. Bluetooth can also be extra battery environment friendly, permitting you to squeeze extra hours between charging. What’s extra, the keyboard options devoted Lightspeed and Bluetooth buttons, so you may swap between units simply which may be very helpful for multitasking.
The battery life is great, with Logitech claiming a 40-hour stamina when the RGB lights are on the brightest setting. That sounds about proper to me, as I used to be in a position to make use of the keyboard through a Lightspeed connection for simply over every week earlier than it flashed crimson to point low energy. Logitech claims the keyboard can final for as much as 135 days (assuming eight hours of use every day) with the RGB lighting turned off, though I wouldn’t suggest it because it turns into tough to see every key’s lettering.
A microUSB charging cable comes bundled within the field, which is an sufficient size to achieve the again of your PC. It’s barely disappointing the G915 doesn’t cost through USB-C, since most fashionable units use that connection now, however Logitech claims it could be a useless additional expense because the wi-fi keyboard wouldn’t profit from the improved information switch speeds. A good argument, however I’m wanting ahead to a world the place all units use one common energy cable.
Related: Best Gaming Laptop
Logitech G915 TKL software program and lighting – Unrivalled macro customisation
The Logitech G915 TKL options vividly shiny RGB lighting, which shines by way of the clear key letterings. The brightness may be altered through a devoted button at prime, though I personally appreciated to maintain it cranked up the utmost.
Logitech claims there are 16.8 million colors out there by way of the G Hub. There are a variety of customisations out there right here, with preset results and animations seeing the RGB lighting pulse, flash or wash throughout the board. Logitech even lets you arrange {custom} results, providing up an abundance of management.
The G Hub additionally helps you to arrange your individual Macro keys, and it’s not simply restricted to key shortcuts and mixtures, however also can have the likes of F1 set to stick, launch purposes comparable to Slack and even activate video streaming. The variety of choices is genuinely staggering, for each gaming and productiveness.
A Game Mode characteristic additionally lets you disable sure keys when gaming. This is beneficial for individuals who get infuriated by unintended Windows key presses pulling you out of a sport.
The Logitech G Hub is comfortably probably the most subtle peripheral software program I’ve ever used, with Razer the one firm that even comes shut on this regard. Having the pliability to set superior Macro keys and tremendous tune the RGB lighting will likely be a game-changer for sure avid gamers, making the soar to Logitech all of the extra tempting.
Related: Best Router 2020
Should you purchase the Logitech G915 TKL?
The Logitech G915 TKL is a completely unbelievable gaming keyboard, with the smaller type issue making this compact peripheral much more moveable. Importantly, Logitech has not sacrificed the efficiency high quality when downsizing, with the snappy switches an absolute pleasure to make use of.
It’s a disgrace that Logitech ditched the Macro keys with the intention to scale down, however because the glorious G Hub software program lets you flip the F keys into custom-made shortcuts, it’s not a significant situation. Such a call additionally means Logitech has been in a position to retain the playback buttons and quantity wheel, permitting it to excel as an all-round keyboard somewhat than one only for gaming.
The TKL additionally options all the wonderful options of the usual G915, together with Lightspeed and Bluetooth connectivity, a trio of swap choices and low-profile keys which might be comfy and speedy. The TKL model can also be £10 cheaper than the unique, regardless of arguably being the superior choice.
However, that £199 value remains to be extraordinarily costly, costing greater than nearly all of its rivals. The lack of USB passthrough can also be disappointing given the eye-watering value.
If you’re comfortable to spend the cash although, you’ll be rewarded with one of many absolute best gaming keyboards at the moment out there.
Contact through Twitter
Contact through LinkedIn
Deputy Computing Editor
Formerly the Staff Writer at Stuff Magazine, Ryan’s been writing about tech since he graduated from Cardiff University. At TechSwitch he’s focussed on every little thing computer-related, giving him a v…
Contact through Twitter
Contact through LinkedIn
Unlike different websites, we totally check each product we evaluate. We use trade commonplace checks with the intention to examine options correctly. We’ll at all times let you know what we discover. We by no means, ever settle for cash to evaluate a product.
Tell us what you assume – ship your emails to the Editor.